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Xeno – A year ago
“What are we doing here, Dax?” I ask, scowling at my best friend. My gaze flicks around the dingy pub situated on a backstreet in Hammersmith that’s frequented by old geezers who look like they’ve got one foot in the grave already. None of these arseholes care that they’re drinking piss-water so long as they get the kick they need to satisfy their alcoholic selves.
It's the perfect spot for secret meetings. None of the Skins would come here, and Jeb definitely wouldn’t, but I’m guessing that’s the point. Despite that, I’m on edge, just like I am most days. I can’t even remember the last time I ever felt relaxed enough to chill out, to crack a fucking smile even, and this shit they pass off as brandy ain’t helping me to feel any better.
“I told you, we’re meeting someone important,” Dax replies flippantly, like we’re not here doing something we shouldn’t, given Jeb knows fuck all about this meet up. Really, I don’t give a shit about Jeb or what he would think, but I am pissed that Dax is keeping things fromme.
“Meeting withwho, Dax?” I give him a look that tells him I’m about two seconds away from walking out and spending the night with some random woman to ease the constant pain in my chest. The pain we all carry, because ofher. I need this bullshit, today of all days, like a fucking hole in the head. “Dax, I ain’t fucking around.”
“Eastern called me,” he replies, picking up his pint of beer and necking it back in one go, like it doesn’t taste like shit, making my eyes bug out of my head.
“Eastern’s coming to London? Has he got a fucking death wish? Jeb might’ve stepped in and taken over the Hackney’s Hackers crew after the King died, but you know as well as I that those cunts are still after his head,” I hiss.
“No, he ain’t stupid. Eastern, Asia and the rest of them ain’t coming back to London anytime soon. Besides, I never said we were meeting him. I said hecalledme.”
“If we’re not meeting Eastern, then who the fuck are we actually here for then?”
Dax’s eyes flick from my face to someone entering the pub. He jerks his chin and I follow his gaze which lands on a man who—despite wearing a pair of scuffed trainers, jeans and hoodie—has all the hallmarks of someone with a lot of money. He might be dressed down to blend in, but even from over here I can see the expensive haircut, the bright white teeth and clean-shaven face that tells me he’s more than just some punk off the street. In fact, I know he is because I recognise this man.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter. “That’s Hudson Freed.”
“Yep. Got it in one, mate.”
I watch as Hudson, businessman and co-owner of Freed Corporation—alongside his brothers Max and Bryce—catches my gaze and walks towards us. Their story is the stuff fairytales are made of. Anyone who’s grown up on the streets of London has heard about them. They’re legendary. Street kids turned multi-millionaires who’ve got that way cleanly, buying and selling property. Now they own holiday resorts all over the world. There are no shady deals with dodgy crews for the Freed brothers.
Until now, it would seem.
“Fuck sake, Dax. What the fuck could he possibly want with us? More to the point, what the fuck areyougetting us into?” I grind out under my breath. Jeb would have no qualms with loading a bullet into our brains for meeting like this without his knowledge or fucking approval. Again, I don’t give a shit Dax is keeping this meet on the downlow, I just need to know what it’s about so that I can do some damage control if it all goes to shit. That’s what I do, I protect my best friends, even from themselves.
“Behave, Xeno,” Dax warns me like I’m some fucking delinquent child.
“Behave?” I scoff, ready to throw a punch at his meaty head, the dick. “Being a good boy hasn’t been part of my repertoire for a long, long time. You’d do well to remember that.”
Dax rolls his eyes at my threat. Fucker. He’s lucky he’s my best mate and a punch is all I’m threatening.
“You must be Xeno,” Hudson says, holding his hand out to me the moment he reaches the table. I look from his hand to his face and back again.
“That’s right,” I respond, not bothering to ask how he knows who I am or shake his hand that appears as smooth as his words. I’m pretty sure he’s had a fucking manicure given there’s not a scrap of dirt under his nails. Still, I can tell by the way he holds himself that he’s no stranger to slumming it. He doesn’t flinch at the revolting state of this pub or the fact that the carpet stuck to the bottom of his trainers with every step towards us. He simply pulls out a chair and takes a seat. “What do you want?”
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” he responds, avoiding my question and sizing us up instead.
“I didn’t agree to shit. You’ll need to thank Dax for this meet.” Whatever he wants from us, I’m pretty sure it’s gonna cost him. Either in blood or cash. I ain’t decided which way this is gonna go just yet.
“Well, then, thank you, Dax. It’s a pleasure to meet you both...” Hudson holds his hand out to Dax who takes it and gives him what I know will be a bone-crushing handshake. The motherfucker doesn’t even flinch. Interesting.
“So, what the fuck is this all about?” I ask, picking up my shot of brandy and knocking it back all the while keeping my eyes fixed on Hudson.
“I’m Hud—”
“Iknowwho you are,” I interrupt, leaning forward in my seat. “But do you know whoweare?”
“I do, yes. You’re one half of the Breakers,” he starts, resting his unflinching gaze on me. “You once danced together, though these days rather than battling opposing dance crews you’re more likely breaking bones—amongst other violent acts—in the name of the Skins.”
Dax glances over at me and I have another urge to punch him in the face for bringing me here today. I’m in a bad fucking mood as it is, which has now been made worse by this arsehole. So what if he’s aware of the violence we dish out. I’m guessing whatever the fuck this is about is more to do with the Breakers’ specialist skills than his need to point out the fact that we’re violent bastards past saving.
“Well done, you did your homework,” I say, slow clapping him. “Want a gold star or can we get to the fucking point already?”
