Blood Pact: A totally gripping gritty gangland thriller from bestseller Heather Atkinson

1

Jamie Gray felt the satisfying crunch of bones breaking beneath the force of his fist and his opponent staggered backwards, hands instinctively going to his damaged nose. Jamie took the opportunity to deliver a kick to the side of his head and his opponent was knocked sideways, hitting the bloodied canvas hard.

A cheer went up from the assembled crowd as the referee counted out the fallen fighter, who was groaning in pain. When the countdown had ended, the referee grabbed Jamie’s right arm and raised it aloft, indicating he was the winner. The spectators filling the warehouse on a quiet industrial estate in Glasgow revelled in these bloody matches, which was why these fights had to remain underground. Two fighters had died on this very canvas in the last year. It was a relief to Jamie that neither of those deaths were on his conscience.

He could hear his three best friends cheering at the foot of the ring, no doubt celebrating the nice wad of cash they’d made by betting on him.

The referee released Jamie’s arm after growling a congratulations in his ear, and he jumped out of the ring, wiping the sweat from his brow, body aching.

‘Congratulations, man.’ Digger grinned. ‘That was a hell of a fight.’

Jamie grimaced when his friend gave him a bear hug, crushing him with his enormous muscles. He breathed a sigh of relief when he was released.

‘Aye, it was a bit touch and go there for a while,’ said Gary, the most rotund of the four Blood Brothers. ‘But it made for a bloody exciting fight.’

‘Toni will be pleased,’ commented Logan, who was the most serious member of their group. ‘Which is always good.’

‘Aye,’ replied Jamie. ‘I hope it’s the last fight she asks me to do for a while, unless she gi’es me a real challenge,’ he added with a wicked grin.

‘Be careful what you wish for,’ said Logan.

Jamie looked around for the Queen of Glasgow herself through the throng of well-wishers surrounding him, all wanting to shake his hand, but she was nowhere to be seen.

‘She’s waiting outside,’ said Logan. ‘She says it smells in here.’

‘She’s right.’ Gary grimaced, wrinkling his nose. ‘It stinks of old cabbage.’

‘It’s the water leak from last week,’ said Digger. ‘They didnae air the place out properly.’

Jamie and his friends slowly made their way through the crowd of various gangland figures and nasty bastards Toni permitted to attend the underground fights she arranged. Jamie made sure to reply respectfully to everyone who stopped him to congratulate him. These were not people he wanted as enemies.

Finally he was able to reach the dressing rooms, his friends waiting outside the door on guard duty as he hurriedly showered and changed. After stuffing his shorts into a gym bag, which he slung over his shoulder, he and the rest of the Blood Brothers hurried out of the warehouse by the back door. It didn’t do to keep Toni McVay waiting.

She awaited them in a top-of-the-range black Mercedes. Caesar, her lover and second-in-command, was in the driver’s seat. When she saw the Blood Brothers approaching, Toni wound down her window and smiled.

‘Congratulations, Jamie,’ she said. ‘I knew you could beat Barry the Beast, despite his impressive record. His brute strength was useless in the face of your speed.’

‘Aye, cheers,’ he replied.

‘Bask in your victory because there won’t be any matches for a while.’

‘Really? Why?’ he replied.

‘An issue has arisen that means I need to keep everything as quiet as possible,’ replied Toni enigmatically.

‘You mean an issue with the fights or something else?’

‘If you need to know I’ll tell you,’ she said, black eyes turning even blacker. Her gaze cleared and she smiled, although it was a cold, empty gesture, devoid of any real human emotion. Toni delved into her handbag and produced a thick roll of notes. ‘Your share of the winnings,’ she told Jamie before tossing it to him.

‘Cheers,’ he said, catching it in one hand.

‘I’ll be seeing you all again soon, boys. I may have something else I want you to look after for me.’

One role the Blood Brothers performed for Toni was guarding things she didn’t want anyone to find, neither the police nor her enemies. These items could range from stolen goods to people needing a place to lie low.

‘Let’s go,’ Toni told Caesar.

Her scarred lieutenant switched on the engine and put the car into gear. ‘See you later, wee men,’ he called as he set off.

