Page 183 of Vying Girls
I heard Nic shouting Damien’s name. She must have tried to help as she’s now barely a metre away, the gun trained on her now.
Damien’s breaths are loud in my ear, sounding like hisses through clenched teeth. I’ve known angry men before but I’ve never been so sure one might kill me.
Nic fumbles with her phone, the shakiness in her hands making me panic even more. ‘I’ll send you the money now.’
‘It’s too late.’
‘No! No. It’s not. Look, I’ll do it now.’
Damien groans, tapping the gun against his own forehead. ‘I’m a dead man, Nicole. You’ve killed me.’
‘How much do you need? I’ll—double it. Triple it.’
‘You think me a fool. Daddy wasn’t that rich. Think I haven’t checked?’
‘Damien—just—tell me how much. I can start sending it now, then we’ll sort the rest.’
Damien hesitates. His arm sways as he holds it out. I dare to move slightly, hoping to pull his attention away from Nic. To put the gun back on me instead.
‘My bag,’ he says. ‘Front pocket. My wallet.’
Nic gets to her knees, pulling the duffle bag towards her. Her eyes keep flicking back to us as she rummages inside, eventually rising with the wallet. She removes his card.
‘What’s the maximum?’ he asks. ‘Twenty?’
‘Twenty-five.’
‘Do it. I’ll be back for the rest.’
Nic nods, quiet as she copies his details into her banking app.
Twenty-five. With three zeros, I presume. For a hazy moment, I feel a surge of wonder she even has that much.
We’re both rapt as we watch her transfer the money. She’s on her knees, head bowed, fingers carefully touching the screen of her phone. In the silence of the chamber, I hear her breathing. It’s not steady, seeming to rise the longer she takes.
Damien says nothing, doesn’t move, but I feel the increase in his impatience. My own blood surges, hope mingling with anticipation. After this, maybe, he’ll let me go.
‘Is it done?’ he asks after a moment of stillness from Nic.
For half a second, there’s no reaction before she nods hesitantly. Rising slowly to her feet, she tosses his card back onto his bag.
‘Let her go now.’
He doesn’t answer but I feel him shift, his gun arm coming around me as the other searches his pocket.
Whilst he’s distracted with checking, Nic catches my eyes again.
That’s when I know, without a doubt, that she didn’t transfer the money.
With anxious eyes, she motions subtly with her hand. A dropping motion with her fingers, then three of them held up.
Drop on three.
Okay. Drawing in a breath, I give a small nod.
The seconds drag by. Every so often, Damien will let out a frustrated grunt, making me flinch. He’s struggling with his phone. His entire body is feverish through his damp t-shirt. I’ve seen Nic like this. A come down, I think. Might work in our favour. With his mind that impaired, I might be able to follow Nic’s commands without getting a bullet through the head.
‘Found it?’ Nic asks. Her eyes on me.
