Page 6 of Callous Shot

My heart stopped for a millisecond before I spun around at the sound of the most aggravating voice in the entire world. I hadn’t heard it in a long time, but it haunted my dreams.

No, not my dreams. My nightmares.

LINCOLN

The huge Cotswold stone manor house stood dark and foreboding in front of me, and I adjusted my tie, swallowing at the restrictive pressure as I accidentally tightened it too much. It was necessary to blend in…for now…and I just had to hope that no one discovered the true reason I was here.

“Name,” a bored security guard with a clipboard said when I reached the entrance.

“Lincoln Bellingham, on behalf of Harold Bellingham.”

My father’s name was enough to gain entrance to the exclusive eighteenth-birthday celebrations of the Thorpe twins, Nova and Ryker. Despite it being common knowledge that the Thorpe family were criminals, heading up the notorious Thorpe Syndicate, the leader, Graham Thorpe, preferred to keep the influential members of our community sweet. That included my parents and, consequently, me. In fact, we’d been officially invited, so my presence here was completely legitimate.

“ID.”

I passed my driving licence to the guy, who gave it a cursory glance before handing it back to me. No doubt he recognised me from sight alone. Guests were heavily vetted, and I was sure the security team would have been thoroughly briefed beforehand.

He waved me inside, but I waited until he was busy with the next set of guests before ducking around the side of the house, heading for the back terrace. My plan was to scope out the area and find my target with the least possible amount of interaction.

I couldn’t believe I’d entered enemy territory on my own for the very first time, without any backup. Let alone the fact that I had to pass a note to Daniel fucking Hoyton, as if I were some kind of courier.

Being a courier wasn’t really the issue, though. The issue was the recipient.

Daniel Hoyton, aka Dan, nicknamed “Arson” by his friends. He was tall—probably now around the same height as me after his recent growth spurt, with annoyingly defined muscles, and he stood out in a crowd, thanks to his tousled red hair and his striking, bright blue eyes. Eyes fringed with impossibly dark lashes—a deep brown tipped with burnished gold, a colour I’d never seen on anyone else and hoped to never see again after tonight.

I just needed to find him, deliver the message from my uncle, and then I could get out of here.

Luck—good or bad, depending on one’s viewpoint—was on my side. As I rounded the corner of the outdoor terrace, I found the very person I was here to unwillingly seek out. “Fancy seeing you here,” I drawled, and Daniel spun to face me, yanking his mask off his head. He bared his teeth in a snarl.

“What the hell are you doing here? Fucking leave now before I make you leave.”

My brows lifted as my mouth curved into a mocking smirk. “Ah. You’re just as much of a dickhead as I remember.” His blue eyes darkened with anger, and my smirk widened into a grin.

“Takes one to know one, wanker,” he spat. “And what the hell is all this shit about you joining Whelford’s ice hockey team? You play lacrosse.”

“You keeping tabs on me, Hoyton? What can I say? My stick-handling skills are unparalleled.”

“Fuck off. Now,” he warned. “Before I break your fucking fingers so you can’t even pick up a stick.”

He really needed to work on his threats. Was that supposed to scare me? “Looking forward to using our rink for training?” I said, completely ignoring his words.

“You absolute—” A distant shout came from my right, cutting off his tirade, and he acted instantly, grabbing my arm and dragging me around the corner of the manor into the shadows, out of sight of the brightly lit courtyard. “Seriously, what the fuck are you doing here? There’s a time and a place to mess with me, and this is not it. Do you know how many people here want your head?”

My false humour died away, and I growled under my breath. He wasn’t wrong. Yes, we’d been invited by the Thorpes, but I knew from my uncle’s intel that Daniel’s uncle, mother, and cousin were all in attendance. “I know. I’m not here by fucking choice, idiot. I came to deliver a message from my uncle. Make sure your uncle gets it.” Shoving a folded piece of paper at his chest, I stepped back, melting into the shadows.

The rough stone was cool at my back as I took deep, deliberate breaths, trying to slow my heart rate. Eventually, it was back under control, and I became aware of the noise of the party spilling from the doors and windows. I needed to leave. I’d done what I came to do. I had no idea what had been on that piece of paper and no interest in finding out. It was destined for the head of the Hoyton Firm, which meant it was dangerous.

Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I sent a text to my uncle.

Me:

In enemy territory. I delivered the message. Can you get me?

Mike:

On my way. Be there in ten.

I exhaled an unsteady breath. Ten minutes was forever when I was right in the middle of enemy territory, hanging around Thorpe Manor as if I were one of the underworld’s sycophants.