‘I thought he wasn’t gonnae call us that any more,’ said Digger.

‘He’ll never stop,’ said Logan. ‘He enjoys it too much. We’d better get back to Gallowburn, your maw will be doing her nut, Jamie, worrying if you’re okay.’

The four of them piled into Logan’s brand-new black Golf and he drove them back to the scheme where they’d been born and raised. Although Toni paid them more than enough money to move to one of the better parts of Glasgow, the estate was vital to their work. Thanks to the Blood Brothers, crime was now practically non-existent in Gallowburn, meaning the police rarely bothered with it any more, which in turn meant it was the perfect place for Toni to hide her secrets. So here the Blood Brothers remained, not that they were complaining. They couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. The reduction in crime hadn’t encouraged the residents to take better care of the area they called home. The streets of Gallowburn were still strewn with litter and dog turds, the gardens either overgrown or full of broken trampolines and mattresses. There were hardly any more instances of graffiti, though, after Digger had caught one young ned vandalising the side of the community centre. He’d taken the can of spray paint off the lad and used it to paint a giant cock on the front of his coat before breaking his nose with the butt of the can. That incident had encouraged other budding graffiti artists to think again.

All four of the friends lived on the north side of the scheme. The south was the territory of their rivals the Lawson family, who had found themselves wielding much less influence in Gallowburn since the Blood Brothers rose to power.

Like all the houses on the scheme, the Gray home was a small terrace with just a thin strip of grass outside the front door. As the car pulled up at the kerb, the front door opened to reveal a slim, pretty blonde woman with piercing green eyes. Jackie Gray’s will was as forceful as her gaze. She breathed a sigh of relief to see her oldest son safe and well as the weight she’d carried around with her all day lifted. She resisted the urge to charge down the path and fling her arms around his neck, knowing it wouldn’t do his image much good.

‘All right, boys?’ she said. ‘Come away in, then.’

Only once she’d closed the door behind them did Jackie ask her son, ‘Are you okay? Do you need any medical treatment?’

‘Naw,’ he replied. ‘I’m all good thanks, Maw. No need to worry.’

‘But I do worry, constantly, especially when you’ve got to fight.’

‘Well, there won’t be any for a while now. Toni’s got a lot going on, so she’s had to put them on hold, for now.’

‘Oh, that is a relief,’ she breathed, raking her fingers through her hair.

‘Where’s Mullen?’

‘Me and Gavin have been together for over a year now. It’s safe to use his first name.’

‘It doesnae suit him. Mullen does.’

‘If you insist. He’s working but he should be back within the hour. He’ll be pleased to hear you won the fight.’

‘It was thanks to him I did. That new punch he taught me helped me win.’

‘Good. Are you hungry?’ Jackie asked her son.

‘I’m pure starving,’ said Gary, rubbing his stomach.

‘She wasnae asking you,’ Digger told him.

‘I’ve got bacon butties on standby,’ Jackie told them.

‘You’re an angel, Mrs G,’ said Gary. ‘I hope you know that.’

‘It has been mentioned before,’ she said with a fond smile.

Jackie placed the enormous plate of sandwiches on the small kitchen table and watched the four of them take a seat and tuck in. Ever since she and Gavin had got back together, she’d been in a perpetually sunny mood. After discovering her new boyfriend had been paid by their enemies to spy on her family in his role of private investigator on behalf of Cameron Abernethy, she’d dumped him like a hot potato, but she’d come to realise that he genuinely loved her and that she hadn’t just been a mark to him. So eventually she’d given him a second chance and they’d been blissfully happy ever since.

The front door opened and in strutted Charlie, Jamie’s thirteen-year-old brother. He seemed to have grown up overnight and the little boy had been replaced by a lairy teenager who was obsessed with his appearance and girls. He entered with two of his friends, the three of them looking very smart in neatly ironed shirts, their hair gelled.

‘It’s the wee men.’ Digger grinned, making the three of them pout. ‘Are you off somewhere special?’

‘There’s a party at Dale McCurdie’s house,’ replied Charlie in his deep voice, which had broken a few months ago. ‘His sister’s gonnae be there.’

