Page 61 of Knights Game

“A McDonald’s sausage and egg Mc Muffin, a giant Coke and two hash browns.”

A grin tugs at his lips.

“Careful, I almost saw that.” And I really wish I didn’t because when he smiles, it does things to me.

He glances at the clock, then cuts into the other lane as the light turns green.

“Christ, Luca.” I grab hold of the arm rest as he swings the Range Rover round the corner to a cacophony of car horns.

“What my woman wants, my woman shall get.”

“I’m not your woman.”

“Oh, Layla.” He reaches out and touches my cheek and I feel it everywhere. “You really fucking are.”

22

Luca

“What took you solong?” Roman calls over as I climb out of the Range Rover, leaving Layla in the car, happier since drinking and eating her fill.

“Had to take a detour.”

Rome looks over my shoulder. “You’re sure about this?”

“Yup.” I pop thep. “Tell me what you found.”

“Warehouse is empty but has running water and electrics. Basement is large, and the door to the tunnels is well hidden. Took me 20 minutes to find it, and if Black hadn’t told us they were there, they’d be impossible to find.” Ah the tunnels, the sweetener that Asher Black knew would be too good to turn down. Thehiddentunnels, that show up on no plans, the tunnels that make the perfect mechanism to move the product from this warehouse to another distribution warehouse. This location will have a fully legitimate business working from it, with the exception that some of the produce will contain cocaine, that we will ship out via said tunnels.

We fall into step and start towards the main warehouse, run down and dirty, but even with the dusty windows, peeling paint, and rusting, it’s structurally sound. “Black’s on his way.”

Nodding, I peer up at the three-story building, and then around at the surrounding area. It’s embedded in with the other buildings in the industrial complex. This is the most rundown in the vicinity, but with some work it will look just like the others. “Are you going to have time to go to the club before the dinner?”

“Unlikely. Layla needs to run some errands.”

“You’re needed at the club—I’ll take her.”

“Dress shopping for tonight?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Fuck’s sake,” he says, and I let out a laugh.

“She also needs to go back to hers to pack a bag. Then bring her back to the apartment in the Clock Tower.”

“You’re moving her in?”

I pull out a cigarette lighting it up with my zippo lighter. “You’re full of questions this morning.” I puff out the smoke and offer him a fag.

“I’m trying to understand the play here, Luca.”

“The play is, Levi is watching us, we need to lead him off the track and Layla is the perfect solution.”

“Another perfect solution,” he mutters, and I take another drag, the smoke calming me.

“I know you don’t like this—” Something catches my attention, and I pause. “You search the perimeter?” Roman looks at me like I’ve just kicked his puppy. Stupid question. “We’ve got company 12 o’clock.”

I pull out the gun tucked in my trousers and hidden by my suit jacket and cock the weapon with a satisfying click.

Roman follows suit and we drop in closer to the building. We skirt along the edge continuously scanning our surroundings. I take in the Range Rover and Layla who has the straw sticking out her mouth.

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