by Vance Huxley
“Can you still handle that, removing those enclaves?”
“Yes Owen, but as an example?” Orchard Close showed on the screen again, but on a map with the General’s and the Hot Rods’ territory outlined. “Each of those larger gangs wants to take out that enclave. Both are trying to do it alone, yet negotiating to combine. Three others gangs are in an alliance to stop that, but at least one of them would happily double-cross the rest. It’s a rat’s nest, poisonous back-stabbing rats. I’ll still get the result we want, providing I can keep the two bigger gangs from fighting each other until after the enclave is taken.” He clicked again showing similar situations elsewhere, Sutton Park among them, not quite democratic but not oppressive. Even those would have to go, because the Army might consider them acceptable after seeing the worst examples.
“Don’t worry, my people will deal with souring relations when the time comes. That or just run over them with a tank.” Vanna tapped the table, looking towards Owen. “I vote for Joshua’s plan in Scotland, if only so I don’t have to go up there for any more morale boosting visits.”
Ivy scowled but nodded and tapped the table as well. “I vote for it to shut up the Marts. If we are clearing Inverness I’ll agree to losing the farm produce north of there.” Henry nodded and tapped the table to signal his agreement.
“I like the idea of getting rid of those work camps. They are too vulnerable and the raids by Reivers are making them rebellious. All in favour?” Grace raised a hand and the rest followed.
“Start your planning, Joshua.” Owen rapped his gavel on the table. “Now we’d better go through the boring details. Gerard, are the shipments from the Falklands and Argentina keeping to schedule...?”
*
As usual, the members of the Cabal straggled out of the meeting. Vanna spoke quietly to Maurice. “Are you selling ammunition to the problem enclaves?” A faint smile crossed her face. “Since you seem to have a lot of informationon that one.”
“We are selling, not me, and yes.” Maurice glanced to make sure nobody could hear, then smirked. “That should thin out the attackers very nicely.”
“Napalm would be better. What about the snipers?”
“We still have a high failure rate. Some can go in with your special units on attacks now, the ones who will just shoot anyone in their sights. We can give those a proper test in Inverness. The others, the real stone cold killers to take out a specific target, are taking a little bit longer.” He hesitated, but decided to come clean with this ally. “A lot longer and there’s a lot of wastage. A few are naturals, their trauma does most of the job for us, but the rest are very difficult to programme. We are running out of lonely woods near the training facilities, places to put the failures, because I don’t want the numbers to be obvious.”
“Use one of my special facilities. You can bury as many as you like there without anyone being nosy.” Vanna chuckled but it was black humour, reflecting on how many had already been interred in those places. “Most of the facilities aren’t being used now, so pick one near the training and let me know. I’ll make sure my people ignore a few mystery visitors.”
“Excellent. Thank you.” Maurice moved ahead to talk to Joshua about Inverness.
* *
Cyn Palace:
Some of the London enclaves were relaxed, even triumphant, completely unaware of the Cabal’s plans for them. “We warned them what would happen if they raided.” Kermit wore a sling but it didn’t affect his huge smile. “Hitting the shites with a hundred fighters didn’t leave many survivors, and they didn’t even get into the fields. Following them home caught them flat-footed. I doubt they could raise twenty fit fighters after that.”
The big man known as Sinner smirked, gesturing to the Imam. “His lot screaming that foreign stuff scares them shitless. I reckon the Smurfs are finished now anyway. Maybe we should grab a bit of their area, since our men are already over the border, something easily defended?”
The small redhead with her arm round him sounded more cautious. “Only if the rest of their neighbours get some as well, then none of them will object. We don’t want to lose more fighters defending our new land.”
“And only if we agree the area we take is used by all of us, not just the nearest gang.” Imam scowled at Sinner. “The foreign words were Holy words, calling on His help in fighting the invaders.”
“I’m good with that, and I’ll bet Preacher’s lot were asking for the same help.” Eli wasn’t wounded, but he had fresh bloodstains on his armoured vest.
“A God by any name is a powerful ally. Better yet the rest of the neighbours are a bit more civilised than the Smurfs, so the whole area should calm down.” Preacher aimed a small nod towards the Imam. “I agree, we should take over a piece of their land and some of their people, the workers, but all of us should share the benefits.”
