Barber Shop Ink - Book 3: Riverworth

by Penny Blush

  “Because Jaxon, I pretty god damn sure I just saw her walking into an underground meeting with two of the major players of the fucking UK mafia.”

  “How Davan? How did you see her?”

  “Because I saw her through my riflescope. I am perched on the fucking roof across the alley from the god damn pub where the meeting is being held,” I seethed.

  “Are you on a job Dav?”

  “Yes, I’m on a fucking job.”

  “Who’s the target Davan? Who’s the target?”

  “Morningstar.”

  “Fuck.”

  “Explain Jaxon,” I demanded, my eyes locked on what was happening in the room.

  “You know after you redeployed she started martial arts, gymnastics, boxing to help her deal with her anger and shit.”

  “Yeah, and?”

  “She’s a fucking champion. I think she’s a triple black belt in a few different forms. Anyway, because of her training I knew she would be okay when I left her with Charlie. While Jupe was in London she worked for Charlie.”

  “What the fuck Jaxon!”

  “In his legitimate business doing bookkeeping and shit. She trained with the owner of the pub’s Mrs and got her hairdressing licence. She was living a normal life.”

  “And?” I press pressed again.

  “And one day she was in one of Charlie’s clubs before opening doing the books and payroll and she got attacked. Two guys came in thinking only the manager would be there and were planning on leaving his beaten body as a message to Charlie, they also found Jupiter.”

  “Did they touch her?” I asked feeling bile rising in my throat.

  “Charlie found her sometime later clutching Travis’s lifeless body and the two attackers dead at her feet.”

  “Jaxon! Did they touch her?” I asked with force.

  “They roughed her up, but no they didn’t touch her, not like that. Most of the injuries she received where defensive wounds.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t she?”

  “I didn’t find out until she was home. I didn’t find out for almost six years. Anytime I spoke to her, she made out like everything was okay.”

  “How did she go from being attacked to becoming fucking Morningstar?”

  “Jupe can give you the full story when you come home but Charlie didn’t want her to feel like a victim. So, he had her train with his number one. She built her strength back up they taught her how to use guns, knives, anything she could get her hands on to use as a weapon. In a weird twisted way, he thought he was doing right by her giving her away to channel her anger.”

  “Fuck.”

  “She got out Davan. She was out. Morningstar was disappeared. Jupiter recovered she has a great life. She’s getting married. But that shit stain Nicholas Vex has been extorting her fiancé for money for years. Then Memphis had the shit beaten out of him, they stabbed him multiple times. He almost died Dav. My best friend almost died, but she saved him. Because of the training Charlie put her through she saved his life. Vex wouldn’t back off and Memphis had paid his debt off but Vex wanted more. So, Morningstar paid Vex a visit. It was just a conversation in a fucking church. But Vex got all butt hurt at being told to sit down and shut up by a girl. He went running to the Marino family making up a bullshit story about how Morningstar was coming for them.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yep, Gianni retaliated by killing Brian and Stella, friends of Charlie. Charlie stepped in and spoke with Georgiou hoping to prevent all-out war.”

  “And he requested a meeting,” I finished for him.

  “Vex, in no uncertain terms, declared he would kill us all. But would keep Memphis alive and make him watch as Vex forced Jupiter and Cassidy to pay down his debt, by any means necessary.”

  He didn’t need to explain any further, I knew what he meant. I knew how that bastard would make my sister and her friend pay the debt. The sick fuck would make her fiancé watch, then he would make him watch as they killed the girls before ending his life.

  “She’s trying to save her family Dav. Before she left, she promised that she would attend this meeting and then Morningstar would forever put to rest.”

  “Jesus, fuck Jax. What the fuck? All this goddamn time, my sister has been a fucking mob assassin?! This secret keeping bullshit needs to end.”

  “You first Cuz. Dav need to come home. You need to tell her where the fuck you have been and why you have stayed away for so fucking long. She needs you. She needs her fucking brother.”

