Barber Shop Ink - Book 3: Riverworth

by Penny Blush

  “How. How long?”

  “If I’m lucky eighteen months, if I’m not, six.”

  I sat looking at my friend in stunned silence. I had known Henry for a huge chunk of my life. There was no way he was sick, he couldn’t be sick, the man was unstoppable. But, I suppose that’s the thing with something as god-fucking-awful as cancer it doesn't just pick on the weak. It doesn't matter if you’re a good person or a complete asshole it just indiscriminately spreads its evil, not caring who it takes out.

  “I know what I have to do to get out. It’s okay Kid, I get it.”

  “Henry,” I started.

  “Kid, I’ve been in the game long enough to know the rules.”

  “Henry, you have fucking cancer and by the sounds of things, it’s not good. I will not make you go through a fucking beat out.”

  “Why not? You made your niece do it.” Henry and Malcolm were the only people who knew Jupiter and Morningstar were the same person; my niece.

  “And it almost killed her. It fucking killed me to put her through that. No, it’s not happening Henry. You need to leave I get that but you’re having a soft exit.”

  “Fuck off I am. There is nothing soft about me and I’m not leaving this life soft.”

  Henry was just as stubborn as me and we would butt heads over this for the rest of our fucking lives. There was no way I was putting him through a beat out, with him being as sick as he is and with his treatment I doubt he would survive. We sat in silence for a while before talking more about his illness and treatment, there had to be something I could do.

  I told him we would talk about his situation later, that I needed time to think things through. After he walked out of my office, I researched his type of cancer and treatment options. A few days later after making a dozen phone calls and calling in some markers I called Henry back into my office.

  “Henry, I will not allow you to go through a beat out.”

  “Charlie for fucksake!”

  “Henry, let me finish. I will not let you go through a beat out to leave the organisation. I know that a soft exit is unacceptable to you so, what I will do is reassign you.”

  “What do you mean reassign me?”

  “Jupiter has been home for a few months and is having trouble adjusting to civilian life. I want you to keep an eye on her. Help her out. You two always got along, she’ll trust you.”

  “She has her cousin to look after her she doesn’t need me.”

  “Yes, Henry, she does. Jax can’t give her the help she needs. He doesn't know what this life is like. Besides, you need to be at St Margaret’s next Wednesday.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Because I’ve called in some favours. They have accepted you into their medical trial program starting next week. It's twenty minutes away from Jupiter, so you can keep any eye on her for me, take place in the trial and avoid a beat-out or a soft exit. It’s the best option for this shit situation.”

  Begrudgingly Henry accepted and moved across the planet to have experimental treatment and provide me updates on my niece.

  Now I had Jupiter and Davan back in my life and I didn’t want to lose either of them. I knew from Henry how much Jupiter had going on in her life. She had a job, home and man she loved, who loved her, and I wanted to make sure she got back to that.

  “I’ve just messaged my contact in Vex’ camp to let him know she’s more than likely on the way.” Malcolm said placing his phone back in his pocket.

  “Good,” I said at the same time Davan screamed “WHAT!”

  “Why the hell would you do that?!” Davan asked continuing to yell.

  “Davan please calm down,” I said getting to my feet just in case I needed to get between my nephew and Malcolm.

  “Calm down! You will get her killed.”

  “No, I won’t,” Malcolm stated. “He will protect her.”

  “Charlie,” Davan barked.

  “Davan, it’s Eric.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “The man on the inside is Eric. Vex’ second in command. He’s my brother. We had him planted in Vex’ camp when we thought Vex wanted to progress in the business,” Malcolm explained.

  “We thought he just wanted to rise in the ranks, get a bigger slice of the pie not the whole fucking thing,” I muttered refilling my glass with whisky.

  “Eric will make sure she is okay and that she only just escapes. Can’t have it look like she just walked out though, it will throw red flags up everywhere that she got help. So, she may have a few scrapes and bruises, but it won't be anything too serious.”

