Page 60 of Poisoned Pawn

“He wasn’t alone. They drove off before we could stop them,” I say, picking up his wallet and opening it. “His driving licence states he’s Vinnie Haskil aged 31 from Manchester.” Other than that, there is little in the wallet; a couple of bank cards with the same name and about fifty quid in cash.

“You think they’ll come back,” Star asks.

“I’m not willing to take that chance,” I state.

“It’s just one guy though, right?” Star asks, looking around the room at each of us.

I understand her confusion, but before I can explain, Zak gets there first.

“If it’s just one guy, I doubt he’d be stupid enough to come back alone.”

“Exactly that,” I say, pointing at Zak. “My guess is the two of them scoped the place out and seeing only the two of us, thought it’d be easy pickings. Now though, I reckon he’d be prepared to split the million-pound bounty and bring a couple of friends back, especially as we killed his mate.”

“And just what is your plan here, Carter? Keep fucking running?” Maddox accuses with a sneer.

“No, arsehole. We’re going back to Manchester,” I snap, levelling him with a hard stare. Star tenses beside me, and I sense her apprehension.

“You think that’s a good idea,” Roxanne asks, sounding sceptical.

“You got a better fucking one? ‘Cause apparently,runningain’t it.” Maddox bristles at my emphasis on running, and I can’t help but smirk. “Look, getting out of Manchester was necessary at first. Half the fucking city was hunting Star”—I can’t help the growl that follows that statement— “It’s been a few days, and most are chancers looking to make quick cash and don’t have the time or brains to chase after the big fish when a smaller, easier one comes along. The rest will have figured she’s left or gone to ground.”

“That’s a big assumption,” Zak says, taking a seat on the arm of the sofa.

“Not really. It’s the way my world works. Kavanagh is in Manchester, right?”

My question about Aidan Kavanagh is met with suspicion and narrowed eyes that I can’t help but laugh at.

“What a fucking joke. You think I’d go to all this trouble to lure Kavanagh to Manchester, to what, kill him? You’d be wrong. I wouldn’t need to.”

“Arrogant bastard!” Maddox snaps, nostrils flaring and jaw ticking.

“It’s not arrogance when you’re good at what you do. And I’m the fucking best!”

Sensing that shit is going to go sideways any minute, Roxanne steps in front of me, stealing my focus and blocking Maddox from view.

“Watch it, Carter. You might still be breathing but that can change. What’s the issue with Kavanagh?”

“If it’s seen he’s looking for Star too, it could give us some time to figure out who posted the bounty and get it shut down.”

“Or it could backfire and get us all killed. You might not have lured us all to fucking Manchester, but that doesn’t mean someone else didn’t,” Zak says.

“And I’m the arrogant one,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Let me put it plain and fucking simple. I get hired to kill people not play fucking cat and mouse games. They hire me, I kill the mark, I get paid. Just like that. Do I think there’s more at play here than just trying to take out Star? Too fucking right I do. But I sure as shit don’t have the time to stand here and argue about it right now. Vinnie is from Manchester and depending on where his mate is pulling extras in from means we have five hours tops before they come back. Even less if he’s connected and finds some locals to pull in, so how about we save this conversation for another time.”

“And what’s the fucking plan then,Rambo?” Maddox questions tauntingly.

And he’s beginning to push my buttons. Which is why I find my feet moving forward involuntarily. My chest meets Roxanne’s shoulder as Star grips my arm.

“Carter,” she warns, drawing my attention. “He’s just trying to get under your skin,” she adds, pulling me back.

“I’d say it’s working,” Zak says, tone hard but laced with humour at my expense.

“And I’d say this isn’t getting us anywhere,” Star snaps, scowling at him and Maddox. With a sigh, she asks, “If we go back to Manchester, where are we going to go?”

“I have somewhere,” I reply, keeping it vague. It’s not the best option, but it’s an option and the best I’ve got right now.

“What about Vinnie?” Zak asks as the tension eases.

“Nothing a barrel of acid won’t fix.”

---