Ten
TEN
HARLEY
I don’t want to leave the confines of our hiding spot. The heat radiating off Hadrian makes me feel safe. Our bodies are practically moulded against each other, and his hand on my hip doesn’t move, even though it really should.
It’s been a few days since Hadrian went to see my da and tell him our suspicions. Since their meeting, my father has become increasingly unwell and is now in hospital undergoing more tests. The doctors still don’t know what is wrong with him, but he is becoming weaker, and his liver and kidneys are failing. I don’t know how much more time I will have with him, so I need this investigation completed, so I can focus on him.
Hadrian’s face is so close to mine, I can feel the tingle of his breath fanning over my cheek. sion radiates in the air as those dark eyes pierce mine. He holds me hostage with a mere glance, I can’t imagine what it would feel like if he were to kiss me. Sadly, I know the moment the coast is clear, he’ll leave our hiding place and immediately forget that this intimacy between us ever happened.
I’m about to whisper something when I hear Gordon’s voice echo through the warehouse from his office.
“I told you that little bitch thinks she can run everything. We need to get rid of her,” he says loudly, and his words hit straight to my chest.
I know he’s talking about me, and he hates me. He’s made it clear since the day he first started working for my father. He’s always cordial to me while Da is around, but when I’m alone with him, a darker side of him appears.
“She’s his daughter,” another voice says, one I don’t recognise. “We can’t just take her out, Hunt will know. He may be sick, but he’s not fuckin’ stupid.”
“He’ll be dead soon.” Gordon’s assurance has my blood turning to ice. “The poison I’ve been using might be slow to take effect, but it won’t show up in any routine tests the doctors run. With Harley and the Royal Bastards snooping around, I’ve had to give Hunt a final dose. I’m in hiding now.”
I want to go out there and kill Gordon myself, but when I glance towards Hadrian, all I see are those dark eyes promising me vengeance. He shakes his head slowly, and lifting his free hand, he gently presses his index finger to his lips. I want nothing more than for my mouth to replace that digit. Even if it’s just for a fleeting moment.
I watch as Hadrian types out a quick text on his phone and sends it before showing me the screen. He’s sent a message to Hades telling him to let the doctors know that my father has been poisoned.
“You know, it might not be so easy to kill him,” the stranger warns. “That man is stronger than you think.”
“The problems he’s had with his heart together with the poison should be enough to finish him. He’s in the hospital as we speak, but even if they don’t kill him, the sicker he gets, the easier it will be to end him and his daughter, once and for all.
I look up at Hadrian, who’s watching me intently. Emotion dances in his eyes, and I wonder what’s going through his mind. I didn’t think I was afraid of anything, but the thought of my father dying has a choke hold on me. I need Hadrian to tell me everything’s going to be all right.
“I think the sooner we get the paperwork signed and the rest of the stock moved, the better it will be for both of us.” The stranger’s accent comes through as he speaks, but I can’t place it.
I haven’t heard his voice before, and it’s bothering me. I want to know who this man is that’s working with Gordon.
I hear the sound of the large metal door to the warehouse shutting behind them as they leave. Silence finally falls, and I register again just how close Hadrian and I are in the tight confines of the cupboard where we’re concealed. He opens the door slowly, and as light streams into the space, I can see the way his jaw ticks as he steps out.
“Hades has sent a reply, telling me the doctors have started screening for poison.” I breathe a sigh of relief. “Who was that with Gordon?” he asks, turning to me.
“I don’t know. I wish I could tell you. I don’t recognise his voice. One thing I do know for certain is that Gordon is planning to take everything from my da and me.”
“I’ll do whatever is needed to help you,” Hadrian promises.
Anger is radiating off him as if he’s wearing it like a cologne. My father took the twins in when they needed a home, and they became a part of our family. Hadrian may have chosen to walk away because he didn’t agree with all aspects of the business, but I have a feeling he still loves my da.
Hadrian’s gaze lingers on mine, and I want nothing more than for him to tell me he still feels something for me. I want him to admit he reciprocates my stupid feelings, but then he looks away, and I know he’s not going to tell me what I want to hear. I need to stop holding out any hope that Hadrian came back for me. He’s here for his club, and that’s all there is to it.
“I need you to help me bring down Gordon and his associates. Once you’ve done that, you can go back to Belfast.” I can hear the anger and frustration I feel leaching into the tone of my voice.
