Page 65 of Ruthless Vengeance

“What?” she questions.

“Nothing,” Zak says with a chuckle.

We watch as Roxanne makes a call, and if we were surprised before, imagine our surprise when we realise who she’s calling. After her last stunt at The Watchtower, I shouldn’t really be surprised. But this woman continues to amaze me.

“Is there something I should know about with you and Mickey? ‘Cause this is the second time you’ve called on him for a favour, Roxanne,” I whisper, stepping into her side and rising to my full height.

“Aww, has big, bad Mad got a touch of the green-eyed monster?” She laughs, patting me on the chest. Then she rises on to her tip toes, her cheek brushing mine. “I know who I belong to, and I’ll let you remind me later just for fun.”

Snapping her up in my arms, I tell her, “Keep talking like that, Tinks, and I’ll fuck you right here, then I’ll have to kill every man here for seeing you come all over my cock.” I lick the seam of her mouth and nip at her bottom lip before letting her go.

“Okay, when you two have finished making the rest of us uncomfortable, turned on and fearing for our lives all at once, perhaps we can get the fuck out of here. I’m sure I remember Rox asking where Bonner stashes his gear.”

“Yeah, I did. Any idea on the number of guys that he’ll have there?”

“No idea, but knowing Bonner I’d say a pretty good number,” Bowser says.

“I heard the Acers are running security for him now,” Ripley adds.

“That sounds about fucking right,” I say, rolling my eyes. “Let’s just assume a decent number and go from there.”

Bowser disappears and comes back a moment later carrying a thin plastic folder and holds it out to Roxanne.

“This is all the information I collected on the cops, Todd and the others from that night.”

She takes it. “Thanks, Bowser. I’m sorry you had to do that, but I’m not sorry they’re dead. You coming with us? Might need a diversion if you’re up for it.”

“Count me in, Roxy,” he says eagerly, casting a glance to me. “We good, man?”

“We’re good, B,” I tell him, and I mean it. He’s a solid guy and has always been there for us. Am I pissed he didn’t tell us about his brother and what he knew? Of course, but I can’t blame him when he did as Theo asked. No different to Kavanagh keeping all his shit secret, including Star.

As we head for the door, Rox waves the bat towards the wall, almost catching Bowser in the face, and says, “Sorry about your wall. I’ll pay for it to be fixed.”

“Don’t worry about it, Roxy,” he says, laughing and holding his hands up like he’s afraid she’ll use it on him.

She smiles at him but it’s a smile that hides a thousand truths and even more scars. Roxanne might be fooling everyone else with her easy demeanour and light jesting, but I know her. Inside, her body will be in turmoil, battling with what’s right and what’s good. She might have accepted who she is, but it’s going to take time for her to also accept the darker side of her nature. Don’t get me wrong, her demonstration at the warehouse yesterday with Tommy was the start. But it’s nothing compared to what I know she’s capable of if the need arises.

I drop back, letting Zak and Bowser pass me on the stairs so I can talk to Ripley.

“What you got left at the club?”

“A couple of G’s, why?”

“Good. After this, I want you to head back there and wait for my call. I might need it to sweeten the deal with Laskin. Don’t tell the girls anything about Lila yet. We still don’t know what her involvement is, and I don’t want to give them a chance to hide anything if there is anything to hide.”

I’ve no idea what Roxanne has planned for Bonner’s warehouse, but whatever it is, it’s going to kick up a storm. I need to make sure that we’re ready for what comes next because I think this is the beginning of the end.

ChapterTwenty-Three

Roxy

Trent is where we left him when we get back to Maddox’s bike, his eyes trained across the car park to a couple of young lads who look like trouble.

Maddox clocks them too and looks their way. As soon as they see him, they begin walking backwards away from the area.

“All good?” he asks Trent as we reach him.

“Yeah, just some wannabes from the other block. They ain’t nothin’ though.”

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