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“Next question,” I say, giving him ayou ain’t getting shit from melook.
“Fine, have it your way. Just remember what’s at stake. Ripley got a tip off this morning that a couple of Laskin’s crew were working the street over at Rogue, so I want you there tonight. Make your presence felt. Take Axel with you too. He’s fucking up too much lately, and I need him watched until I decide if he’s just incompetent or fucking us over.”
I nod, then ask, “And what about our meeting with Bonner?”
“It’s still on. I’ll take Rocky with me. We shouldn’t be there long, then I’ll meet you at Rogue.”
“You think it’s a good idea going without me to meet Bonner? The guy is a paranoiac arsehole and highly unpredictable to boot.”
“You got a better suggestion? ‘Cause we need this meet, and I can’t afford to drop the ball on other shit. The rumour mill is thriving lately, and we need to be on our game, Zak.”
“The rumour mill says that Bonner is aligning with Rogers, Mad. He’s taking a cut out of Rogers’ pot and feeding the cunt info on us.”
“I’m well aware, but this is a game of chess and to get checkmate, every piece has to be in the right place and every move strategic or we are fucked. It’s not just our lives we need to think about anymore.” His lip curls with the anger I know courses through his veins every time he thinks about the consequences of what we are doing.
I nod because I know he’s thought out every possible scenario. I leave him to it and make my way back out to the bar. I grab a quick word with Ripley and check details of the tipoff before heading out.
I stop off at Lorenzo’s to grab a sandwich and check in with him, then I decide to head to Axel’s. Maddox is never normally wrong about people, so let’s see what the little fucker is up to.
ChapterFive
Roxy
Ithrow the paper back on the table and pick up my orange juice. “Are you sure you weren’t a hoodie wearing gang member in a former life, Noah?”
“This is no time to joke, Rox.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, lighten up would you. It’s not your career that just got burned down. If anyone should be pissed, it’s me! Now, show me what you’ve got.”
He gives me anare you fucking seriouslook, and I just point to the folder on his lap.
“We could have figured out another way you know. You didn’t need to resign.”
“We both know that’s the biggest load of bull that ever spilled from your lips, Noah. There was only one way this was going down, and this is it. Let’s just get on with it. Please,” I implore.
Maddox and Zak knew this would be the only way I’d be able to do what they were asking of me. There was no other way. If I was giving up everything, if my career was going down the pan, then I was going to make damn sure it was on my terms.
I know Noah wants to say more but thinks better of it. For now, at least. Most of what Noah gives me I already know.
Ivan Laskin runs the London branch of the Russian bratva occupying Lambeth and dealing in racketeering and contract killing, among other things. Over the last four years, his crew have amassed a large number of members, often youngsters from the surrounding estates.
Across the water in Westminster is Laskin’s biggest rival, Leeroy Bonner. They’ve been involved in a lengthy battle for prime territory across London, which has come at the cost of countless lives on both sides and many innocents too. Bonner deals in drugs mostly, but recently his name has been mentioned alongside the head of London’s biggest and most notorious crime family, Don Rogers.
The Rogers family have run the streets of London since the early 80s with Don’s father Theo at the helm. That changed three years ago when Theo was murdered in a drive-by and Don took over. Bonner, Rogers and the Lawler brothers all grew up together. It was my world too for a while.
“Roxy, if Bonner and Rogers are gearing up to take out the Lawler brothers, then you’re aligning yourself with the losing team.”
“I’m not on a team, Noah. This isn’t about being on the winning side, this is about ridding the streets of scum like Bonner and Rogers.” I don’t tell Noah that, for me, it’s about something much more personal. He doesn’t need to know I have my own agenda, my own reasons, for going along with Maddox and Zak instead of weathering the storm they threatened to throw at me.
I’m pissed at them for using the death of my mother and disappearance of my sister to manoeuvre and manipulate me to do their bidding. What they failed to realise is that I’m prepared to do whatever the fuck it takes to get what I want.
“You’re putting yourself in unnecessary danger, Roxy, and I don’t like it.”
Here we go. I knew he wouldn’t be able to hold his tongue for long. “Well then, it’s a good fucking job I don’t need you to like or give me your blessing. The only thing I need from you is for you to have my back and feed me anything I need to know about.”
“Does that include screwing you when you need it too?”
“Ha-ha, you’re funny, Noah.” I let out an amused chuckle, then replace it instantly with a stern, pissed off look that lets him know what’s coming. “Me opening my legs to you doesn’t come with an invitation for you to pass comment on how I live my life or the decisions I make. If you can’t deal with it, then I suggest you walk away now.”