‘Aye, Emily’s a cute wee lassie. You’ll knock her dead looking that smart.’

‘Thanks,’ said Charlie flatly.

‘Do you want something to eat before you go?’ Jackie asked Charlie.

‘No thanks, Maw,’ he replied. ‘There’ll be food at the party. Can I have a can of lager?’ he said, spotting the cans on the table.

‘No, you can’t. You’re only thirteen.’

‘Jamie was drinking at my age.’

‘No’ with my permission he wasn’t, and if you come home drunk from this party I will raise holy hell with the McCurdies and you don’t want that, do you?’

Charlie sighed and shook his head. ‘No, Maw.’

‘That applies to all three of you,’ she said, giving his friends a hard look too.

‘Yes, Mrs Gray,’ they chimed in unison.

Charlie sighed, shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and looked down at the floor, embarrassed about being chastised in front of his brother and his friends. Although he’d never told Jamie, he was immensely proud of his older brother, who was a man to be respected, and their family no longer had to worry about money. Plus, as Jamie was the most feared person on the scheme, that gave Charlie himself a lot of kudos as everyone was always keen to ingratiate themselves with him. He was often asked if he was going to join the Blood Brothers when he was older but already Charlie knew that wasn’t the life for him, he couldn’t fight like Jamie could. Truth be told, he didn’t have a violent bone in his body. Criminality wasn’t for him, but he still admired Jamie for his own abilities and his quick, clever brain. Everyone knew that if it hadn’t been for Jamie, the Blood Brothers wouldn’t be where they were now.

‘Good,’ said Jackie. ‘Well, away you go, then, and I want you back by ten o’clock, Charlie, okay?’ she called after him as the three boys headed to the front door. She sighed. ‘I do worry about him.’

‘He’ll be fine,’ said Gary through a mouthful of bacon and bread. ‘He’s Jamie Gray’s wee brother. No one’s gonnae lay a finger on him.’

‘It’s not other people I worry about, it’s drink and drugs.’

‘The McCurdies are a nice family,’ said Jamie.

‘What if Gillian and Chris aren’t there? What if they go out and someone sneaks in some drink or cocaine?’

‘There aren’t any dealers on the scheme. We chased them all off.’

‘But people can still get hold of drugs outside the Gallowburn and kids that age are so easily led.’

‘Charlie’s more sensible than that.’

‘Even sensible weans can get peer-pressured into doing stupid things.’ She shuddered. ‘I hope he doesn’t get up to what I used to get up to as a teenager.’

‘Oh aye.’ Digger grinned. ‘And what was that, then?’

‘Never you mind.’

‘Want us to go to the McCurdies’ and keep an eye out?’ Jamie asked his mother.

‘That’s kind of you to offer, sweetheart and I’m tempted to say yes but I couldnae do that to him. It would only embarrass him having his big brother watching over him. If I don’t show I trust him then he’ll only start to rebel. Charlie’s got a good head on his shoulders. I need to believe in him.’ She sighed. ‘Being a mother is the most wonderful thing in the world but, by Christ, it comes with a ton of worry.’

‘It’s why I’m never having weans,’ said Digger.

‘Thank God for that,’ said Gary. ‘We don’t want any more big bags of rocks plodding about the scheme.’

‘Oh aye, are you gonnae breed, then? Will there be more beach balls bouncing about the place?’

‘I am not a beach ball,’ exclaimed Gary, spraying breadcrumbs across the table.

‘Eat, boys,’ Jackie told them. ‘Stuff up those holes in your faces.’

She bobbed her head into the front room when she heard the front door open and in walked Mullen. Jamie couldn’t help but smile at the way her eyes lit up.

‘Gavin.’ She beamed, rushing up to him and throwing her arms around his neck.

‘Hello, beautiful.’ He smiled back before kissing her.

Mullen had owned a swanky penthouse in the west end but he’d sold it when he moved into this tiny house on the Gallowburn to be with Jackie. He knew Jamie couldn’t leave the scheme, which in turn meant Jackie and Charlie would refuse to leave too, so he’d chosen to move in with them rather than try and persuade her to move away, knowing it would be futile. Even though this house was a world away from the luxury he had lived in, to Mullen it was far more comfortable and welcoming than his previous abode, which had simply been a place to lay his head. This house was a real home, something he hadn’t experienced since he was a child. His relationship with Jackie was strong and he got on well with both her sons. In fact, he couldn’t remember when he’d last felt so content.

