“I’m not going to do that.”
“For fuck’s sake, call him, you miserable bitch!” Randell roared, and I was sure I felt his spittle join the drizzle on my face. “Call him, or you’ll regret it.”
My stomach clenched as memories of all the fights we’d ever had flooded back. Each one had started this way. Any moment now, I would feel the sting of his blows—I was certain of it. But I had to stay strong. For Henry.
“No,” I said, lifting my chin defiantly and steeling myself.
Instead of hitting me, Randell pulled out a switchblade from his jacket pocket.Fuck!The blade snapped out with a click. Myeyes widened as he pointed the gleaming metal at me, a smug grin plastered across his face. “I warned you.”
Randell tested the weight of the knife in his hand. Panic rose in my throat, and I wondered if I could run fast enough to escape before he managed to plunge the blade into my stomach.
“Call your boyfriend!”
“Randell, please.” I hated how my voice was suddenly trembling. My rage had vanished, replaced by fear. My eyes locked onto the knife hovering just centimetres from my body. One stab, and everything would be over. I would bleed to death. There was no one here to save me. “Let me go.”
“Are you deaf?”
“Haven’t you caused enough damage?”
Randell pressed the knife into my stomach. He didn’t stab me, but I felt the sharp point pierce the fabric of my clothes and press against my skin. It wouldn’t take much more for the blood to start flowing. “Do you want to die?”
I shook my head.
“Then call him!” Randell screamed.
I stared at him, frozen. I could smell my own fear—a mix of sweat and something salty. Unshed tears burnt in my throat. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t think, my head clouded by the fear that I might die. I wasn’t ready. But the thought of dragging Henry into this mess made my stomach twist. If Randell ruined Henry’s life too, I would never forgive myself. I had already let him ruin my mum’s.
“Let her go,” a sharp voice suddenly hissed.
Henry!
Relief and panic crashed over me. I glanced sideways, not daring to move. Henry stood just a few steps away, gripping an umbrellaand fixing Randell with a withering glare. I had never seen him this furious, not even with his father or when I had told him about Mr. Fleming. How had he found me?
“Looks like you can save yourself the phone call,” Randell sneered.
“Get away from her!” Henry demanded. “Now!”
Randell didn’t move. “What if I don’t?”
“Randell, please...”
He ignored me.
Henry’s hands clenched into fists. “Then we have a problem.”
Randell gave a crooked grin and shifted his weight, making sure Henry saw the knife pressed dangerously close to my stomach. Henry’s jaw tightened at the sight of the blade, but instead of the fear I had expected, his fury only deepened. Contempt darkened his expression, his anger burning even brighter.
Ignoring my head shake, Henry stepped closer. “If you hurt Kate, I’ll kill you.”
“Henry, get away from him!” I pleaded.
To my relief, he stopped moving.
“I want ten thousand pounds,” Randell demanded.
Henry raised his eyebrows. “You want money?”
“Yes. Cash.”
