Nine
NINE
REV
The door to Shaun Hunt’s private lounge looms ahead, its polished wood gleaming in the dim light of the hallway. I take a deep breath, steadying myself before knocking. This conversation has been a long time coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
I hear a gruff “Enter” from the other side, and pushing the door open, I step into the room.
Mr Hunt is seated in an armchair with a pillow supporting his back. The room overlooks the garden. I’ve never been in here before. When I worked for him, his men were only ever allowed downstairs. As I take in the photos of Harley and her mother that adorn the fireplace, I can’t help but wonder what life would have been like for him if his wife hadn’t died. I can tell this is a room of escape from the job, from the organisation.
His stern face, lined with age and wisdom, turns towards me, and nodding, he indicates to the chair that’s positioned facing him.
“Hadrian. Sit. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen ya. I didn’t think you’d grace this town with your presence ever again.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say, lowering myself into the chair. I feel awkward, and my hands rest uneasily on my knees. “I never planned to come back. I thought I wouldn’t be welcome. When I left, I felt guilty because you gave me and my brother so much.”
He studies me for a long moment, his piercing eyes not missing a thing. “I don’t hold grudges against people unless they owe me money.” He chuckles at that, and I can’t help but smile.
If you were to meet Shaun in the pub, you would never think he was a notorious gangster. He just looks like a normal, everyday guy. But I know he’s far from it.
“To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”
I swallow hard, feeling the weight of his gaze. “I need to talk to you about the past. About why I really left the organisation, and why I need your help now.”
Mr Hunt leans back in his seat and looks directly at me. “Go on, lad.”
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “When I left here with my brother, I didn’t know who I was. There was turmoil twisting in my gut every day, and I wasn’t at peace with the job.”
“I know, Hadrian. You don’t have to explain. This life isn’t cut out for everyone. You were a good soldier. You are a good man.”
“So are you,” I insist. “If you weren’t, there’s no way you would have raised a strong, kind, independent woman like Harley.”
A smile I haven’t seen before on his face tells me this man dotes on his daughter and the woman she’s become.
“Over the years, I’ve kept an eye on you and your brother, so I’m aware you considered the priesthood before becoming a member of the Royal Bastards.”
“I joined the motorcycle club straight after leaving the seminary. It gave me a sense of purpose, a place to belong. But I soon realised there was more to the club than just riding bikes and brotherhood.”
Mr. Hunt nods, his expression unreadable. “Yes, I am aware. The Royal Bastards are infamous among the organisations we sell our goods to. They’re all rather afraid of you lot.”
“We try to keep things legal, but the club needs to make money, and the weapons that come in from shipments are our bread and butter, so to speak,” I continue, my voice steady. “Recently, some of these shipments have been going missing, and we know where from.”
He raises an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “You’re saying they’re being stolen from us?”
“We’ve tracked all the new imports, and the only ones that have gone missing are the ones from South Shields. I agreed to take on this investigation for my President because I don’t believe you’re responsible. I’m certain someone is trying to overthrow you,” I say, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ve met with Harley, and we have a plan, but I wanted to come to see you before we proceed. I want to apologise for walking out on you, even though you know I wasn’t happy, and I also want to ask for your blessing to work with your daughter on this.”
Mr Hunt’s eyes narrow. “And what would Harley need to do? I don’t want her to become a target any more than she already is.”
“I can promise you I will never let anything happen to her,” I reassure him, a little more passionately than I intended, and I feel a shiver run down my spine when Shaun’s mouth tilts into a knowing smirk. “I mean, I know she’s your little girl, and I’ll do anything to keep her safe. I always have and always will.”
For a long, silent moment, he watches me. I’m sure I’ve fecked up, but then he nods. “I know, Hadrian.” I’m not sure what he means by that, but before I can question it, he continues, “And now you need my help.” His tone is not unkind but firm.
“Yes,” I say, meeting his gaze. “There’s something else…”
“Oh?” He arches a brow at me and gestures for me to continue.
“I know Harley is worried about your health and doesn’t want to worry you until we have gathered all the evidence, but I think you should know of our concerns. We think that the person who is trying to overthrow you is someone in your organisation,” I come out and say it before I lose my nerve.
There’s something about Shaun Hunt that unsettles me. I have no doubt the man could and would kill me if he wanted.
He leans forwards, his eyes intense. “My daughter has kept me informed of the missing shipments, but she hasn’t mentioned it might be an inside job. But then again, I know Harley worries about me. What makes you think someone who is loyal to me would turn traitor, Hadrian?”
I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of his question. “We’ve had our hacker look into every man in your organisation, and the only one who is suspect is Gordon. He’s been pushing Harley to breaking point with his condescension, telling her how she can’t do the job. He believes he’d be better at running things, so it’s logical to suspect him and his motives. I don’t want him to hurt you or Harley.”
Mr Hunt’s expression softens slightly at the mention of his daughter again. “Harley. She’s always had a soft spot for you.”
“I know,” I say, my voice earnest. “And that’s why I need your blessing to catch the bastard and put him away or put an end to him. I want to ensure she never has to face the consequences of being a Hunt.” I don’t mean that as an insult, and he knows it.
Shaun nods slowly. He sits back, contemplating my words.
The silence stretches on. The only sound is the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Finally, he speaks. “If it is Gordon, he knows everything about me and Harley. He knows things about the organisation not even my daughter does,” he says, his voice measured.
“Let me prove to you that you can trust me to do this,” I respond, keeping my tone confident while meeting his intense stare. “Give me a second chance to fix this, and to make up for walking out on you when you needed me and Hades the most.”