‘How was work?’ she asked him.

Mullen owned his own private investigation business in the west end of the city and business was booming.

‘Not so great actually. Steven handed in his notice.’

‘Oh no, why?’

‘He wants to move to Ireland with his girlfriend. He leaves in a couple of weeks.’

‘That’s a shame, because he’s so good at his job.’

‘True, but think I’ve already found a replacement.’

‘Oh aye, who?’

‘You.’

‘Me?’ she exclaimed. ‘But I cannae do what he does.’

‘Course you can. I’ll train you up personally,’ he added with a twinkle in his eyes.

‘But I’ve never done anything like it before. I know Steven doesn’t just do paperwork, he helps out with cases too.’

‘You can do what he does and you’ll probably do it better because you’re smarter than he is.’

‘But he went to university.’

‘That doesn’t matter. You’re very clever and you have an eye for detail. You’re perfect for the job.’

‘Won’t you get fed up seeing me all day at work and at home too?’

He wrapped his hands around her waist. ‘I could never get fed up of you. I miss you when I’m at work, so it would be a dream come true to be with you there too.’

Jackie beamed and kissed him.

‘Oops, sorry,’ said Gary when he walked into the room, spinning on his heel and heading back into the kitchen.

‘No, it’s okay, Gary, love,’ said Jackie. ‘Gavin’s just offered me a job working at his agency.’

‘Doing what?’ He scowled at Mullen. ‘You’d better no’ be hiring her as a cleaner.’

‘Certainly not,’ he replied. ‘Steven, who runs my office, has handed in his notice and I think Jackie would be perfect for the job.’

Gary’s frown turned into a smile. ‘Oh, that’s all right, then. Hey, Jamie,’ he called into the kitchen. ‘Your maw’s gonnae work as a private investigator for Mullen.’

‘I haven’t accepted yet,’ she said as the rest of the Blood Brothers piled into the living room.

‘How no?’ said Digger. ‘You’d be good.’

‘Well, it’s a full-time position. I’m worried about you and your brother,’ she told Jamie.

‘We’ll be fine,’ he replied. ‘I’m a grown-up now, I can cope, and Charlie’s already so independent. Do you want the job?’

She looked to Mullen, who smiled. Jackie nodded and turned to her son. ‘I do. It would be so interesting.’

‘Then go for it. You spent years putting me and Charlie first. Now it’s your turn.’

‘Great, thanks, son. In that case, I accept,’ she told Mullen.

‘Great.’ He beamed before hugging her.

‘Aww, that’s sweet,’ said Digger, blushing when his friends all grinned at him.

2

Cameron Abernethy brooded in his cell in Barlinnie prison, running his hands through his dark hair, which was a lot sparser and greyer than it had been when he’d first been banged up a year and a half ago. He’d put on half a stone in weight and his skin was starting to get that awful pasty grey prison pallor. Despite his certainty that his confinement was only a temporary blip, his body failed to share this optimism and was taking on all the traits of someone who was going to die inside the prison walls. After Natalie, the private investigator he’d hired, had failed to find his daughter, Allegra, whom he’d been locked up for supposedly murdering, he’d hired another three investigators, who had similarly failed. The frustration was starting to take its toll on his physical and mental health because he knew Allegra was out there somewhere alive and well and her scheme-rat lover knew exactly where she was, but Cameron simply couldn’t get hold of the proof. Now he had moments where he thought it might be better if he just accepted that this was his lot and he should start getting used to the idea of spending the rest of his life in prison. But he had to remember that he was Cameron Abernethy and he never lost. This thought brought back his fight, but each negative report from successive investigators had slowly eroded his hope until it had almost been extinguished altogether.

