Barber Shop Ink - Book 3: Riverworth

by Penny Blush

  One of the most recent photos had been of Jupiter standing between Memphis and Jax at the beach in a bikini. She was turned side on to the camera showing an impressive tattoo that ran from high on her ribs to her mid-thigh. It was a stunning design but as her big brother I would still be giving her shit over it when I got home.

  “Hawkeye, Apollo. Final target on approach.”

  “Copy.”

  “Enjoy breathing while you can bitch,” I muttered eying my target through the scope of my riffle.

  Morningstar approached the basement entry door, with all the swagger and confidence of a woman who thought that she was untouchable. For someone with a reputation of being a ghost, her distinguishing appearance would do little to hide her in a crowd. Flaming red hair, bright red lipstick and dressed in leather from head to toe, a top that barely covering anything, her well defined abbs would have been on full display if not for her black leather jacket.

  She opened the door reaching up high on the edge to pull it closed behind her. Raising her arm to close the door caused her jacket to move revealing a tattoo on her right side.

  A very distinct tattoo.

  “Holy. Fuck,” I whispered in disbelief. “Jupiter?”

  Chapter 27 Morningstar

  Jupiter.

  I was just about to pull the door closed behind me when I heard it my name, well her name, whispered on the breeze.

  Jupiter.

  I froze with my hand on the door ready to pull it closed. I scanned the alley and the rooftops of the nearby buildings. I saw nothing. But, I knew what I heard.

  Jupiter.

  I waited for a few more moments. Waited on alert for what I wasn’t sure but, nothing happened. I had a bone deep feeling I was being watched and not by the cameras, I knew where they were. This was something else, it was an itchy tingling feeling that prickled at my skin. This was something different. Someone was watching. I knew all the major players would be, but this was something else, someone else, and I don’t like it.

  I don’t like not knowing all the variables.

  I shrugged off the feeling and stepped over the threshold, pulling the door closed behind me. I took a moment at the top of the stairs to take a breath and re-centre myself. I could feel Jupiter knocking on my brain demanding answers.

  “Who was that? You heard it, right? Someone said my name. My real name. Why would someone in London be saying my name? No one knows I’m here, at the pub. Sam and Kelly only know I’m at the flat. Oh God, Oh God someone knows. They’ve found me. I must protect my family. I’ll accept the consequences, but we need to leave, now!”

  She was staring to panic, and panicking wouldn’t do anyone any good.

  “Jupiter, Honey calm down. No one has found us, we’re fine. We’ve been careful. I’ve covered our tracks. You and I, we’ll be okay.” I said soothing her. “If you want me to I will turn around this instant, they will never know we were here. But, if I do that, this will blow back on everyone not just on us. They’ll come after Jax and Cass and the boys. They will go after Memphis. Is that something you can live with? Is that something you can risk?”

  “No,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to freak out. You’re right if we leave now. it will only make things worse and it will be an insult to Georgiou. Let’s just get this over and done with and back home as quick as possible.”

  I nodded in agreement and felt Jupiter melt into the background of my consciousness calm but pacing. I descended the stairs, my steps cushioned allowing me to listen to the others talk.

  “She’s late are you going to let her disrespect you like that?” Vex asked his voice full of bravado.

  “The best thing you can do Mr Vex is refrain from speaking unless spoken to,” Georgiou advised.

  “She’s not late. The meeting is at Midday, we are all early,” Charlie added.

  “I don’t see why just because she’s got a pair of tits she’s allowed gets away with this shit,” Vex grumbled.

  “You would do well to heed my father’s words Nicky,” Gianni advised.

  Oh, Gianni siding with daddy I see. Typical. Whenever it looked like something would explode and the blowback would hit him, Gianni always threw the closest person under the bus. The closest person in this case being Vex.

  “Morningstar will arrive when required. If you would like to keep your tongue in your head, I would remain silent from now on.” Georgiou was never one to mince words.