“At this rate, we’ll end up one gang.” Sinner looked from Preacher to the Imam and frowned. “Maybe not.”
“God moves in mysterious ways. For now, let’s have a look at the map and choose our new boundary.” The men gathered round a table, heads bent over a map. The small auburn-haired woman, Sin, smiled quietly as she saw the Imam and Preacher murmuring quietly together. God seemed to be on the job already.
* *
Inside the enclosed cities, the fighting between gangs died downas the weather worsened. Most gangsters didn’t fancy slogging through rain to end up dead or wounded,fighting was bad enough in the sunshine. A few gang bosses thought that with the others sat in comfort, fat and happy, winter might be the perfect time to make a move.
Christmas Presents
Orchard Close might not be contemplating an attack on their neighbours, but their trainee fighters didn’t relax. Even so, quite a few of the traineesabandoned their practice temporarily at the end of Octoberwhen Mercedes accompanied Caddi on a visit to Orchard Close. As word spread, a small crowd formed to watch Mercedes walk up the road to meet Harold. Despite the chilly wind, her coat came offto reveal a short skirt, a crimson flared one. These boots ended just below her knee so she showed a lot more stocking this time. Mercedes didn’t seem worried by the cold, undoing an extra button on her loose white blouse when she got close to Harold. “Whew, I’ve come over all hot and bothered at just the sight of you.” Mercedes slid both arms up around Harold’s neck and the gap gaped invitingly. Harold dragged his eyes up to hersjust in time to miss the view, but saw the welcoming spark.
After a hello peck on his lips, Mercedes stepped back. She stuck out a hip, lifting an eyebrow in a question or challenge. “Mercedes, may I put my hand on your ass, and any other delectable places on offer? Please?”
“Hmm. Maybe.” Mercedes made quite a play of deciding this time, until even Harold began to wonder. Then he started wondering if he’d have to say no, because of his own rules in Orchard Close. “Not yet.” That raised a mutter from a couple of the Hot Rods. “But if you put your hand on the skirt over my ass, I can imagine what it will feel like straying underneath.” Caddi stood nearby, laughing, but his eyes sharpened at that because even the public script was history. Once he’d placed his hand, Harold stuck his hip out and Mercedes put her hand in his back pocket. It crossed his mind he’d already started playing grab-ass.
Harold’s hand had the fun trip when Mercedes turned, and again inside the house as they all sat down. Mercedes draped her stockinged legs over Harold’s lap and started the ‘where does the hand go’ game. Once again, she skipped Harold having to ask. With Mercedes almost leant against his shoulder,Harold’s arm went right around her waist ontothe skirt over her upper thigh. Dangerous, because every time Mercedes moved Harold had to stop his fingers slipping round her thigh. The front of the loose blouse swung enticingly under his nose.
Mercedes seemed to be fired up today. Harold soon found out why, because Caddi wanted to both brag and complain.”The Spuds haven’t produced a military genius after all. The bloody Trainspotters have been giving them fighters and advice.” Caddi sounded
indignant, funny really since he’d attacked the Murphies in the first place.
“Trainspotters? Did they have a treaty with the Spuds?” Harold thought they’d been a bit slow in that case.
“Not that I know of. Maybe they don’t want me as a neighbour?” Harold reckoned none of Caddi’s neighbours were keen on that idea. “It isn’t open and official support,but the bastards sent a proper shooter, a sniper. I might have had to hire you, Soldier Boy, because judging by the number of killings,he might have been as good as you. He’s not a problem now because Mercedes gotto him. I’m a bit pissed off, because there were too many others about for her to get away withthe rifle.”
“That’s a pity, an accurate rifle would be a welcome addition to any armoury.” Harold looked straight at Mercedes when he said that, and saw that warm spot come and go in her eyes. A real warm spot now, not just a flicker. “A present like that would have deserved a very special reward.” The tip of Mercedes’ tongue touched her lips, while her thigh muscles asked for the reward.
“She went back for her reward later, his ears, when the Murphies chucked out his body.” Gangs didn’t care too much about bodies, unless they were stinking too close to where the fighters lived. “I’m hoping he wasn’t the gun repairer, because I’d still like him.”
