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I checked out the men at his back. No way I could take them, not even with the advantage of surprise. “We can’t get five, Trent. I swear down.”
“Maybe the little slag should come tell me that herself, ask me nicely, then.”
I wanted to smash the smirk from his fucking face. “I’ll get what I can.”
“What pissing use is that to me?”
“I’ll pay it back, Trent. Debt’s on me now.” My heart pounded in my fists.
“My kind nature ain’t gonna hold up much longer, soft lad. That loan’s overdue. Maybe I should go have a word, eh? Let her know what’s at stake.”
He made to leave, tipping his head to his sidekicks, but I was in his face in a flash, heading him off. “Back off her, Trent, yeah? Like I said, debt’s on me. You’ll get your fucking money.”
The wanker smiled, slapped my shoulder. “Good lad. Guess she’s got a tight pussy, eh? I’ll keep that in mind.”
I stepped to the side, letting him pass. Out of words, out of hope, out of fucking everything. He turned back before he crossed the street, a hint of a smile on his smug face.
“Say, Jackson, you’ve got some spark. Let me know if you wanna run with my guys sometime, maybe we could come to some arrangement.”
My fists twitched, angry yet desperate. The Stoneys ran girls, and drugs. A nasty scene. Desperate hookers who’d do anything for an armful of smack. The Stoneys were brutal, into the hard stuff, slicing off noses and ears and anything else they thought would send the right message. It was Casey’s wet nose on my wrist that brought some sense back to me. I needed to stay out, for her. I shook my head. “Nah, thanks, Trent. Not for me.”
“Suit yourself. Same time next week, don’t be late.”
I wouldn’t be.
I wasn’t that fucking stupid.
***
I took a different route back, heading in the opposite direction from Stoney. We’d been so relieved, me and Vick. Now it was all for nothing. I had no phone credit to call Jack Willis and chase up any delivery jobs. I’d have to call round there later in person, but he didn’t like that much. Case loped on ahead, as happy as I was to be away from those wankers. Her nose was in the air, tail high, turning back every now and then to make sure I was following. Fucking hell, now I had to break the news to Vick.
I stopped to roll-up, and that’s when I heard them. Footfalls, down the alley behind us. They stopped when I did, meaning only one thing.
Seemed Trent weren’t so happy with his three hundred after all. I weighed up which one he’d have sent for me. Hopefully the bigger one, he’d fall harder, run slower. I darted on ahead, veering off to the right to a connecting pathway. Casey changed course with me, and I sent her on away, waving my arms that she was free to run. The path opened up onto some boarded-up retail units, and I sloped down the side of them, into a little known alleyway that led to the bins at the back of tower two, and not much else. Casey lay down at the far end when she figured we were stopping, ears up.
I waited for Stoney’s sidekick, fists clenched and adrenaline pumping. I’d need to take him quick, knock him down and shoe him good. My brain raced, but I blanked it all out. No time to worry about what came next, no time for planning. His footsteps were echoey, hesitant, lighter too. Shit. Must be the smaller guy, he’d be more of a springer, harder to take.
Casey started whining and I hissed at her to shut the fuck up. The footsteps stopped, and so did my breathing. I readied myself, determined at least to put up a good fight. He started up, coming closer, footsteps louder, closing the gap. The echo was loud, clackety... strange.
Heels.
Mytailwas wearing fucking heels.
I flung myself into the path regardless, fists high and ready, teeth bared and eyes wide fucking open.
Sophie Harding screamed and scurried backwards, catching a heel on a pothole and falling hard on her pretty little ass. Her paperwork scattered, landing in puddles like oversized confetti.
We stared at each other, breathing heavy.
“Jesus Christ!” she screeched. “You scared the shit out of me!”
“I could have fucking killed you.” I was still wired, high on adrenaline, muscles on fucking fire. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
She grabbed the papers, soggy forms mushing together in one big mess. “I’m on an estate inspection. You know, doing myjob.”
“What you supposed to be inspecting?” I scoffed.
She waved her arms vaguely. “Here. Around.”
