rushed in, clutching her phone. ‘Neo’s totally freaked out. Dad’s at home and he and Salena are having this, like, huge fight. I’m going to get him. You can’t stop me.’
I flicked off the coffee and grabbed my jacket. ‘Neo rang you?’
‘I don’t care if it means I have to see Dad. I’m getting him out of there. He’s totally terrified.’ She held out her hand. ‘Give me the car keys.’
I pocketed them and made for the door. ‘Stay here. I’ll get him.’
She paused, unsure whether to argue with me, but I was already at the door. ‘I’ll bring him back, Sunny. It’ll be okay. Stay here.’ I closed the door before she insisted on coming with me.
It took less than ten minutes to get to the house. Justin’s BMW was parked across the pavement. Anton lounged in the driver’s seat, window down, elbow triangled across the frame. He watched me through the side mirror until I reached the gate, then his eyes lifted to stare directly at me. From the pavement the sound of Salena yelling could be heard all the way from the back of the house. Anton’s eyes were on me as I pushed the gate open and made my way towards the sound.
They were locked in a scuffle. Salena, red-faced, was trying to wrench her arms free, but Justin pinned her forearms against her hips and advanced on her, pushing her back towards the fridge. He kept his body close to hers so she couldn’t get any leverage. Over his shoulder Salena spotted me as I came through the open patio door. She increased her efforts.
‘You won’t get anywhere near her ever again and if you try I will kill you!’ Salena yelled at him and then set about trying to do just that.
I spotted Neo curled in a wicker chair in the corner of the room, his eyes squeezed shut, his hands over his ears. His eyes sprung open in fright from my touch.
‘It’s okay, Neo,’ I said. ‘I’ll sort this. Are you alright?’
He nodded. His sticky, tear-stained face brought my dream back to me in a rush.
‘I didn’t do anything,’ Justin said, struggling to keep Salena’s arms pinned. Her back was against the fridge, Justin’s body pressed against hers, so Salena did what any self-respecting street fighter would do. She kicked his shins.
‘I don’t ever want to see you again. You disgust me,’ she yelled and spat directly in his eyes. Instinctively, Justin let her go to wipe away the spit. With her arms freed she slapped him, a real roundhouse wallop across the side of his face. It made an impressive whip-crack sound that seemed to surprise them both. It must have hurt.
I closed in on them. ‘Stop! Stop now, you two, before things get really ugly.’
Justin turned at the sound of my voice. Salena took that as an invitation to punch him on the jaw. His head swung round from the impact. Instinctively, he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her hard against the fridge.
‘Don’t do that again, Salena.’ It sounded like a last-chance warning growl an animal makes before it attacks. Calm and very threatening. Most people would have backed off but it seemed to have the reverse effect on Salena.
She pushed her heated face up to his. ‘Or what? You’re going to hit me? Go on then! Do it!’
Justin’s fist pumped. I took a breath and possibly my life in my hands and squeezed in between them. The acrid smell of Justin’s sweat enveloped me. Facing Salena I held my arms up, hands open in the classic gesture of surrender. It effectively put my body as a block between them. I felt Justin pull away, leaving me pressed up against Salena’s body. Her breasts seemed incredibly hard and, well, there. I wasn’t used to grappling with breasts. I did my best to ignore them.
‘Don’t do this, Salena. Come on, don’t be stupid.’ I was definitely stronger than her and she didn’t fight me but her body was rigid with anger.
Justin headed purposefully towards the hall, then paused, his voice shaky. ‘I just came to get my things, that’s all. I’ll be out of here in ten minutes.’
Salena pushed against me, wanting to have another go at him. I blocked her.
‘Go cool off somewhere, Salena. Come on. Let him get his things.’
Justin was paused awkwardly in the doorway. ‘I don’t want him touching anything of mine,’ she yelled across the room at him. ‘And don’t you go anywhere near Sunny’s bedroom! You