Colin opens his mouth, but I hold up a hand.
“Before you speak,” I say, “remember my rule. I don’t like lies.”
He swallows. “That little shit came to see you, didn’t he?” he mutters.
“If you mean Jason—loyalJason—then yes, he paid me a visit.” I glance at the television. “We tried calling first, but apparently you were too busy.”
His jaw tightens.
“So, I’m going to ask you again.” I take a slow step forward. “What kind of shitshow are you running here?”
“Malone came to me,” Colin says, his tone defensive already. “I didn’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice.” I nod towards Dale. “Jason made the right one today. Now, he’s halfway to a new life with his girl and a pocket full of my money. Tell me, Colin, how did you get this far making such poor decisions?”
Dale answers for him. “He took over after Lenny. Last-minute move. Colin was next in line.”
I nod once. “I liked Lenny.” Pity he died the way he did. He was useful. Loyal too.
Colin throws his hands out. “Look, Malone pays well for the girls. All I do is get them the gear, and when they’re in deep, I point them his way.”
“Malone isn’t part of this organisation,” Dale says flatly.
“He used to be,” Colin shoots back. “I didn’t see the harm.”
I shrug out of my jacket and fold it neatly over the back of a chair.
“Your business stays inside the organisation,” I tell him. “That rule was very clear.”
“Why the fuck do you even care?” he snaps. “I get the drug money from them, they don’t get freebies, and once Malone puts them on the streets, they fund their own habit. Everybody wins.”
“You’re right,” I say, pulling out my hunting knife.
Colin goes still.
The blade is old, worn smooth in places from years in my hand. I’ve had it since I was ten. I trust it more than most people.
“I don’t care about the girls,” I tell him. “I care that you ignored the rules. That makes you unstable, and unstable men become dangerous.”
“I’m loyal,” he says quickly. “I can give you a cut.”
His eyes flick to the cupboard beside him.
I nod once at Dale, who crosses the room and yanks it open. Inside are neat stacks of cash. He gives a low whistle and starts shoving them into a bag.
“It’s not about the money,” I say.
Dale groans. “Ah, Christ. Story time.”
I ignore him. “When an apple starts to rot,” I say, smiling faintly, “if you don’t cut the bad part away, it just spreads to the rest.” Colin’s breathing starts to quicken. “That’s how I run this organisation,” I continue. “I find the rot, and I remove it before it spreads.”
Something ugly flashes across his face. “Malone said you hate him because he fucked Anika,” he spits. “What kind of businessman goes to war over a woman? She’s just—”
I move before he finishes. My hand clamps around his face, and I slam him back. “Don’t talk about Anika,” I growl.
The knife skims his cheek, just enough to make the point. A thin line of blood rises. His eyes widen. “You wouldn’t dare say her name like that if she was still standing beside me,” I say softly.
He should stop there but he doesn’t. “She’s not much use to you now.”