  “I get it, okay it makes sense. If Eric just lets her leave with nothing happening, it will be too suspicious, and it would put both their lives in danger. I get it. That doesn’t mean I have to like it or the fact that Malcolm's fucking brother will put his hands on my sister.”

  “Yep,” Malcolm said answering his phone. “What?... Fuck… Okay... Yes... Shit… On the way.”

  “What?” I asked as he disconnected the call.

  “She’s at the compound. She’s in trouble. One of Vex’ men went to check the wing that holds his bedroom, he left before Eric could stop him. The guy found her, and all hell broke loose,” Malcolm explained ejecting and checking the magazine from his gun before slamming it home again.

  “Go,” I said. “Do whatever is necessary to get our girl back.”

  Chapter 39 Apollo

  I followed Malcolm out of Charlie’s office, my mind reeling, it would take me a fucking lifetime to process everything that has happened.

  Now I had to focus. She had gotten photos from Vex of her family and she had reacted. That was a Jupiter all reflex, not Morningstar. Morningstar would have made sure she had a plan she wouldn’t have gone barrelling in unprepared. They threatened her family and Jupiter saw red and reacted, charging in all bull in a china shop smashing up the place.

  “Davan!” Charlie called.

  “What? I don't have time for a fucking chat Charlie. I have to get my pigheaded little sister out of the fucking lion’s den.”

  “Go, get her out but don’t let her know it is you.”

  “What? Why?” I asked frustrated.

  “It will throw her. It will knock her off her axis and she doesn’t need that in the middle of a fight. She needs to focus. Don’t let her know who you are. Tell her I sent, you to help her and that Malcolm trusts you.”

  I turned without saying another word storming through Charlie’s house catching up to Malcolm. As we passed by the common area, his men stood drawing their weapons and giving me suspicious looks. Malcolm waved them off and kept walking. Once outside I raced down the stairs shoving my blackout full face shield helmet on as I jumped on my bike.

  “Davan,” Malcolm called as he reached his car. “We’ll keep her safe I promise.”

  I flipped open my face shield. “Don’t make promises you might not be able to keep Malcolm. Your brothers involved in this as well. Things get messy when family is involved.”

  “Davan I love that girl like family. I have always looked out for her and if it comes down to my life, my brother or yours to save her, I won’t hesitate,” he said fiercely.

  “Good, neither will I.”

  I slammed my face shield closed and left a satisfying peel of rubber in Charlie’s driveway. I took off into the night not waiting to see if Malcolm was following me or not.

  I speed through the night ducking and weaving through traffic. I hadn’t survived everything I had been through with my military career to get to the point where I was almost out, only to get myself killed now.

  I have people who need me. Family. Responsibilities.

  I’m not one for praying. I have seen too much shit in the military that has proven that there is no God. If there is a God, he doesn’t give a shit about the little rock we live on or the people who inhabit it. But as I raced towards Vex’ compound I prayed.

  I prayed.

  I prayed that my sister would come out of this alive.

>   I prayed that I would make it through the night, so I could reconnect with my sister and make up for all the years we were apart.

  I prayed for Malcolm and Eric to survive but most of all I prayed that I would get there in time to save my sister.

  Chapter 40 Morningstar

  “What do you think you will be able to do? You’re in my house,” Vex smiled smugly.

  “I got in here undetected. Didn’t I?” Standing and walking to the side of his bed placing his mobile that now had a cracked screen on the bed-side table. “No one is coming to help you Nicholas. You brought this on yourself, you know that. Contrary to popular belief I do not enjoy killing people. My body count while high, isn’t as high as the rumours make out. I weigh all the options before taking a life. I only end someone if it is the last resort. In this case, Nicholas, you made that decision for me by going after my family and threatening Jupiter’s.” I retrieved his gun from my boot aiming it at his head. I thought it was kinda fitting to put him down with his own weapon. “I will offer you this concession, Nicholas. I will make it quick,” I said aiming his gun at him, his face fell along with his bravado.

