Page 102 of Knights Game

“I’m surprised they trusted you with it,” Levi says, as activity starts to pick up in the warehouse. The large double doors open allowing forklift trucks easy access.

I stare at him, ignoring his insult.

Roman’s Range Rover pulls up and I walk to meet him.

“What time do you call this?”

“Don’t fucking ask.” He’s dishevelled and the complete opposite to the usual calm and collected Roman.

“You can’t say shit like that and expect me not to ask.” I smirk and he looks at me, serious. “Good night?”

“Fucking overslept, too,” he grumbles, running a hand through his hair, an action he does when he’s feeling on edge.

I pull out my packet of fags. “Best have one of these for the nerves. The Covenant has decided to take half the shipment.”

“The fuck?” Roman says, his eyes wide.

“Yup, think we may have dropped the ball a little bit with last night’s extracurricular activities. I didn’t see this one coming.”

“That and the fuckers shifted the shipment by a poxy week.”

He rarely smokes, but the fact that he has one makes me smile even more.

“You’re loving this aren’t you,” he mutters, taking a long drag.

I clasp his shoulder. “I really fucking am.”

We stand in silence looking out over the busy Thames, the dirty water broken by ships and boats coming and going leaving a frothy ripple in their wake.

“Duchess?” Roman looks over my shoulder at Asher, Levi and Isabella all standing in the huge open warehouse doors. “I’d love to know what game Levi is playing.”

“Push Terrance out and take over his territory from what she’s hinted at. Hopefully she’ll kill Ricardo in the process, that worm gives me the creeps. Still can’t work out Levi’s play though, he won’t overthrow John.” I rub at my jaw. “I’m wrecked. How was she this morning?”

“Sore.” Roman looks at me. “She do that a lot?”

“When she doesn’t feel in control. I’d say her current predicament puts her far from being in control.”

“Katy’s with her.”

I nod and look down the road where a large lorry has just turned, on the truck bed sits a huge dusty red shipping container. The paint is well worn, with fading letters on the outside.

“Showtime.”

Roman flicks his cigarette away and locks the car, walking over to join the others who are waiting. A man in a high-visibility vest approaches the lorry. Black says something quietly to Rome and then waits out the front of the warehouse for the delivery.

“Come on.” Black beckons us in. “If this is to look like a legitimate operation, it wouldn’t be greeted by well-dressed men and a woman wearing a white suit in a fucking dockyard.”

“Fair point,” Levi says following them in.

“There is nothing wrong with my outfit,” Duchess says, looking down at it, wiping at the trousers that have picked up a smudge.

“You were saying?” Levi grins, raising an eyebrow.

“Fuck me, he cracked a smile.” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop it.

Duchess laughs. “He has a lovely smile.” She squishes his cheeks in her hands. “Don’t you, baby.”

“Fuck off.”

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