“Just as well Mercedes dealt with the sniper because I’m busy just now, sorting out all the refugees. Maybe the repairer is back in Trainspotters territory. They might not risk him further forward.” Harold smiled, glancing across at Sharyn. He had to when Mercedes smoothly slid her cleavage between Harold’s eyes and Caddi. Harold would already bet couponson braless, but so farhe’davoided confirmation.
“You might be right.” Caddi was scowling when Harold could see him again. “I know how busy you are. Bloody hell, there’ll be nobody left soon. They’re bringing weapons as well which is annoying.” As expected, the weapons had really wound Caddi up. If Orchard Close fighters weren’t patrolling the border, Harold felt sure the Hot Rods would try to grab some refugees.
“You’ll take the rest soon, so then they’ll come under the treaty.” Patty didn’t sound happy saying that, but Caddi’s snarl didn’t look that happy either.
“Good, because the runners know how to avoid my men on the way here. I found out where they were heading for, Barbie territory. I sent one man to follow them. He didn’t come back and the runners must have another route now.That means your people are right there, on the ground, butthe way the war is goingyou might want to pull them out. I’ll get a description sooner or later, and then you won’t get them back.” Caddi scowled at Patty, then turned it into a sneer. “Maybe you think one of your Demonswould get away. If I catch one, you’ll find out what happens when they meet a real fighter. I’ll make an example of whoever it is.” Patty’s eyes flashed, but even as Harold opened his mouth to stop her answering, another voice cut in.
“I’ve decided.” Everyone looked at Mercedes as she spoke. Harold saw the twinkle of mischief in her eyes, and his hand automatically tightened a little around the top of her thigh. “Your hand feels lovely just there, ‘Arold, but I don’t think you should put it up my skirt. You might get carried away.” There were a few gasps and a choking noise from over towards Cooper. The gasps came from the two extra Orchard Close guards, here to remind Caddi’s party of where they were.
“Then I might carry you away?” Harold wondered more about where this might be going.
Mercedes knew just where she was, and apparently where she was heading.She’d definitely diverted Caddi from who might be giving the refugees their information, or goading Patty. “Maybe, but not yet. Before I find somewhere delectable for that hand, I’d better make sure the other one is occupied. We wouldn’t want it wandering about unsupervised.”
“Not much” came from Cooper, while Harold’s guards snorted in amusement or agreement. Patty, Sharyn and Casper took it in their stride, but Mercedes fell well outside most people’s experience of visitors.
“I think your hand should go on my leg, but only on the stocking as yet.” Harold watched her eyes because that sparkle meant Mercedes planned some mischief. She lifted his hand and placed it on the hem of her skirt but mostly on lovely smooth stocking, so Harold gave a little squeeze. Mercedes leant forward,her leg slid forward just a bit,and Harold had that strip of skin to play with again. “I only wear these stockings for you, ‘Arold,so you can stroke my leg without losing a hand.” The sparkle in her eyes became a challenge.
Harold obliged.He tightened his grip and slid his hand forward around her leg a little, then back. Mercedes sighed. “Mmm, lovely. Now then, where can I put the other hand?” A lovely smile blossomed. “Move your other hand up a bit please, ‘Arold.” That puzzled Harold.Her waist wasn’t exactly pushing any boundaries, but some of the others in the room gasped. He would have looked down but her open blouse neatly blocked the view.
Harold’s thumb went up over the skirt waistband butnot onto a blouse, and he stopped. Henearly lost the bra bet becauseHarold almost looked down to see if Mercedes had opened her blouse. “Further ‘Arold,so it’s all on delectable, but not too far.” Too true, if he went too far Harold would be confirming the bra bet by hand. Harold thought he would get to do that eventually,but for now he obediently slid his hand up over the top of her skirt onto skin.
“Your wish is my absolute pleasure.”
“Ooh that’s lovely, ‘Arold, and now I’m wondering what your hand will feel like sliding around to the front. You tried that on top of my blouse, but now you can tell me if my skin is delectable.” As his hand started moving, Mercedes gave a sigh that Harold could confirm felt bloody wonderful. “Let me pullmy blouse down over that, so it doesn’t wander about too much. Is your hand happy there, ‘Arold?”
