by Caz Finlay
‘I just think we need a base of operations, Paul. Now that we can’t use The Blue Rooms, we need somewhere to go. We can’t keep having all and sundry coming here or to your flat. The concierge is already asking questions.’
Paul shook his head in annoyance. It was true that eyebrows were already being raised about the number, and calibre, of visitors they’d been receiving in recent weeks. Previously they’d conducted all of their business out of Jake’s club, but now they weren’t allowed to set a foot inside the place. But getting their own gaff wasn’t an option he’d even considered. It all made their partnership dissolving too real – too final.
‘Jake will come round eventually, Con. Even Grace said so.’
‘I know he will. And I’ll keep trying to talk to him until he does, but in the meantime, we need to look elsewhere. I’ve been in touch with some contacts and we have some big deals in the pipeline. We need somewhere to work out of that’s not here.’
‘What deals?’ Paul snapped.
Connor shrugged. ‘Nothing new. Just what we were doing, but on our own.’
‘So you mean we’ll be in direct competition with Jake?’ Paul spat. ‘Well, that will go down fucking well, won’t it? That’s really gonna make him more amenable to talking to us again.’
‘Paul!’ Connor snapped. ‘I know you and him are, were … well, whatever you were, but this is fucking business. We can’t just sit back and wait for Jake to decide to play nice again. Besides, do you know how many people would rather work with us than Jake? He can be a bit of a loose cannon at the best of times. And I hear he’s been permanently off his face for the past week. No one will want to work with him at all if he keeps on as he is.’
‘So we just take everything from right under his nose?’ Paul said as he shook his head. ‘It’s not right, Con.’
‘We’re not taking anything that isn’t already ours.’
Paul snorted in response.
‘Well, look at it this way, we’re keeping everything going. Once Jake comes to his senses, he can have back in. Equal partners. Just like we’ve always been.’
Paul considered his brother. Connor was always the one thinking about the business. He was better at accounts and book-keeping and all that boring stuff, while Jake and Paul had preferred the more exciting and hands-on side of the business. If Connor thought it was good business, he didn’t feel equipped enough to argue against him. Connor would have his best interests at heart, Paul knew that, and Paul would make sure that Jake’s interests were protected too.
‘Where’s this place you’ve seen then?’ Paul asked.
Connor smiled at him. ‘It’s the space above Eric’s gym. It has its own entrance. There’s a couple of rooms we can use as an office or whatever we need. It’s perfect.’
‘Is Eric okay with this?’
‘Of course he is. He’s renting the place for a good rate too. I told him I’d drop the first six months’ rent off today if you were up for it. His daughter’s twenty-one next week and I think he could use the extra cash.’
‘All right then. I’ll come with you and have a look at the place myself. We could have a spar?’ Paul, suddenly feeling brighter.
Connor smiled. ‘Sound,’ he said as his phone rang.
He answered it and Paul listened to the one-sided conversation.
‘Hi, babe…
Now?…
I’m not sure…’ he said as he looked at Paul.
Paul, realising that it was Connor’s girlfriend, shook his head. ‘Just go,’ he mouthed. ‘I’ll take Eric’s money.’
‘Yeah. I’ll meet you there in half an hour,’ he said as he hung up the phone, a smile plastered across his face.
‘Thanks, Bro,’ Connor said.
‘No problem. Who am I to stand in the way of true love?’ Paul mocked him.
Connor handed over a wad of fifty pound notes. ‘Ere. Give this to Eric for me then. I said I’d be there about two.’
‘No problem,’ Paul said as he put the money into the pocket of his jeans. ‘I’ll just nip to mine and get my gym gear. Enjoy your date, babe,’ he said as he stood up to leave.
‘Fuck off,’ Connor replied good-naturedly.
Chapter Fifty
Paul stepped into Eric’s gym and walked through the back to the small room that Eric used as an office.
