Head On (Strength And Love)(45)

All my anger at her for reading Selina’s email has gone. The moment I saw her get hit, none of it mattered. It’s one of those life defining moments. We only get a few of them. The death of a parent. The birth of a child. Something that irrevocably changes our lives forever. This is one for me because even if we don’t work out, I know I love her.

I’ve never been in love before, but somehow, I’ve fallen for this girl. I know the deeper love that can sustain a relationship for years, hopefully decades, takes longer to form. But as far as the rush of falling headlong into it all goes-- that initial spark? She’s it for me, and I’ve been trying to deny it.

And holy fuck, is she brave! She ran at a guy with a gun to save me. Getting herself shot in the process. But the bratva fucker didn’t do it judging from the wound. I think Rick might have but there were bullets flying all over when she got hit.

The blond bastard comes out of the office and he’s shaking his head at the scene in front of him. One of his thugs has a weapon aimed at Luka, but the blond shakes his head again and makes a lowering motion with his hand.

Liam comes and hunkers down next to me. “How is she?”

“Out.”

“Ambulance is on its way. Police, too. This is going to get messy.”

I sigh. Messy indeed. “You two go.” I nod at him and Luka, who is tying up David Dunn, with the help of the other Russian henchman.

“So, you say you can help me?” The Russian giant turns to look at me. Ever the pragmatists, organised crime don’t have any loyalty except to themselves, and these two fuck-ups have clearly lost any support from the Russians.

I nod. “You want her father’s business to keep doing for you what it’s always done?”

He gives one incline of his head.

“He wants out too, but he won’t sell to these fuckers. You keep Pete in against his will, it won’t work well long term. But I know someone who will be more than happy to take his place. Someone with the legit business front you need. Someone who won’t screw up like Dave and Rick here.”

I hate doing this. Hate giving these guys an in to rinse their dirty money. But someone will do it, and I want Isla’s dad to be able to walk away from this. For her and him to be out of danger. And I’d already spoken with my contact as soon as I learned what Pete had gotten into. He’s a legit business man, but he already has his finger in a number of unsavoury pies.

“The guy I’m talking about runs Savant Property.”

The Russian’s eyebrows pop. “Go on.”

Bait firmly hooked, I reel him in. “He’ll be more than happy to take over.”

“You are saying to me that Stuart Martin will work with us?”

I nod. Because he will. And the beauty of it is, according to Liam, who has friends in high places, Stuart is already under a long-term investigation of his dodgier activities. So, if the stars align correctly both Stuart, and these Russian dipshits, will get taken down eventually. Either way, Pete and Isla are free and clear to live their lives.

I take my phone out, careful not to jostle Isla. I bring up my contacts and dial a number, putting it on speaker. I don’t have much time. It rings and on the fourth one, a deep cultured voice answers. “Savant Property, Stuart Martin speaking.”

“Stuart, Ethan here.”

“Hello there, my good fellow.”

Christ, he’s such a dick. “I’m here now with our friends, am I okay to give them all your contact details so you guys can set up a meet?”

“Of course. Always happy to help foreign relations.”

He gives a smooth chuckle. I raise my eyebrows at the Russian and he nods.

He snaps his fingers as I hang up the phone, and his two henchmen come to heel like well trained dogs.

“Sorry to leave you with this mess to clear up, gents. But I think it’s time we left.”

Sirens can be heard in the distance. “Yeah, go. But you owe me one.”

I hold his gaze. Bold as brass. Fucker could put a price on my head the moment he leaves this warehouse if he wanted. But I’m letting him walk away from this shit storm he created, and I want something in return.

He narrows his eyes and clenches his jaw.

“I don’t want anything big. Simply a promise that you’ll leave Isla and Pete Rose alone.”

“I will talk to my superior, but as long as we have someone in place to help with our…transactions then we have no interest in them. And, quite frankly...” he turns a cold, disdainful stare on David Dunn, “I’d rather not have to deal with this level of incompetence again. I did not know what their plans were.”

“Yeah well, amateurs will always fuck things up.”

“Indeed.”

He gestures to his two men and then they’re jogging out of the building as the sirens grow closer.

I turn to Liam. “Get the fuck out of here. Go on. I’ll deal with this.”

Liam shakes his head. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m hoping we can get this smoothed out. I have friends in the local constabulary.” He gives his shit-eating grin. Of course he does.

I doubt David or Rick are going to be pressing charges. They’re the ones that should be rotting in jail, but that way implicates Pete. And it would break Isla’s heart. It’s best all round if we blame all this on some mysterious gang who took Isla.