That was until he’d had his master stroke. He didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it sooner. It had struck him just as he’d been on the verge of falling asleep one night in his chilly cell with his cellmate farting in the bunk overhead. Tracking down Allegra wasn’t working, so he needed to put the pressure on the one person who knew where she was – Jamie fucking Gray. And he was going to use a powerful tool to do it – social media. He’d have some of his people leak a story onto every social media platform in the country that Allegra was still alive and she’d set up her own father for murder. The majority of people might be sceptical, they might even scoff, but no doubt there would be someone who believed it or thought there was more to the story than they’d been told. The rumour would be circulated and in no time the media would pick it up. Jamie Gray would find himself being questioned and if the people demanded it strongly enough, the police might even be forced to look into the allegations. Cameron had got his solicitor to forward his theory on to the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, along with the photograph Natalie had found in Italy of Helen Wilkinson, who he strongly suspected was Allegra. But they’d refused to do anything about it, seeing it as a cynical ploy on Cameron’s part to get himself out of prison. He knew a social media campaign was a long shot, but he was getting desperate. Cameron had always despised social media. He couldn’t believe anyone wasted their time on such nonsense but now it seemed it was the only possible ally he had left.

Cameron sank onto the edge of the bed and dragged his hands down his face, which was becoming increasingly haggard and lined. He had to get out of this shithole before all hope was extinguished forever.

At least he now had a bit of privacy. His cellmate, Derek, was at his psychology class. That prick took every class going, saying it helped pass the time. The only problem was the idiot was too dumb to keep up and usually ended up throwing in the towel after a few weeks, which would always send him into a spiral of depression that would lead to him sobbing in his bunk at night, disturbing Cameron’s sleep. Not that he’d had much of that lately with the constant worry of never getting out of Barlinnie.

He tutted when a prison officer walked in.

‘Don’t you ever knock?’ growled Cameron.

The prison officer’s lip curled with disgust. ‘What do you think this is, the Hilton? If you hadn’t killed that pretty wee lassie of yours then you wouldn’t have given up your right to privacy.’

‘I didn’t kill her,’ he snarled. ‘She’s out there somewhere, alive.’

‘Aye, right. You’ve got a visit, so get a wriggle on.’

‘But I don’t have a visit booked for today.’

‘You do now, so hurry up.’

Intrigued, Cameron followed him out of the cell and through the maze of corridors, which were never quiet. Cameron hadn’t appreciated silence until he’d been banged up. Now he’d give half his fortune just for an hour’s peace, absent the sound of angry yells, despairing sobs and the constant clang of doors.

To his surprise, he wasn’t led to the visits centre. Instead, he was taken into a quiet room inmates used for private interviews with solicitors or police officers. It was where you came when you didn’t want to be overheard. A man was already waiting for him, sitting in one of the chairs at a cheap plywood table. It took Cameron a moment to realise it was his slimy son Fenston, only this wasn’t the Fenston he remembered. His only son hadn’t bothered to visit him in months and the change in that time was startling. The nervous, fawning creature that had curled in on itself every time his father walked into the room was gone. Fenston sat tall and straight and with the confidence of a man who was finally free of all his childhood neuroses, thanks to his father’s absence.

‘You arranged this meeting?’ Cameron demanded of his son.

Fenston nodded and gestured to the chair at the table opposite him, his sleeve riding up to reveal the very expensive Omega watch on his wrist.

Cameron sank into the chair, which creaked beneath his weight, not taking his eyes off his son. Fenston regarded him coolly with none of the usual cringing, giving Cameron the feeling that his son was in charge of this meeting, a sensation that was entirely new and extremely disturbing.

‘I did,’ Fenston eventually replied, taking his time.

Cameron’s sharp eyes took in the smart, tailored suit his son wore, his dark hair neatly cut and gelled, the calm assurance in his eyes. Finally his boy had turned into a man he could be proud of. The only problem was he was no longer under his control, meaning he was dangerous.

‘Why?’ replied Cameron, leaning forward in his chair, attempting to smother Fenston with his large presence, but for once the intimidation tactic didn’t work.

‘Because there’s something I want to discuss.’

Cameron sighed with annoyance when Fenston didn’t elaborate. ‘Stop trying to be enigmatic and get on with it.’

‘Why, have you got a full schedule today?’ he replied with amusement in his voice.

‘Don’t cheek me, boy.’