  I have never enjoyed taking a life. Even when I knew the world would be a better place without that person in it. This death was no different. I would not enjoy it. I wouldn’t revel in it. I would just do it and move on. My finger shifted to the trigger.

  Vex let out a relieved strangled sounding whimper at the knock on his bedroom door. Vex looked at me shocked, flicking his eyes desperately to the door. I had stupidly wasted my moment, taking too damn long to pull the trigger. I kept my finger poised on the trigger waiting while his man stood outside the door. I couldn’t fire not now, there was nothing around that would effectively muffle the sound of the shot, even if I used a pillow, Vex’s .30 Carbine with a automag would make one hellava noise . I waited to see what the man on the other side of the door would do, praying that he would assume that his boss was sleeping and just walk away, but no such luck.

  “Boss. Boss is everything okay?” The man called again beating his fist on the wooden door when Vex took too long to acknowledge the knock.

  “Ryan!”

  At Vex’ cry I snapped out of my trance, snatched up his pillow and shoved it over his face pushing down hard.

  “Ryan. Ryan help, help!” Vex called his voice muffled by the pillow I was trying to force down his throat.

  The bedroom door flew open slamming against the wall as Ryan burst in with his gun drawn.

  “What tha?”

  The fight-or-flight instinct kicked in and Vex struggled fiercely, his arms and legs thrashing wildly. One of his flailing arms connected, a fist hitting me in the jaw. I saw stars for a moment stumbling back. It was enough for Vex to break free of my hold flipping and rolling off the other side of the bed.

  “Shoot her Ryan! Shoot, shoot, shoot!” Vex screamed as he hit the floor.

  “Boss?!”

  “Shoot that fucking bitch!”

  I snatch up the gun from where I had dropped it running across the room through the spray of bullets, diving behind the desk taking cover. Vex’ man Ryan, obviously a newbie, shot wildly. The shots were panicked and chaotic, his gun turned sideways like you see in the movies. Ryan wasn’t aiming at anything or anyone just blindly shooting hoping to hit something, making a mess of the room.

  It wasn’t long before Ryan ran out of bullets. I shoved the gun back into my boot and dove across the desk at Ryan deciding to use a hand to hand with him. I couldn’t risk him wrestling the gun out of my hands.

  I hit him dead knocking him backwards landing heavily, knocking the wind out of him. I got in a few solid punches before he gathered himself enough to fight back. With wild eyes he bucked his hips up throwing me off enough to get his arms free. He bucked his hips again clasping his hands in a fist and hitting me squarely in the chest knocking me off him. We grappled on the ground trading blows. Ryan untrained and uncontrolled, swinging and kicking hoping that one of his hits would land knocking me out or at least disorientate me.

  “Ryan down!” Eric bellowed standing over a trembling Vex cowering in the corner.

  Ryan hit the deck. Looked up to see Eric raising his semi-automatic, I twisted diving to the right once again seeking shelter behind the desk as Eric fired a spray of bullets in my direction.

  “Ow, shit, fuck,” I cried landing awkwardly.

  Pain ignited through my shoulder with the tell-tale burn of a bullet tearing through flesh. Eric had gotten in a lucky shot hitting me in the shoulder. It was fortunate though, it went through the muscle and didn’t hit bone or the joint. It hurt like a motherfucker, but I could still use my arm.

  I grabbed the gun out of boot and the one out of my shoulder holster. I counted to three, popping up but keeping low firing back at Eric over the desk. Not aiming just hoping for it to be enough of a distraction so I could make a break for it.

  I took a deep breath gathering my strength and made a break for the balcony. If I could get to the balcony I could jump to the ground and as long as I landed and rolled, hopefully, I won’t break anything. I gave myself a count of three and took off, Ryan the moron jumped at me as I made a run for the balcony. Eric aiming for me, shot Ryan dropping him to the floor as I dove back behind the desk.

  “You fucking shot me!” Ryan screamed clutching his leg.

  “I told you to stay the fuck down you idiot,” Eric yelled back. “Now get the fuck up and stop her from getting to the balcony, I’ll block the door.”