“I believe in second chances. And I know you needed to leave South Shields to find yourself. When you arrived here as a young man, you were tormented by your past. I wanted to help you heal and show you that you have the potential to do anything you set your mind to, but I soon realised you needed to do it in your own way.” My chest tightens at his words. My father never wanted to help my brother and me in the way Shaun Hunt did. “You say you want to make things right, so I’ll give you my blessing to investigate. However, I want you to bring me all the information you uncover, and you must not act on your findings until I give my say so. Am I understood?”
I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope. “I understand. Once we have more intel, I’ll bring it to you. I promise. And I’ll make sure Harley comes to no harm.”
Mr Hunt leans forward and pins me with a stare that makes every nerve in my body twist and spark with tension. “I didn’t want to see you back here after you broke her heart.”
My stomach drops. “I didn’t mean to break her heart. All I wanted?—”
“I understand why you did it,” he interrupts, holding a hand up to silence me. “I’m proud of you for that. I knew she fancied you, but she was too young. You did right by her, and that means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
“I’ll always do right by her,” I say, nodding.
“Then it’s settled,” he says, his eyes locking on mine, “You talk it all over with Harley, make your plans, and both of you will come to me with the information before you make a move. Gordon is a slippery fucker, which is why he’s been my right-hand man for so long. Don’t underestimate him, Hadrian.”
The warning is clear. Even Shaun is wary of Gordon.
“I won’t,” I promise, my voice resolute. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Mr Hunt nods. “I’ll wait for your update. In the meantime, I’ll continue to work with Gordon as if there’s nothing out of the ordinary. I don’t want him to know we suspect him. I’m a firm believer in keeping my enemies close. But, Hadrian, remember I’m putting my faith in you. Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “Thank you, Mr Hunt. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
He nods, a hint of a smile on his lips. “We’ll see. Now go. Stay out of sight and don’t let Gordon, or any of the men who work for me, find out what you’re doing. I know you said that you’ve looked into all of them, but trust no one until we know who the rats are.”
I stand, preparing to leave, but as I turn to go, Shaun’s voice stops me.
“And, Hadrian,” he says, his tone softer. “Please take care of yourself. And protect my daughter.”
I look back at him, my eyes meeting his. “I will, sir. Thank you.”
With that, I leave the room, closing the door behind me. The weight of the conversation still hangs heavy on my shoulders, but there’s a sense of relief too. I have a plan, a way forward. And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I can see a future beyond the shadows of my past.
As I walk through the quiet house, memories from the past flood back to me—working for Mr Hunt, getting to know Harley, and the happy times we shared. It all feels like a lifetime ago. Now I have a chance to make things right and make up for leaving Shaun’s organisation when he needed me.
By the time I step out into the garden, the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. I take a deep breath, and as the cool evening air fills my lungs, I feel a renewed sense of hope and determination. This is my chance to make things right, to prove I’m the man Harley believes I can be.
My mind is racing with thoughts of the future. If we can get Gordon, we can finish this shite that’s been going on, and I can finally talk to Harley about how I feel. My emotions have been all over the place since I laid eyes on her again a few days ago.
Getting into my car, I pause, and looking back at the house, I smile when I think about how this place saved me and Hades. It stands as a symbol of the life I left behind and the future I’m striving towards. With one final deep breath, I start the engine and drive away, ready to face whatever comes next.
The sea stretches out before me, a vast expanse of silver under the moonlight. The bench where Harley and I always meet is a place of comfort and contemplation for us. It’s a place where decisions are made and futures are decided.
I see her silhouette against the sky, her posture tense yet composed. Approaching her slowly, my heart pounds with the weight of the news I carry. She turns as I near her, and those pretty eyes search mine for answers before I even speak.
“Hadrian,” she says softly, a mix of relief and apprehension in her voice. “Did you speak with my da?”
I nod, taking a seat beside her. The wood of the bench feels cool through the material of my jeans, grounding me. “I did. He’s agreed to let us work together to take down Gordon.”
A flicker of hope lights up her eyes, tempered by caution. “That’s good news. But?”
“But, there’s a condition,” I continue. “We need to inform him of our plans before making any moves. He wants to know exactly what we’re doing and when we’re doing it.”
Harley nods, her gaze shifting to the horizon. “I understand. He’s worried, and rightfully so. Gordon is dangerous, and we can’t afford to make any mistakes.”
I reach out, taking her hand in mine. “We will be careful, Harley, and we’ll be smart. But we need to stay united, all of us. Your father included.”
She squeezes my hand. “I know. I trust you, Hadrian. I trust us.”
There’s a moment of silence between us, disturbed only by the sound of the waves. I feel another surge of determination, a resolve to protect Harley and see this through.
“We’ve got a plan,” I say, my voice steady. “We’ll track Gordon’s movements, gather all the evidence, and then confront him once we have the upper hand. But we need to make sure your father is on board with every step.”
Harley nods again, her expression thoughtful. “We’ll do it together. We’ll bring Gordon down and ensure he pays for what he’s done.”
I can see the fire in her eyes. It’s the same inner strength that drew me to her in the first place. She’s strong, determined, and unyielding. With her by my side, I feel unstoppable.
“Let’s head back to the warehouse,” I say, standing up and pulling her gently with me. “Gordon might still be there, and we can spy on him.”
Harley stands, her hand still in mine. “Let’s do it. The sooner we start, the sooner we can put an end to this.”
We walk back towards the car, the night air cool and crisp around us. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with risks and challenges, but I know we can face anything that comes our way. Together, we’ll take down Gordon and secure the future we both deserve.
As we drive to the warehouse, I feel a sense of anticipation. The fight is just beginning, but with Harley and her father on our side, I know we have a chance to win.