He laughs. An ugly sound.
‘Her wanting me isn’t necessary.’ His gaze slides over us; it’s like being dunked in raw sewage. ‘You know, it’s funny. You think you can just walk in here. Play pretend withmy girl.’
My stomach tightens. ‘Pretend what?’
‘That you’re not who you are.’
The rain runs down Eddie’s face, dripping off his chin. He doesn’t blink.
‘I know all about you. All your online bullshit. The fact that you’re a fucking liar. Does Maggie know who you really are? A cunt who’s convinced half the population you’re someone worth listening to.’
My pulse thunders as his eyes sweep over Maggie.
‘Oh, so she knows,’ he continues before breaking intoa hyena-like cackle. ‘I don’t even need to touch you. One whisper in the right ear and it all comes tumbling down. Sponsors. Fans. Maggie. Gone.’
Maggie’s fingers curl in my hand.
Then Eddie lunges, his hand gripping Maggie by the arm.
‘Let go of her,’ I demand, shoving him hard.
He ignores me. And I’ve had enough.That’s it.
I swing.
The punch lands, knuckles crunching on bone. The impact jolts fiery pain up my arm. Eddie stumbles and goes down hard on the slick stone, rain splashing up as his arse meets the paving.
The world seems to still. Nothing but rain pattering and Eddie’s short breath. He comes up fast, swinging, and we’re on each other. Stumbling and shoving, fists flying and catching flesh.
Maggie shouts my name, but I need my wits about me. If Eddie is the killer I now believe him to be, then I’m out of my depth. I can only thank the stars that he’s drunk as a fucking skunk.
Sloppy.
Eddie slams me back against the railing, his face close enough that I can smell the spirits on his breath. His hand dips into his jacket with a demented grin.
Metal flashes.
A knife.
Rain streaking through the blood at the corner of his mouth, making him look like the Joker.
‘I’m going to enjoy this,’ he slurs. ‘Cutting out thatlying tongue of yours. I’ll give it to Maggie as an engagement present.’
My heart hammers as I try to shove him off, but he has me pinned.
Behind him, Maggie’s voice trembles. ‘Eddie.’
He turns.
Maggie stands a few paces away, both hands wrapped around a gun. Her arms quake, and her face is ashen.
Eddie turns before laughing, keeping his knife pointed at me.
‘You won’t do it. You never could. You’re not a killer, darling.’
She swallows and cocks the gun.
A shot cracks through the night.