  “The rest of us are here so why don’t we just start? The longer we stay here the longer we are in danger of being caught. It’s not good for us to be see together,” Vex said sounding reasonable. That was until he was dumb enough to keep talking. “That stupid bitch can catch up when she gets here.”

  “Can I stab him yet?” Charlie asked stepping toward Vex.

  I chuckled as Vex stumbled back a step. Coward.

  “How long have you been standing there my dear?” Georgiou asked amusement lacing his voice.

  “Long enough,” I replied walking further into the room. “I hoped that if I gave it long enough that Nicholas would provide enough rope to hang himself with and save us all the trouble.”

  The men in the room laughed, even his right-hand man Eric sniggered a little, until Vex shot daggers at him. It’s funny how laughing at a man like Vex took his power away.

  “I have missed you, my dear,” Georgiou said in greeting bringing me into a tight hug.

  “And I you Georgiou, it has been too long.”

  Nicholas gwaffed at our interaction. It was all part of Georgiou’s plan to remind Nicholas who was in charge. Although it was my honour to call Georgiou by name, in normal circumstances he would never embrace me during a meeting. It was all to show Nicholas how little he meant to anyone in the room.

  “Charlie,” I nodded to him.

  “Love,” he replied.

  “Gianni, still taking in strays I see.”

  “Morningstar, still as charming as ever.”

  “Everyone, please sit, let’s address the reason we are all here,” Georgiou said directing everyone to take their seats.

  We all took our places and sat in silence as Georgiou explained how the meeting was to proceed.

  “Now we are all here let us begin.” Georgiou remained standing addressing the group. “First, all mobile phones and or electronic devices in the middle of the table in clear view of everyone and are to be off. I will not stand for them being on silent buzzing all the time.”

  “That means you too sweetheart,” Gianni said winking at me when I didn’t move.

  “I don’t have a phone or any electronics on me,” I replied.

  I never brought them with me when I went to a meeting. Phones were too easy to clone or trace, even with my encryption that would stump even the most experienced professional, it was better to avoid the risk.

  “Sure, you don’t.”

  “Gianni, where would I keep them?” I asked standing, turning in a slow circle. I was wearing skin tight leather pants a leather cropped corset top and a jacket that had no pockets. “You’re more than welcome to check if you think I could hide something.”

  I slid my hands down my sides, over my ass, back over my hips and stomach and up cupping my breasts. Gianni stood his gaze lock on my body, eyes heated.

  “Morningstar stop messing with the boy,” Georgiou chuckled. “Gianni how forgetful you are, Morningstar does not have electronics on her when she attends meetings it is her rule. Now sit down,” Georgiou said authorially a father scolding his son.

  All the men moved to do as Georgiou instructed, sliding their phones into the middle of the table. I looked at the dozen phones piled up in the centre of the table it would take little effort at all for me to clone all their devices. What a wasted opportunity.

  “Here is how the meeting will proceed.” Georgiou announced capturing everyone’s attention. “Everyone will have their say. Everyone will remain respectful and we will decide how to proceed. I want facts. I will not abide ranting o
r unsubstantiated accusations. If you accuse anyone in this room, you better have the evidence to support your claim. This is a business meeting not a school yard squabble. Do you all understand?” Every nodded their agreement. “Okay, Charles I would like for you to begin.”

  “A month ago, someone assassinated my friends Brian and Stella. Brian has been a neutral party for years having no affiliation to any group. Apart from being my friend and allowing for the use of this room for meetings, he wanted nothing to do with any of our businesses which is why meeting attendees could not enter through the pub. All he wanted to know was when the meetings where on and how long we would need the room. Stella,” Charlie said clearing his throat, “was a complete innocent. A beautiful soul who ran a hairdressing salon. When I was first notified of their deaths I thought it was just a horrible accident. That was until I learned that it was retaliation for a threat made against the Marino family. I would like to state for the record I made no such threat.”

