Emmanuel said nothing, but his eyes narrowed and his muscles tensed, ready for whatever was about to come his way.

Tom threw the three cups of scalding coffee straight into the other man’s face. Emmanuel screamed and put his hands up to his eyes as Tom followed up by driving his right elbow straight into the bigger man’s solar plexus with devastating force. The elbow is often a far more effective striking weapon than a fist, and the kinetic energy which was concentrated through the small surface area caused Emmanuel’s breath to leave his body with a whoosh as he doubled over and hit the floor, gasping. Tom jumped over him and burst through the door, taking in the scene in front of him.

Jeta was bent over the teak desk, her sundress hitched up over her hips, her briefs discarded on the floor. The dress front was ripped away, and vivid red weals were visible around her bra strap. She looked utterly terrified, her eyes wild with fear. ‘Tomo, Tomo, molim, molim!’

Adebayo’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of Tom. His trousers and boxers were down by his skinny ankles. He began pulling away from the girl, his rapidly deflating penis clearly visible.

‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Emmanuel, Emmanuel!’ he screamed, his face a mixture of fear and anger. He grabbed a letter opener from the desk and waved it threateningly at Tom. ‘Keep the fuck away from me, you fool! Do you know who you’re fucking with? I’ll have you killed, you impudent Serb fucker!’

Time slowed for Tom, as it always did in circumstances like this. Jeta was the priority: he had to get her away from there, now. He had everything he needed on tape to put both brothers away for a long time.

Adebayo continued to threaten him with the letter knife. ‘Come near me and I’ll cut you,’ he snarled, more out of fear than anger, but Tom saw it in his eyes that he was defeated.

‘I’m taking the girl. Come on, Jeta.’

The girl picked up her underwear and ran to Tom’s side, rearranging her sundress as she did so, her movements shaky with terror and her breathing rapid. She was showing all the signs of shock and it was only at that moment that Tom saw the livid bruise and swelling forming at the corner of her left eye.

‘Take the slut then,’ yelled Adebayo. ‘You’ll never get my business again. Plenty of people like you, you fuck. You mean nothing!’

Tom slowly approached the lawyer, his eyes fixing him with an even gaze, full of contempt. Adebayo raised the knife and continued to wave it threateningly at Tom.

‘I’ll stab you, I promise, you bastard,’ he hissed, his voice full of fear and loathing.