47. Dan
DAN
After the world’s fastest shower and change, I was ready.
Coach seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation—or maybe someone had given him a heads-up—because he hadn’t even bothered with a speech, just told us to get out of here as fast as we could.
Now my teammates were gone, and I had nothing more than my fists, my hockey stick, and my trusty brass knuckles, just in case.
Oh, and I had a squeaky dog toy shaped like a bone that had somehow ended up in my bag.
I blamed Volkov—his family was the one with the huge pack of guard dogs.
Anyway, that one wasn’t a weapon, but you never knew when you’d need a distraction, and people seriously underestimated the attention squeaky toys drew.
I replayed my uncle’s text in my mind as I jogged back towards the rink.
Neil:
We have a plan. Come to the rink alone. This is our fight. STAY CALM
Steeling myself, I stepped through the doors and into an ambush. My arms were wrenched behind me, my stick dropping to the floor with a clatter as I was manhandled towards the stands.
My heart was racing, but I only made a half-hearted attempt to free myself as I assessed the situation.
The rink had cleared out, and the exits were being guarded by huge, burly men dressed in black with balaclavas obscuring their faces.
In the centre of the stands, my mum and Neil were surrounded by armed men, and Frank fucking Culverhouse was pacing up and down in front of them.
I studied Culverhouse, taking in his hard, weathered features as we moved closer.
This man was the reason I’d grown up without a dad, and although my mum and Neil had been amazing and I’d never once felt like I was missing out, the fact was, he’d taken a parent from me.
My dad had died because of him. And now, he needed to pay.
Where had my cousin gone? I had to assume there was a plan, but there was currently no sign of him, and the odds were stacked against us. If anything happened to my mum or Neil…
No. That wasn’t going to happen, not if I had anything to do with it.
I needed to focus, to create an opportunity.
I returned to assessing the situation. The men were shifting restlessly, which meant they were worried about something.
Given the fact that almost all of the local police resources were tied up in the big Operation Foxglove raid, I figured it had to be to do with the fact that the longer we were here, the more time we had for backup to arrive.
I hoped backup was arriving, anyway. But in the meantime, it was up to me to get us out of this situation.
Nine men in total. One on each door, except for the one I’d come through. That man was currently marching me towards Neil and my mum, who were surrounded by four other men. All armed and presumably dangerous.
Then there was the wild card. Frank Culverhouse. The man who had caused my dad’s death and was back to wipe out the rest of my family.
Not on my fucking watch.
We began ascending the stairs towards my mum and Neil. I waited until we were almost level with the group of thugs, and then I made my body go limp. I tripped up the steps, falling into the closest man and bringing the man holding me down with us both.
After that, it was a blur. I smashed my fist into the face of the closest thug, hearing the satisfying crunch as his nose broke.
Neil and my mum made the most of my attempt at a distraction, both going for two of the other thugs.
I focused on the guy who’d been manhandling me, who was now staggering to his feet.
Spinning and twisting, I got him in a headlock before taking him out, leaving him groaning in pain on the floor, and—
A resounding crack brought everything to a screeching halt. The first thing I saw was Sid bursting into the rink, clotheslining one of the guards, and then Paula standing at the main entrance, holding a gun and smirking down at the guy she’d incapacitated.
“Of course she brought a gun, even though I specifically told her not to,” Neil muttered, resigned.
He smashed his elbow into the face of the groaning thug attempting to reach for him, and then straightened up, rubbing his hands together.
Above us, Stephen appeared at the top of the stands, stepping over an unconscious guard.
He did a complicated sweeping hand movement, and Neil nodded in acknowledgement, his lips quirking.
“Ah. Good. It seems as if everything’s going to plan.
Now, where were we before this little interlude?
Oh yes. Frank Culverhouse, back from the dead. ”
“Neil Hoyton.” Frank spat. “You should have died alongside your brother.”
“As you can see, I’m still here, hale and hearty. Much as you seem to be, for someone who supposedly perished in a warehouse explosion.”
“Aye. Everything went to plan. As you can see, though, I didn’t escape unscathed.
” Lifting his arm, his sleeve fell back, revealing severe burn scars travelling the length of his arm.
“I’ve been biding my time, rebuilding my network brick by brick, and now the time has come to take my rightful place. ”
“As a corpse?” I suggested.
“Behind bars,” Neil said at the same time. We exchanged glances, and I shrugged. As long as he paid for what he’d done, I was good.
“Unfortunately, that won’t be happening.
” A slow smile spread across Culverhouse’s face.
“I spent a long time preparing for all eventualities.” He made a show of looking at his watch.
“Right about now, Harold Bellingham will be filing paperwork confirming the transfer of all your premises to Cartwright Limited.”
