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Long fingers slid around her jaw, grazing into her hair His eyes looked down at her Their expression jellied her stomach

With leisurely insolence his thuh her body

‘I like to finish what I start,’ he said

His thuain She couldn’tin her chest Then he smiled The smile of a predator He dropped his hand away

‘I’ to Athens tomorrow at noon in my private place You have till then toto do’

He pulled the door open and waited, expectantly, for her to go

On shaking legs she left

London flowed around her like an unseen river as she walked blindly along its darkened streets At soround syste, eot indoors she went into the kitchen, and with the same disconnected brain started to make herself a cup of tea Then, on sudden desperate ie gulp as she headed to the living area, and collapsed on the sofa

She stared blankly ahead She could feel her heart thu in her chest

I’ve got to think about this I can’t not think about it I don’t want to think about it I don’t want to do anything other than pretend that whole encounter tonight just didn’t happen Deny it completely Wash it from my brain, my memory, my consciousness

But I can’t I can’t do that because I know, though I desperately don’t want to I know I’ve got to make a decision

She took a second gulp of the alcohol Another voice seeh her brain

What the hell do you ot to make a decision? There isn’t any decision to be made! You can’t possibly, possibly think otherwise! What he said is unthinkable—it’s disgusting and outrageous, and he can da it to you!

She stared ahead still Her heart see inside her, like nerve-ends pinching in her guts

But he said it was the only way I can get my money…