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Prologue
Roxy
Istroll back to my car, muttering and cursing. Jumping in, I head towards the station and pull into the carpark just as a call comes through on the radio. With nothing better to do while I wait, I tell dispatch that I’ll check it out. As I’m spinning the car round, my phone rings.
“Whitmore,” I snap, feeling ever so slightly tetchy.
“I’ve got that location you asked for,” comes a voice down the line.
“Grand. Send it to me.” I don’t bother with any other niceties or a goodbye. I drive to the warehouse, and my phone pings with a message just as I turn into the carpark.
When I pull up to the warehouse, there’s no sign of anyone and the alarm has stopped ringing. I quickly check the message with Jess’ location and knowing exactly where she is, I have a quick look around just to be sure. After a walk by of the whole building and no sign of anything suspicious, I turn back towards my car.
Suddenly, the car park is lit up as headlights switch on from somewhere to the left of me. I can’t see jack shit with them glaring in my face. It’s probably the keyholder for the warehouse having been alerted of the triggered alarm.
“You mind turning your damn lights off, buddy,” I yell across the carpark as I move forward, trying to step out of the light.
The squeak of car doors opening and then slamming shut reaches me, and I reach for my phone.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice rumbles back to me at the same time as the snick of a gun echoes.
A feeling of disbelief and shock and something else, which I can’t quite name, shivers down my spine at the sound of the voice.
It’s a voice I recognise, but one I’ve not heard in almost eleven years.
Just as I’m wondering if he’s here too and at what point my mouth will form some fucking words to find out, the deep baritone that used to make me weak at the knees and light up my fucking world, booms out over the empty space.
“Long time no see, Roxanne.” The sound of my name on his lips and the way he rolls the R are like a song you haven’t heard in an age but know every word, every little cadence to. It’s almost enough to eclipse the shock and quickly building anger but not quite.
“Fuck you, Maddox.” I begin walking to my car, my phone vibrating in my pocket, only to be halted as a gunshot rings out, and the bullet narrowly misses my foot, kicking up dust from the ground. I spin on my heels and march towards them.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, huh?” Another shot, again just missing my feet. I don’t stop. “You going to fucking shoot me, Maddox?” There are no more shots, as I knew there wouldn’t be. If he wanted me dead, I’d be six feet under already.
Stepping past the beam of the headlights, I get a clear view of two of the most well-known brothers in London. Notorious for their ruthlessness and ability to demand respect, even from those above them in the underworld.
Maddox and Zachary Lawler.
I knew this day would come. I’ve been waiting for it.
But I was not prepared for the two men that now stand in front of me.
Two men that threaten everything I’ve built.
The only men that have the power to unravel me.
“Not going to shoot you, Roxanne, just making sure we have your full attention.” Shoving down my shock at seeing them and the raging river of emotions rushing through me, I take another step forward, turning my undivided attention to Maddox.
“Well, you’ve got it, so what the fuck can I do for you, do tell?”
“It’s more of a what we can do for you.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch as Zak places the gun in a holster inside his suit jacket before stepping around the car and stopping next to Maddox.
“There’s nothing you can possible do for me, other than continue to leave me the fuck alone. And I need to be somewhere.” I turn from them and begin walking back towards my car.
“We have some information about your mum, Roxanne.” I stop dead, but I don’t turn around, and Maddox continues, “We need your help, and in return we will tell you what we know.”
“No thanks.” I’m desperate for answers but not that desperate.