‘That’s just it, Father. I’m not a boy any more. I’m a man.’

‘You, a man?’ he snorted.

‘You tried so hard to keep me a child, but you failed and finally I’ve come into my own power.’

‘Power? How can someone who used to piss the bed on a regular basis even know what power is?’

Fenston’s eyes flashed, not with the anguish or hurt Cameron hoped to inspire, but rather with a dangerous annoyance. ‘I’m a far cry from what I was but if you don’t realise that, that’s fine by me. It will only make it easier to defeat you.’

‘Defeat me?’ Cameron laughed. ‘Are you on crack?’

‘No, I don’t take drugs. In fact, I don’t smoke or even drink alcohol any more. Addictions make you weak and turn your brain to mush. My brain has never been sharper. I’m here to tell you that I’m taking all the businesses from you. You can’t possibly run them while you’re locked up.’

‘You arrogant little bastard,’ barked Cameron, eyes blazing. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are?’

Fenston was unmoved by this show of anger. ‘I’ll tell you who I am, shall I? I’m the person who’s kept your businesses going since you were locked up and seen off all your competitors.’

‘What competitors?’

‘Toni McVay for a start. She’s been circling us like a shark but I’ve fended her off, for now, but she’ll be back.’

‘That bitch,’ Cameron hissed. ‘She’s always wanted what I have, what I spent my life building up.’

‘There are others but she’s the most dangerous. But it’s not just that. The board of directors is sick of having to defer to someone who’s going to be stuck in here for life. They want someone on the outside, someone who can actually contribute and make the big decisions.’

‘And that person’s you, is it?’

‘Yes.’

Cameron threw back his head and laughed, the sound deep and booming but chilling because it was devoid of any genuine humour. He glowered at Fenston, thick black brows meeting as his forehead creased. ‘It’s not wise to challenge me, boy. I’ve steamrollered over everyone who’s got in my way in the past and the fact that you’re my son won’t stop me doing the same to you.’

‘I already know that. You murdered your own daughter and I know Allegra meant more to you than I ever did.’

‘I did not kill Allegra. The little bitch set me up.’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Fenston sarcastically.

‘I admit, we did get into a fight over that fucking scheme-rat fiancé of hers, but I did not kill her. Why is that funny?’ he thundered when Fenston’s lips twitched.

‘You forget, Father, I lived in the same house with you and Allegra my entire life and I heard you threaten to kill her countless times if she failed to come home on time or didn’t answer her phone when you called, as well as plenty of other trifling things, which is why it came as no surprise when you actually did it.’

‘But I didn’t do it,’ exploded Cameron.

There was the jingle of keys and the door opened to reveal the prison officer who’d escorted Cameron. ‘Everything okay in here?’

‘It’s fine, Mr Barker,’ replied Fenston with a smooth smile.

‘If you’re sure, Mr Abernethy?’ replied Barker with much more respect than he’d ever addressed Cameron.

‘I am. Thank you for your concern.’

Barker nodded and left, locking the door behind him.

‘That prick’s on your payroll, isn’t he?’ Cameron demanded of his son.

‘Just one of many,’ he replied with a sly smile. ‘Mr Barker’s an intelligent man and knows which side his bread’s buttered on.’

The threat wasn’t lost on Cameron. He knew his son was telling him that he had contacts in prison who could make life very difficult for him if he so chose. ‘What do you want?’

‘Complete control of the company. In return, I’ll make life as comfortable for you as possible in here. I’ll get you a single cell and all the creature comforts you could ever want.’

‘The only thing I want is my freedom. Can you get me that?’

‘No, because you murdered my sister.’

‘Don’t give me that. You never cared about her.’

‘I did once, when I was young, but you soon schooled that out of me. Love is weakness, that’s what you always told us. You pitted me and Allegra against each other because you were afraid of us becoming allies and overthrowing you. You took our relationship from us.’

Cameron’s lip curled. ‘Don’t tell me you’re suddenly getting sentimental?’

‘How can I? Thanks to you, I’m incapable of love.’

‘I did you a favour. Emotion makes you weak.’

‘I suppose you did, which is why I don’t feel the slightest pang of regret about ousting you from the businesses.’

