Page 30 of Between the Lies

Rob paused, holding his arms up. ‘You’re surrounded by people. You’ll never manage to get away.’

Shah took a step back, and Nina went with him, powerless to fight. ‘Let us go and she’ll live.’

Nina believed that much. Shah would keep her alive for now. There was no way he’d find her a third time only to kill her quickly.

Ever since that airport, he’d wanted her… for something. She hadn’t had the brain space or time to figure out what.

She felt blood trickle down her throat.

Panic ratcheted up. She was going to die. Oh God!

Nina twisted again, wanting to cry and beg for safety. But she was almost paralysed. Still, she must’ve caused some nuisance because Shah slammed his knee between her thighs.

She lost her balance, but his grip on her was so tight, she just hung there, suspended in the air. She kicked out, trying to find the ground.

‘Stop it! Or Iwillbleed you,’ Shah said, nudging her away from Rob.

The crowd took a step back, yet their phones were out, recording everything that was happening.

Rob followed their progress. ‘Let her go and you’ll walk away.’

‘I’m not a fool!’

No, he was a man scorned two times before. What were the chances Shah had his rational brain screwed on straight?

If he’d been thinking, he wouldn’t have tried to grab her in such a public place; wouldn’t be letting things escalate like this.

Rob said something, but Nina tuned it out. She tuned everything out but her racing heart. Heartbeats were good; they meant she was alive and well. And she’d make sure she remained that way.

For years now, she’d been on her own. She’d moved to another country and fended for herself alone. Fighting off a bastard who wouldn’t take no for an answer should be a walk in the park.

First step, Nina ordered her heart to calm the fuck down. She needed a strategy, a strategy needed brains and brains needed peace.

Once again, she took herself through inhales and exhales until her heart calmed – or as calm as it could be when a blade rested against your throat.

She’d get one chance.

Shah wasn’t moving anymore, and her feet were on the ground. Her mind focused on the world again. Shah was busy hurtling curses at Rob while the police officer kept him engaged.

One chance, darling.

Nina raised her right knee and kicked back, aiming for Shah’s family jewels.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

If Robert had wondered before how Nina had killed his wife, Nina’s kick cleared the haze from his eyes.

He hadn’t met anyone with blood trickling down their throat, a knife still pressed to the wound and a man threatening to butcher them who’d so calmly and collectedly wait for the right moment to strike.

If people didn’t panic when death stared them in the face, it would make rescue so much easier.

Nina Banerjee was one such person.

Robert had thought she was ready to pass out. But just as he’d convinced Shah to let her go, she’d lashed out with a kick straight into the man’s nuts.

Shah bent over, clutching the area between his legs and screaming. Still Nina wasn’t done. She turned and slammed her booted foot into the man’s family jewels again.

Another bellow dripping with abject pain. But Nina wasn’t waiting around to hear it. She’d turned and started sprinting down the road.

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