  I looked over the desk watching Ryan and Eric. Eric saw me and raised his gun in my direction without aiming, if he did fire a shot it was wildly off mark. His aim wavering as he spoke. Curious. From what I know of Eric he is a consummate professional, he wouldn’t be barking orders, his aim erratic. He would have taken Ryan out, removing an obstacle and then he would have come after me.

  “You fucking shot me, you bastard!”

  “Ryan!” Eric snapped. “Guard the balcony. We don’t want her getting away.” Eric looked me dead in the eye his gun drifting slightly but directing his words at Ryan. “Block the balcony. Get it? Got it? Good.”

  Eric gave me the almost imperceptible nod as his words registered in my brain. They were unusual words, but also very specific. Get it? Got it? Good. They were words that Malcolm said to me every single time we trained together. In fact, he said them just yesterday when he slapped his gloved hands together before we went a few rounds sparing.

  “Ryan, you need to guard the balcony, so I can watch the door we don’t want her to escape through the fucking house,” Eric ordered. “If she goes through the house she will be able to escape!”

  To Ryan, Eric’s words sounded like orders from his commander. But to me it sounded very much like he wanted me to go through the house, but it could be a trap.

  “Move now!” Eric barked.

  This could be a trap. I could run right into every one of Vex’ men or get a bullet to the head. But then again… I thought going back over everything that had happened, everything Eric had said.

  Eric could have shot me in the back, instead, I was shot in the shoulder.

  Eric could have shot me when I was going for the balcony. Eric could have shot at me as I crouched behind the desk, but he didn't and then he said those words.

  I was trapped where I was behind the desk, I needed to get out. I would have to take it on faith that Eric was here to help.

  Time to think was over.

  I took off charging across the room at Eric, he acted like he had frozen for a second before squeezing the trigger. The bullet grazed my arm as I crashed into him, both of us falling to the floor in the hall in a tangle of arms and legs.

  “Ow, fucking bitch,” Eric cried out as my elbow caught his cheek. “Get moving,” Eric whispered loud enough for me to hear. My arm froze, pulled back ready to strike, I eyed him for a moment searching for a hint of deception. “Punch me in the damn face and get your ass moving, down the stairs to the left and through
the kitchen.”

  “What?”

  “Little Bird get your ass moving, your running out of time,” he hissed.

  Malcolm.

  Malcolm had sent Eric. There was no way that Eric would call me Little Bird, that came from Malcolm. I nodded, drew back and slammed my fist into the side of his face. It was a targeted punch that would cause maximum damage visually - swelling, bruising - without breaking any bones in either Eric’s face or my hand. I took off down the stairs taking them two at a time until I was near enough to the bottom to jump over the banister. I landed sprung up and bolted towards the kitchen.

  “Get after her!” Eric called out to the thunder of feet coming across the foyer floor.

  “Which way did she go?”

  “Out the front. Side entrance towards the garages,” Eric hurried voice replied sending the men in the wrong direction.

  I made it through the kitchen unseen, I though open the door to the garden. I just had to make it to the rear garden wall and I was free. I was almost there….

  “Oomph!” I felt the air leave my lungs as meaty hand grabbed the back of my jacket slamming me backwards onto the ground.

  “Got her!” The voice yelled into the night.

  There was no way I wanted to get trapped here, not now, not after everything I had been through, everything I had survived. I would not be brought down by one of Vex’ men who was too lazy to go inside to use the bathroom but took a piss on the grass.

  I kicked my leg up, hitting him in the chest dropping him to his knees. I flipped on to my stomach and he grabbed me by the ankles I folded up at the knees and threw an elbow backwards into his face breaking his nose. The man let go of my ankles grabbing his face screaming in pain. I kicked a foot back hitting him in the gut and bolted for the wall.

  “Fuckn’ bith,” he called out through the blood pouring down his face.

  I hit the wall slamming my hands on the top to pull myself up. I had my stomach on the top of the wall when I felt hands grab my legs.

  “Your gonna fuckn’ pay for tha,” the man snarled.