Savage Sisters, page 24
‘If he did, he’d tell you to go straight to the polis. Be sensible, Carly. What if they try to take you again or what if someone ends up getting killed? The most benign of arguments can quickly escalate and the next thing you know, someone’s dying in the gutter with a knife in their chest. I’ve seen it happen.’ Derek felt selfish for even thinking it, but he also worried about his pub getting caught in the crossfire between the two families. He’d already had his window put through, his car had been damaged and a fight had broken out in his establishment. What if next time the whole place got smashed up or set on fire? But Carly was like a daughter to him and he refused to abandon her when she really needed him. ‘If you need extra time off, just let me know. You already have so much going on and with this shite on top of it all, I don’t want you burning yourself out.’
‘But Anita’s still off sick.’
‘She told me today she’s no’ coming back. Her back trouble’s gonnae be long term, so she’s having to give up work. Her niece needs a job though and she’s got a lot of experience in the trade, so if you need more time to yourself, you just let me know.’
Carly smiled and patted his arm. ‘Thanks Derek, you’re such a star.’
‘So I’ve been told.’ He beamed back at her.
They looked to the door when it opened and Cole strode in. He moved with his usual sinuous, cat-like grace but his face was set, his expression hard. His green eyes were still beautiful but all the mischief Carly had loved in them had gone. Rather than walk up to the bar he stood in the middle of the room, his presence drawing everyone’s attention.
‘What do you want?’ Derek demanded of him. ‘All your family’s barred.’
‘I’ve got a message,’ he said before his gaze slipped to Carly. ‘If you and your cousin don’t come out nice and quietly, then we’ll burn this fucking place to the ground.’
Shocked gasps ran around the room.
‘Cole,’ exclaimed Carly.
‘You cannae dae that,’ exclaimed Derek.
Cole ignored him, his gaze flicking from Carly to Dean and back again.
‘You all heard him,’ Derek called to the room. ‘If anything happens to this place you know who was responsible.’
‘And if anyone even dreams of giving evidence against me or my family,’ countered Cole, casting that threatening gaze about the room, ‘then their own families will suffer.’
This was enough to scare most of the customers, who cast their own eyes to the floor. Some, however, refused to be cowed.
‘Where do you get off threatening good people like that?’ demanded Jim, striding up to Cole. ‘I’ll tan your arse, ya mouthy wee pup.’
Cole’s fist slammed into his face so quickly everyone doubted Jim even saw it coming. His eyes rolled back in his head and he toppled backwards to the floor, unconscious.
‘Anyone else got something to say?’ demanded Cole. He nodded with satisfaction when no one replied. ‘Good.’ He looked back at Carly. ‘You’ve got five minutes. If you don’t come out, then the petrol bombs come in.’
No one spoke as he left the building but the moment he’d gone, the customers all charged for the door, shoving each other out of the way in their eagerness to escape. Carly glanced at Derek and was appalled to see the horror in his eyes. Not only was his pub being threatened but he was losing customers too.
‘Derek,’ she murmured, blinking back tears.
‘Aye, hen?’ he murmured back, his jaw hanging open as he watched the last customer leave, the door banging shut behind them.
‘I quit.’
This shook Derek out of his stupor. ‘What?’
‘You’ve had your pub vandalised and now this. I don’t want to ruin your business.’
‘You won’t.’
Carly shook her head, a tear sliding down her cheek. ‘You’ve been so good to me, you’ve been like a da’ and I really appreciate it, which is why I’m doing this. I don’t want you to get hurt and you will be if you keep employing me.’
‘Don’t let them win,’ he told her, gently taking her by the shoulders.
Steel filled her eyes. ‘Oh, I can promise you they won’t.’
‘Good on you, doll.’ He winked at her.
She hugged Derek and he hugged her back.
‘I hate to lose you,’ he said. ‘You can always come back when this shite is over.’
