Page 86 of The Question of Us
“Why, you little...” Jack drew his foot back for another strike and I saw Gazza readying to launch himself.
“Gazza,” I warned, watching him sway a little on his feet to keep his balance, the drugs still having an effect.
He scowled but didn’t move, and just for a second, I thought I caught movement in the open door over his shoulder. I blinked and looked again but the doorway was empty.
Ronnie’s attention swung slowly from Lee to Gazza and his eyes narrowed. “You wanna be a hero, dickhead?” He took a step closer to Gazza. “Unfortunately, Gray is right. We need to be careful with him. Marty’s pet and all that. Butyou?” He chuckled. “I’m thinking Marty won’t be too concerned about us messing upyourpretty face.”
“Don’t you fucking dare.” Lee scrambled to his feet with one arm still wrapped around his belly.
Jack wiped his face again and he looked between them. “Well now, what do we have here?” He cracked a vicious smile. “Ronnie, mate, I believe we have an answer to our dilemma. Hitone—” Jack’s arm flew out, his fist connecting with Gazza’s jaw in a sickening crunch that sent Gazza flying onto his back. “—and theybothhurt.”
Lee howled in fury and Jack shot a victory smile Ronnie’s way. “Who knew?”
Lee made an ill-judged attempt to rush to Jack, only to be floored by Ronnie’s boot across his shin, which sent him sprawling at Jack’s feet. In the midst of the kerfuffle, my attention was grabbed by a slender shape bolting along the wall on the far side of the pool.Mads.My heart almost fucking stopped. I hadn’t been seeing things after all.
I wanted to race over and wrap him in my arms. I wanted to tell him to get the hell out of there. I wanted to shout that I loved him. I wanted to string him up and peel his skin from his bones... slowly... for being a crazy motherfucker taking a risk like that. What the hell did he think he was doing? If we survived this, the man had a life of bubble wrap ahead of him.
I looked back to find Jack and Ronnie caught in a staring game with Lee and Gazza, the four of them seemingly oblivious to Mads’ arrival. But Aaron sent me a wide-eyed nod that told me he’d seen what I had, even though he’d have no idea who it was.
“Get up.” Jack waved his gun wildly at Gazza’s head, blood coursing down his face from the partially severed flap of tissue clinging to his nose. “I’m not done with—shit.” He spun at the sound of a vehicle racing down the road. “Watch them.” He headed for the door, and I breathed a sigh of relief at the idea we’d somehow bought a little more time.
But it wasn’t enough.
Jack returned through the door a few seconds later. He grabbed a grubby cloth hanging from a hook and pressed it to his nose. “It’s Freddie’s Jeep and he’s in a hurry.” He stabbed a finger at Lee. “You’re history, you hear me? When this is all done, you’re mine. I don’t fucking care what anyone says.”
Lee huffed in disgust at whatever he saw on Jack’s face. “Not in a million years. You lot are all a bunch of fucking pussies.”
“We’ll see about that.” Jack advanced menacingly on Lee.
While they were occupied, I stole a glance to the other side of the pool but saw nothing.Where are you, baby? And where are the damn police?With no option but to trust Mads, in the end, it was easy. Mads had my back; I had zero doubt about that.
“Forget him,” Ronnie snapped. “I’m more concerned about Freddie. If he sees these guys untied, we’re in big fucking trouble.” He pulled a bag of cable ties from his pocket and handed them to Jack. Then he waved his gun at us. “Face down on the floor, all of you.”
This was it. This was the moment. If they got us tied up again, we were done for.
I caught Lee’s and Gazza’s eye, then stiffened my spine and turned to Ronnie. “Now why the fuck would we do that?” I took a couple of steps back and the other three followed suit, even Aaron, whose tied ankles meant he had to drag himself across the floor. We spread out across the space, making it harder for the guards to focus on us all at once. They could shoot us, even kill us, but with Freddie so close, I was banking on them waiting for instructions.
Panic flickered briefly over Ronnie’s face. He glanced toward the open door, then back to us. “I said get down! Now!”
“Or what?” I taunted as Freddie’s Jeep roared close by.Play for time. Play for time. For the police to get there. For Mads to do whatever the hell he had planned.“You gonna shoot us all just as your boss is set to arrive? You might get two of us before we rush you, but I’ll take those odds. Then there’s all the blood and mess to clean up before the cops get here. Because theyarecoming, Jack. Maybe they’re already here. Maybe that’s why Freddie’s in such a hurry.”
I hoped to fuck I was right.
Jack and Ronnie exchanged a panicked look and I pressed a little harder. “Didn’t Freddie explain that’s why we’re down hereand not at the house? Then Marty can blame everything on you guys. Poor discipline. Things getting out of control. Boys will be boys. Right?”
It was plausible enough and I had their attention. But that was all I had, and it wouldn’t be enough with Freddie only seconds away. I flicked a glance toward the far end of the pool.Your turn, sweetheart. Anytime now would be good.
But nothing happened.
Instead, Freddie’s Jeep powered to a stop outside the shed and a cloud of dust blew into the barn. A second vehicle, bigger and louder than the Jeep, pulled in straight after. Doors slammed and seconds later, Freddie and Marty appeared in the doorway. One look at the four of us uncuffed and defiant and all hell broke loose.
“What the fuck’s going on?” Freddie raised his shotgun our direction and shoved Jack aside. “Imbeciles. How the fuck did this happen?” He stared at Jack. “What’s wrong with your face?”
“We didn’t... I mean... it wasn’t our fault. We don’t know how they got free. They must have something on them,” Jack rushed to explain. “And he fucking bit me.” He indicated Lee.
“Lee bit you?” Marty’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline, and he glanced at Lee’s bloody mouth with almost amusement in his eyes.
Lee shrugged. “He was being an arsehole.”
