Page 40 of Guarding Salvation

“He went into the Mill Motel about an hour ago.”

“Thank you, Jake, this has been very helpful.”

Jake took his usual booze and fags and left. It was a shame, if he’d been half trainable Jimmy would’ve liked him in his employ proper, but he knew his head was too fucked to be of use. But with his own men dead, or at least he presumed they were dead, he needed more bodies. Perhaps it had been time for a new guard though and maybe these assholes, whoever they were, had done him a favour and cleaned out the rubbish for him.

Jimmy made a call getting someone to head for the Mill and pick up the nosy parker so they could have a chat.

Maybe this day was looking up.

Chapter 17

He’d hardly slept a wink last night, knowing Aoife was on the other side of the wall and he couldn’t touch her. It was like a living, breathing need, the urge to have his hands on her in the smallest of ways, and not just sexually. Although thoughts of her in bed had made sleep so uncomfortable that in the end, he’d had to get up and take care of himself so he could get some relief.

Now it was seven am and he’d already been for a run around the grounds and was headed to check in with Snow and Titan. The air was cold and fresh, a bite to it that he loved invigorating his body and mind in a way nothing else could.

“Hey.” He walked through the door of the cottage where his friends were set up and found Titan frying bacon, with Snow sitting at the kitchen table with her laptop open in front of her.

“Morning, my Laird.”

Since telling them of his title so they weren’t shocked by it when they came here, Titan and Snow had been taking the piss constantly.

“Peasants, how are you this fine morning?”

He took a seat opposite Snow as she grinned at him. Titan plated up the bacon and eggs, raising an eyebrow to offer him some. Bram declined, knowing Mrs Murrel would’ve cooked enough to feed an army.

“Any chatter?”

“No, nothing. Doyle is quiet. I think taking out his top men has wounded him, so he’ll probably pull back and retreat to lick his wounds for a bit before coming back at her. Hurricane says there’s no movement from his usual haunts and Bás wants him back here. It’s too dangerous for him being there alone and we’re stretched too thin. You know he hates us being divided like this.”

“That’s a good call. Has Watchdog found anything we can use?”

“Plenty of rumours, stories that would turn you grey, but nothing we can use.”

“I think the Russians are our best way in and so does Bás. Lotus has gone to meet with Rykov.”

Rykov Anatolievich was the head of the Anatolievich family and a rising star in the Russian Bratva. He was also a Shadow asset and had a major soft spot for Lotus.

“Do you think he’ll help us against his own men?”

Snow shrugged. “No clue, but if anyone can persuade him, it’s Lotus.”

Bein agreed, she was their best bet right now.

“Doyle won’t give up, though, Bein, you know that.”

“I do, which is why he has to die.”

Titan sat down at the table, a mountain of food in front of him and tucked in, eating half of it before he spoke. “You sure that’s a road you want to go down?”

Bein wasn’t sure what he meant by that. “What do you mean?”

“Killing for the job is one thing, killing for another person is different, especially when it’s revenge.”

“This is a job.”

Titan arched a brow. “Is it?”

Bein was getting impatient now. “Just spit it out, Titan.”