Carly nodded, swallowing down a lump in her throat. She hated it that the Alexanders had succeeded in taking her job from her. She only hoped her uncle hadn’t been lying when he’d said she and her sister could make some serious money because without her wage they would struggle.
She released Derek and handed him her till key. Then she walked over to Dean, who was still sitting casually at the table as though nothing had happened.
‘We’d better go out there before Derek’s pub gets attacked.’
He nodded, got to his feet, picked up his laptop and placed it on the bar. ‘Can you look after this for me, please?’
‘Course,’ replied Derek. ‘I’ll put it in the safe.’
‘Thanks.’ Dean looked to Carly. ‘I’ve called my da’. He’s on his way.’
She nodded, getting the feeling the Alexanders wanted Eddie and Harry to come too. She prayed Jane stayed at home to look after Rose and their father.
‘Be careful,’ Derek called after them as they left the pub together.
The pair of them came to a halt, a little startled to see how many people had gathered in the street.
The Alexanders were not alone. They stood amid a group of more than a dozen men, some of whom looked terrifying with their cauliflower ears and scars. Clearly these were all brutal, violent people with a long history of mayhem behind them. Also with the Alexanders were the Bitches, all twenty of them, Emma standing at their head looking smug.
When two of the scarred men started to yell obscenities at Dean, Carly asked him under her breath, ‘Were you in prison with any of them?’
‘Aye.’ He nodded, looking perfectly calm.
‘They don’t look very happy to see you.’
‘I suppose I can understand that. I’m responsible for some of their scars.’
The corner of her mouth lifted. ‘Nice one.’ Carly looked to Cole. ‘You need all this lot to stand up to me and Dean, do you? How pathetic.’
‘No’ just you two,’ he replied as a car tore down the street towards them.
The car screeched to a halt between the mob and Dean and Carly. Eddie hopped out of the passenger seat.
‘Get in,’ he told his son and niece.
‘I don’t think so,’ said Cole.
‘Ignore that wee dick,’ Eddie told Dean and Carly. ‘Get in.’
As the two of them rushed to the car, the gang closed in on it, forcing Eddie to leap back inside.
‘Run,’ he called to his son and niece.
24
Dean grabbed Carly’s hand and they tore down the street. Glancing back over her shoulder, Carly saw Harry’s car being rocked by the mob. He revved the engine, and the people standing in front of it leapt out of the way for fear of being run over. Harry took the opportunity to stomp on the accelerator and the car shot down the street, unfortunately in the opposite direction to them. Now those targets had slipped out of their grasp, Carly was alarmed to see the mob tear down the street after herself and Dean.
‘Where are we going?’ she asked Dean as they ran. ‘Because we can’t lead that lot back to the flat.’
‘I’ve nae idea. You know this area better than me.’ He looked back over his shoulder and if he was alarmed he didn’t show it, which rather impressed Carly. Fortunately, they were both fast and in good health, so they were managing to stay ahead of the rabid pack. Already some of the older and unfit members, of whom there were quite a few, were falling back, panting and sweating.
‘This way,’ she said, pulling him down a darkened back street.
Dean’s phone started to ring. He released her hand and pulled it from his pocket and managed to talk as they ran with only a slight breathiness.
‘Da’, aye. I don’t know. Where are we headed?’ he asked Carly.
‘Tell him no’ to worry about us. He needs to get back to my da’ and Rose. If that lot don’t catch us they might go there.’ Carly wondered if Dean would object to help being diverted from them but he didn’t and he calmly relayed the message before hanging up.
‘He protested but I hung up,’ Dean told her. ‘You’re right, we can lose this lot.’
‘Course we can,’ said Carly as they took a right onto a better lit street that contained nothing but more rows of red brick tenements.
‘This way,’ she said, pulling him towards the door leading into one of the tenements. Rather than head to one of the flats, she led him straight through the dank, smelly corridor and out the other side into a communal garden that was all sagging washing lines and paving slabs.
They charged at the grey wall, scrambled over it and dropped down on the other side.
‘My friend lives in these flats,’ whispered Carly.
