Casey’s bark sounded loud again and my heart fell. Please God, no.
“What the pissing hell’s going on here?”
I knew that voice. My eyes opened in time to see Raven light up a cigarette, hand on her hip. She looked different in daylight. Fuck-off big boots and combat trousers, leather jacket too. Her hair was up in a high pony, hanging down her back to her waist. Her make-up was the same, though. I struggled for words, but I still had no breath in me.
“What’s it to you, girly?” Trent scoffed. “Got a thing for him, have ya?”
“Got a fucking thing for his money,” Raven said. “Who the fuck are you people?”
Trent’s expression turned sour and I flinched inside. “I’m Trent fucking Stoney of the Stoney brothers, who the fuck are you?”
“I’m one of Ash Rixon’s girls,” she said. “So, you’d better back the fuck up. Kid’s ours.”
I watched Trent’s eyes flare wide, but Tyler carried on oblivious. “Don’t give a fuck who you are,” he raged. “Gonna fucking pound him.”
“Stop, you stupid dumbfuck!” Trent yelled. “This is one of Ash Rixon’s girls. ASH FUCKING RIXON, comprende?” Trent approached Raven, hands out. “Look, lady, we ain’t got no beef with Rixon, this little shit just owes us cash, alright?”
“You’ll have to get in line,” she said, cool as cucumber. “Owes us first. Drop him, asswipe.”
Trent nodded, and I was on the tarmac, coughing and spluttering and wrenching my arms back into position. Casey was at my side in a flash, licking my face as I caught my breath.
I listened to the conversation happen over me, keeping the hell out of it.
“How long til we can have him back?” Trent asked. “We need paying too. Maybe I could speak with Rixon, explain what shit’s goin’ down?”
“Rixon’s got no time for you.” I watched her stub her cigarette out. “You’ll have to wait a month.”
“Month’s an awful fucking long time.”
“Best you’re getting.” Raven stared him out. “Come anywhere near him before he’s paid off Rixon and we’ll be coming after you.”
“You’ll get your pissing month,” Trent said. “Any longer and Rixon’ll have to come down here himself, though. Got me?”
“Think we’re clear,” she hissed. “Now fuck off.”
Tyler’s eyes were bulging with rage. He gripped his bleeding wrist, on the edge of red misting.
“We’re off,” Trent said. “Now.” Tyler didn’t move, just stayed staring. “NOW, DUMBFUCK!”
I could breathe again when they were out of sight. I rolled onto my side, pulled my knees up, ignoring the pain in my ribs.
“Stay down,” Raven hissed. “Until I know they’re pissing gone.”
She stalked to the edge of the garage block, only returning when she was satisfied.
“What’s all that shit about?” I said. “Who’s Ash pissing Rixon?”
“From the Kenny estate. Croydon,” she said, yanking me up by the elbow. “Hardest bastard in London, one of the hardest anyway. Serious shit.”
“You’re one of his girls?” I quizzed. “Jeez.”
She smiled. “Of course not. Just know him. Do his tats.”
I stared up at her in admiration. “You’ve got some shiny fucking brass balls on you, ain’t ya?”
“Just as well. Saved your bloody arse, didn’t it?”
I accepted her hand up, holding myself against the wall until I was steady. “How’d ya know I was here?”
“Your friend,” she said, reaching out for Casey. The dog leaned into her side, accepting the fuss. “She was frantic, like something from one of the Lassie films, barking and running, barking and running. Knew something was up so I followed her, figured she might be yours. Sophie told me about the big, grand rescue mission,” she smiled, crouching down to kiss Casey on the head. “And she told me all about you, Casey, told me what a cute ball of fluff you are.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Don’t mention it, kid, all in a day’s work. Keeps the adrenaline pumping.”
“What you gonna do if that Rixon guy finds out you used his name?”
She smirked. “Don’t you be worrying about that, baby. He owes me.”
He weren’t the fucking only one.
***
Sophie
Three missed calls from Rebecca. I watched my mobile flashing away on my lap under the table, itching to get the hell out of Christine’s crappy briefing and find out what the urgency was. Callum, my brain screamed, it had to be about Callum. My skin was still blooming at the thought of his name. Sunday afternoons with the Savage weren’t supposed to be that good. Time with him was supposed to be about edgy sex, nothing more than the pounding of his vicious flesh against mine. My pussy ached with the echo of him, battered from his invasion, but my mind ached more. Oh, how it fucking ached.