Page 55 of Callous Shot

“Yeah, alright.”

Leaving my uncle and Sid to deal with the three guys we’d incapacitated, I jogged back through the warehouse and left, stopping at my mum’s car to let her know that yes, I was fine, and it had only been a bit of light asphyxiation. Nothing to worry about. I didn’t say anything else to her, but inside, I was worried. Not about me, but about who those guys were and why they’d decided to target that particular warehouse. We used it for legitimate operations now, and the contents were fully insured. There were other targets that seemed more obvious to me, but what did I know?

I knew my mum and Neil would deal with it, but I dunno…I guessed with my cousin being in Thailand, I felt responsible in a way. Like I had to step up. No one had made me feel that way outside of my own brain, but I didn’t want to leave my family to have to deal with all the drama while I got to cosplay being a student and a passable hockey player.

After removing my balaclava so I didn’t look like a criminal, I jogged down the deserted road that led to Nottswood. As I ran, I cursed myself for not having the insight to bring my SUV and park it somewhere. I hopped over a stile into a field, following the small footpath that ran down the side of the prickly hedge, and emerged at the far end in front of a petrol station. It was a small shortcut, cutting off a chunk of winding road, but I was still way too far from home for my liking.

Rubbing at my neck as I paced up and down behind the petrol forecourt, I pulled out my phone. Time to call in a favour. Jay or Ryker had to be in a generous mood, surely? They wouldn’t leave their bestie stranded.

A large black SUV rolled to a stop next to me, its tyres crunching on the cracked tarmac. The passenger window rolled down, and the driver leaned over.

Lincoln Bellingham’s face came into view.

Shit.

I hadn’t spoken to him since the night I’d crept out of his apartment, and until I found out what the fuck he was up to, I needed to keep my distance.

Turning my back on him, I swiped through my phone to my contacts, praying that one of my best friends was available. A door slammed behind me, and I flinched inwardly as I hit Jay’s name.

“Jay,” I said breathlessly, lifting my phone to my ear. “Are you⁠—”

A hand wound around my sore throat as a voice sounded low in my ear. “End the fucking call.”

“Fuck you.”

“Arson? Dan?”

I blinked down at the screen.

“End. The fucking. Call,” Lincoln growled, tightening his grip on my windpipe. It hurt, and not in a good way.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to phone you. Speak to you later,” I rasped, stabbing at the screen until the call disconnected. When it was safely in my pocket, I slid my knuckleduster back on. Lincoln had conveniently parked between the forecourt and the hedge, which meant no one would see me⁠—

I slammed my elbow back and then twisted out of his hold, punching him in the stomach. Because we were so close, I couldn’t get much power behind it, but it was enough for him to stagger backwards with a groan, his spine hitting the door of his SUV with a loud bang.

“Leave me the fuck alone,” I snarled as I stalked away, back towards the field I’d emerged from. His stupid car couldn’t follow me there.

He called after me, and I sped up, tugging my hoodie over my head. I was dressed all in black, and it was a dark night with the moon completely covered by cloud, so it was easy for me to blend into the shadows. I heard footsteps on the dirt as he jumped over the stile, and I swerved, ducking low as I went from hugging the hedge to moving through the long grass towards the opposite side of the field.

“Hoyton!” His shout echoed across the field, but I ignored it, reaching the far side and swinging myself over a rickety gate. The land on this side sloped downwards, with a small copse at the bottom of the slope, and I made a beeline for the trees.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out.

Jay.

“Where are you?”

“We were worried about you.” Jay glanced over at Ryker, who was seated in one of the armchairs in the hockey house, his arms folded over his chest.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Nothing. I’m fine. The raid went as planned, and I left.”

Jay’s brows rose. “Except you called me in a panic, and me and Ry tracked you to a field in the middle of nowhere. And do you want to tell us why we saw Lincoln Bellingham prowling around the field next to the one you were hiding in?”

“Not really.” I rubbed at my neck. “Bastard tried to strangle me. Jay, got any of that arnica cream left?”

“Bellingham tried to strangle you?” Ryker asked in a low, dangerous tone.