Dean nodded in understanding. That was how she knew about this exit.
They looked up and down the street but could see no one, although there was the distant cry of voices.
‘This way,’ said Carly again.
Dean followed her right, away from the voices and they turned left onto another road full of squat tenements.
‘Where are we going?’ he asked her.
‘Just the next street,’ panted Carly, who was rapidly beginning to tire.
They turned another corner onto a road lined with beige new-build houses with dark brown roofs. Dean was grateful when Carly slowed before stopping altogether. She doubled over to catch her breath.
‘I haven’t run like that since I was on the cross country team at high school,’ she gasped.
‘I think we lost them,’ said Dean, looking around.
‘My friend Angela lives on this street. She’ll let us borrow her car.’
Dean nodded and followed her to the front door of one of the houses. Clearly someone was in because the glow of lights could be seen from behind the curtains. Carly knocked and while they waited for someone to answer, they constantly looked around, fearing the mob would catch up with them.
The door was pulled open by a pretty, slender woman with a thin, pale face and ash blonde hair pulled back into a messy ponytail.
‘Carly,’ she said, a little startled to see her friend on her doorstep.
‘Hi Angela,’ she replied. ‘Sorry to disturb you so late but I need a big favour – can I borrow your car?’
‘Why?’ she asked. She looked to Dean, a question in her eyes.
‘Oh, sorry,’ said Carly, attempting to sound cool and calm. ‘This is my cousin, Dean. We’ve got a wee bit of trouble and we need to get out of here pronto, which is why we need your car.’
‘But you can’t drive.’
‘Dean can though. I promise we’ll look after it and we’ll have it back to you in the morning.’
‘This is to do with the Alexanders, isn’t it?’
‘How do you know?’
‘Because Cole stopped by earlier and said it would be very bad for me and my family if I helped you. He was scary; I’ve never seen him like that before.’
‘He’s changed since he came out of prison,’ said Carly bitterly.
‘I’m really sorry, you know normally I’d do anything for you, but I believed him when he threatened me.’
Carly’s shoulders slumped with sadness but she forced a smile for Angela’s sake; she’d been a good friend to her since she was seven years old. ‘It’s all right. I understand.’
‘I’m glad about that,’ said a relieved Angela. The sound of a baby crying echoed from inside the house. ‘Sorry, I’ve got to go.’
‘Aye, nae problem.’
Angela closed the door and they heard the sound of the key being turned in the lock.
‘Some friend she is,’ growled Dean, glaring at the door.
‘I understand why she refused. She’s got a baby and a three-year-old to think of and her man left her two months ago. She’s raising the weans alone and life’s hard enough for her without getting tangled up in all my shite too.’
‘All right, I’ll let her off. Maybe if we keep running, they’ll get fed up and go home.’
‘I doubt it’ll be that easy.’
Carly’s phone began to ring and she produced it from her pocket.
‘It’s Jane,’ she said.
‘We need to keep moving,’ Dean said, looking about uneasily.
They set off again at a brisk pace and Carly answered the phone before the ringing alerted anyone to their presence.
‘Hi Jane. No, we’re fine. We think we’ve lost them but we’re currently wandering about Newmarket Street. We don’t want to come back to the flat because we might draw them there. Aye, I know but I don’t want to risk it. Have Uncle Eddie and Harry got back safe? That’s a relief. No, stay where you are. We’re fine, we’re not being followed any more. Keep Da’ and Rose safe.’
Dean grabbed Carly’s arm and pulled her behind a car parked at the kerb. When she looked at him questioningly, he jerked his thumb behind him. Carly looked to see a group of eight men tearing around the corner at the bottom of the road. At least, she thought they were men. It was hard to tell in the darkness. The men stopped to look up and down the road before conferring with each other.
‘Got to go,’ Carly whispered into the phone before hanging up. She put her phone on silent and slipped it back inside her coat pocket.
