Page 59 of Poisoned Pawn

I ignore him, bending down and picking up the dead guy’s legs. “You gonna fucking help or what?” I snap, getting back to my full height with the dead guy’s legs one in each hand. He just glares, making no move to help. Giving up, I walk backwards in an arc, a thick smear of red painting the grass, then pass by Maddox on my way down the small slope that runs parallel to the driveway. I stick to the grass as it will be easier to clean than the gravel driveway, but I’m pissed about the extra work thanks to the arsehole refusing to help.

About halfway down, Zak joins me, and I pause allowing him to hook his hands under the arms of the dead guy. I adjust my hold now the weight has shifted, then set off again.

“What’s the plan?” Zak asks after several minutes of silence.

“I found a set of car keys on him, so I’m guessing his car is parked down here somewhere.”

“And then?”

“And then, we drive him to the Welsh equivalent of Yellowstone’s train station.” He laughs but doesn’t make any other comment.

When we reach the bottom, I steer us behind a hedge, then say, “We’ll drop him here and find his car.”

Stepping out onto the road, Zak points right and tells me they parked a little way down there and didn’t see any other cars, so we head left.

“So, is Koda still breathing or do I need to find a new tech guy?” I ask as we begin walking.

“He’s still alive. For now.”

“Right. You and Maddox draw straws for who plays good cop, or is bad cop his default setting?”

“Watch it, man. I might not be projecting my dislike of you or the fact I’d like to cut your balls off, but it’s there. Trust me.”

“Message received,” I say, pulling the set of keys belonging to the dead guy from my pocket. “But none of you have the balls to actually do it, so it’s kind of pointless posturing really,” I add as we round the bend.

Zak grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop. “And what the fuck makes you think that, huh?”

Snapping out of his grip, I step forward until we are toe to toe. Almost nose to nose given there is barely an inch in height difference between us.

“Star.” It’s one word, but it’s the most powerful one right now. His nostrils flare with suppressed anger because he knows I’m right.

He opens his mouth but is cut off by the sound of an engine revving, closely followed by the squealing of tyres as we look toward the noise and see a white transit van tearing down the road.

“Son of a fucking bitch!” I shout, punching air. I look down at the keys in my hand as Zak snaps a photo of the van before it vanishes round another bend up ahead. “We need to fucking leave. Now before the arsehole comes back.” I spin on my heels and march back up the road.

As we round the corner to the drive, we run into Maddox.

“What’s going on?” he asks as I continue straight past him.

“He wasn’t alone, and whoever was with him, just drove off,” Zak says as we head back to the house.

Shoving the front door open, I find Star and Roxanne sitting close at the breakfast bar and both look our way. Star’s eyes are red, her face blotchy and cheeks wet. My fists clench as her pain-filled eyes scour my body ensuring I’m unhurt.

I feel Maddox and Zak at my back as Roxanne and Star get to their feet.

“What’s going on?” Roxanne asks, looking between the three of us.

Not giving a fuck that her family is here, I stride straight to Star and take her face in my hands.

“You okay?” I ask, tipping her face up to mine and brushing my thumbs over her tear-stained cheeks.

“I’m fine. What’s going on?”

I kiss her, needing to taste her pain, to take it away. Her lips are soft and salty, telling me a thousand words in a single kiss. I ignore the whispered voices behind me, stealing a moment longer of the peace her lips on mine brings.

Finally breaking the kiss, I lean my forehead on hers. “We need to leave.”

She pulls back, looking into my eyes, trying to read what she missed that now means we have to leave so suddenly. I move away, digging in my pocket for the dead guy’s wallet and phone, I slam them down along with the car keys, which are obviously for a different car, on the counter.

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