about Rachel?” said Mikey, genuinely confused.
“Don’t act like you don’t know, I know you fucking do,” he growled.
A conversation from years ago replayed itself in Mikey’s memory and suddenly he knew what was eating away at Alex, but for the moment he’d keep that little nugget to himself. “At least she’d have the sense not to start up the robberies again. They’re too showy and obvious and draw lots of unwanted attention and if you don’t call a halt to it then you’re a fucking moron.” With that Mikey stormed out, letting the door slam shut behind him. “Piss off Col,” he muttered on his way out.
Col just smiled at his retreating back before rejoining Alex in his office. He waited patiently for Alex to come out of his brooding. Mikey had only pissed him off even more, which could only be to his benefit. Little did Mikey know that every one of his stupid comments put another nail in his coffin.
“I’m sick of that little bastard,” Alex eventually said.
Col continued to wait, not wanting to put the words in his mouth. It had to come from Alex himself otherwise if he had a change of heart he’d blame him.
“He wants to take over,” Alex said after more pondering. “If I don’t act first I’ll be dead before the year’s out. Mikey’s not real family, he’s my aunt’s useless younger son and he’s too close to Rachel. For that reason alone I can’t trust him. Don’t believe all that shit she talks about wanting to be legit, her and Ryan are just biding their time.”
Col knew Alex was just paranoid but he’d been careful to play on that paranoia and drip poison in his ear not only about Ryan and Rachel but Mikey too. Mikey was in Col’s way and he wanted him gone, but most of all he wanted Ryan Law dead. He’d always wanted to kill him in retaliation for murdering his older brother. He’d nothing against Rachel, despite how much Alex hated her, but she could be used to hurt Ryan and for that reason alone she had to go. Both his enemies gone in one fell swoop. All he needed was for Alex to give the word.
“What do you want me to do?” Col replied.
“Mikey’s got to go, but not just yet.”
Col tried not to sigh with impatience.
“I don’t want to piss off Frankie McVay again with more infighting. We’ve got to make it look like an outside hit.”
“Who?”
“The Barlow brothers we’ve recently gone into business with in Moss Side might be a good choice. They’re getting too big for their boots and they’ve forgotten they’re working for us. We’ll pin it on them then wipe them out in retaliation, then we’ll control the drugs and prostitution entirely in that area. But best of all, we’ll have the heroin there too, something Jez has never managed to achieve.”
Col smiled at the prospect of hurting Ryan Law’s brother. “And what about Jez?”
“What the hell, let’s get rid of Mikey and Jez in one fell swoop. Rachel and Ryan will be up here like a shot after blood and they’ll walk straight into a trap. Then you’ll finally get your wish.”
Col’s smile broadened at the prospect of all the tortures he’d dreamt up especially for Ryan Law, a lot of which involved his wife.
Alex opened the front door to the massive five bedroomed detached new build with his own key. As usual calm descended upon him when he entered, which was a relief after his row earlier with Mikey. Unlike his own home this house was always quiet and ordered. No screaming kids, no toys cluttering the place up and best of all, no shrewish wife. Just like Katia it was elegant and organised, decorated in the cool greys and greens she so loved.
“Katia?” he called as he walked through the house, but there was no response. He entered the massive kitchen, the black granite worktops and dark wood positively gleaming. Although a woman came to clean twice a week he suspected Katia still did a lot of it herself, she said cleaning relaxed her.
He wandered through to the utility
“Don’t act like you don’t know, I know you fucking do,” he growled.
A conversation from years ago replayed itself in Mikey’s memory and suddenly he knew what was eating away at Alex, but for the moment he’d keep that little nugget to himself. “At least she’d have the sense not to start up the robberies again. They’re too showy and obvious and draw lots of unwanted attention and if you don’t call a halt to it then you’re a fucking moron.” With that Mikey stormed out, letting the door slam shut behind him. “Piss off Col,” he muttered on his way out.
Col just smiled at his retreating back before rejoining Alex in his office. He waited patiently for Alex to come out of his brooding. Mikey had only pissed him off even more, which could only be to his benefit. Little did Mikey know that every one of his stupid comments put another nail in his coffin.
“I’m sick of that little bastard,” Alex eventually said.
Col continued to wait, not wanting to put the words in his mouth. It had to come from Alex himself otherwise if he had a change of heart he’d blame him.
“He wants to take over,” Alex said after more pondering. “If I don’t act first I’ll be dead before the year’s out. Mikey’s not real family, he’s my aunt’s useless younger son and he’s too close to Rachel. For that reason alone I can’t trust him. Don’t believe all that shit she talks about wanting to be legit, her and Ryan are just biding their time.”
Col knew Alex was just paranoid but he’d been careful to play on that paranoia and drip poison in his ear not only about Ryan and Rachel but Mikey too. Mikey was in Col’s way and he wanted him gone, but most of all he wanted Ryan Law dead. He’d always wanted to kill him in retaliation for murdering his older brother. He’d nothing against Rachel, despite how much Alex hated her, but she could be used to hurt Ryan and for that reason alone she had to go. Both his enemies gone in one fell swoop. All he needed was for Alex to give the word.
“What do you want me to do?” Col replied.
“Mikey’s got to go, but not just yet.”
Col tried not to sigh with impatience.
“I don’t want to piss off Frankie McVay again with more infighting. We’ve got to make it look like an outside hit.”
“Who?”
“The Barlow brothers we’ve recently gone into business with in Moss Side might be a good choice. They’re getting too big for their boots and they’ve forgotten they’re working for us. We’ll pin it on them then wipe them out in retaliation, then we’ll control the drugs and prostitution entirely in that area. But best of all, we’ll have the heroin there too, something Jez has never managed to achieve.”
Col smiled at the prospect of hurting Ryan Law’s brother. “And what about Jez?”
“What the hell, let’s get rid of Mikey and Jez in one fell swoop. Rachel and Ryan will be up here like a shot after blood and they’ll walk straight into a trap. Then you’ll finally get your wish.”
Col’s smile broadened at the prospect of all the tortures he’d dreamt up especially for Ryan Law, a lot of which involved his wife.
Alex opened the front door to the massive five bedroomed detached new build with his own key. As usual calm descended upon him when he entered, which was a relief after his row earlier with Mikey. Unlike his own home this house was always quiet and ordered. No screaming kids, no toys cluttering the place up and best of all, no shrewish wife. Just like Katia it was elegant and organised, decorated in the cool greys and greens she so loved.
“Katia?” he called as he walked through the house, but there was no response. He entered the massive kitchen, the black granite worktops and dark wood positively gleaming. Although a woman came to clean twice a week he suspected Katia still did a lot of it herself, she said cleaning relaxed her.
He wandered through to the utility
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