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‘We take care of our own business.’
‘Like Jizzy?’ He swallowed the bitter bile, refusing to let Jesse see how much their deaths had affected him.
‘Jizzy was an unexpected loose end. Another mess of yours I had to clean up.’
Fucking prick.‘Who tipped you off? His brother.’
‘That’s harsh, even for Brian Isobel. Nah, Nable.’
I’m going to gut that lying pig and strangle him with his own intestines.Alex’s thoughts went into overdrive, trying to find a thread, something to use. ‘When did he share this information with you?’
‘Two days ago.’
Bingo!‘That’s about the time he started brokering a deal between me, Sarah and the DPP.’
‘Bullshit.’
He pushed the advantage. ‘He played you, Jesse.’
‘No way, the guy wants you dead as much as I do.’
Alex grinned. ‘That’s why we’ve been drinking coffee and ironing out details while he had you in another country chasing ghosts.’
‘Fucking dog!’ Jesse exploded, slamming his fist into the wall behind him.
‘I knew we shouldn’t have trusted that cop.’ Brodie was trying to pull himself up from the sofa.
‘Shut up, Brodie. No one fucking asked you!’ Jesse rounded on the other man.
‘Hey, hey. Let’s just calm down.’ Alex took a step closer to Jesse, raising one palm up in a conciliatory way, while keeping the gun aimed at his successor. This was his chance to make his play. He had to make it count. ‘I think we can resolve this problem satisfactorily for all concerned.’
Jesse glowered, his eyes darting from person to person, floor to ceiling as if he’d lost his anchor. Brodie finally found his feet, standing mid-way between the current and former enforcer, unsure which side to pick. The hired gun still leant across the kitchen bench.
Alex knew Jesse wouldn’t extend the invitation to negotiate, so he laid it out.
‘I know what the cops know and what they’re looking for. I know their plan.’ He looked Jesse squarely in the eye. ‘And I know where Nable is right now.’
‘Jesse, come on man, you know Zep would want that information.’ Brodie spoke quietly. ‘He was already prepared to let Alex go once. He’d be okay with this deal.’
‘What deal is it you’re hoping to make, Hollywood?’
‘I’ll tell you what I know and you let me and Sarah walk, clear and free.’
Jesse took a breath, his top lip curling into a snarl. Tension radiated around the room. Night was falling rapidly and Alex knew the shadows would mask any sudden moves his opponents might make in the coming minutes. Plus, the chances of the missing hired gun returning and getting the jump on him was not a risk he was willing to take.
‘Why don’t we take this somewhere neutral, have a drink and sort it out? What do you say, Jesse?’ He turned his gun skywards.
‘For all I know, you’d lead us straight into an ambush with that dog, Nable. Let’s hear what you have to say right here.’
‘Do we have a deal?’
‘Almost.’ Jesse moved two steps forward. Alex’s hand tensed on his weapon.
‘You tell us everything, and then you neutralize the loose end.’ Jesse cocked his head. ‘You and your girl can walk away.’
‘You want me to kill Nable?’
The new enforcer spread his arms wide. ‘It’s a win, win.’