“Why do you say it like that?” he asks me as he pins me with a glare so fierce, I take a step back. “Tell me, Magpie.”
When he calls me that, I can’t resist a small smile. He gave me that nickname after I returned from the hairdresser one afternoon. My hair had been dyed raven black with a streak of deep, shimmering blue that fell over my face. He told me the colour reminded him of the beautiful bird who loves shiny things. No one else has ever called me Magpie. It’s always been ours.
I don’t know how to respond to his question, so I shake my head and walk away.
We spend the next few days gathering more intel, following leads, and narrowing down our list of suspects. It’s exhausting work, but the progress we’re making keeps us going. I’m relentless, my focus unwavering, as I drive us forwards.
Each time I visit my father in hospital, I’m on edge. The toxicology reports have come back, and the doctors have found a poison in his system that they didn’t test for previously. It’s the reason his health has deteriorated so rapidly over the past few months.
My heart hurts for the man who raised me to be strong, resilient, and loyal. I know my father’s not a saint, but he is good to those he loves, which makes Gordon’s betrayal all the more despicable.
The doctors have started Da on the correct treatment. He’s not out of the woods yet and will remain in hospital for the time being, but the medical team are cautiously hopeful that he will make a good recovery eventually.
Back at the hotel where the guys are staying, we regroup with Hades and Racer. We lay everything we’ve uncovered out on the table, piecing together the different parts of the puzzle. All the clues point to a larger conspiracy.
“It’s clear that there’s more than one organisation involved in this,” Hades says, his voice grim. “We know Gordon is leading the charge, but we need to find out who else he’s working with. There are a lot more players on the board than we anticipated, and the Mod Boys keep getting a mention. They’re a gang we don’t know much about.”
I nod, my expression determined. “We’ve got enough to start making some moves, but we need to be careful. We can’t let them know we’re onto them until we have solid proof.”
Racer takes a drag on his cigarette, exhaling slowly. “What’s the plan, boss?”
I outline our next steps, assigning tasks, and coordinating our efforts. As I speak, I can see the respect in the eyes of Hades and Racer. They trust me and so does Hadrian.
“Hadrian, I need you to help me follow up on a lead. There’s a meeting happening at the old factory tomorrow. I want us to head over there to see who shows up.”
He nods. “Consider it done. We need to visit your father at the hospital soon and let him know what we’ve found.”
“I don’t want to bother him with this until we have all the evidence. He’s still very weak. Maybe we can speak to him after we’ve followed up on the lead tomorrow?”
The anxiety I’m feeling must be evident in my tone because Hadrian rises, and pulling me to my feet, he wraps me in his arms and holds me for a long moment. I want nothing more than to stay in his embrace and forget about everything going on around us, but I know it’s not possible.
The next day, Hadrian and I stake out the factory, keeping a low profile as we watch members of the Mod Boys enter and exit. It’s a tense wait, but finally, the familiar face of Gordon appears. The bastard is going to pay for everything he’s done and is doing.
Hadrian snaps a few photos, recording the meeting from a safe distance. We knew Gordon was the traitor, but now we’ve confirmed the identity of the organisation working with him. It’s the last bit of proof we need, the final piece of the puzzle, and when the meeting breaks up, we slip away.
“We need to go to your father now,” Hadrian tells me as he speeds up the motorway.
His knuckles are turning white as he grips the steering wheel. He’s tense, and I can tell, he’s ready to make someone bleed. Specifically, a person named Gordon.
“Aye, I think we should head straight there,” I agree. “If we can get his go ahead, maybe we can finish this today.”
“We need to make sure our plan is foolproof. I know you want to get this over and done with, but rushing now would be a mistake. Gordon could escape, and one of us could get hurt.” Hadrian’s tone is gentle, but commanding, and I steal a glance at him.
Butterflies awaken in my belly, and I place my hand on his thigh as a gesture of reassurance. “I won’t rush into it. I just…”
“I know, Magpie.”
The fact that he doesn’t move my hand makes me smile, but I bite my lip to keep it from showing. I don’t want him to see the effect he has on me. I need to let him tell me what he’s feeling, and not the other way around. The last time I told him how I felt, he left.
My father is sitting out in an armchair by his hospital bed when we arrive, and his eyes light up with anticipation. “What have you got to tell me?”
