by AJ Adams
“Greedy bastard!”
Lacy shrugged. “If he gets me the work, I see it as a commission.”
“He’s crooked, and he has the skills, I’d say he has what it takes.”
“The shed!” Lacy exclaimed. “Dear lord, that’s why he had his workroom on another property.”
She told me all about the police raiding his cottage and how Barrows had blamed her.
“We had to exit fast,” Lacy ended. “Afterwards, it never occurred to me to put all those odd pieces together.”
“We?”
Lacy looked blank. “We? I meant me.”
I knew I was missing something, but I couldn’t think what. Then I was distracted by a call.
“Rex? Lavinya Shah here, from the Rampage.”
Fuck off is never a good start, even if it’s an adder calling on behalf of a pack of howling wolves. I’d dealt with her before, and as she was nastier than the clap, I was careful. “What can I do for you?”
The unctuous voice thickened. “Lovely weekend party, I hear.”
Bugger. She’d picked up on Nathara Hyde’s drama. “No comment. It was a private occasion. The Bonnington Music Fest last week on the other hand -”
“You lost a diamond ring,” the cow interrupted.
“I don’t go in for jewellery.”
I saw Lacy’s eyes narrow as Lavinya continued her assault. “Come on, Rex. Nathara Hyde says it’s worth fifty grand.”
I didn’t give an inch. “Does she?”
“She says she’s suing you.”
“Does she?”
“Stop messing about! Any comments?”
“Yes, your fact checking needs beefing up, and your interview technique is distinctly lacking.”
Lacy giggled, but Lavinya was hissing with fury. “You’re too big for your britches, Winslow. I’m going to take you down a peg.”
“Mixed metaphors too.”
You can’t slam a mobile phone down, but I bet she punched the disconnect button.
“Trouble?” Lacy, making connections as usual. “Did Mrs. Hyde whine on social media?”
“How did you guess?”
“You said she’s a living Twitter feed,” Lacy reminded me. “Why didn’t you tell that journo it’s sorted?”
“Because Lavinya Shah lives for scandal.”
“You’re scandal personified,” Lacy grinned. “How come you two don’t get along?”
I just growled at her.
“I bet you turned her down,” Lacy’s sky blue eyes were sparkling with interest. “Yes, you did. Ouch! Well, I guess you could woo her back to your side.”
“I’d rather fuck a snake.”
Lacy burst out laughing. “What, you have a gag limit?”
“Oh, shut up!”
“What you need is cheering up.” Lacy jumped up and dug into her bag, producing a bottle of Rioja. “It’s a decent wine,” she announced. “I got the man in the shop to pick it.”
It was a Reserva. “This is a glorious wine.”
“Good. We’ll enjoy it then.”
She was a generous girl. I watched her bottom flex as she stood on tiptoe to pick out glasses.
“Yes, I have an awesome arse.”
“And eyes in the back of your head.” She had lovely legs too, sweetly curved and luscious. Contemplating the pretty picture before me, my bad mood was abating.
Lacy set down two of my best crystal goblets. “Tell you what,” she grinned, “How about we take that temper to bed? I’m in the mood for some spanking fun.”
“Better watch out I don’t take you for Lavinya Shah,” I grumbled. “I might go too far.”
“Nah,” Lacy cast right back at me. “I trust you.”
“You’re a damn fool.”
“Yeah, reckless.” Lacy sniffed at her wine. “A full-bodied wine, rich in tannins, with a velvet finish.”
I had to laugh. “You read the taste notes?”
“Rats!” She was giggling too, her eyes sparkling. “Busted!”
We sipped the wine, delicious, and then I watched as Lacy emptied her shopping bag.
Piling lettuce and tomatoes on the table, she chatted away, “After the continuous banquets, I thought you’d like a simple supper.” She popped a party pack of feta cheese, cheddar, and olives in front of me. “Cheese snacks with the wine and green salad for after.”