  “Jesus. Fuck how am I going to get her out of there? My mission is to put a bullet in her head the second she walks out the door, if I don’t someone else on my team will. The only way to prevent that from happening is to take out every member of my own fucking team.”

  “Dav, she has a plan. She’ll get herself out.”

  “Jax, we have the fucking building surrounded there is no way she’s walking away from this.”

  “Trust me Dav, trust her. She could walk right past you in the middle of New Year’s Eve in Times Square and you wouldn’t even know it. Just make sure your guys stay off her ass. She’ll surprise you Davan, just keep her alive.”

  Chapter 29 Morningstar

  “Is it just me or was his agreement a little too forthcoming,” Charlie asked as the basement door slammed shut behind Vex.

  “I told you Nicky could be a reasonable man,” Gianni stated defending his friend.

  “Gianni, you’re a fucking idiot,” Charlie laughed. “Sorry Georgiou, but it’s true if he thinks this is over.”

  “Oh, this is anything but over,” I added climbing up on to the conference table.

  “Love, what are you doing?” Charlie asked.

  “Gianni, your reasonable, loyal friend Nicky was planning on killing you,” I said pulling the explosive device down off the gas pipe running the length of the roof.

  “What the fuck is that?” Gianni asked taking a stumbling step back.

  “This my dear Gianni is the explosive device Vex planted, designed to take us all out in another ninety seconds,” I replied noting the time on the digital read-out.

  “That motherfucker! I’m going to fucking kill him!”

  “Why because he made you look like an idiot?”

  “Because he planned to kill my father, me and Charlie,” he said exasperated.

  “And what? I don’t even rate a mention. Gianni, I thought we had something special.”

  “Enough!” Georgiou’s voice boomed through the room. “Gianni, you do not get to act all disgusted by Mr Vex when not five minutes ago you were defending his actions. Morningstar knew of Mr Vex’ intentions and took measures to disable all threats.”

  “What are we going to do about Nicky boy?” Charlie asked.

  “Let’s deal with this another day. It’s time to go.”

  I followed the men out of the basement, I had a clear view of the alley from my position where I stood in the shadows of the doorway watching them leave. Once they were gone I planned on stepping back into the basement changing and disappearing into the lunchtime crowd of the pub.

  “Gianni, I want you to go back to my house,” Georgiou instructed. “We still have to discuss your part in how this unpleasantness started.”

  “I’ll drive you,” Gianni replied his voice sounding small.

  He knew he was in big trouble. There is nothing worse than being in trouble with your boss. When your boss is also your father… Well, let me just say I did not envy the conversation they would have.

  “Charles and I have things to discuss. I will meet you at home,” Georgiou advised as Charlies town car stopped at the mouth of the alley beside the pub.

  “Yes Pop.” Gianni turned and walked toward his car before turning back and adding, “hey Charlie, I’m sorry, for what happened with Brian and Stella I mean. It wasn’t supposed to go down like that. I told them to rough them up not kill them.”

  Charlie didn’t reply as Gianni walked back to his car. He just stood
there watching his back. The look in his eye was a cross between sadness, anger and disappointment. It was the look you get when you find out that your hero is just as human as flawed as the rest of us.

  “Well at least he apologised,” Charlie sighed.

  I watched Gianni’s retreating form as he reached in to his suit pocket and pulled out his keys. He was still a few feet from his car when he pushed the clicker on the key fob. The tail lights flashed signalling that the car was unlocked and then…

  BOOM!

  Gianni’s car exploded and erupted into flames.

  “GIANNI!” I screamed abandoning my position in the shadows and took off down the alley.

  “Jupiter STOP!” Charlie called after me.

  My heart was in my throat when I reached him. “Gianni, Gi, talk to me please,” I begged as I grabbed him by the collar of his suit jacket dragging him back from the flames. “Call an ambulance,” I screamed back at Charlie and Georgiou who seemed frozen in shock.