‘All right, Eric,’ Paul said as he tapped on the open door. ‘Our Connor said to give you this.’ He tossed the money onto the desk. ‘We’re going to take the rooms upstairs.’
Eric smiled at him. ‘Fantastic. That’ll save them sitting empty. What are you doing here anyway? I thought Connor was coming in?’
‘He was, but he had a better offer,’ Paul said with a wink. ‘I’m off for a spar. Anyone decent in?’
‘That young Carl lad is in. He was hoping to have a spar with Connor. So he’ll be gutted you’re here instead,’ Eric said with a laugh. ‘He thinks you’re a fucking animal.’
Paul wiped the sweat from his head with his towel before throwing it, along with his boxing gloves and mobile phone, into his gym bag and zipping it up. He’d shower and change at home because the showers in Eric’s gym were filthy. He always felt great after a sparring session or some time on the pads. And lately, he’d needed the pick-me-up more than ever. Before Siobhan and Connor had dropped their bombshell the week before, he’d been as happy as a pig in the proverbial shit. He and Jake had been on the verge of becoming something, and now Jake was refusing to even speak to him. Paul had gone to The Blue Rooms a few times to see him, only to be met with a mouthful of abuse or a bouncer telling him Mr Conlon wasn’t receiving visitors.
Paul sighed as he closed his locker. He’d never been one for relationships or feelings, but Jake was the one person who had changed all that. Paul could understand Jake’s anger about the whole Isla situation. He’d found out that the daughter he’d idolised since the day she was born might have fathered by one of his best mates. Now it seemed like Jake was Isla’s father after all, and Siobhan had caused all of that shit for nothing. But sides had had to be taken, and obviously Paul would always stand by his twin. Nothing would ever come between them – not even Jake.
Picking up his gym bag, Paul headed towards the door. Jake would come round eventually. He had to. He couldn’t freeze Paul out for ever. He’d tried that before, numerous times, but with little success. Jake loved him. That hadn’t changed in just over a week. Connor and Jake would sort out their differences, and Paul would be waiting with open arms. It was only a matter of time before Jake was back at their side where he belonged. It was the only way really.
Smiling to himself, Paul stepped out of Eric’s gym and out into the bright sunshine. Things were looking up already.
Grace frowned at the screen on her phone. She’d charged it that morning and the battery had just died on her. She’d have to plug it into her car to charge on the way home. ‘Piece of crap,’ she mumbled before remembering that she’d given it to Belle to play with to keep her occupied while she was getting a shower earlier that morning. She could have shouted to Michael to take her downstairs with him and Oscar but she still wasn’t speaking to him, and she hadn’t wanted to give him the satisfaction of thinking she needed his help. It was childish and she knew it, but she was still so angry with him. Deep down, she understood he’d been in an impossible position, but that still didn’t make being lied to by the people she most loved any easier to swallow. She couldn’t take it out on Jake, he needed her too much right now, so Michael was taking the brunt of it. But maybe, after her conversation with Paul earlier, that was something that had to change. When the possibility of premises for a new restaurant and wine bar in Lytham came up, Grace had jumped at the chance to check it out. It would give her something to do and something to focus on other than the whole sorry mess her family had dragged her into.
As she walked down one of the side streets back to her car, she smiled as she considered the offer she was going to put in in a couple of days. The place had b
een perfect, but she knew it was a buyers’ market and the owner was desperate to sell. This was going to be a lucrative venture for their family, she knew it.
Zak Miller edged the motorbike along the pavement. He took slow, deep breaths and listened to the steady thumping of his heart. He’d done this kind of job dozens of times before, but he’d never had to take out someone quite as high profile. This was the kind of job that paid money that would set you up for life. Because after this, he would have to disappear – and fast. He’d already sold his apartment in Manchester. Now he just had to wait for the sale of his cottage in Wales to go through and he’d be gone. Off to Ibiza to live out the rest of his days in a villa by the beach. He’d already put the deposit down. It was a four-bedroom house with a pool, Jacuzzi and a bar – a party palace. In a few weeks’ time he’d be soaking up the sunshine and the constant stream of bikini-clad women. God, his life was going to be fucking awesome. Just one more job and then he could retire.