A salad isn’t my idea of a meal, but I was touched. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Don’t be silly. I’ve been sitting on my bum all weekend, drinking your booze and stuffing myself with gourmet goodies,” Lacy replied. “The least I can do is make you a salad.” Then with a sideways smile, she emptied out the bag, grinning, “And in case green leaves aren’t your idea of a good time, I got you a steak, too.”
She’d bought a ribeye, almost an inch thick and beautifully marbled. I was salivating just at the sight of it. She really was a sweet girl; thoughtful and generous.
Without thinking about it, I put my hand on hers. It was just a touch, but a zing went right down to my toes. “Lacy.” Her eyes were fringed with long black lashes. In bed, they lengthened and slanted sleekly as her arms snaked around me, holding me tightly as she moaned with desire. I shook myself out of it, “Erm, err -” It was no good. All I could think of was how good she made me feel.
“Yes, I’m the best,” her grin signalled she knew exactly what I was thinking. “So it’s true: if you want to win a man’s heart, feed him.”
“The wine’s a good move too.” I spoke lightly, but I was still holding her hand. I just couldn’t let it go. That’s when it hit me: I didn’t want her to leave. The thought of Perdition being empty again, with me rattling around alone in the big house, horrified me.
“It’s going to take a week to fix my ceiling,” Lacy informed me. “At least, that’s what the workmen promised. My cottage is listed, and so it took them forever to clear repairs with the local council.”
I sat there, drinking her in. I’d lusted after her from the moment she’d crossed the street, legs flashing under the polka dots, one hand on her hat and a smile that went straight to my heart. And while I’d frequently wanted to strangle her, Lacy challenged me at every turn, forcing me to see myself. It was painful at times but having her in my home and my bed made life interesting again.
“I guess you don’t mind me staying a few more days.” Lacy gripped my hand, smiling at me. “Holding hands before a quiet supper, how romantic. I thought you were strictly a one night stand man.”
Reality came back with a rush. She couldn’t stay; being my girl was too dangerous. I didn’t want another Nita on my conscience. At the mere thought of Lacy being targeted for being near me, I tore my hand out of hers.
“Are you okay?” Lacy asked surprised.
“Of course.”
But I wasn’t, and she knew it. She hesitated before blurting out, “Lady Ulke told me about your mum.”
Worse and worse. I was back in that field, kneeling by mum’s side, praying that help would come. “That subject is off limits.” The words were cold because my guts were ripping apart.
Lacy’s response was deliberately cool. “Of course.”
I’d hurt her feelings, pushed her away. I wanted to explain, but the right words wouldn’t come. “You have to go.”
Lacy avoided my eyes. “The faster you fix my problem, the quicker I’ll leave.”
“I’ll have it sorted by the time your ceiling’s fixed.”
She stood up. “I’ll go put my things upstairs. And I’ll get out of your hair and move into a guest room.”
She was gone before I could explain.
“Got it!” Brianne bounced in, metal detector in hand. “I’ll just go and sweep for that ring.”
My reply was automatic. “Thanks.”
She gave me a brilliant smile. “Sorry, Rex, I know it’s after hours. I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
With the executive on the way, I wanted her out, but she was so enthusiastic that I couldn�
��t turn her down. “Of course not.”
“I just wouldn’t sleep a wink all night otherwise,” she confessed. “I won’t be two ticks.”
She was barely out of the kitchen when Crush strolled in. “Heads-up,” he said rapidly. “Pig and his executive just rode into Bonnington. He’ll be here in ten.”
“Where are the others?”
“At the gate, ready to provide an escort.”
So the Horde were coming in force. I grabbed my phone and went to the security grid, keen to see how many of them were on the way.
Crush frowned. “We were supposed to meet next week, with Poison and Snake.”
“We’ll see what he wants soon enough.”
Crush eyed the Reserva. “That’s a nice wine.”
“Lacy bought it.” As I clicked through the security camera feeds, I spotted Lacy moving her gear into the blue room and Brianne coming out of the rose room opposite. “I’d best get the staff out of here.”
Crush was right on it. “We’re bringing Pig in by the country road. If Brianne leaves now, via Stony Farm, the Horde won’t see her.”
I was upstairs and hustling her out the front door in an instant.