They remained crouched, praying that the men went in the opposite direction, but to their dismay the men rushed up the street towards them. When they passed under a streetlight, Carly recognised Ross and Cole.
Carly looked to Dean, who nodded to the left with his head. She followed him as he silently crawled around the far side of the car and the two of them ducked down under the level of the windows, making sure they sat behind the wheels. They held their breath as the posse passed them by, quietly talking amongst themselves.
The men turned right at the top of the street and vanished. Dean and Carly breathed a sigh of relief and got to their feet. At that moment, Cole’s head peered around the corner. As he was standing under a streetlight, his diabolical smile was illuminated for them both to see.
‘They’re here,’ he yelled before tearing back down the street after them, closely followed by the other seven men.
Dean and Carly bolted and ran down the road, taking a left turn and then another until they ended up on a busier main road lined with shops, most of which were closed apart from a couple of takeaways.
‘He must have known I’d come to Angela’s,’ said Carly as they ran. That was the problem with having Cole as an enemy – he understood how she thought.
It was fortunate the traffic was light because they dashed across the road without time to think.
‘There’s the park,’ exclaimed Carly. ‘It’s really big and it’s open twenty-four hours, we’ll be able to lose them in there.’
‘Okay,’ said Dean.
Together they raced through the large, ornate, wrought iron gates and down the long dark path. Glancing back over their shoulders, they saw they were still being chased, although a couple of the men were falling behind. Ross and Cole were in the lead, looking worryingly determined.
They took a right turn and raced towards a duck pond. Before their pursuers emerged from around the bend, Dean took Carly’s hand and pulled her into the trees. They ducked down and remained still, watching through the shrubbery as Cole and the others jogged up to the duck pond and stopped to look around. There were a couple of lights but they did nothing to illuminate the thick band of trees encircling the pond.
‘They could be anywhere,’ exclaimed one of the men.
‘Then you’d better get looking,’ growled Ross.
‘How can we see in this? We don’t even have torches.’
Ross grabbed him by the front of the jacket and yanked him towards him. ‘Use the torch on your phone, you fucking idiot, before I throw you in the duck pond.’
‘Oh, that’s nice, that is,’ retorted the man, tearing himself free of Ross’s grip. ‘You promise me a great deal with loads of cash and what have I got so far? Nothing but sodding running and threats. Well, I’ve had enough, I’m off.’
He didn’t get very far as Cole punched him in the face, knocking him back several steps. Ross then grabbed him by the back of the coat and shoved him into the pond. The man shrieked and flailed.
‘Help, I cannae swim.’
‘It’s only shallow, ya dick,’ said Ross. ‘Just put your feet down.’
The man finally found the bottom and stood up, the water barely reaching his waist. ‘I was too hot after all the running but I’m fucking freezing now,’ he exclaimed.
‘Then Ross did you a favour,’ said Cole. ‘And the next time you think of ducking out on us, it won’t be water he throws you into, it’ll be a vat of acid.’
The man kept his head down as he hauled himself out of the water, wanting to avoid the angry glares of the Alexander brothers.
When one of the other men sniggered, Ross rounded on him. ‘What’s so fucking funny?’
‘Cole said ducking and it’s a duck pond,’ he chuckled.
‘Shut up and start looking for them,’ he roared at the man, who nodded and jumped to it, along with his friends, all of them using the torches on their phones to light their way.
The one who’d been pushed into the pond started to frantically dash about to and fro in an attempt to warm himself back up.
‘Even with their phones, they can’t find us if we stay quiet and stay down,’ Dean whispered in Carly’s ear. ‘There’s too much undergrowth.’
She nodded, gently settling herself into a more comfortable position to wait it out. Carly rather enjoyed the spectacle of that bunch of idiots tripping over things and groaning when they stood in dog shite.
Ten minutes of frustrated searching later, Cole exploded. ‘I know you’re here Carly and you can hear me. If you don’t come out right now, we’ll go straight to your flat, drag your da’ out of his bed and kick his fucking head in.’
