The Cunning

30

Jase couldn't stop thinking about Madison's reaction to their conversation. Or non-reaction. He hadn't said anything that mattered but he had laid plenty on the table that he expected Madison's inquisitive side to pick apart yet she'd barely even seemed interested. She didn't ask who had paid them to bring her in, how he'd found out she was Madison or how they knew her address. All questions he'd expected her to ask so he could fake console her after revealing the answers. A fast track to building a bond that would keep her on a tighter 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 that 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 told Adam that Sam would be the only one joining him. He didn't need an army to have a conversation and he didn't want Mitch getting ahead of himself thinking Jase needed back up just to meet him.

"Are you carrying?" Sam asked. Jase nodded.

"Switch and a handgun, 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." He ran his thumb over his stubble, thinking about what to say to McKinney.

"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 opportunity is there, give him a vague idea who he's dealing with and then leave. The only reason you're here is in case he does decide to kick up a fuss." It wasn't unheard of; unknown faces tried to take on the world with prison rules. You find the biggest fucker in the business, which to McKinney was currently Jase and Benny, and made them get on their knees. It was rare that it ever got them very far, but it was a common enough occurrence that Jase wouldn't take the chance. He wouldn't go in solo when he didn't know enough about who he was dealing with.

Jase flicked his cigarette butt and got out of the car. Sam followed suit, taking the sawn-off from the boot, sliding it through the loop he had sewn into his jacket to conceal the weapon. The aim wasn't to go in guns blazing, people never responded well to that.

They were just there to talk.

The pub was practically empty except for the six men in the corner of the bar. They were laughing, 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 brazenly whilst involving themselves in their business. Getting a caution for being a public nuisance was embarrassing. From this alone, 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 as his eyes settled on the unfamiliar faces. Smoke rested in the middle of the room creating an eye level fog.

"McKinney?" Jase asked, looking at the man in the centre, assuming the self assured blonde guy figured himself a leader. Jase made sure to exude enough confidence of his own to show them he wasn't intimidated, but kept a relaxed demeanour, hands in pockets, so as not to come across as a direct threat. The body language was read unsurely by the men he was addressing. They had all heard of Jase, their community knew him well.

"Who's asking?" the middle one replied, tilting his head up slightly and peering at Jase down his nose with suspicion. He took another lungful of his cigarette. The flicker of recognition in his eyes told Jase that Mitch already knew who was asking but he humoured his ego with an introduction.

"Jase Davies." Mitch had dirty yellowish hair and light blue eyes, but he didn't look as Jase had expected. Usually, when people were trying to build a reputation, they made sure they dressed the part, but this guy looked like one of their runners in a full tracksuit. 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. Jase ignored the blatant disrespect, sticking to his guns about not wanting to cause a scene. "You've got quite the rep around here."

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

"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 the fuck 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." There was an underlying warning within his words, and it seemed to amuse Mitch.

"This business! I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that's what you're here about?" he said with a toothy grin. Jase smiled half heartedly.

"At least I know you're not as dumb as you look then," he replied. Mitch didn't take too kindly to being mocked in front of his thugs. Sensitive ego and fragile pride, another reason Jase didn't want to get involved with him. Mitch's smile was wiped off his face. Jase continued. "Word is you've been picking up and shipping off girls directly with international contacts rather than going through Ramon."

Mitch shrugged, "Don't believe everything you hear as gospel," he mimicked. A menacing glint sparked inside Jase. It was always more interesting when the small timers wanted to be difficult. But he 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, McKinney. I'm here to offer you a deal. Any girls you get, they get given to Ramon, and you get a cut. That's how things work around here." Mitch pursed his lips, mulling over Jase's words. It was a demand disguised as an offer. He didn't like it. He took a mouthful of his beer, wiping the foam with the back of his hand and shaking his head.

"Afraid I can't do that, mate. I'm making too much money by myself to be satisfied being under someone's thumb, so, thank you, but no thank you." Jase rolled his shoulders, having predicted the rejection.

"Sleep on it. Give it some thought when you're sober. 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, getting in the passenger side.

"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.

*

Sounds like it's all gonna kick off boys. What do you think of Mitch, first impressions? Is he worse than Jase? Or is he a worthy opponent that could lead to Madison's freedom?