ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(56)

Davie couldn’t believe what he saw inside. “Guns? Are you crazy?”

“Chill the f*ck out. They’re just in case that nutcase comes after us. I ain’t going to play with this guy no more.”

“Nutcase?” Davie was dumbfounded. “We held him hostage and stabbed his family. I think he has good reason to be a little nutty.”

“Whatever,” said Frankie dismissively. “If he comes at me he’s going to taste lead…or whatever the stuff they make bullets out of nowadays. Now quit your bitching and take this.”

Frankie thrust one of the revolvers at Davie and he immediately tried to shove it back. “No way! I don’t want it.”

Frankie pushed harder until Davie had no choice but to take ownership of the weapon. “Keep it in your waistband. You don’t have to go looking for trouble, but I want to know you’re going to be safe if that prick comes after you.”

“Andrew.”

“What?”

“His name is Andrew.”

Frankie shook his head in confusion. “Does it look like I give a monkey’s nuts?”

“No,” said Davie. “No it doesn’t. Fine! I’ll take the gun, but only for protection. What about the twins? Did you give them a gun?”

“Fuck them,” said Frankie. “They can fend for themselves. Only person I care about is you.”

“Hope I’m not breaking up a Hallmark moment.” Damien entered the room and stood in front of them both. Everything he was wearing was emblazoned with a logo of some kind.

Frankie looked up at him from the sofa. “Nah, man, everything’s cool. Was just getting my little bro strapped.”

Damien nodded. “What’s your next move?”

“Don’t know,” said Frankie. “Either the police will turn up at my door or this guy that has a beef with me will. I’ll be ready for whatever happens, though, thanks to you.” Frankie waved the gun as though it were a toy and not a deadly weapon.

“You get caught with that you leave my name out of it, you hear me? They belong to my old man and he’d go ape if he knew I was lending ‘em out. Can’t have you dead, though, can I? Need you out on the street. What you do to this dude anyway? You can’t have just f*cked up his car and house.”

“We stabbed his wife and daughter,” Davie blurted out. It felt like a weight had been lifted by the sudden confession.

Damien’s eyes widened and his eyebrows lowered into a scowl. “The f*ck? The hell you do that for? You don’t f*ck with a man’s family – with women.”

Frankie waved a hand dismissively. “Shit went down. That’s all there is to it. You’re one to talk, anyway, man. You f*ck people up all the time.”

“Business,” said Damien. “I don’t f*ck up families. Did this guy even do anything to you in the first place?”

“No,” said Davie. “He never done nothing to nobody.”

Frankie turned to Davie and growled. “Will you shut the hell up!”

“Sounds like your little bro has a conscience,” said Damien. “Good for him. You should both get the f*ck out of my house now, though.”

Frankie stood up. “What? Why you being like this?”

“Cus you’re a f*cking mug; an amateur. Now piss off – and leave the pieces behind.”

Frankie pulled the revolver on Damien and cocked the hammer. Davie wondered how his brother even knew how to do that. Damien’s face was unflinching, while Frankie’s twitch had gone into overdrive.

Damien curled his upper lip into a smirk. “I hope this dude f*cks you up. Makes you a little bitch again like you were in the nick when I found you. How long’s it been since you had a cock up your arse, Frankie?”

Frankie stepped forward and shoved the weapon’s barrel against Damien’s forehead. His whole arm was shaking but Damien was still unflinching. Frankie was visibly shaken. “Not another word, cunt, or I’ll end you, right now.”

Davie sprung up and moved in front of his brother, trying to attract the attention of his demented eyes. “What’s he talking about, man?”

Damien sneered, despite the gun in his face, and directed his gaze to Davie. “He never tell you?

“Tell me what?” asked Davie.

“When I went down for a little stretch – for dealing and shit – they sent me to the same nick as Frankie.”