Hellsake! She meant nought – with a lower-case n. That’s how far gone she was. Nothing much surprised me any more – maybe the odd football score, but that was about it. Yet I had to admit that this woman and her vitriol did – and all because I was a Nought who dared to have ideas above his supposed station. Damn!

‘You know something, Eva? That shit is old and tired when Crosses spout it. As a Nought, you should be celebrating every rung of the ladder that other Noughts manage to climb, ’cause when one rises we all do. Instead, you choose to wallow in hatred, like the worst racist dickhead, because that’s all you know and that’s all you’re capable of. I actually feel sorry for you.’

‘Screw you and your pity. You and your minion Jarvis are living on borrowed time.’

‘Maybe, but that won’t stop you from getting what you deserve too,’ I assured her.

‘Er … d’you two mind? Man with a gun here,’ said Jon.

‘And I’ll make it my life’s work to make sure you also get what you deserve,’ I told him.

‘Yeah, yeah!’ Jon dismissed. ‘Well, now we’re all here and I’ve got your attention, I’ll need you to transfer that money pronto, Tobey.’

‘You must be joking,’ I scoffed. This man was delusional if he thought I’d give him the steam off my piss, let alone any of my hard-earned cash.

‘I never joke about money,’ said Jon. And he very deliberately aimed his gun at Sephy. ‘Your choice. Your money or your lover’s mother. Let’s see how she’ll feel about you if you let her mum die. And, if you do decide to choose your money over Sephy, my next target will be Callie Rose.’

sixty. Callie

Jon looked around at us all, a forced, fake smile playing across his face, but his gun was steady and still levelled at Mum’s heart. A muscle in his cheek ticked and jumped irregularly. He was caught between a rock and a hard place and he was feeling it.

As was I.

The pain in my chest as I looked at Jon was getting worse. His betrayal was drilling holes into my heart. His gaze settled on me, a hint of regret tingeing his green eyes. Or was that my imagination?

‘Jon, how could you?’ My voice wobbled but stayed upright.

Jon sighed. ‘Callie, I like you. I respect you – and there are probably only three people on this godforsaken planet I can say that about. I tried to let Troy leave, I really did, but he refused to go anywhere without Liberty.’

‘What am I supposed to say to that? Thank you?’