Page 100 of Poisoned Pawn
I leave Maddox to explain because I don’t have the capacity for filling in the blanks right now. Pacing is my limit.
“Here, you look like you could use this.”
I spin around to see Parker holding out a glass and arch a brow.
“Exceptional circumstances are valid reasons for drinking whiskey at eleven in the morning,” she tells me with a tilt of her head and extending the glass further toward me.
I take it and down it in one before slamming the empty glass down on the table. “Thanks,” I grumble.
“You ever heard the name Kingsman?” Aidan asks grabbing my attention.
“American, right?” Aidan nods. “Yeah, I heard the name. Some fucking wealthy magnate in the states.”
Aidan nods again, folding his arms and leaning back against the table. “Seems his daughter has been building connections to the Gambino family. Daddy is looking to branch out from the states, and he’s been busy checking out the sale of ghost guns.”
“You think he’s the buyer?” Maddox asks.
“No, not the main buyer. I just think he’s someone we need to keep our eye on. No, your main buyer is someone called Gage Corbin.”
“Never heard of the guy. Who the fuck is he?”
“From what I’ve heard, and I’m surprised you haven’t heard his name before, he’s been buying up businesses in Pavel’s territory.”
“Sounds dodgy as fuck to me,” Maddox states, dropping down onto the sofa.
“Oh, he is, Maddox. Because not only does Gage like to dabble in property, but he also moonlights as a therapist at one particular medical facility.” His tone is calm and casual like he’s passing comment on the fucking weather.
My head snaps up, locking on Aidan, who simply raises his brows knowingly.
“Are you sure?” I grit out, my body tense and pulse thundering beneath my skin.
Aidan’s jaw ticks as he gives me a brief nod. “He’s been working there for the last year or so. Not too long after Lennox took on a couple of rogue Shadows from the sounds of it. Seems to be a bit of a coincidence, not that I believe that for one fucking second.”
There’s a pounding in my ears as adrenaline pumps through my veins, making me feel on edge, and my jaw aches from clenching my teeth so tight.
“How the fuck do you know this?” I say slow and controlled while inside I fight with the need to smash the fuck out of something or someone. To see their blood run like a fucking river in payment, revenge, retribution. That son of a fucking bitch has been near Erica. All this fucking time.
“Last time I met with Aldo he mentioned a guy called Gage who had been pushing for a meet with Angelo over a possible joint venture. I didn’t think anything of it a first, but after the shooting there and you mentioning ghost guns, something I know Angelo would usually be interested in, I decided to pay Aldo a visit and find out what he knows. Aldo didn’t know anything more than that Gage had a supply of guns and he wanted to do business with Angelo.”
“But everyone knows you have a deal with the mafia on gun running from the states to here, so why the fuck would he try to muscle in on a deal with the Gambino family unless—”
“Unless he plans to take them out along with Pavel and put himself and the 51s at the top of the fucking chain in Manchester,” I cut in, finishing Maddox’s train of thought. “The Gambino family are the next biggest fish in this city after Pavel and the 51s, and with them trying to align themselves with Aidan and the five families, it’s the perfect move to make them top fucking dog.”
Lights flash through the front arch window and I’m out the door in a second. Frankie parks the ambulance and he and Zak jump out of the front as the back doors open revealing Roxanne and Star. Every muscle in my body relaxes as I see she’s okay.
“Where’s Erica? Is she safe?” I demand of them all as I wrap Star up in a hug.
“She’s okay, Carter,” Star whispers, pulling back to look at me. “She’s pissed, but she’s okay.”
“Let’s get inside. We have some shit to talk about,” Roxanne says, heading for the door. I watch as everyone goes inside, then turn back to Star, lifting her as I slam my mouth down on hers. My thoughts from the last hour turn to dust as she settles something inside me.
“I was so fucking worried about you,” she pants, resting her forehead on mine. “Roxy wouldn’t tell me anything straight away because she didn’t want to worry Erica any more than she already was. It’s not hard to see she’s your sister though.”
Her back meets the side of the ambulance as I grind my hips against her. I kiss her again not wanting to hear my sister’s name from her mouth while my dick is hard as fucking stone and begging to sink inside her.
“Carter,” she whispers against my mouth. “He’s—”
“Don’t! I know.” Anger flares inside me, but I shove it aside needing a minute to just be. “I just need a minute. You and me, Star. Just need to fucking feel you. Need you to ground me before I lose my fucking head.” She gives me a minute and more to take what I need. Letting me draw from her, feeling her heat against my aching cock and settling the thunder that rages inside me.