I watched Ash blanch, Sharp and Dessy shifting towards the exit.
“We seem to have a problem.” Marvin Lawrence was a small man, one who didn’t have a trainer and probably didn’t bother with a gym. I imagined he ran, maybe long distance. Maybe practicing running from something else. I could understand what Jay’s mum had seen in him, although he looked less vibrant and healthy than he probably had when they started out.
Ash looked at me, totally fucking up what he was meant to say. “Your son owes me some money.”
“So you thought you’d take my partner’s daughter to try and get it back?” Lawrie raised his brows. “She’s not my kid. Why would I do that?” He looked at me and frowned.
One of the security men had come over to Jameson, checking she was okay. She still had hold of my hand, a tight grip that I didn’t want to let go of, even if she did. I had the gun back, hoping I wouldn’t need it, prepared to use it if I did.
“Look, if we can’t sort this out, it won’t end.” Ash’s eyebrow had split badly. I saw the blood in the light that was glistening through the open door, someone’s headlights left on to light up the dingy room.
Lawrie stuffed his hands into his pockets. I felt Jameson draw a little closer to me. She was caught in the middle here, with no idea where her loyalties needed to be.
“Livi said it’s over between you.” Her words cut through the humid heat of the room. “Is this why it’s over?”
Lawrie’s eyes landed on her. “Have you been hurt?”
I wanted to shake him, to tell him that his fucking actions had caused this. His son had fucked up, but then so had Ash. And so had I.
She shook her head. I felt the weight on my shoulders lighten ever so slightly. Her hands were still tied together and I figured now was as good a time as ever to undo them.
I put the gun down, pulling out the pen knife from my pocket, aware of the security guard’s stare on everything I did and not caring.
I cut the tie round her ankles with all the gentleness I was capable of, then her wrists, massaging them straight away, seeing red marks on them that made fury bake hot inside my gut. I remembered how her hands felt on my body, how they’d touched and stroked and written words across my skin that I was only understanding now. I swallowed hard, wanting those hands back, knowing I’d probably lost them.
Realising now how much of a loss this was.
“I asked if this is why things are over with Livi.” She moved her hands away from me, looking more awake now.
Lawrie looked around the room. “I’ll be out of your way and off this island, as will Marcus.”
“So it is over with her?”
“Let’s not discuss this here, Jameson.” His tone was dismissive, then he looked at me. “You’re quiet. What did you have to do with this?”
“Nothing in the end.” It was Ash who spoke. “He’s too pussy whipped. But it isn’t Tommy who’s got beef with you. I ended up getting stuck with your son’s debt.”
I wondered if what he said would change anything for Jameson.
“Because you’re a fucking fool.” Lawrie looked round the room, then back at Ash. “And Daddy paid what you owed.”
“What Marcus owed.” Ash moved forward towards Lawrie, which wasn’t a great move. He was outnumbered; if he made a wrong move, this was only going to end one way.
“You’ve got the money, learn your lesson and don’t be so stupid in future. But we don’t owe you anything. Consider it payment for me leaving Ibiza.” Lawrie started to back away.
Unfortunately, he only backed into Colm, who wasn’t empty handed. My uncle had decided to grace us with his presence and I doubted it was because his son was up to his neck in shit. He’d want the final word here; people like Marvin Lawrence didn’t get to threaten that shadowed throne he held on his island.
I heard Jameson make a noise that sounded like a whimper, a noise that wrenched my chest. This was my world, not hers, and this sort of fear and threat of violence wasn’t one she’d ever seen apart from in a movie that she probably wouldn’t pick.
“You owe me some money.” Colm’s voice sounded like he’d just woken up.
Lawrie’s face paled.
Ash laughed. I ached to use my other fist on his face.
I stood up, keeping a hand to Jameson’s shoulder at first to steady her as I helped her to her feet. “Time to go home, fellas. It’s late. Everyone’s had a long night. Sort the finer details out tomorrow, like who owes who what.” I clicked my gun.
Colm lowered his.
