Page 25 of Fletch

I laugh. “Well, that won’t be a problem from now on.” I drop down beside her. “He’s gone.”

I feel her eyes burning into me as I reach for the television remote. “How come?”

I shrug, avoiding eye contact. “It just wasn’t working.”

“Thank fuck,” she says, grinning.

I glare at her. “Language,” I remind her, “and don’t mention it to Father.”

“Please, I’m almost fourteen. Kerry swears in front of her parents all the time and they don’t even say anything. You’re just my sister, relax.” Her words sting, like they do every time she refers to me as her sister.

I tuck her hair behind her ear and cup her cheek. “You’re so beautiful,” I tell her, and she pulls away, making retching noises.

“You’re so gross,” she tells me, grabbing the remote. “Let’s watch a horror.”

Seven

Fletch

“Any idea who tipped them off?” asks Grizz.

Axel shakes his head. “My man on the inside knows nothing.”

“What about the copper? Did she scream out all her secrets while you fucked her?” Nyx asks.

“Nope. The only thing on her lips was my name,” I say with a wink.

“Not fucking good enough,” spits Axel. “Go find me something. I wanna know what they know.”

“I told you, she’s by the book, she’ll never spill.”

He narrows his eyes in annoyance. “Then you’re not fucking her right. You need me to put someone else on it?” His words piss me off, and he smirks, knowing they’ve affected me. “Don’t tell me you’re feeling shit for her. We don’t need that complication.”

“Nah,” I say quickly, “of course not. But she knows me. If she’s gonna talk, it’ll be to me.”

He slams the gavel on the table and stands. “Glad we understand one another.”

Atlas walks out with me. “What’s the plan?” he asks.

I shrug. “I dunno. I don’t think she’ll risk her job.”

“Brother, women do all kinds of stupid shit for love.”

“Love?” I repeat.

“Yeah, you gotta make her fall for you if you want to break her.”

I sigh. This keeps getting more and more complicated.

I wait across the road from the police station, by the old Scouts hut, and stare at my mobile phone. Gemma’s reply comes instantly, and I grin.

Snap: WTF. Stay there!!

I tuck my phone away and watch the gates slide open. Gemma rushes over the road towards me, and the second she’s closer, she grabs my arm and drags me behind the Scouts hut. She shoves me hard against the wall, and I grin. “Easy, Snap.”

“What the fuck are you doing here, Fletch?” she barks.

“I like it when you’re in work mode,” I reply, raising my hand to brush her hair from her face.

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