“Well Shane Wyles, what are you doing in my club?” frowned Mikey.
“I’ve taken him on. He’s part of the crew now,” announced Jez.
“Crew? He’s just a kid.”
“He’s eighteen, a man,” purred Jules, causing the sweat to break out on the back of Shane’s neck.
“Down girl,” said Jez. “Listen Mikey, I know he’s young but he played a fucking blinder today. He warned us Slattery’s men were coming, he knocked out the bastard who tried to mess with our car and he battered another round the head who was coming at me. Not only that, he got us Jared Slattery’s phone number,” he said, tossing the phone to Mikey. “Get Declan onto that, he might be able to trace him for us.”
Shane shuffled anxiously as Mikey scrutinised him closely.
“For fuck’s sake Mikey, Ryan was younger than him when he started out. Give him a chance, I’ve got the feeling he’ll be an asset.”
“Is this what you want Shane?” said Mikey.
“Yes, more than anything. I’ve been waiting for a chance like this for years,” he said, unable to hide his eagerness.
“I’ll vouch for him too,” said Ryan. “He’s been working for me for a few weeks now. He’s got potential.”
Mikey nodded. “Alright, I can’t ask for better references than that. You’re in Shane so you can stay for this discussion.”
Shane’s smile was so wide it was starting to hurt but he couldn’t help it, he was over the fucking moon. Finally his dreams were coming true. He was in the big leagues now.
“But I want that gone,” added Mikey, pointing at Estelle. “Oy, you can’t smoke in here,” he said when she sparked up a cigarette.
“Why, because it’s against the law? You’re kidding, right?”
“I don’t kid,” he spat.
“I’ve just endured a fucking two hour journey without one because His Majesty here wouldn’t let me smoke in his precious car,” she said, pointing at Ryan.
“I’ll sort her,” said Jules, walking around the back of the bar and retrieving a bottle of vodka. She shoved it into a delighted Estelle’s hands, marched her to the office, shoved her inside and locked the door. “There, that’ll keep her occupied until we decide what to do with her.”
“That’s your business,” said Mikey. “I just want her gone from Manchester. She helped the Slatterys set us up.”
“Agreed,” said Ryan. “Don’t worry, we’ll sort it.” He noted how heavy the burden of power was pressing down on Mikey. When they’d first met he’d been full of fun, but it looked like that had all been drained out of him. But this was the life he’d chosen. It just made Ryan even more relieved that he’d handed over the reins of power.
“Now that’s all sorted out let’s turn to the real business,” said Mikey. “There’s a good chance Jared’s in Manchester and he’s behind all the recent mayhem.”
“Yes, I think we can all agree on that,” said Ryan. “It’s vital we find him and neutralise him.”
Shane’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat. They were talking about killing someone.
“We?” Mikey asked Ryan. “Does that mean you’re sticking around?”
“Maybe. I don’t want to worry my kids by being away for too long.”
“Fair enough,” said Mikey. “And our best shot at finding him is with the phone our new employee gave us,” he said.
Shane’s fears melted away as Jez Law clapped him on the back and Mikey Maguire gave him a respectful nod. He wished his mum was here to see the proudest moment of his life.
“Is Riley still in the city?” said Ryan.
“He is, shacked up all cosy with Beth,” replied Mikey.
“Please warn him of what’s coming. I don’t want him getting caught up in this, he’s too much to lose,” said Ryan with a pointed look at Jez and Mikey. “I believe you had trouble with the Starklaws. They’re a good point to start at, they might know where Jared’s hiding.”
“I already thought of that,” replied Mikey. “Both of them have been released from hospital so me, Grant and Mark kicked in the doors of their local haunts but they’d already gone to ground. It’s not just the Starklaws, it’s Bobby Nilsen too.”
“That’s not good, he’s smart,” said Ryan.
“Someone attacked Dane Black’s distribution operation too,” said Jez.
“The fools. I expect the culprits are in hospital?”
“They are. Dane’s already got everything out of them that he can. It was the Starklaws mouthing off about how we’re finished that made them think they could chance their arm, not Jared.”
“Of course not, he’ll be wanting to keep his presence in Manchester low-key.” Ryan hissed out a breath. “I’ve got the awful feeling this is just the beginning. He has something big planned, something much more than attacking the businesses. He’s trying to make you look weak in everyone’s eyes before the final attack. My best guess is he wants your connection with the McVays.”
“Sometimes I wish Danny hadn’t set that up,” sighed Mikey.
Shane tried not to hop with excitement. He knew all about the McVays too, they were brutal Glaswegian gangsters, probably the most feared family in the whole country, even more so than the Maguires and Laws. Toni McVay was running things now after her brother’s mysterious disappearance. He’d no idea they were connected to Mikey and Jez. It struck him just how much he had to learn but these were just the men to teach him.
“At least we’re dealing with Toni now and not Frankie,” said Jez.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good thing,” said Mikey. “Frankie would have lapped this up. Toni sees it as a nuisance or, even worse, weakness.”
“You have to tell her before she finds out from someone else,” said Ryan. “Keeping it from her will only make things worse for you. If you get her onside you’ll crush Jared.”
