Page 110 of Tell No One
“Taking the puppies for a walk?” Kareem laughed.
Tag hadn’t seen him since they’d arrived.
“Yep, want to join us?”
“Why not? I’ll have Tag.”
The moment Kareem had the lead in his hand he jerked at it and wrenched Tag’s neck. Tag yelped and Lincoln laughed.
Tag and Ahsan stumbled down onto the gravel and struggled to keep up as they were pulled along. Goose bumps erupted on Tag’s body. It might be August but the wind was biting.
When they were on the grass, Lincoln stopped. “Cock your legs and piss against the tree. We’re staying out here until you do.”
Tag was furious. He met Ahsan’s gaze and blinked at him. Neither of them moved towards the tree.
“Get on with it,” Kareem snapped and kicked Tag in the side.
Tag fell over groaning.
“Not too rough,” Lincoln said. “Mr Norbury won’t want his guests to think they’re getting damaged goods.”
When Tag saw how hard Ahsan was shivering, he sighed and crawled towards the tree. He managed the tiniest piss, then crawled away. Ahsan copied him and they were tugged back across the gravel towards the house. When Ahsan slid onto his stomach and Lincoln kept pulling, Tag grabbed hold of Ahsan’s lead and yanked so hard that Lincoln jerked backwards.
“You’re hurting him,” Tag shouted through the mask.
Kareem lashed Tag with the lead and Tag cried out.
“Kareem! Lincoln! What do you think you’re doing?”
That was Norbury. Tag helped Ahsan back to all fours and brushed the gravel from his skin.
“Enough!” Norbury snapped. “Bring them into the drawing room.”
Tag heard the sound of a helicopter as they were taken inside and his heart lurched. If Delaney wasn’t on board, he and Ahsan were running tonight.
“Lie down on the rug, puppies,” Norbury said.
Ahsan leaned against Norbury’s leg, wagging his tail as the guy stroked him. Ahsan turned to look at Tag and Tag got the message.Play the game.
“Be good puppies for our guests.” Norbury was staring at Tag as he said that. “Perhaps you should make Ahsan pay later for Tag’s misbehaviour.”
Shit!
“Yes, sir,” Lincoln said.
“Come and help with the bags,” Norbury said and Kareem and Lincoln left with him.
“What’s happening tomorrow?” Ahsan whispered.
Tag bit his lip. If he’d been Ahsan, would he have wanted to know that Norbury had arranged a hunt where rich people wouldn’t be shooting birds or deer, but at Tag and maybe Ahsan? Tag thought he’d rather not know.
What sort of people could be perfectly normal—well, maybe relatively normal for 364 days a year but for one day, they wanted to enjoy themselves by shooting someone? They weren’t the sort of people he’d want to meet and that was exactly what was going to happen in a few minutes.Meet your killer.He felt sick with anxiety. If Delaney wasn’t with them, what the fuck was he going to do? He and Ahsan would have to flee tonight. Find a key, take a car? He wasn’t sure he could remember how drive, especially in a panic. Could Ahsan drive? His mind began to buzz with ideas, but in his heart, he knew their chances of getting away were small.
When he heard the sound of voices in the hall, Tag tensed and groaned. Ahsan stroked his arm with his paw and Tag nudged his muzzle to Ahsan’s. The door opened and a group of men walked in, led by Norbury. The Master brought up the rear. Ahsan had his head down but Tag had his up, looking…looking. The relief when he saw Delaney was so acute, he almost sobbed.
Norbury was playing the genial host while Kareem served drinks.
“Come and see my pups,” Norbury said. “One is of special interest to you, Vadim.”