“But Rex, I was going to scan downstairs too,” Brianne protested.
“Do it tomorrow.” I urged her. “Leave by the farm road and don’t dawdle, okay?”
Brianne took in Crush’s bike parked in front of the door. “Trouble, Rex?”
“No. Of course not.” I lied automatically. “Just being careful.”
She gripped me briefly. “Thanks for looking out for me.”
I was pushing her into her car, already preoccupied with the meeting to come. Crush materialised next to me. “What’s the metal detector for?”
“We lost a ring,” I explained briefly.
“It never rains, but it pours,” he observed morosely. In the distance, we heard the faint roar of engines. Pig and his gang were on their way. Frowning, Crush asked, “Did you run your Yakuza theory past Lacy?”
“Yes. She thinks it fits.”
“Hmmm, if the Yakuza are pissed off with him, it would explain why he lost his shit.”
“Also, I think he’s into forgery.”
“Ha, now that’s interesting.”
The roar was louder now, and the gleam of moving steel flickered along the long driveway. I could see Pig’s Fireblade leading a half dozen others. Among them, I spotted a big hulking brute on a Harley Rocker. I knew that shape, I’d seen it in photographs and online. I understood why Pig was visiting us and I knew who his pal was.
Suddenly, all the pieces came together in my head. The excellent counterfeit wine labels, concert tickets, and IDs carried by the Horde’s undercover dealers now made perfect sense.
The cavalcade came to a halt right outside my front door. The helmets came off, and I was looking into the dark satanic face I’d seen on all his bios. Jason Barrows had come to Perdition.
Chapter Thirteen
Lacy
I was putting my gear into a carved mahogany wardrobe straight out of Shakespeare’s time and swearing furiously. Bloody Rex and his now-I-like-you-now-I-don’t attitude. I had a mind to walk, I don’t stay when I’m not wanted, except that I was too freaked.
I hadn’t dared tell Rex but creeping off to the cottage to see the workmen had been damn scary. I’d taken a back road, parked at a safe distance and spotted the motorbike lookout at my gate from three hedges away.
I’d half expected it, but even so, my heart was in my mouth. Sneaking into the village pub, I’d lured the foreman with the offer of a pint, agreed to everything he said and hightailed it out of there.
While sense told me to go straight back to the safety of Perdition, I’d belted up to Skegness and spent a heavenly day with Mia. Although she was fine, still enthralled by water slides and ponies, I found myself tearing up at having to leave again at the end of the day.
But I had no choice; Jason had taken away my options. I daren’t stay outside the safety of Perdition too long. Worse, even though Rex’s hacker mates had taken down all of Pig’s posts, Jason’s threats and gossip were still threatening my business.
“Barrows is difficult, but he is one of our favourite photographers,” the editor of Twisted said when I called to check up on available jobs. “I hope you can sort out your differences with him.”
Meaning they’d dump me if Jason asked because models are ten a penny while artists like Jason are rare as rocking-horse shit. “I’m meeting him soon,” I crossed my fingers as I pretended to be upbeat. “We’re good friends. This is just a temporary spat.”
Twisted were willing to take my assurances on trust but the whispers were doing the rounds. The editor of Spanked was ghosting me, and I felt other clients pulling away as well. Nothing was said, but people naturally dislike being close to trouble. I was terribly aware that my usual stream of job offers had dried up.
As my life was imploding, I was dead scared and desperate. Rex’s digging and conclusions that Jason was in deep shit with the Yakuza didn’t make me feel much better. If it was true, Jason might hold a grudge forever. Also, my protection might be running out because Rex was antsy at having me around. My hold over him had been gossamer-thin at best, and now he knew I had no video, it was gone. If Rex decided to kick me out, I was sunk.
It hurt because I thought we’d become friends. But when I’d asked about his mum, he was so cold that it was apparent he didn’t want me around. While Rex had been nice to me over our suppers, I should’ve remembered his mantra, “Wedding rings are the world’s smallest handcuffs.”