‘The fuck you are,’ Cameron snarled. ‘What is this mutiny? First Allegra sets me up and then you stab me in the back.’

‘She set you up, did she?’ said Fenston, amused.

‘Yes, she did, the little slag.’

‘And how did she do that?’ said Fenston, as though he were indulging a delusional child.

‘I don’t know exactly but the scheme rat was in on it.’

‘Scheme rat?’

‘Jamie Gray,’ he snapped, hands curling into fists.

‘You’re saying he’s more intelligent than you are?’

‘Course not. Allegra was the brains behind it. He didn’t even know she was still alive, at first. Of that I’m convinced. He always was fucking slow,’ he spat. ‘But he knows where she is now.’

‘Which is where?’

Cameron rolled his eyes with annoyance. ‘If I knew that then I wouldn’t still be stuck in here. I’ve hired people to track her down but they were all fucking useless.’

‘No trace?’

Cameron shook his head and sighed. ‘No trace.’

‘Just because her body hasn’t been found doesn’t mean she’s still alive.’

‘Yes, it does, because I didn’t kill her,’ his father exclaimed.

‘But you attacked her, didn’t you? You’ve already admitted that. She could have bled to death somewhere and her body hasn’t been found. That’s what everyone thinks.’

‘It’s all bollocks,’ Cameron roared. ‘She’s out there somewhere, laughing at me. I will find her and when I do I’ll be let out of this shithole. Then I really will make her life miserable. And I’ll see the scheme rat banged up for life.’ Cameron wondered if his son could finally be of some earthly use. ‘You could help me find her. Then, when I’m released, we could run things together. We’d make a fantastic team. Just think of the things we could do. We’d even bring down that mad slut Toni McVay. How would you feel about taking everything she has?’

The corner of Fenston’s mouth lifted into a smile. ‘Pretty good actually.’

Cameron spotted his chance and he seized it. ‘Then let’s do it, together. Why bother fighting each other when we could fight her and steal her empire?’

‘That would be very pleasing.’

‘Course it would, son,’ he said, attempting to inject some familial warmth into his tone and failing. ‘We’d be unstoppable.’

Fenston leaned back in his chair as he mulled over his father’s words. It took Cameron every ounce of what little patience he possessed to remain silent while he awaited his response.

‘All right,’ Fenston eventually said. ‘That does sound better than fighting each other but Toni McVay isn’t just a businesswoman, she’s a ruthless gangster.’

‘The key is to attack her reputation. That’s where everyone who’s gone after her in the past failed. Attack her head-on and she’ll destroy you because she has so many foot soldiers. But ensure all her powerful allies abandon her, then you hamstring her, making her vulnerable.’

‘You seem to be forgetting that her allies include other gangsters, the Maguires and Laws in Manchester, for instance. They are not people to take lightly.’

‘They’ll soon drop her when they realise she’s a lame duck. They’re not the types to fight for someone out of sentiment. And the best way to attack her is through the Blood Brothers.’

‘Ah.’ Fenston smiled, shaking his head. ‘So that’s what this is really about – Jamie Gray.’

‘Two birds with one stone. Why take down one enemy when you can take down two? And when he’s lost his reputation and protection from the McVays, he’ll be left with no choice but to reveal where Allegra is and finally I’ll be free.’ He regarded Fenston eagerly. ‘So what do you say, son? Shall we fight side by side?’

Fenston fell silent as he considered his father’s words and Cameron hated that his son had this new power over him. But it wouldn’t be for long. Once he was released, he would tear the little toad apart.

‘All right, Father,’ said Fenston. ‘Let’s do it.’

‘That’s my boy.’ Cameron smiled. ‘Now, this is what we’re going to do.’

Fenston listened calmly to his father’s plan and promised to put it into motion as soon as he got back to the office. He had to admit, it was clever, and might just have a chance of working. It seemed prison hadn’t dulled his father’s faculties.

After announcing that the meeting was over, Fenston banged on the door for Mr Barker to unlock it, smiling inwardly at the fury building in his father’s eyes that he was no longer in control. It pleased him enormously to see the man who’d bullied him his entire life brought so low.