“Lebedevs have sent a few choice messages. I think it’s the younger ones having fun at Ash’s expense.” He sighed and took out a cigarette. “I’m going to pay what he owes. I know there’s more to this than what Ash’ has bullshitted. The Lebedevs aren’t stupid; if they thought Marcus was trying to dodge his way out of what he owed they wouldn’t have gone after Ashley.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“But then I want the money back from Marcus.”
“For fuck’s sake.”
Colm shrugged. “One of the sisters. Choose one. They’re not going to come to any harm.”
“Really.” It wasn’t a question. “And when the police get involved?”
“They won’t. We’ll go straight to Lawrence for the money. Once he’s paid up, it’s all done. The one you’re fucking – take her away for a weekend. She doesn’t even need to know.” Colm waved his hand as if he was dismissing a servant.
“Just pay off what Ash owes and leave it.”
“I don’t just give away just short of a million quid and leave it. What does that tell Marcus Lawrence?”
“That he’s fucking lucky to have both his legs.”
“He is. Did you get the information you wanted on Chad Baker?”
I was surprised Colm had remembered. “I did.”
“Have you used it?”
“It’s in process.” He might not have done time for what he did to Jameson, but he was going to do time on behalf of someone else. Having a couple of kilos of coke found in his flat by a copper wasn’t going to do him any favours. He already had a couple of minors for possession; this was going to see him spending some time at her majesty’s pleasure. And mine.
Colm nodded. “Good. One last thing for the family, Tommy. Then we’re done. I promise you.”
I didn’t want to get Jameson involved in this. I didn’t want to get any of them involved in it. “What about Marcus himself. Leave the sisters out of it.”
“Will daddy pay up for his son?”
“You paid up for Ash, and Marcus isn’t as big a fuck up as him.”
Colm didn’t disagree.
“Are you sure Lawrence has the money?”
“That’s what intelligence came up with. They’ve looked at his bank accounts – he’d done some business this week.”
“Colm, why not just leave it? Pay Lebedev, make peace with them. Keep Ash on a tighter leash…”
“And what does that tell Marcus Lawrence? That we’re pussies who’ll just roll over and pay his debts. Nah, we’re not having that.” He stared at me. “You don’t need to get your hands dirty. Just pass on the relevant information and then we’re done.”
“We were done a long time ago.”
“So why are you still here?”
Because he still had that hold over me, that one that shouted family came first, and if I couldn’t be used as his pawn, he’d find other ways to make my life hell.
“Leave it with me.”
“But not for too long, Tommy. This needs tidying. Make your mind up what you’re going to do. And like I said, you don’t need to get your hands dirty, then you can carry on fucking that pussy. Wouldn’t mind a bit of it myself.”
His laugh was dirty and cruel. Every muscle, every fibre in my body tensed. “You don’t go near Jameson.” I’d never heard my voice go that low.
“She’s not your property.”
