chapter 4

I hear his footsteps in the puddles behind me, the air in my lungs

burning as my numb feet pound the street. I can feel him behind me but I

daren’t look back, just keep focused on the light at the top of the street, at

the sound of a car heading closer. I see the headlights, blurry through the

rain, and the danger behind me drives me straight into the road. I’m waving,

jumping, throwing my arms above my head as I hear the screech of tyres. I

close my eyes, a rabbit caught in the headlights.

I hear a car door slamming.

I jump a mile as a hand grips my elbow.

Nick

The girl jolts to life as I grip her arm, big blue eyes staring up at mine,

lashes dripping. Her mouth is open, just a little. Her breath is misty.

She’s young.

She’s pretty.

And she’s scared. Really fucking scared.

Footsteps pound the ground to my right, and I see him, the piece of shit

waster.

The girl flinches, tugs away, but I keep a grip of her, place myself

between her fragile little body and the dickhead chasing her.

He’s wasted. Buzzing with some shit. Speed probably.

“Beat it,” I say. “Fuck off back to where you came from.”

He shrugs. “Just hanging with little Laine, bro. Ain’t no problem here.

C’mon, little girl.”

Hell will freeze over before she goes anywhere with this piece of shit.

I smile at the loser. “I’m not your bro. Do yourself a favour and run the

fuck along before there is a fucking problem here.”

He looks me up and down, and even through the rain he clocks the cut

of my suit. His eyes flick to the Mercedes, to the keys still clearly in the

ignition.

“I wouldn’t try it,” I say. I take a step towards him, shoulders back and

easy. I could take him and I know it. He’s just another loser, another dreg from the cesspit of life, and I’ve seen plenty of those in my lifetime.

I glare at him, and beckon him forward, perfectly willing to put this

piece of shit on the ground where he deserves, but he’s backing away before

I utter another word, druggie feet tripping over each other.

“Didn’t mean nothing by it. Don’t even know her… never met her…”

I don’t bother watching him retreat. I’ve no need. Dickheads like him

don’t bother men like me.

I pull the girl closer, and she seems to snap back to herself. Her cardigan

is sodden, hanging from her shoulders, and she’s shivering.

“Laine?” I ask. “I’m Nick. Nick Lynch. You’re safe now. Where do you

need to go?”

“Newhaven…” she says, and her voice is as pretty as she is. “My

friend… she pulled some guy… she has my keys, my money…”

“And where is your friend now?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know…”

“I’ll take you home,” I say, and my words are simple, obvious. I’m

surprised when she follows me to the passenger door of the Merc and slips

into the seat without hesitation, but she seems dazed somehow. Naïve,

maybe. Maybe that’s what got her into this mess in the first place. I suspect

as much.

Young, naïve and vulnerable.

No way should she be out alone this late at night. No way should she be

here, in this shithole part of Brighton. I feel the anger, at some unknown

parents who should be worried sick, parents who should have taught her

more fucking sense.

A father who should be driving around looking for his daughter, who

should be protecting her from pieces of shit like that fucking waster back

there.

I ignore the twitch in my jaw. Push aside that feeling.

She needs a ride home. Just a ride home.

She’s not my problem, and she doesn’t want to be.

I close the door after her and she buckles up oblivious. She’s naïve.

Definitely naïve.

But tonight she’s safe. With me.

I’ll keep her safe until I get her home.

She’s staring right at me as I take the driver’s side, still shivering, but

she doesn’t look so scared now.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***