‘What – what story?’ stammered Miller. ‘What am I supposed to tell them?’

A shrug. ‘You are a smart man, I’m sure you will think of something.’

‘Like hell you’re taking me with you!’ said Nina. She tried to deliver a reverse headbutt to Wintz’s face, but he jerked back just enough that she only caught his jaw a glancing blow. He still made a pained noise, which gave her some small satisfaction.

The elevator arrived. ‘Get in,’ Harhund told her.

‘What, or you’re gonna shoot me?’

‘Yes.’ He drew a second gun with his free hand – a Taser.

‘Oh, crap,’ said Nina – as Wintz let go and twin electrified barbs stabbed into her chest.

The Sky Tower’s security personnel had responded to the chaos within, uniformed guards preventing people from entering the building complex and hurriedly ushering others already inside through the exits. Eddie cursed as he watched from behind a concrete pillar. There was a good chance the waiter had already given his description to the authorities, and the Sky Jump employees would also have reported him by now. He wouldn’t be able to get back in without risking being caught – which meant he would have to wait for his enemies to bring Nina out.

At least he knew where they would emerge. Donny Miller didn’t strike him as the kind of man who used cabs; he would almost certainly have a chauffeur, and he had noticed a VIP drop-off and pick-up point at the tower’s foot. They would have to come this way – he hoped.

A squeal of tyres. He turned to see a black Porsche Cayenne SUV rounding the tower. The rear windows were heavily tinted, but the driver was visible: a man in a dark suit and peaked cap. The vehicle screeched to a halt outside the entrance. The driver jumped out to open the rear door.

Eddie looked towards the building. The passengers must be on their way . . .

Harhund hurried out, flanked by Wintz – with Nina between them. She appeared only semi-conscious, both men supporting her.

Eddie rushed from behind the pillar. Pain flared in his ankle, but he refused to surrender to it. The mercenaries bundled Nina into the SUV, the chauffeur watching in confusion before hurrying back to the driver’s seat in response to Harhund’s shouted order.

The mercenary leader saw the Englishman running towards him—

Eddie tensed, ready to dodge gunfire – but instead Harhund dived into the Cayenne. ‘Go!’ he bellowed. Wintz scrambled in after him as the vehicle powered away.

The Yorkshireman swerved to intercept, but his aching ankle slowed him. ‘Shit!’ he roared as the escaping Porsche bounded onto the street, making a skidding left turn. He ran after it, reaching the pavement just in time to see it run a red light at a crossroads and swing out of sight to head south.