Page 65 of Vying Girls

I put a hand on Elly’s leg. ‘He’s the one who hurt her,’ I explain quietly.

Elly opens her mouth to speak, then peeks at Nic and thinks better of it. I kiss her hand for her thoughtfulness.

Haz spreads her palms impatiently. ‘What does the bastard need help with?’

Nic returns to the table, scrubbing her face with her hands. ‘Don’t know. We didn’t get that far.’

‘You’re not doing shit for him. He can go the fuck to hell.’

‘Yeah, so that’s the other problem.’ Nic raises her head and very deliberately catches my eyes. My heart beats faster at that look, a sense of apprehension filling me. ‘He said if I don’t comply, he’ll come after Tilda.’

‘Motherfucker!’Haz punches her fist into her palm, the harsh sound making me jump.

‘What does that mean?’ I ask, unsure if I really want to know.

Nic shakes her head. ‘Nothing good.’

‘Maybe he’s bluffing?’ Elly says.

‘Damien doesn’t do idle threats.’

‘Yeah, well, neither do I.’ Stretching out her arms, Haz cracks her knuckles. ‘Bring it on, you bastard.’

‘This isn’t a fucking game,’ Nic snaps. She lifts her eyes to mine, something wild in them that’s not the drugs.

She’s frightened. And that in turn frightens me.

‘It’s either I see him, or Tilda gets hurt.’

‘You mean, either you get hurt or Tilda gets hurt?’ Haz scoffs. ‘I pick option three. The one where he gets hurt.’

‘Same,’ Elly says.

‘Nic.’ I duck my head, trying to catch her eyes again. ‘What would he do to me?’

She just shakes her head, something helpless in it. Weird seeing her like this. Powerless and afraid. For once not hating me but someone else instead.

‘He ain’t doing shit to you.’ Haz pinches my jaw, pulling my face around. ‘You listening? He’s not touching you. Either of you.’

‘We’ll watch out for you, babe,’ Elly says. ‘You’re with us pretty much all the time anyway. And Nic’s with you at hockey.’

‘Great,’ I huff. ‘And how long’s that gonna go on for? Where even is he? Still on the island?’

‘Wouldn’t put it past him,’ Nic replies.

Standing up, she disappears into the kitchen where I hear the clanging of glass and glugging liquid.

Yeah, great. Get fucked up, that’ll help the situation. And should she even be mixing drugs and alcohol?

She doesn’t come back into the lounge with her drink, remaining in the archway as Haz and Elly go on.

She looks away every time I meet her eyes.

This cowed version of Nic disturbs me more than the hostile one. A child-grooming rapist is never going to be the nicest of guys, and she’s obviously heavily triggered by his unexpected presence, but just what does he have planned for me if Nic doesn’t comply?

I hope to God I never find out.

But equally, I resent Nic having to obey him too.