Jez didn’t like his brother’s use of the word you, it brought it home that he wasn’t going to sort this out for them. In the past it had always been Ryan and Rachel leading the way, even during the Alex nightmare, but they wouldn’t have that support now. It was all on his and Mikey’s shoulders and he prayed they were up to bearing the burden.
They were interrupted by a loud snorting noise coming from the direction of the office. With a sigh Jules threw the door open to reveal Estelle splayed out across the desk, fast asleep, the empty bottle of vodka beside her.
“She finished that already?” she exclaimed.
“That’s nothing,” said Ryan. “We need to get her out of here. The last thing we need is another volatile element in this unstable mixture.”
“And take her where?” said Jez.
“Anywhere as long as it’s away from here,” said Mikey.
“Stick her in a taxi and get the driver to take her as far away as possible,” said Jez.
“You’re joking, no cabbie’s going to let her into his car in that state,” said Jules.
“We’ll bung him enough to make him change his mind,” said Jez.
“I don’t like it,” interjected Ryan. “I want to make sure she’s really gone and I don’t trust anyone else to do it. I’ll drop her off somewhere before I go to the airport.”
“Airport?” said Jez. “I thought you were staying a bit longer.”
“I was but now I want to get away before the McVays become involved. You remember what happened the last time?”
Shane studied each face. Clearly Mikey, Jez and Jules knew what he was talking about but not the others.
“Alright bruv, get back to Rachel and the kids,” said Jez, not looking too happy about it.
“Jez, you can handle this and you’ve got good men behind you,” said Ryan, nodding at Grant and Mark. “You don’t need me anymore. Say goodbye to Riley for me, I was hoping to pay him a visit before I left but I won’t have time now.”
The brothers hugged, clapping each other on the back. “Take care bruv,” said Jez.
“You too. Remember when you first took
over I told you the secret of staying on top?”
Shane waited with baited breath, straining to hear this secret, golden formula to success but to his chagrin Jez just nodded.
“I do. Christ, I wish Battler and Bruiser were still in the area, we could really use their back-up. Do you think…”
“No I don’t. Bruiser’s not going to leave Daina’s side while she’s pregnant and Battler won’t work without his brother.”
“They’re better off staying down in Devon anyway,” said Mikey. “Just in case. We don’t know what Jared’s got planned yet.”
“Exactly.”
Ryan shook Mikey’s hand then turned to Jules and looked at her uncertainly before holding his hand out to her too. She ignored it and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He froze before hugging her back, tentatively patting her shoulder. “It was good to see you too Jules. Thank you for your assistance.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, releasing him. “Give Rachel a big kiss from me.”
“I want you to be careful too. This isn’t a game.”
“I’m well aware of that.” Her grey eyes, identical his own, gazed up at him, full of seriousness. “Jez has got his big sis now,” she said quietly. “I’ll look after him.”
Ryan nodded. Somehow he thought she would.
Mikey crooked his finger. “Jules, I want a word with you lady.”
“Oh-oh, looks like I’m in trouble,” she smiled.
“If I were you I wouldn’t grin,” replied Ryan, taking in Mikey’s severe look.
Deciding he was probably right, Jules wiped the smile off her face and followed Mikey into the office. Jez watched them go, his jaw set.
Mikey slammed the door shut behind him, leaning against it, palm splayed across the cool wood as he got his temper under control.
“Have I done something wrong?” she said politely.
“Wrong?” He almost choked on the word. “You killed my brother.”
“You killed my dad.”
“Is that what this is, payback?”
“No. How could you think I’d do something like that?”
“That’s what it seems like to me.”
“Well it’s not. I did you a big favour because I could see you were going the same way I was with Leighton. That sort of pain is a cancer that needs to be cut out quickly before it eats you alive.”
“You had no right to do it without getting my expression permission.”
“And what would you have said if I’d asked? Dithered about for weeks, probably months until Jake did something to really hurt you.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“He already had,” she exclaimed. “For someone who is so sharp you can be really blind. Jake was putting it about the prison that you and Jez can’t hold the throne for much longer and people were starting to believe it. If you’d arsed around any longer he would have done you some serious damage.” When he looked down at the floor she exclaimed, “you knew.”
“Keep your voice down,” he hissed. “Of course I knew, I know everything that goes on in this city.”
“And you did sod all about it. I did the right thing and I will not apologise for it.”
“Your arrogance astounds me.”
“It’s not arrogance, it’s about survival. You have got to get it into your head that you’re not a lackey anymore, you’re the fucking big man and you have to make decisions that aren’t always pleasant. If you’re not up to the job then say now and step aside.”
He thrust his face into hers. “Think you can do better?”
“I don’t want it but if you haven’t got the balls to make the hard choices then get out now, while you still can.”
His eyes lit up with fury. “This is fucking mutiny.”
“No, this is me doing my job and watching your back. If you don’t like the way I operate then maybe I shouldn’t work for you anymore.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t,” he snapped. “I should have let Ryan bury you in Devon when he wanted to.”
The pain cut Jules deep, deeper than she would have thought possible. She felt closer to Mikey than either of her brothers, especially after the talk they’d had in the café. Now he’d thrown it all back in her face. “Fine, I’ll fuck off then. Good luck,” she yelled before marching to the door.