My stomach was twisted in knots at the knowledge that I was on a sticky wicket. As I moved into the blue room, blind to the gorgeous antiques and beautiful rugs, all I could think was that if I didn’t fix Jason soon, I wouldn’t have a career left. And then Mia and I would be helpless.
That’s when I heard the roar of bikes. A glance out of the window revealed a stream of bikers, including Jason on his Harley. I was racing along the miles of corridor at a clip that would have left Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce standing.
Shooting out the front door, I ran straight to Jason. “Where have you been and what the hell were you thinking, taking out a goddamn contract on me?” I was right in front of him, looking up into the dark eyes. “Are you in with the Ya-”
That when he belted me, his fist landing so deep in my belly, that it almost touched my spine. It didn’t actually register at the time. One second I was standing there and the next I was flat on my back on the gravel, seeing stars.
Around me, I was vaguely aware of motion. A crunch of gravel followed by a smack and a squeal floated into consciousness. Then pain overwhelmed me, and I faded out.
“Lacy?” The world edged back into consciousness. A very gentle hand was touching my face. Rex was hovering over me. “Don’t move. Lie still a minute.”
“What happened?”
“He hit you.” Rex’s voice was distant. “Can you feel your toes?”
For a split second, I couldn’t. I was about to panic when sensation rushed back. “Oh fuck.” My back, my face, my chest, my whole body was on fire at once. “Hells fucking bells.” I curled up, rolling around on the gravel, clutching my stomach and dry heaving. It took a century to catch my breath again. “Buggery fuck.”
“Good,” the relief in Rex’s voice was unmistakable.
“Yes, terrific,” I moaned.
Strong arms were around me, lifting me up. “Nothing broken.” Rex carried me to the steps, settling me gently. “Sit, and catch your breath.”
“I have to talk to Jason,” my voice was an agonised squeak. “I can finish the job.”
For once, Rex was shocked. “Are you out of your frigging mind? He just belted you into next week!”
“I need my career back.”
“I’ll fix that,” Rex said grimly. “You’re not going near him.”
Behind him, voices were raised. As I gazed over, all I could see was a wall of Disciple cuts. The
executive had lined up, forming a protective barrier between Jason and me.
“You fucking coward!” Kraken was livid.
“Hitting a girl? You’re a bloody shite, mate,” DT was fuming too.
There was lots of groaning. Peeking through, I was delighted to see Jason flat on his face in the gravel. By the way Rex was flexing his hand, and the rapidly puffing knuckles, he’d given him a good thump.
Sadly, Jason was really tough. He got to his feet, whining, “That bitch fucked up my project.” My ex hadn’t changed his tune.
“Pig, when you come here, you control your people,” Crush, all icy rage.
“Come on, she deserved it,” Pig said.
Jason was with him, “Yeah, she -”
Crush cut right across them both. “Keep your hands to yourself, or fuck off.”
Jason’s squawk of rage was drowned out by Pig, “Let’s not be hasty. Barrows just got carried away. The sight of the woman who screwed him over, you know?”
“She’s mine,” Jason wasn’t giving up. “You said you’d get her for me.”
“And I will,” Pig assured him. “Crush, we came for the girl.”
I was terrified, but Rex was up on his feet and snarling, “If you want Lacy, you go through me.”
“Oh, come on,” Pig sighed. “Who gives the orders here? Crush, come on, hand her over. A token of goodwill.”
Crush wasn’t having it. “It’s up to Rex.”
“And I say no.” Rex was right on it, menace flowing from him.
“A thousand quid. Cash.” Pig was holding out a wad of cash.
“No.”
“I’ll throw in twelve cases of Glendronach, the twenty-one-year-old single malt. That’s an extra -”
“I know what it’s worth,” Rex bit off every word. “No. But I’ll give you the same to walk away.”
Pig turned to Jason, definitely interested. “That’s a good deal.”
“You can’t buy me off!” Jason screamed.
“A fair settlement,” Rex said quietly. “Name your price.”
“She’s mine, and I’m going to take her apart!”
“Name your price, or we end it right here, right now.”
“You bastard! Give her to me!”