  Gianni was in a bad way. His left leg was badly damaged it hung at a funny angle, the bone was visible, the flesh hanging off in chunks and he was bleeding heavily. If I was right, he would lose it. He was moaning in pain and his breathing was pained and laboured.

  “Ambulance is on its way,” Charlie said crouching down beside me.

  “I think he hit his head, possibly has a concussion he’s not responding. Gi, Gi can you hear me? C’mon Gi please,” I begged removing his belt.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Charlie asked.

  “Tring to save his leg,” I grunted as I looped the belt around his leg pulling it tight using it as a tourniquet.

  “I thought you said you got everything.”

  “I did. I got everything in the pub. Every camera, every bomb, every trap. I got them all.”

  “Then what the fuck happened?”

  “M,” Gianni mumbled.

  “Gi, oh thank God. Stay awake Gi, I need you to stay awake for me okay. Keep talking to me, the ambulance is on its way.”

  “Vex,” Gianni moaned.

  “There were no other devices. There was no mention on any of the surveillance the he planned to do anything else. He must have had one of his men plant a bomb in Gianni’s car when we were all in the pub.”

  “I want you to do whatever it takes,” Georgiou said his voice hollow. I hadn’t even heard him approach over the sound of the car burning. The tires popping, glass cracking. “I want you to do whatever it takes to get that bastard. Morningstar has to do this. I need her. I need Morningstar. Charles, I am calling in every marker I have with you.”

  Georgiou lowered himself to the ground nudging me out of the way. He took his son’s head and lay it in his lap, brushing his hair out of his eyes. Laying a hand over his chest so he could feel his chest rise and fall with every breath. The thump of every heart beat so he knew his son was still alive.

  “I know you only came here to attend this meeting. I know this is no longer your life but please I need you to do this. Please I am begging Ragazza Dolce. He tried to kill my boy.”

  A single tear slid down his cheek. I looked into the eyes of a man that loved both of Jupiter and Morningstar as a grandfather and saw a man broken and in pain.

  “We have to do it,” Jupiter whispered. “A man like Nicholas Vex cannot be allowed to live. He has hurt too many people. We must do it. You have to do it. Kill him Morningstar.”

  As the wail of sirens echoed down the alley, Jupiter once again retreated to the background. Letting me take control.

  “I’ll do it.”

  Chapter 30 Apollo

  BOOM!

  “GIANNI!” My sisters voice echoed down the alley, making my blood run cold.

  The concussive blast from the bomb rattled through my chest.

  “Fuck!”

  “Apollo, come in Apollo,” my commanders voice boomed through the coms.

  “Copy.”

  “Apollo, what the fuck was that?”

  “Car bomb.”

  I looked back down the alley. My sister and uncle along with Georgiou were standing near the pub when the blast occurred. She was okay. I knew she was okay, but my heart still stopped when the blast occurred.

  “Report.”

  “One victim. Gianni Marino. Emergency services are on the way.”

  “Copy. Maintain current position. We are here for Morningstar. Can you engage the target?”

  The target is my fucking sister!

  “Negative Hawkeye. There are too many civilians. Emergency services now on scene.”

  “Copy.”

  I watched as they stabilised Gianni and placed him on to a gurney and loaded into the back of the ambulance. Charlie stood back watching Georgiou climb into the back with his son.

  “Apollo. Proceed to operation delta.”

  “Copy, going mobile.”

  “Apollo maintain contact.”

  “Copy Hawkeye. Out.”

  I watched my sister and uncle talking before they exited the alley. I had to get my ass moving before I lost her. I packed my sniper rifle in my pack and hit the streets.

  Although we were authorised to act on UK soil, my team still had to maintain a low profile. I was wearing dark jeans, boots and a grey hoody. My gear along with my rifle, now broken down, was stowed in a kit bag. I looked like your average guy heading home from work or on the way to the gym.

  I caught sight of her heading to the tube station. I took out my basic nondescript ball cap and putting it on, pulling it low helping to hide my face. The last time I saw Jupiter I was clean shaven, today I was sporting a full beard that was looking a little scruffy. At a glance I don’t think my sister wouldn’t recognise me, but I had to take precautions. She was just about at the entrance to the station when a black town car pulled up and the rear passenger window rolled down.

