Page 10 of The Devil Within

‘Fuck you, Hollywood. You broke my fuckin’ arm.’

‘I’ll break more than your arm in a minute.’ She heard Alex growl.

Sarah bit down on her lip to stop herself from sobbing out loud. She squeezed her eyes shut. What the hell was going on? Why were these men trying to kill her?

‘If you kill me now, Hollywood, Zep will only send more after you.’

‘You’re going to go back and tell them I’m out. I’m no dog and I don’t owe anybody.’ Alex’s voice didn’t waver. ‘You tell them, I’m free. Don’t send anyone else to find me because I won’t ask a second time.’

Sarah heard the sound of feet shuffling and footsteps heading out of the room. She started to sway back and forth on her knees, her hand still gently stroking Heather's hair. Her tears fell like silent rain.Please let this be over now.

ChapterFive

‘Sarah?’ Alex crouched beside her. She shrunk away from him and her eyes flew to the gun in his hand.

Whose gun is that?

‘It’s okay,’ said Alex. ‘He’s gone.’

She looked up into his face. Those blue eyes, so full of concern, almost undid her on the spot. She shook her head, shaking loose the magnetic pull. The police; she needed to call the police.

Sarah tried to stand but her legs wouldn’t cooperate. Alex slipped the gun into his jeans, then gripped her arms, holding her steady and raising her up. She couldn’t look at his face.

He waited till she was standing on her own, then dropped to his knees beside Heather. ‘She’s alive.’

She glanced down, saw him withdraw his fingers from her throat, leaving his bloody fingerprints behind.

‘Don’t touch her!’ she choked out.

Alex stood, holding up his hands. ‘I was just checking for a pulse.’ He took a step towards Sarah.

Adrenaline fired through her body, giving her strength. Bringing clarity. She turned on her heel, reaching the door and grasping the frame to propel her into the hall. Her stiletto boots skidded beneath and she fell to her knees before her handbag, on the floor where she’d dropped it less than fifteen minutes ago.

Phone. I need my phone.

Sarah’s hand shook as she tipped the bag upside down, its contents scattering before her. She grabbed her cell phone, grateful the facial recognition worked straight away. She got as far as pressing ‘1’ when it was snatched from her.

‘Wait!’ She lurched to her feet. ‘I need to call the police.’

‘No, Sarah, no police.’

She found herself staring into the cold gaze of a man she barely recognised. Anger coiled in her stomach. ‘Give me my phone.’

He shook his head. ‘Can’t do it, Sarah. I can’t call the cops.’

‘You don’t have to.’ She reached for the phone.

Alex turned his shoulder so she couldn’t get it. ‘I’m sorry, Sarah. You have no idea how sorry I am.’ Some of the chill had receded from his eyes. ‘But we need to get out of here, and fast.’

He looked her up and down. ‘You need to change. Just grab a tracksuit or something, okay?’

‘No! Are you insane? There is a dead man in my living room, lying next to my best friend who is unconscious and needs an ambulance… ’ Sarah had been using her hands to make her point. Her hands were covered in blood.

‘I will call an ambulance for your friend while you get changed.’

She couldn’t look away from her hands. The oxygen seemed to thin in the hallway and all she could smell was blood. So much blood. Over her, over Alex. So much blood. She stumbled to the kitchen sink, turning the taps until water gushed. She scrubbed at her hands, brown water swirling into the sink. Grabbing the dish liquid, she lathered up her hands. The white bubbles turned rust. In the distance, she could hear Alex speaking.

Shutting off the water, she snatched a tea towel from the bench, drying her hands. In the light, she could see the blood had seeped onto her sleeves.

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