Mercedes leaned back at last so Harold glanced down. She’dhiddenhis hand under heruntucked blouse, leaving it loose enough for... Harold stroked her belly button, just a little, and her tummy muscles played a little hello on his palm and fingers. “My hand is very happy, Mercedes, as is the other one. The problem is that your skin truly does feel delectable. Now I want to stroke the rest and compare.”
Mercedes laughed, squeezing Harold’s finger ends slightly between her legs before letting go. “Keep asking, and you might get a yes.”
“I think you will, Harry.” Caddi couldn’t keep quiet any longer, but he’d lost interest in who told Murphy refugees anything. “Where’s your other woman? She should be taking notes.”
“She’s busy. Tessa reckons that it’s more fun for Harold if he concentrates on one of them at a time.” Sharyn shrugged. “I’m his sister so I don’t see the attraction.”
Casper and Patty chipped in and moved the conversation on from Tessa, and kept it away from people directing refugees. Casper had a genuine question, and the perfect diversion. “So what are you going to do about the Trainspotters?”
“I can send that bloody redhead Franco a message, pointing out that they should keep their men and weapons at home. The sort of message that will persuade them their advice to the Murphies is a bad idea.” Caddi gave a short, humourless laugh. “A message carved on someone’s,er, equipment.”He glared, daring someone to comment on him nearly breaking rules.
Cooper diverted them all. “Not on an ear, like some messages.” The Hot Rods started laughing butthe rest looked puzzled until Cooper explained. “Caddi brought Mercedes over here before she goes delivering messages.” Mercedes laughed again and Harold enjoyed the result. Her stomach gave his hand a thorough massage, which Harold’s hand returned under cover of the blouse and movement. If Harold slid his other hand forward a bit, Mercedes also useda laugh to cover squeezing his fingertips between her legs, briefly.
From her little smile,Harold felt sure Patty had spotted something, but neither Cooper nor Caddi could see from their angle. Nobody could see that Mercedes had taken her hand out of Harold’s back pocket and slid it up under the back of his shirt. She was doing a bit of stroking of her own. Luckily Caddi wa
sn’t negotiatingjust now,because Harold kept losing track. Mercedes had gone well past grab-ass this time.
Cooper laughed again before continuing which gave Harold’s brain time to recover. “Roller reckoned bringing Mercedes over to Orchard Close was a waste of time. He said Soldier Boy is that keen he’s already tripping over his tongue, or possibly something else. Then Roller stood like a bloody statuewhile Mercedes cut a little notch out of his ear.” Cooper started laughing again, but got out the, “For now.If he keeps interfering with her fun she’ll get the whole ear eventually.”
Most of those present were laughing hard now, but Patty at least might be laughing at Harold’s face. Harold thoughtMercedes kept laughing because she enjoyed the stroking and squeezing as much as hedid. Caddi finished off the message. “Because the trip isn’t for Soldier Boy. We’re here for her to have some fun and get her ration of ‘Arold.” Caddi shook his head. “She’s coming for you, Harry.”
“I’m not running.” Harold looked at Mercedes when he said it.
Her eyes warmed, really warmed, and stayed that way. “You’ll need a bigger bed, or a thicker carpet, or someone’s ass is going to get terrible bruises.” Mercedes spoke with total sincerity, and meant every word because her eyes said so. Her eyes were quite vocal when no Hot Rods could see them. Harold hoped she could read his eyes and see that he wasn’t running.
Caddi broke the stunned silence after that statement. “Maybe you should visit the Mansion once Mercedes has delivered her messages. There’s a big comfy bed there.” The gang boss wore a big smile now. He expected toclose his Deal, very soon.
“Thank you but not yet, Caddi.” This time when Harold looked up he tried to put awarning in his eyes. “There’s more fighting to come. I wouldn’t want Mercedes to be distracted and make a mistake. If that happened I would never get to find out just how delightful all those other delectables feel.” Harold wanted to remind Mercedes to be careful. The tango under one hand, the muscles flexing under the other and her fingernails on his back said Mercedes might be hearing ‘delectables’ and ‘feel’ instead.
