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‘What!’ I drop the door handle, staggering back ‘Oh God’ I start shaking He won’t be able to kill Charlie That thought alone has sent e of what that woman could do to him has just catapulted that panic into terror She’ll undo everything he’s worked so hard to fix It will be like that video happening all over again My throat starts to close off onme from mental meltdown ‘Two, zero, one, five Remember that number You also need to know that I destroyed the pistol I have a flight to nowhere Call William You need to stop Miller before you lose his up

I drop ive any amount of reasonable time to consider

I need William I need to knohere the Teoes to voice ain ‘Answer the phone!’ I screaoes to voice ulp down soe before accepting a drink at the Tein to open ‘Call ue turns to lead in my mouth and my body stills when the inside of the lift co back from the source of my fear I should turn and run, butco in the mirror

‘Olivia’ My mother’s navy eyes widen a little ‘Olivia, baby, what’s theher that there’sher in the lift I back away

‘Olivia, please Don’t run froo’ I don’t need this I don’t need her I have far s that deserve ins to build at the prospect of her delaying me If time wasn’t of the essence, I’d attack her with the sass I inherited from her But I don’t have time for her Miller needs nore her desperate cries and barge through the door, taking the concrete stairs two at a tis out aroundme she’s in pursuit, but I have Converse on and they win over heels any day of the week, especially when you’re in a hurry I pass floor after floor as I fu to dial Willia and obviously short of breath This only nant!’

‘He had no right to tell you,’ I seethe as I rush down the stairs,fury It’s eatingover my body, I silently appreciate that it will probably do me a favour once I’m away from this selfish, harlot of a bitch and I make it to Miller I need so it perfectly

‘He told , and why he’s doing it’

I skid to a stop and turn, seeing her sluh her white trouser suit still looks pristine, as does her bouncing, glossy waves My defences fly up like iron and I curse Willia arse to hell and back ‘Where is the Temple?’ I dee,’ she says, looking ada for so aith me ‘You owe me this! Tell me!’

She winces, hurt, but I can’t find any compassion for her ‘Don’t hate me I had no choice, Olivia’

‘Everyone has a choice!’

‘Did Miller?’

I recoil, disgusted

She steps forward tentatively ‘Does he have a choice now?’

‘Stop it’

She doesn’t ‘Is he willing to do anything to keep you safe?’

‘Don’t!’

‘Would he end a life for you?’

I grip the stair rail, squeezing it until my hand is numb ‘Please’

‘I would’ She moves closer still ‘I did’ I’m frozen in place ‘My life ended the day I walked out on you, Olivia I disappeared off the face of the earth to protect you, baby’ She reaches me and I watch in shocked silence as her hand lifts carefully and comes slowly towards me ‘I sacrificed my life so you could have yours You weren’t safe with me in your life’ Her soft touch rests on my arm, my eyes rooted on it as it drifts down ently ‘And I’d do it all over again, I pro for any insincerity in her voice or words There’s none All I hear are heartfelt words and a voice quivering with pain Her fingers entith mine softly We remain quiet The barren concrete stairwell is cold, but there’s war deeply, and it’s all co from her – the wo