it’s only speculations about her, like the speculations about Ghost being a Russian spy. Nothing concrete.
I prefer facts.
And I’ll get them myself.
“Remember, your priority is to find any security footage about the day Zoe disappeared in.” He’s tapping manically again. “Try to call me often, but don’t put yourself at risk.”
“Got it.”
We spent many sleepless nights preparing for this. He even had his female colleague train me to walk in heels and take me to clubs. That’s how I approached one of Le Salon’s girls, Lily, and snatched an appointment with Mist. Liam and I dedicated a lot of time and energy to this – even if Liam tried to coax me out. But now, I can feel doubt looming around us. I’ve always had Liam and Zoe.
Now, I will be all alone. Like that day I found Ma unmoving beside the trash can in the darkness.
I clasp my fingers together to prevent their shaking.
Liam’s green eyes measure me up and down. “Are you going to be okay?”
“I’ll have to be.”
Because it’s the only way to get my family back.
After Liam leaves, I stand in Khaled’s old restaurant’s toilet, holding the impossibly high heels. These will kill my feet. It doesn’t matter how much I practise, they’re damn torture.
I don’t know how women walk in these things all day long. I’m already mourning my comfy sports shoes that I won’t be able to wear any time soon.
But I have to look the part to convince Mist to accept me in her club.
Agitated murmurs drift from the public toilet’s window. I wouldn’t have paid them attention, but a girl is saying no in a hushed tone, and her voice is awfully familiar.
I’m supposed to be dressed by now and on my way to Le Salon, but I can’t just ignore this. Zoe would tell me that I’m always running into trouble head first and stops me whenever possible.
But Zoe isn’t here.
I shove the dress and shoes in the suitcase and hide it under the counter. Then, I head outside where the commotion is coming from. As soon as I arrive at the back alley, the smell of piss and vomit nauseates me. Near the restaurant’s dumpster, a slim man is cornering a shorter girl against the wall. Although his height is covering my view of her, I can make out her trembling form and her hand clutching the hem of her flannel skirt.
Is that a school uniform?
“Don’t be scared,” the man says in a disgusting gruff voice with a hint of a cockney accent. “I’ll go easy on you, babe.”
“N-no, please,” she murmurs and then I make out the pink and green strands.
Hayley. Shit.
“Come on,” he coaxes.
“Don’t you understand what no means?” My voice is loud and even.
The man turns around so fast, a murderous shadow on his face. A faded scar runs from the middle of his forehead to underneath his left eye. Even without glaring, he appears monstrous. “Move along, bitch.”
He’s tall. Probably more than ten inches on me. It won’t be easy to strike a vital part unless he leaves an opening. I tiptoe to get a better view of Hayley and make sure she’s all right. She should be in school. I knew those thugs she hangs out with would get her in trouble.
Her lips part when she meets my gaze. Her frantic eyes stare between me and the man, then she hangs her head. I have to take care of him first, then we’re having a word.
The man comes at me, I punch him in the cheek. My bare fist burns.
He howls, clutching his face. “You fucking bitch!”
I slam my hook in his side, but before I can keep up the momentum, the bloke reaches into his back pocket and retrieves a knife. He wiggles it in my face while smirking. “Ye think ye’re a tough whore, eh?”
My muscles lock and my spine turns rigid. A fistfight is one thing, knives are entirely another. Yet, I’m not the type to back away from any fight. So, when he advances towards me, I remain rooted in place. The best technique of attack is to wait patiently until the opponent gives an opening.
That was my weakness when I first started fighting. I always wanted to take the offence first. Liam purged it out of me. Or tried to, anyway.
This thug is simple. He aims his knife straight at my face. I duck to one side and use our height difference to kick him in the crotch. Instead of