His target was approaching. Smiling to themselves with no idea of what was to come. Not long now and he’d have the perfect shot. He reached inside his jacket pocket. His breathing slow and steady. Lifting his arm, he squeezed the trigger and his target dropped to the floor like a sack of bricks.
Chapter Fifty-One
Propping himself up on one elbow, Connor lay on the bed in the dingy hotel room and smiled as he watched his naked girlfriend Jazz sashay across the hotel room.
‘Come back to bed, babe,’ he said, grinning as he patted the empty space beside him.
Jazz smiled at him. ‘You know I’d love to, but I can’t. I have to get back home before anyone notices I’m missing.’
‘But you said he’s away for a few days.’
‘He is. So, that means he’ll have one of his goons popping round later just to make sure I’m where I’m supposed to be. I can’t risk it, Con.’
Sighing, Connor flopped back against the pillow. ‘For fuck’s sake,’ he mumbled.
‘Hey,’ Jazz said as she walked over to the bed and sat beside him. ‘You knew I was married when we met. You knew what you were getting into.’
He took hold of her hand. ‘I know, babe. I just hate that we can’t spend the night together. I want to wake up in the morning and see your gorgeous face. I want to have lazy morning sex, instead of a few hours’ fucking here and there.’
Connor watched as a look of hurt flashed across her face and she snatched her hand away. ‘Well, I’m sorry but that’s all I can offer you. Maybe we should end it now before things get even more complicated?’
Connor sighed as he reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. ‘I’m sorry, Jazz. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I love spending time with you. I just wish we could do more of it, that’s all.’
Her face softening, she lay on the bed beside him and snuggled into him. ‘So do I, Con,’ she said softly. ‘I love being with you too. But my husband would kill us both if he ever found out.’ She sniffed and he could tell she was holding back tears.
‘I would never let him hurt you, Jazz,’ he said as he tilted her chin to look at him.
‘I know.’ She blinked at him, her long lashes wet with tears.
Oblivious to the incessant calls to his mobile phone which was on silent, Connor rolled on top of Jazz and kissed her. He groaned in pleasure as she raked her long fingernails down the length of his back.
‘I suppose another half hour wouldn’t hurt,’ she whispered in his ear.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Glancing at his mobile phone, Connor felt his stomach lurch as he noticed over twenty missed calls. His fingers trembled as he unlocked the home screen and returned the most recent call, which was from his dad. It was his Uncle Sean who answered on the second ring.
‘Connor. Where the fuck are you?’
Before he could answer, Sean went on. ‘You need to come to your dad’s. Now.’
‘Why? What’s happened?’ Connor stammered as he felt his heart start to pound in his chest. ‘Is my dad okay?’
‘Look, just get home as soon as you can, mate,’ Sean said quietly.
‘Is it Paul?’
‘Just come home, Connor.’
The phone went dead and Connor scrambled around the room for his shoes and clothes. He dialled Paul’s number as he did, leaving the phone on loudspeaker, only to be repeatedly met with his voicemail. The adrenaline thundered around his body. Why wouldn’t Sean tell him what was going on? He phoned Grace and her phone went straight to voicemail too. What the fuck was going on? Why couldn’t he speak to his dad or get hold of Paul or Grace? The feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that something terrible had happened.
Connor Carter drove home from Crewe to Liverpool in record time, flooring the accelerator and breaking every speed limit on the way.
Chapter Fifty-Three
With the exception of Paul and Grace, the whole of the Carter family were in the kitchen of Grace and Michael’s house. All of them huddled and talking in hushed tones. Even Bella and Oscar, usually in full voice, were quiet. It was his father’s face that Connor saw first. He saw the pain there and knew that his world would never be the same. His dad – his rock – was a broken man and Connor knew that only one thing could have caused it.