We show him the photos and explain what we’ve discovered. Da’s expression hardens as he takes it all in. We still don’t know who runs the Mod Boys. They’ve been around for a while, but I haven’t had any business dealings with them. There are rumours their leader is a violent, ruthless monster like Gordon, which probably explains why they’re working together.
“This is all of it,” I say quietly. “We have everything we need, Da. Tell me we can end this?” The plea is clear in my voice. He knows I won’t give up until this is finished, until I see the life drain out of Gordon’s eyes. My father may not have raised a killer, but I’ll be one to save him and our organisation.
“This gang of boys, ” my father spits out the word, “are ruthless. I’ve seen the shite they do, and it’s not pretty.”
“Worse than the stuff I used to do?” Hadrian asks.
It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him mention the work he did for my father. He never talked about it with me. Our conversations were always focused on my life, on my hopes and dreams, and on my schoolwork.
“Aye, far worse,” Da replies with a nod, and ice trickles down my spine.
Hadrian, Hades, and Racer are seated at the long wooden table in my father’s dining room, their expressions serious and focused, while I stand by the window, staring out into the night, trying to steady my nerves.
We’ve gathered to go over the plan one last time. It’s risky, but we’ll be going in well prepared. The room is thick with tension, the air practically humming with the gravity of our discussion.
This is it—the moment we’ve been building towards.
Taking my seat at the head of the table, I begin, “We now have reliable intel that Gordon and the leader of the Mod Boys will be making an exchange at the old warehouse in two nights’ time. This is our chance to catch them red-handed.”
Hadrian leans forward, his eyes intense. “We need to be meticulous about this. Any slip-up, and they’ll bolt. We can’t afford for that to happen.”
Hades nods in agreement. “We’ll need eyes on every exit, and once the deal starts, we’ll have to move in fast. We can’t give them any opportunity to escape.”
Racer, ever the strategist, taps a finger on the table thoughtfully. “We need to set up a perimeter around the warehouse. Ensure that we cover all possible escape routes. And we’ll need a team inside, ready to move when the time’s right.”
“My da has named a few trusted men we can call on to help.” I just hope those he’s identified as backup do in fact have our best interests at heart. “We have proof that Gordon and the leader of the Mod boys will be there. We have the element of surprise and need to use that to our advantage. We can’t rely on brute force alone. We need to outthink them.”
Hadrian nods, his eyes meeting mine with pride and determination. “Harley’s right. We need a plan that covers all bases. Hades and I will lead the team inside. Racer, you’ll coordinate the perimeter with the rest of Hunt’s men.”
Hadrian’s gaze shifts to me, a silent question in his eyes.
“I’ll stay here and manage communications,” I reassure him. “You’ll need someone coordinating from a distance in case anything goes wrong.”
“We’ve got this. Gordon won’t know what’s hit him.” Hades smirks, his confidence evident.
“Let’s go over the details again,” Racer says, spreading out the map of the old warehouse district. “We need to be precise. This is our one shot. We need to make it count so those cunts don’t have a chance to fight back.”
For the next hour, we pore over the map, discussing every detail of the plan. Our combined experience guides us, while Hadrian’s tactical knowledge and Hades’s combat expertise refine the strategy. Racer’s insights into logistics ensure we leave nothing to chance.
Finally, we have a comprehensive plan. Every entry and exit point is covered, and every potential complication anticipated. The room is filled with a sense of purpose and a shared determination to see this through.
As we wrap up, Hadrian looks at each of us in turn. “This is about more than just stopping Gordon and the Mod Boys. This is about restoring order and protecting our families. I have faith in all of you. Let’s make this count.”
We nod, a unified front ready to face the coming storm. As we disperse, Hadrian lingers by the door, his eyes meeting mine with a mixture of concern and resolve.
“Are you okay with all of this, Harley?” he asks quietly.
I step closer, taking his hand in mine. “I am. We have to do this, Hadrian. I want to keep the organisation and my father safe, and this is the only way to do it. I’d like to be there in the warehouse with you, but I know it’s best that I’m not. If I put myself in harm’s way, I’ll be a distraction.”
He squeezes my hand, his strength reassuring. “Even when you’re not in harm’s way, you’re a distraction,” he responds, causing me to smile. “Meet me at the bench tomorrow at sunset.”
I nod in silent agreement.
With that, we part ways, each of us preparing for the task ahead. The future is filled with uncertainties, but we have a plan, a purpose, and the strength of our combined resolve. And with all of that, we’ll face whatever comes our way and come out on top.