  “Get in,” Charlie said.

  “No, I have to go home and get my equipment first,” she replied.

  “You weren’t followed, that was the deal, to separate to make sure you weren’t followed, now get in.”

  I heard Charlie say as I walked past headed to the tube station. She grumbled as she got in the car.

  Shit.

  Her getting in the car meant that I couldn’t follow her, but I knew where she was going. Charlie’s. It wasn’t ideal, but I was okay with it. Charlie’s place was a fucking fortress. He had a high-tech security and a security team patrolling the grounds 24/7. It may look like he walked the city around unprotected, but he had personal security that were always close by and who could blend into a crowd.

  Okay so new plan, I knew where she was going, once the town car pulled away I changed direction and headed back to my crash pad. I showered, changed and checked and rechecked my gear. Then I made myself eat and sleep. I might not know my sister any more, but I knew Morningstar.

  I knew just as my commander knew, Morningstar would go after Nicholas Vex and let’s face it no one would mourn the loss of that dirt bag. But, she would not go running blindly into the night guns blazing. No, she would plan, she would strategize, she would run scenarios.

  Knowing now that Morningstar is my sister, I re-reviewed every one of her hits. Reviewing them with fresh eyes. Knowing it was my kid sister responsible for those deaths I could see what my superiors, my commander couldn’t see. What I couldn’t see.

  No innocents were victims of Morningstar.

  Every single person who met their end at her hands deserved to die. They weren’t tortured, they weren’t played with. They were given the opportunity to confess, to atone and if they refused, they were executed. Quick, easy, painless.

  The more I reviewed her work the more I realised that she was not Morningstar the devil, evil. She was Morningstar the avenging angel. She was bringer of justice.

  Morningstar would regroup and plan how she would kill Nicholas Vex.

  I would take my time, regroup and plan how to save my sister.

  Chapter 31 Morningstar

  “I know you.
I know how you work. I know you need to plan the ever-loving-fuck out of everything, but why the fuck is that bastards head not in a box already?”

  Charlie had been on this same rant ever since we arrived at his home. He wouldn’t shut up, he just kept going around and around.

  “You know why,” frustrated I replied for the tenth time.

  “He tried to kill us!”

  “I know this Charlie. I was there.”

  “Then why aren’t you acting?”

  “Because she needs to plan, she needs to make sure it’s done right and that there are no unnecessary casualties.”

  “Make the Plan. Perfect the plan and double check the plan.” I replied turning toward the owner of the deep scratchy voice. “Malcolm.”

  “Miss Morningstar it’s been a while.”

  Malcolm looked the same, he may be a little greyer and there were a few more worry lines around his eyes, but he was the same.

  “Did you do something with your hair?” I asked tilting my head.

  “Got it cut last week thanks for noticing.”

  “You two you can braid each other’s hair later. What are we going to do about Vex?” Charlie asked.

  “At this stage, nothing.”

  “What?!”

  “What we will do is, not to sound like a broken record but, plan. We must be smart, Charlie. A bomb exploded in the middle of suburban London today. The police and Scotland Yard and the fucking SAS will be all over this. We have to be smart we have to make sure we come out of this alive and that Vex doesn’t.”

  “I want him to pay. I want him to suffer. Not just for Georgiou and Gianni but also for you.”

  “For me?”

  “Yes you. He could have killed you today. You shouldn’t have even been there, Morningstar should have stayed in a fucking box. My niece was out and happy and now because of that bastard you had to pretend to be Morningstar again.”

  “Charlie I’m not pretending, I am Morningstar.”

  “Oh, don’t give me that crap Jupiter, it’s been a long fucking day and I have a headache.”

  I was sick of having to explain to him we were two separate people. But if not having the same argument with him again meant that we could wrap this up and I could go find a fucking drink then I would keep my mouth shut.