Suddenly his dad looked up and their eyes locked. Pushing through the huddle of people in front of him, Michael Carter rushed towards his son and pulled him into his arms. At that moment, Connor knew that his father wasn’t just dealing with his own anguish, but was also trying to offer him some comfort, squeezing him so hard that Connor felt like he was starting to struggle for air.
‘I’m sorry,’ Michael breathed into the collar of Connor’s jacket. ‘I’m so sorry, Son. Paul’s been shot. He’s gone.’
Connor felt his knees buckle, as though he had been hit from behind with a sledgehammer. If his dad hadn’t been holding him up he’d have dropped to the floor like a sack of spanners. He sobbed like a child while his father stroked his hair and told him everything was going to be okay. But it wouldn’t be. It would never be okay again. Paul was gone. He’d been too busy banging some bird when his brother had needed him. And now his twin, his other half, was dead. Gone for ever. Connor wanted to scream. To rage at the whole world. But now wasn’t the time. Things would have to be dealt with first.
Straightening up, he wiped the tears from his eyes. ‘What happened?’
His dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath. ‘He was shot outside Eric’s gym. He didn’t stand a chance. He was dead by the time the ambulance arrived.’
‘Do we know who did it?’
Michael shook his head. ‘Not yet. There’s time for that later.’
‘No, Dad. Now is the time. We need to know who did this before they come after anyone else.’
Just as his dad was about to argue with him, Jake Conlon burst through the kitchen door. Connor bristled instinctively. The last time he’d seen Jake the pair of them had sworn they would kill each other if their paths ever crossed again. It had all been bravado – but still. Jake’s eyes searched the room until he saw Connor. Then wordlessly he crossed the room and the two men embraced like long-lost brothers, clinging onto each other as though their lives depended on it.
Connor started to sob as Jake leaned into his ear. ‘We’re going to find the bastards, Con. Anyone who had a hand in it. And we’re going to fucking end them. Every last one of them,’ he growled.
This was exactly what Connor needed to hear. Jake had loved Paul too. He was the only one who understood how he felt right now.
When he finally looked up, Connor saw the tears in Jake’s eyes and knew that he was desperately trying to hold it together, with his jaw clenched shut and his body vibrating with anger. Connor supposed that anger was easier to feel right now than the unimaginable pain of losing Paul.
‘I can’t believe he’s gone,’ Connor said.
‘I know, mate,’ Jake replied as a solitary tear escaped. ‘We’ll get whoever did this. I promise yo
u.’
Connor nodded. They had to find out who did this as fast as possible and let them know that taking out Paul Carter was the biggest mistake that anyone had ever made since time began. It was what Paul would have wanted. It was exactly what he would have done for either of them.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Grace cursed the red traffic light as she raced for home. As soon as she’d plugged her phone into her in car charger she’d seen the missed calls from Michael and Sean. She’d tried to stay calm, telling herself that they were just worried about not being able to get hold of her. Michael’s phone had been engaged when she’d tried to call him back so she’d phoned Sean instead. Her heart had almost broken in two when he’d told her the news. All she could think of was getting home to Michael – her wonderful husband who had just lost a son. She’d almost lost Jake once and it had nearly killed her. She knew something of the pain he was in but she wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and tell him how much she loved him.
Grace burst through the front door of her house and followed the sound of hushed voices into the kitchen. She’d phoned Jake on her way home and told him the news. He’d been speechless and had hung up the phone, so she was relieved to see he was already there, standing with a protective arm around Connor. But it was Michael she was looking for. He was standing alone, looking out of the kitchen window at his father and Sue playing with Belle and Oscar. She put a hand on his shoulder as she reached him. Turning to look at her, his eyes locked onto hers. No words were needed. She had none to give. None that would offer him any comfort, at least. He laid his head on her shoulder and started to sob as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had no idea how long they stayed together like that, hugging and crying at their kitchen sink, but when she looked up, the room was empty except for the two of them.