  To anyone else Charlie’s cold emotionless tone would make it seem that he was unaffected by the murders of his schoolboy friend and his wife. But, I knew better. The tightness around his eyes, the clipped way he spoke, the way he tapped on the table were all indicators of his swirling emotions. I doubt Charlie had properly grieved their deaths.

  “Thank you, Charles. Gianni please provide your recount of the events that brought us all here,” Georgiou instructed.

  “I received information that Charlie, through Morningstar, made a threat against our family.”

  “And what was that threat?”

  “That Morningstar was coming for us, that she planned to wipe out our family.”

  “Did you receive any evidence to you to support the accusation? Charles and Morningstar have both been friends to this family for years and we have a symbiotic working relationship, what event occurred could have changed this?”

  “I wasn’t given any evidence per-se,” Gianni answered, squirming a little. “But, the intel was from a reliable source.”

  “And who was that source?”

  “My business associate Nicholas Vex,” Gianni answered pointing to Vex.

  “Thank you, Gianni. We will discuss in private why you took it upon yourself to act instead of bringing me this information,” Georgiou said. Letting Gianni and everyone else know he was still in charge of the family and he would deal with Gianni later. To his credit Gianni had the good grace to look worried.

  “Mr Vex, if you would please explain what transpired that led you to bring this alleged threat to my son.”

  “I was sitting in church minding my business when this bitch came and sat beside me,” Vex said throwing a hand in my direction.

  “This, Mr Vex, is the one and only time I will remind you to respect the people in this room,” Georgiou scolded.

  “Sure whatever.”

  Charlie chuckled at Vex’ blasé tone and all I thought was keep digging Vex. All I would have to do was sit back and watch while Vex dug his own grave. I just wish I had popcorn to eat while I watched the show.

  “Continue Mr Vex.”

  “Yeah well like I said she sat down next to me in church and said she had a message for you.”

  “And what was that message?” Georgiou asked.

  “That Morningstar was coming for you on behalf of Charlie because he is sick of playing second fiddle to the Marino’s.”

  “Ha! You’re a lying sack of shit Vex.” Charlie barked before adding. “Sorry Georgiou.”

  “Please continue,” Georgiou said with authority as mischief danced in his eyes.

  Vex went on with his bullshit story. How Charlie was sick of being second rung on the bad-guy ladder. Georgiou was getting old he decided it was the perfect time to take the old man out.

  He had done his research, he had facts, and figures, to back things up. What he didn’t consider was that never in a million years would Charlie do what Vex is accusing him of.

  Vex had been clever though, he planned and made sure he looked like he knew what he was talking about. But he wasn’t clever enough. He should have known through all his research that Charlie did not run drugs or women. That was one reason he worked so well with Georgiou. They knew each other’s strengths and worked them to their advantage but stayed in their respective lanes. Charlie was into loan sharking, extortion, information, money laundering. Charlie stayed away from gun running, prostitution and drugs, they were Georgiou’s domain.

  I was finding it hard not to roll my eyes the more Vex spoke. He was talking shit and everyone in the room knew he was talking shit. The only one who was believing his story was him.

  “Okay, I think I have heard enough,” Georgiou declared cutting Vex off mid rant.

  “Morningstar what do you have to say for yourself?”

  “Thank you, Nicholas for that fantastical story, that both you and I know is – Georgiou if you’ll allow?” He nodded for me to continue. “Total and utter horse shit. But, I commend your attempt at trying to throw me under the bus.”

  “So, what you are saying is that Mr Vex is incorrect in his statement?” Georgiou asked.

  I went through what happened in the church. I laid out all the facts, the loan Memphis’ grandfather took out with Vex. How he had paid it off with in half the allotted time, but he forced Mason Blue to continue to pay. I explained how upon his death Mason Blue’s debt transferred to Memphis and not cancelled out. I explained how Memphis himself had paid out the remaining debt almost three times over.

