‘With or without the gun, I could sort you out. Easily,’ said Shauna.

‘Yeah, but you couldn’t stop Josh loving me, could you?’

‘You bitch,’ said Shauna, the gun quivering in her hand.

‘He was mine. Always,’ said Claire. She spread her arms. ‘So go on then. Get it over with. You want to kill me? Do it. I’ll be with Josh then and we’ll be happy. But, Shauna – you will still be alone.’

Shauna felt her finger itching on the trigger. Do it, she thought. Christ, just do it. Her hand shook. She blinked. Nervous sweat was stinging her eyes.

‘What’s stopping you?’ asked Claire.

Shauna’s hand was shaking harder. The gun wavered.

‘You’re like all bullies, aren’t you?’ said Claire, staring at her old enemy. ‘You feed on the fear of your victims, but at heart you’re just a lousy coward.’

‘Shut up!’ yelled Shauna. The gun shook in her hand.

‘So do it. Go on,’ said Claire.

Somehow she couldn’t hold the damned thing steady. ‘Shit!’ Shauna said, explosively, and she slapped the gun down on the countertop and then clutched at the counter, her head spinning, feeling sick, feeling faint and weak.

Claire walked over to Shauna and stood there looking at her. Shauna raised her head and stared into Claire’s calm, pitying blue eyes.

‘Shauna?’ said Claire, leaning her head down close to Shauna’s own.

‘What?’ Her mouth was trembling; words were difficult to get out.

‘Just this,’ said Claire, and hauled her arm back and struck Shauna hard across the face.

Shauna reeled away, clutching at the countertop, a hand flying to her cheek. She stared at Claire and knew she’d lost. The bitch was right. Dead or alive, Claire had always held Josh’s heart. So she’d won.

‘Goodbye, Shauna,’ said Claire, and she walked out of the kitchen, out of the house, and away.

153

153

Shauna didn’t know how she drove over to Chloe’s, but somehow she made it. She was shaking like a leaf in a high wind after her meeting with Claire. What was wrong with her? She should have killed that bitch while she had the chance. And she was flooded with fear for Connor and Aysha. Jesus, what did I start the day I decided to mix with the Cleaver boys? All those years, Jeb had been at her beck and call, but now she was aware that her hold over him had grown perilously thin. She had to think this over. Think what her next step should be. She had so much to deal with. Too much.

Chloe greeted her with the usual false show of affection. She was air-kissed on both cheeks, hugged, ushered inside. Chloe took her raincoat and hung it up.