For a second, my heart stopped. Harold Bellingham. Lincoln.
“Forgeries,” my mum hissed. “You won’t get away with it.”
“I think I will, love.” His smile widened. “It’s time to end the Hoyton Firm’s reign and take what’s rightfully ours.”
I laughed, despite the chill of unease trickling down my spine. How fucking deluded was this man?
“That might be difficult,” Neil mused before lunging at Culverhouse, sending him smashing into a row of seats.
They grappled with each other, sliding along the folded chairs and losing their balance before staggering to their feet.
Neil twisted Culverhouse’s arms behind his back, dragging him over to the metal guardrail at the front of the section of seats, and I heard a click as handcuffs snapped into place.
All of Culverhouse’s fake bravado disappeared instantly. “Let me go!” He desperately cast around, trying to find an ally to free him, but too bad for him, all his minions were incapacitated.
My mum stepped up, standing tall and proud, and I fist-pumped the air.
“Go, Mum!”
Her arm shot out, backhanding him around the face, and his head jerked to the side as a scream of rage tore from his throat.
Her gaze flicked over him disdainfully. “Are you finally ready to face the consequences of your actions? That was for my husband, by the way.”
“Is that all you’ve got?” Culverhouse spat as he struggled to right himself. “Pathetic. I rigged the warehouse with explosives and sent your dear husband to his death, and all you can come up with is a little slap?”
I saw red. Sliding my brass knuckles on, I stormed over to him, drawing my fist back and punching him harder than I had ever punched anyone in my life.
My entire body vibrated with the force, the jarring impact reverberating through my body, but it was worth it for the crack of his ribs and the scream of pain that rent the air.
Shallow, stuttered gasps came from him, and I idly wondered if I’d punctured a lung. “Neil? Might wanna get the doctor back. Just in case.”
Neil shook his head, shooting me a fond look.
“Already on it. Now, where were we…? Rachel, Dan, you’ve both had your turn.
I guess that means it’s time for me to have a go.
” He made a point of straightening up, cracking his back with a deep, satisfied sigh, and then stretched his arms out and cracked his knuckles pointedly. “Brace yourself.”
“Oh, wait.” I dug around in my pocket, pulling out the bone-shaped chew toy.
“Here ya go, Culvers. Bite down on this. It’ll help with the pain.
” Jamming it in his mouth, I stepped back just in time for Neil to slam his booted foot down on Culverhouse’s polished loafer before delivering a vicious uppercut to his jaw.
The toy squeaked loudly as Culverhouse reeled back, and I laughed to myself.
Neil caught my eye, and although he was in badass crime boss mode, amusement was clear in his gaze. It faded quickly, though, and he shot me a warning look.
Okay, okay. I could take a hint. It was time to be fearsome. Fun times were over.
Stepping back in front of Culverhouse, I ripped the toy from his mouth and threw it to the floor, grimacing at the abundance of saliva now coating it. Disgusting.
“Well, this has been fun. Nah, actually, that’s a lie. Can’t wait to see you rotting in prison.” I saluted him.
Culverhouse’s lip curled. “You’re just as appallingly arrogant as your dad. I may have held a grudging respect for your ice hockey technique, but as for everything else…you’re a disgrace.”
“He’s the furthest thing from a disgrace,” Neil ground out. He turned to me, his expression serious. “Your dad would’ve been very proud of you. Just as I am.”
My mum’s hand landed on my arm, rubbing it gently. “As am I. We love you, and we’re so proud of you, Daniel.”
There was a lump in my throat. Rubbing my hand over my jaw, I shifted on my feet.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks. Same to you both, you know.”
“How touching,” Culverhouse spat, and Neil slammed his fist into his stomach, making him double over, wheezing.
“I suggest you stop talking, unless you want me to cut your tongue out right now. No? Should I save that for later?”
Culverhouse’s face paled, and he glanced around wildly. Nope, there was still no one coming to save him.
Neil smirked before turning his back on Culverhouse, giving me his full attention. He squeezed my shoulder. “Dan? Listen, this is our fight. Mine and your mum’s. It’s been a long time coming, and we’ve got it from here. I think you’re needed somewhere else, if my hunch is correct.”
I studied his face, taking in his serious expression before stepping back with a nod. I was needed elsewhere, and I had to trust that they had everything handled.
“Culvers? What you think of me is irrelevant. You took my dad. You took my mum’s husband.
You took my uncle’s brother—his best fucking friend, and guess what?
Now it’s time for your payback. Enjoy prison, bro.
That is, if you’re still alive after Neil’s finished with you.
” I saluted him again before turning on my heel and jogging down the steps.
It was time for me to pay the Bellingham mansion a visit.