  As I outlined each-and-every slight that Vex had committed I could see Gianni distancing himself from Vex. I swear if he leant any further to the side to get away from Vex he will fall out of his chair.

  When I finished speaking. Georgiou lent to talk with Charlie in whispered words.

  “Charles and I have discussed things and the matter is done,” Georgiou declared.

  “What do you mean it’s done Pop?” Gianni asked.

  “This little farce is over. Mr Blue’s debt it cleared. Mr Vex will pay five hundred thousand dollars back to Mr Memphis Blue which should cover the over payment.”

  “No, I will-fucking-not!” Vex bellowed.

  “Yes, you will Mr Vex, and you should be thanking me for letting you off so lightly. Charlie and I have been friends for too long to have a viper like you try to come in and destroy our friendship and the way we do business,” Georgiou admonished. “Now it is a much too nice a day to be spending it in doors. This meeting is complete.”

  We all stood, the men collected their electronics off the table and Vex charged out of the room shoulder checking me on the way past.

  “This is not fucking over,” he spat.

  Chapter 28 Apollo

  “Holy. Fuck. Jupiter?”

  “Hawkeye to Apollo, do you have something to report?” My commander asked through my coms.

  Shit. Fuck. I hadn’t meant to say out loud.

  That can’t have been what I saw. No fucking way was that my sweet innocent baby sister. There is abso-fucking-lutely-no-fucking way the famed mob hitwoman who had grown men shitting themselves and saying her name in hushed whispers was my kid sister. Could it? I had to be seeing things. Wasn’t I?

  I had never doubted myself before but one ten second glance had me questioning everything I knew.

  “Negative Hawkeye,” I replied shaking myself and focusing through my rifle scope. “We have the complete package.”

  What the fuck was going on? I couldn’t help my thoughts going back to what I saw and think about my sister. What the fucking hell has been going on while I’ve been on deployment? And why the fuck has Jaxon been keeping this from me?

  “Copy that, switching to internal optics. Let see how this plays out.”

  “Copy.”

  At my commander’s words the video feed from inside the pub came into view. One advantage of my blacker than black, Black Ops team was that we had the best toys. My sunglasses were special tech, they looked like any normal military style wraparound sunglasses
. When I needed to look through my scope, the lens would retract allowing my right eye to press against the scope while my left eye remained protected from the sun, glare and grit. The other feature was that the left lens would projected the video feed from inside the meeting.

  For the first time in my career I took my eye from my scope and brought my right eye lens down, so I had a clear field of vision. I slid my hand into the pocket on my right thigh and retrieved my encrypted satellite phone. Outside communication was non-existent while on an op, but a buddy of mine Jake had gotten an untraceable phone for me. I had responsibilities outside the military and I needed to be contactable always, no matter what. There were three people who had this number Jake, EJ and Jaxon. I brought up the number I was looking for and hit dial.

  “Jaxon,” I said when he answered.

  “Yeah, who the fuck is this?”

  “It’s Davan.”

  “Like fuck it is. Because my cousin wouldn’t just sever contact and not even email me for six fucking years so whoever you are you can fuck right off.”

  “Jaxon if you could shut the fuck up for a second,” I snapped.

  “Holy shit! Davan?”

  “Yeah Jax we can hash this shit out later. I need you to do something for me.”

  “Jupe isn’t here,” Jax cut in.

  “Tell me I did not just see my kid sister walk into a fucking gangster meeting with my motherfucking Uncle Charlie, in London.”

  “What the hell man? Where-the-fuck have you been?” Jax asked shock evident in his voice ignoring my question.

  “Answer the fucking question Jaxon.”

  “Wait. Hang on,” it seemed like his brain had caught up with what I had said. “Did you just say… Are you in London? What the fuck are you doing in London Dav?”

  “Jaxon! Answer. The. Fucking. Question. Why the fuck is Jupiter in London?”

  “Long fucking story Cuz,” he said sounding stressed. “Dav, how do you know she’s in London?”