Chapter Two
WARREN
I spot the car keys on the table as I leave the office. Leoni’s car keys. My jaw tightens. Surely, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to walk out after what I said. Then again, this is Leoni we’re talking about. I sigh, snatch the keys off the table, and shove them into my jacket pocket. I’ll deal with her tomorrow.
Tonight, I’ve got other matters to handle.
The boxing gym is heaving with young lads full of testosterone, grunting and flexing in front of the mirrors. The smell of sweat and cheap deodorant hangs thick in the air.
Alfie greets me with a firm handshake. “What brings you here, boss?”
I take my time answering, letting my gaze drift around the room before fixing him with a hard stare. “Your boys are getting lazy,” I say flatly. His face twitches. “I thought sending Anthonyto check in would be enough, Alfred,” I add, my voice low, deliberate.
He swallows. “Shall we step into my office, Warren?”
I follow him inside. Calling it an office is generous; it’s more of a storage cupboard filled with old gloves, paperwork, and broken gear. The space feels smaller with me in it.
“I know they can get a little–” he starts.
“Greedy?” I cut in. He nods quickly.
“But I told him, I said Mr. Baxter wouldn’t be happy, and none of us want that. He’s just–”
“Stupid?” I finish for him. Another nod. “And we’re talking about Isaac, right?”
He hesitates, just long enough to confirm I’ve hit the mark.
Alfie’s been running the boxing gym since I was a kid. I used to come here after school with my mates and watch my father train. He was a brutal fighter, ruthless, efficient, and it made him enough money on the underground circuit to buy himself respect and a hell of a lot of power.
I followed in his footsteps for most of my youth, mainly because I didn’t know what else to do with all the aggression inside me. These days, I don’t fight competitively anymore, but it’s still there, coiled under my skin. I doubt it’ll ever go away.
Back then, I had no idea Alfie was dealing out of this place. Whatever you wanted, he could get it. As I got older, I started to notice things, like how the kids who trained here never stuck around long, how they always seemed to have money, phones, and a new pair of trainers every few weeks. Turned out, they were runners. Moving product for Alfie, who was moving it for my father.
I was eighteen when I found out the truth, my father was the mastermind behind the whole operation.
What I don’t get is why he keeps Alfie and this gym around now that we’ve made it big in the corporate world. It’s not likewe need the pocket change the gym brings in. And lately, its cash flow has dropped.
If it were up to me, I’d shut the place down. The real money’s in clubs and bars, partygoers and businessmen desperate for the high we provide. It’s pure, it’s clean, and it’s delivered quietly. We’ve got systems now, proper channels, people who know what discretion means.
But Alfie? He still relies on the same hoodrats who’d sell their gran for a quick quid.
Alfie sighs heavily, suddenly looking much older than his sixty-three years. “He’s taking over, Warren and I’ll admit, I’ve lost control over him. He was too keen and wanted too much. Maybe he saw your father’s rise and realised what could be achieved?” says Alfie thoughtfully.
I roll my eyes. “His time is up, Alfie. I’m bored of his name cropping up.” I head for the door. Isaac needs to realise just who he’s messing with.
LEONI
The front door to my apartment opens and closes. My younger brother appears looking tired and stressed. “Lee, tell me you cooked something good for dinner?” he groans, making his way to the kitchen. I glare after him.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to take off your tatty trainers before walking on my fluffy cream carpet,” I say to his back. I follow him and watch as he opens the fridge, groaning louder. Honestly, he’s like a child. “I didn’t cook because I’m going out for drinks with Court and thought I’d eat out.”
“Aww, man. I’m so hungry.”
“Go home and bug Mum. You don’t actually live here!” I remind him.
He settles for a bag of crisps. “Mum’s working late. She told me to get a takeout.”
“Yet you came here?”
