Page 67 of Reclaim (Deadly Hearts 3)

ChapterThirty-Four

Cillian

Pissed off doesn’t even cover the way I’m feeling right now. Hauling dead bodies around isn’t the funnest thing to do, bearing in mind we not only had Scott to dispose of but his lackeys as well, and I now stink of burned-out building.

So when Ruby rings me asking to meet her in her office, I’m not the happiest camper. I look like hell and would rather shower and change before seeing her again.

Knocking gently, I open the door and stick my head in to see her with some random guy, bent over files and folders and laptops.

“Cillian,” she says, looking up with a smile and holding her hand out to me.

It dissolves any annoyance I had. Not that I was annoyed with her, but at everything else. Stepping further into the room, I close the door and keep my distance. She gives me a funny look. Shaking my head, I smile. “Don’t smell the best over here.”

She wrinkles up her nose. “Oh. Sorry. You remember The Banker?”

I shrug. What does it matter now? “Yeah. Everything okay?”

She presses her lips together. “Well, that depends on you. You still up for a job over on this side?”

“What did you have in mind?” I know she said about taking over a sector, but things have changed so much since that first time she mentioned it, who knows what she’s thinking right now.

“Remember we spoke about Jake and his shady drugs and prostitution crap? I definitely want someone like you who won’t stand for that bullshit in his place, but now we have Scott’s place to fill as well. You will take one and I’ll incorporate the other into my assets. Question is, do you want to clean up Jake’s mess or slot into a place that is set up and just needs a leader to get everyone in line and to stay the fuck away from me? I’m easy either way.”

I contemplate that for a moment. It sounds like taking over Jake’s business will give her aggro she doesn’t need right now. Anything I can do to ease her workload, I will do. Plus, I could do with some heavy lifting workwise. The last few days have made me miss what I do.

Spotting the small sofa at the side of her office, I take a seat, perching on the edge, conscious of the stench on my clothes. “I’ll take Jake’s. I love a challenge.”

She grins, her eyes flashing wickedly. “Thought you might,” she says and beckons me over.

Standing up, I move across to her desk where she has a map of Manchester laid out. She points to a marked off purple area. “This is my turf. Or what used to be mine.” Her finger points to a small area to the side of the purple line on the left. “Vinnie took these three streets at the back of Canal. This here is Jake’s territory.” She points to the red markings, “and this is Scott’s.” The green lines. “As you can see, we are literally street to street, so you won’t be far away.” That beautiful smile widens when she looks up at me.

I nod. “What are you going to do about the streets Vinnie took?”

“I’m going to get them back.”

“Now?”

She nods.

“Not alone, you’re not.”

She gives me a lingering once-over and I know she thinks I’m a mess.

“Give me time to go home to shower and change.”

“Out of time,” she says. “Go find Declan, he usually has a bag of spare clothes lying around. You can freshen up in there.” She indicates the en-suite.

I’m about to comply, when she yanks a desk drawer open and pulls out a lockbox. Curious, I watch as she opens it and pulls out a small handgun and holster. Snapping the box closed and replacing it, she hikes her dress up her thighs. I growl, low and menacing. Her knickers are still in the Ferrari and she’s about to flash this Banker guy sitting next to her.

Ruby’s eyes light up and she opens her legs, lifting her left one up slightly to slide the holster underneath. She fastens it and slides the gun in. It’s the fucking sexiest thing I’ve ever seen and all thoughts of her and that arsehole staring at her lap, vanish. She makes a show of securing one of her knife holsters onto her right thigh, making me so hard I nearly groan.

“Going to find Declan,” I mutter and leave hastily before I waylay us even longer.

Making my way over, I see Declan sitting at the bar with Ramsey, talking in hushed tones. The barmaid is mooning over him, her industry standard white shirt unbuttoned a bit lower than would be appropriate for a work setting. I know exactly what will happen when she spots me approaching and I’m not wrong. I’ve seen it a million times. Her eyes go wide, then they light up and fill with unbridled lust as she thinks about both of us screwing her on this bar. Her sweeping gaze makes me severely uncomfortable. I don’t like it and I want her to stop. Scowling at her, I punch Declan on the arm. He turns his head, oblivious to the lusty gaze of the barmaid.

“What is it?” he asks, seeing my face clouded with discomfort.

“Got any spare clothes?”

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