Chapter Sixty-Nine
Daniel
My eyes are locked on the phone, one hour to go before I meet Raven and hand over what I owe. I’ve already paid off Rupert’s guys, and in return, they slipped me something.
‘A token of trust,’ they said. A small bag of cocaine.
Rupert expects his money to be in the right account by the end of the month, and somehow, I have to make that happen. This is the last time, I tell myself. I’ll clean up. I’ll sort everything out.
But my hands won’t stop shaking as I place the chips on the chequered table. If I lose, I’m done. Worse, I would have put my family at risk. God knows what Rupert will do if that money doesn’t come through.
My long-ago conversation with Nic rattles in my head.
‘Who is he, anyway?’
‘Does it matter? Stay on his good side, and you’ll do well.’
And if I don’t?
I thought it then, and I’m thinking it again now. I’ve walked straight into a nightmare, and I don’t know how to get out.
My fingers hover over the chips. I can’t do it. I can’t risk it. I scoop them up and head for the cashier. Relief washes over me as the money slides back into my wallet. I’ve got the five grand for Raven.
I have the money because a miracle happened this morning. Jo’s salary went into the account just in time. It won’t cover the loan shark, but it gets me halfway there.
I check my phone. The screen’s dead. My battery has died.
I ask someone, ‘Excuse me, what’s the time?’
‘Nearly eight.’
Shit.
I bolt for the exit.
‘Sir, your coat…’ the doorman calls.
I don’t stop. I sprint to the car and tear through the streets to the bar. My heart hammers as I burst through the door.
‘There you are,’ Raven says, his voice low and dangerous. ‘I thought you’d forgotten our little meeting. I hope you didn’t lose my money in that casino.’ He leans in, his smile razor-sharp. ‘You see, Danny boy, I know everything.’
Three shaven-headed men stand behind him. I spin to leave, but another thug’s already blocking the door. I’m trapped.
‘I’ve got the five grand,’ I blurt out, my voice cracking.
But before I can say more, a hand clamps around my throat and squeezes, and I can’t breathe. My lungs scream. Stars explode behind my eyes. Just as I think I’m about to black out, he lets go.
I hit the floor hard, nausea rising. My legs won’t hold me.
Raven towers over me. ‘I said seven o’clock,’ he growls. ‘And when I say seven, I mean seven. No one makes me wait.’ A kick slams into my ribs, and white-hot pain tears through me. ‘You still owe me, Danny.’
I shake my head, teeth chattering.
‘I thought it was five,’ I mumble, sounding pathetic.
‘There’s always interest,’ he sneers. ‘Surely you know that? You still owe me three grand.’
He crouches down, and his voice is a cold whisper against my ear now.
‘I’m going to be generous and give you ten days.
Just ten. I understand you’re a little shaken up.
I’m not ruthless, Danny. But I’m not a charity either.
’ His tone softens, becoming almost gentle.
‘So don’t screw with me. Next time, it’s your wife.
’ There is a pause, then: ‘Three thousand. Ten days.’
He stands up and walks away. I stay crumpled on the floor, trembling. My body won’t move. I’m frozen.
One of the goons hauls me up and shoves me toward the exit. I stumble through the door and hit the pavement hard. The door slams shut behind me.
I lie there on the pavement for a moment, dazed.
‘You alright, mate?’ a voice says. A man crouches beside me. ‘Want me to call the old bill?’
‘No,’ I say quickly. ‘Just… some aggro over a woman, you know?’
He eyes me, his expression sceptical, but shrugs. ‘You want me to call you a cab?’
‘No. I’ve got my car around the corner.’
‘Not sure you’re in any state to drive, mate.’
I wish he’d piss off. ‘I’m fine. Thanks.’
I stagger off, every step shooting fire through my ribs. I make it to the car just before I throw up.
***
When I pull up outside our block of flats, I see Joanna looking out of the lounge window. I’m later than I planned. The next thing I know, she is opening the main entrance doors.
‘God, where have you been? I tried your phone, but you didn’t answer.’
‘My battery died.’
‘I tried the office too, but the answer machines are on.’
‘I'm sorry, Jo. I got so immersed in work that I didn’t think to check the battery on my mobile.’
‘Why are you limping?’ she asks, concerned.
Shit.
‘I stupidly knocked my side on the desk. It’s nothing.’
She looks at me, bewildered. ‘Where’s your coat?’
Double shit. It’s still at the bloody casino.
‘I left it at work in the rush to get home,’ I lie.
‘Well, you’re home now. Have you eaten? There’s some pizza.’
I don’t want to eat a thing, but I force it down for her sake. ‘I’m knackered,’ I say afterwards. ‘I think I’ll get an early night.’
‘I’ll join you,’ she says, piling plates into the dishwasher. ‘The house is almost ready, just the pool cover to get sorted. We should arrange the moving day and have a little do to christen it. What do you think? We’ll invite a few people.’
‘Sounds great,’ I say. More money on food and champagne.
Ten days. Those two words go round and round in my head. I have ten days to pay Raven and to sort out the Rupert error, and I still have to pay the loan shark. If I can get Rupert’s money transferred to the right place, then I will at least have him off my back.
For some reason, despite his soft voice and perfect manners, he worries me the most.