The Cunning

20

Jase couldn't stop thinking about Madison's reaction to their conversation as he drove to The Leather Boot. Or lack of. He couldn't tell what Madison was thinking or feeling and it unnerved him because this was a girl he wholeheartedly believed could be stunningly conniving.

He hadn't said anything that mattered but he had laid plenty on the table for her to pick apart, yet she'd barely seemed interested. She didn't ask who had paid them to bring her in, how he'd found out who she was or how they knew her address. All questions he'd expected her to ask, questions she had wanted the answers to. He wanted to fake console her - a fast track to building a bond to tighten her leash - and she had asked nothing. Her silence made him feel as though he'd said too much in the little he had said. She was getting under his skin.

Shaking the thought from his head, he remembered the bigger picture. The opportunity to flirt with her last night had passed but the conditions wouldn't be difficult to recreate. How she was looking at his arms hadn't gone amiss, he could rest assured there was at least a small form of mutual attraction. This was something he could work with.

He pulled into the small gravel car park next to The Leather Boot. Jase had only brought Sam with him. He didn't need an army to have a conversation.

"Are you carrying?" Sam asked.

Jase nodded. "Blade and a Glock. Did you bring yours?" Sam shook his head. Jase lit a cigarette, winding his window down halfway as he replied. "There's a sawn-off under the boot cover."

"Are you going to give him time to consider your offer?" Sam asked.

"I don't expect to get an answer out of him tonight. I'll let him know the door is open, give him a vague idea of who he's dealing with and leave. The only reason you're here is in case he decides to kick up a fuss." Jase wouldn't go solo when he didn't know enough about who he was dealing with. All he knew about McKinney was that his brother had been brutally attacked in prison a few years ago. That's all Benny said he knew, anyway.

Jase flicked his cigarette butt and got out of the car. Sam followed, taking the shotgun from the boot, and sliding it through the loop he had sewn into his jacket to conceal the weapon.

The pub was practically empty except for the six men in the corner of the bar. They were laughing, and relaxed, a few of them were even smoking. That was an arrogance that Jase took into account, the thought that they were above the law in such an open manner. Only idiots walked around drawing attention to themselves so boldly whilst involved in their type of business. Getting a caution for being a public nuisance was embarrassing. Jase knew proposing a business offer to Mitch was going to prove a waste of time.

The guy in the middle, around Jase's age, took a long drag on his cigarette, his eyes settling on Jase as the chatter died down. A layer of fog floated at eye level across the room. The place smelled a lot like Jase's childhood home.

"McKinney?" Jase asked, assuming the self-assured one staring him down figured himself a leader. He kept his hands out of his pockets, letting the men know he came in peace. McKinney's friends were unsure. They'd heard things about Jase.

"Who's asking?" the middle one replied, tilting his head up and peering down his nose at Jase with suspicion. He took another lungful of his cigarette.

Jase humoured him, knowing Mitch knew full well who he was. "Jase Davies."

Mitch looked grubby and weathered, his rodent face pitted with acne scars. He didn't look as Jase had expected. Usually, when people try to build a reputation and make an impression, they make an effort with their appearance. Mitch looked like one of the lynx-soaked teenagers Benny had run his drugs around. Not someone Jase would even want working with, or even for, them.

"I've heard a bit about you, Jase," Mitch said, outstretching the cigarette to tap ash by Jase's feet. "You've got quite the rep around here."

"I tend not to take too much notice about what others have to say," Jase replied coolly.

"Even when they're saying you've gone soft?"

Jase was careful not to react. He was being sized up, and he didn't appreciate it. Who did this guy think he was? "People like to talk. I wouldn't take everything you hear as gospel if you want to get anywhere in this business."

"This business!" Mitch flashed a toothy grin and waved his cigarette at Jase, "I guess that's what you're here about?"

Jase smiled half-heartedly. "At least I know you're not as dumb as you look." Mitch didn't take too kindly to being mocked in front of his thugs. The smile was gone. Jase continued. "You're pissing off the wrong people, McKinney."

"Is that so?" Mitch asked, taking a large mouthful of his beer.

"Yes, it is," Jase replied calmly. "If you're going to commit crimes in his city, then you need to file your taxes, catch my drift?" Ramon would turn a blind eye to anything that fattened his pockets.

Mitch shrugged, "Don't believe everything you hear as gospel," he mimicked.

Jase had enough on his plate dancing around Madison without playing games with Mitch as well. "You're stepping on toes you don't want to step on. I'm here to offer you a deal. Any girls you get you hand over to us, and you get a cut from the profits."

Mitch pursed his lips as he mulled over Jase's words. It didn't take long for him to refuse.

"Afraid I can't do that, mate. I'm making too much money to be satisfied under someone's thumb, so, thank you, but no thank you."

Jase rolled his shoulders, having predicted this outcome.

"Sleep on it. If you change your mind, I'm sure you know how to find us." With that, he headed for the door, Sam in tow.

"What now?" Sam asked as he lowered himself into the passenger seat.

"We wait, let him consider his options. When we get bored of waiting, we'll set something he likes on fire," Jase replied, starting the car.