“Jules, wait,” he said, grabbing her arm.
“Get the fuck off me,” she said, shrugging him off.
“I said wait,” he snarled, grabbing her by the shoulders and slamming her up against the wall. “When I say wait you fucking wait.”
“Why? It’s obvious you don’t want me around.”
His eyes pierced her. “We both know that’s a lie.”
They stared at each other in silence, painfully aware of the others just on the other side of the door, they could hear them talking and moving about.
“I did it for you and Jez,” she whispered, not wanting the others to overhear.
“For Jez, really?” he said, eyes clouded with doubt.
She shook her head. “No, for you.”
Mikey exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening on her arms, leaning so close their foreheads touched.
“You promised not to do this again,” she said. “That kiss in Devon was the one and only.”
“I don’t know if I can keep that promise,” he whispered back.
Involuntarily he pressed his body against hers and Jules went rigid when she felt his hardness pressing against her. The old Jules wouldn’t have failed to respond but now she found herself hesitating, thinking about how sweet Amber had been to her, even if she was a bit daft. There was Jax too. But there was something deep and delicious between her and Mikey and it was becoming harder to resist. The fact they were first cousins didn’t seem to make a dent with either of them.
Jules rocked forward on her feet, going up on her tiptoes so his hardness pressed between her legs instead, putting pressure on that sweet spot. Her lips parted to released a quiet gasp. Mikey released a grunt, hands sliding down her body to cup her buttocks, his blood surging when he felt how round and firm that backside was. He pulled her tighter against him while rocking his hips forward. Jules released another quiet gasp, parting her legs wider as he pushed up harder. Still they didn’t kiss, both telling themselves it didn’t count if they didn’t kiss. Instead they continued to stare at each other, Mikey’s gaze positively ferocious. Desperate to explore her, he slid one hand up her back inside her t-shirt, the other keeping a firm hold on her backside and releasing a heavy breath at the feel of her bare, soft skin. His fingers brushed her bra strap and he considered snapping it open, but he knew if he did he’d have the rest of her clothes off in seconds so he left it alone.
“I want you so bad,” he whispered in her ear, just allowing his lips to brush her skin. “There’s just a thin piece of material separating us.” He pressed his hand between her thighs.
Jules released a louder gasp and gripped onto his shoulders, eyes slowly rolling open to stare into his. “You won’t do it.”
He pressed harder with his hands and hips, smiling when she bit her lip. “Don’t challenge me because you will lose.”
Her lips curled into her trademark malicious smile. “I dare you.”
His fingers flicked open the button of her jeans. “Dangerous,” he whispered.
A loud hammering on the other side of the door caused them to hastily release each other.
“Oy, you going to be much longer in there?” yelled Jez.
“Yeah, we’re done,” called back Mikey, buttoning up his suit jacket to hide his desperate erection, which only strained even harder when he saw how flushed and breathless Jules was.
“He has really bad timing,” she commented.
“Or he’s suspicious.”
“No problem, we’ll just front it out,” she said before pulling the door open.
Jez stood before them, hands on hips, suspicious eyes flicking from Mikey to Jules. “What was that about?”
&nbs
p; “My brother’s dead,” said Mikey.
The suspicion was replaced by surprise. “Jake, how?”
“Why don’t you ask her?” he said, folding his arms across his chest and nodding sternly at Jules, attempting to look cool and menacing while inside his heart was hammering.
“Jules?” said Jez, turning to her.
“I arranged for a little parcel to be delivered to Manchester Prison. A friend of mine applied it and it was successful.”
“Package?” demanded Jez.
“One of her specialist injections, just like she gave Uncle Terry,” said Mikey. “Made it look like a heart attack.”
“So no one’s sussed anything?” said Jez.
“No and no one will,” replied Jules. “I am a professional.”
“Because he was gobbing off in prison?”
“Yep,” said Mikey. “She just went right ahead without bothering to check, in typical Jules fashion.”
“If you ask me she’s done us all a favour, he was one big fucking liability. Sorry Mikey, I know he was your brother but after what he did to you I’ve no sympathy for the bastard.”
“It’s done now and there’s nothing anyone can do to change it,” said Mikey.
“Have you told your mum yet?” said Jez.
“No, I’ve not had time,” he mumbled, although it was a lie. Things had been hectic but not that hectic. He was putting it off and he knew it. Still, on the bright side this news had distracted Jez from his suspicions about himself and Jules. He glanced sideways at her, grinning inwardly when the corner of her mouth lifted into a smile. She was thinking exactly the same thing.
“Has Ryan gone?” said Jules.
“Yep,” replied Jez. “He had to carry Estelle out, she was comatose. Oh what now,” he sighed when his phone started to ring. He glanced at the screen before answering. “Alright Babe, what’s up?”
Both Mikey and Jules listened with interest when he paled. “I’ll be right there.”
“What’s up?” said Mikey as he hung up.
“That was Cathy’s mum. She’s at the hospital with her, apparently Cathy’s had some bleeding. It might be a miscarriage.”
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