Page 24 of Savage Justice

“He might fancy staying alive.”

I gape at him in stunned silence. “What? What do you mean?”

Nico casts a glance at Ethan, who simply nods.

“What I mean is, we could point out the consequences if he continues to harass you.”

“Consequences?”

“If he wants to stay alive and carry on selling dodgy art on the dark web, then he needs to wind his neck in as far as the baby’s concerned.”

“You’d threaten him?”

“Just the once. Then, if he doesn’t take notice, we’ll end him.”

I’m aghast. Horrified. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Have I slipped into some parallel universe where the normal rules don’t apply? Apparently so, from the deadpan expressions on all their faces. “You can’t do that. It… it’s…”

“We know what it is. Your choice. Keep on running until one day he manages to snatch your child or let us deal with him.”

“No! No, I can’t agree to that. I mean, warn him off, yes. But the rest… No.”

Nico shrugs. “Have it your way. But you must see you can’t go back to your house. Dunbar probably already told Borys where you are. He’ll have another go, send another hitman to do his dirty work.”

“I don’t have anywhere else. Like I said, I can get a new alarm. Buy a Rottweiler.”

“Or you could stay here until you sort out something more permanent.”

I shake my head, hugging a squirming Noah to my chest. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not? You’re safe. Your children are safe. You can work if you want to. What’s the problem?”

Is he deluded? “What’s the problem? I’ll tell you what the problem is. People don’t just move in with perfect strangers. Strangers who talk about killing people as though it’s normal, as though it happens every day.”

Their expressions never waver. I swing my gaze from one stony-faced man to the next, looking for something, Anything. Some shred of recognition that what they’re proposing is unreal, even slightly outrageous and more than a little unhinged.

Nothing. They mean it. They are deadly serious.

“What sort of people are you?” I whisper.

It’s Ethan who answers. “We’re people who get shit done. As you say, this is none of our business, but we’re involved now. We can sort this, and we will if you let us.”

I’m struggling to find words. “Why? Why would you? Why do you even care?”

He lifts one dark eyebrow. “Why would we not? A better question is, what will you do, once that bastard has your boy? And he will. Eventually. His sort never stops. Will you just give up, or will you be back, begging us to help?”

“I’ll never give up!”

“Right, then.” He shrugs into his expertly tailored suit jacket. “We’ll leave it with you.”

The room empties. I’m left staring at the door.

CHAPTER 7

Nico

The stench of weed is heavy in the silent nightclub. I suppose the cleaning crew will descend on the place at some stage today, but whether they’ll be able to eradicate the aroma is another matter, and I don’t suppose it makes any difference one way or the other. It will be the same again by tomorrow.

It’s not a smell I like. Hypocritical, I know, but there you have it. It’s been years since I imbibed and I find the lingering scent vaguely nauseating. I’m glad this meeting is winding up and we’ll soon be back out in the fresh air, or as close to fresh air as inner-city Glasgow ever gets.

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