Page 111 of Between the Lies

Nina gasped, swallowed, then spluttered, ‘It’s done, Robert. I’m here, you’re here, safe. And so are those women – our wee surprise worked.’

‘Thank God,’ Robert replied. ‘I can’t promise no will ever hurt them again, but for now, all that matters is that they’re free of Anne.’ Robert leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. ‘It’s done.’

A smile bloomed on Nina’s face. ‘It is.’ A laugh burst from her. Her first carefree laugh in months. ‘Instead of writing about the human trafficking ring, we brought it down.’

‘No thanks to me. If only I’d?—’

Nina wrapped her arms around him then pressed up on her toes to finally, oh so finally, kiss him. He shut up, his hands sliding along her body, drawing her close.

Nina traced the outline of those lips; memorised his features using her hands. Then she slid away. ‘Without all this, Robert, we wouldn’t be here. Despite how horrifying it’s all been, I’m glad you chased me. Because—’ More tears joined those she’d just dried up. ‘Because if you hadn’t, I’d never have met you, and I…’ Nina swallowed. She opened her mouth; shut it again. She took a breath. ‘You know I’ve never said it and meant it. But for the first time in my life – I love you, all of you, unconditionally.’

Robert blinked. His mouth fell open, then he shut it again. His hands cupped her face, so gently her heart sighed, and he brushed a kiss on her lips. ‘And I’m glad you showed me the error of my ways. Glad you love me because, without you, I swear I’d be lost. I love you.’

The band of anxiety loosened from around her heart. The air she pulled into her lungs this time tasted different.

It tasted of freedom.

And as they leaned in and sealed their love with a kiss, Nina realised – true freedom wasn’t always in flying away, it also existed in the arms of the one you loved.

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

Robert squeezed the soft hand that clutched his.

Sounds buzzed – car horns, the clattering of suitcases following hundreds of footsteps, all veering off in every direction, the occasional shout as people greeted their family and friends.

No one ran to greet them. Their only welcome was the sunlight sparkling on their faces and the humid temperature overheating their armpits. Everywhere Robert looked, there was a sea of heads.

The soft hand tightened its grip, cutting off the blood supply to Robert’s fingers. He turned to face the woman. ‘Let’s find a cab.’

Nina swallowed, her eyes darting from person to person but not actually seeing anything. ‘No, I’m leaving.’

‘Nina—’

‘This was a bad idea.’ Her throat convulsed. ‘I don’t remember it being this hot, but of course it is!’ A laugh bubbled out. ‘I mean it’s Mumbai. Oh my God, we’re in Mumbai.’

Robert used their linked hands to pull her closer. Aye, that attracted a few stares – such PDAs or, more likely, couples that looked like them were still uncommon in Mumbai… But Robert didn’t give a fuck. Throughout the trial, Nina had been his rock, her touch soothing when things looked bleak and fortifying when the tide turned their way.

Going into it, Robert had known how volatile things could be in court, even when the evidence was on your side, and Anne’s solicitor had certainly put up a fight but without success – the image of Anne being led away in handcuffs replayed in his mind. And later, Dickheadson too, screaming and pleading as he was dragged away.

It’s done; she’s locked up.And thanks to all the lies she’d told him, the courts had granted them a quick divorce under extenuating circumstances. Of course she’d tried to stall and cause more trouble, but his rock had once more stood by him.

He’d won his fights. Now he’d stand by Nina as she confronted her own past. Step one of that plan had been to coax her into boarding their flight. The next step would be to get her to their hotel. ‘Let’s check in, maybe get something to eat.’

Robert pulled Nina towards the sign which indicated pre-booked taxi pickups. She dragged her feet but followed him. In the last year, he’d seen her do many things outside her comfort zone without fleeing from them, but this would be the biggest test of her staying power.

Robert spoke as they dashed past people. ‘Our hotel’s right by the sea. It looks fancy. It’s all the way to the south of the city – which you said was like the city centre. I’ve never been so?—’

Nina smacked the back of her hand against his chest, and just in time too because a couple of women – all barely five feet – dashed in front of him. ‘Rule one: have some sense of place. In a city with a population multiple times that of Scotland, you need to be aware of where you stand. You don’t walk without looking.’

Robert smirked. ‘You don’t seem to have lost your sense of place.’

Nina poked him in the chest. ‘This was your grand idea. They won’t even recognise me.’

Aye, Nina had shown him pictures of her when she’d first come to the UK. The Nina back then and the beautiful woman in front of him looked similar but weren’t the same person at all. This woman –hiswoman – had strength, grace, confidence and a sensuality to her that still made his body hum. ‘They might not recognise you, but they’ll know who you are.’

Their cab arrived, and they stuffed their bags in the back. The moment Robert shut the car door, the taxi driver took off, leaving Robert grasping for the seat belt.

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