This is a romantic crime thriller which contains some romantic sex, some non consensual sex, some male on male violence, and a lot of very interesting and interacting characters, with some twists and turns in the story.
As with all my stories there is not always a nice tidy happy ending for everyone -- life is just not like that.
*
Johnny 'the slice' had a dilemma, he now knew where Snake could find Patrick, and he needed to get hold of Snake to tell him where he was and get the reward. But first he had to get to see him, and that wasn't that easy, as the gang boss was not available direct, you had to go through his minions and make a meeting.
Driving over to the club that the man usually could be found at night he walked in, It was early afternoon and staff were getting the place ready for tonight, cleaners sweeping the floor, bar staff preparing the bar and a couple of men drinking coffee at a table near the back office. Walking up to the men Johnny stood nervously, hopping from foot to foot.
One of the men, a bald tough looking geezer looked up and grunted, "What you want creep?"
Clearing his throat Johnny asked to see Snake. "I got something he'll be interested in."
"Come back tonight then. He'll probably be here then."
"He'll want to hear my information now."
"And why would he want that?"
"Cause I know where Curtis is."
The man stood up and moved forward, towering over Johnny. "Where is he you little toss pot."
Stepping back Johnny told him, "I'll tell Snake...contact him and I'll tell Snake to his face."
He could see his reward money disappearing in the distance if he told this thug where Curtis was. The bastard could tell Snake the information and claim the money, cutting him out completely. Stepping forward intimidatingly the man growled, "He's a busy man. You think he has time to meet up with you."
Just as the man was about to grab him the office door opened and the owner of the club stepped out. "What's going on here?"
Johnny almost ran past the big thug up to the manager and told him, "I need to speak to Snake, can you contact him, tell him Johnny 'the slice' has the information he wants on Curtis."
A long silence stretched as the manager of the club gave Johnny the once over, a look of disgust on his face, then with a sigh got out his mobile phone and dialled. After a short conversation he disconnected the call and told Johnny to sit over there, pointing to a corner of the large room. "Snake will be here in half an hour."
*
Cuddled up on the couch, Patrick lay with Rachel's head on his chest, gently stroking her arm. His chin rested on the crown of her head and they lay quietly talking, trying not to mention what was about to happen at four o'clock or what would transpire after the exchange. They were taking this precious time to spend together, both lost in their own thoughts between the murmurings, Rachel scared that something bad was going to happen to him, Patrick wishing she would agree to come to Florida with him.
Earlier Patrick had put the plastic wrapped bags of cocaine in the sports bag that Jerry had brought the supplies inside to the Industrial Unit a few days ago. Taking the towelling robe belt he had tied it to the handle of the bag and then to the metal handle of the window so that it hung outside the building, hidden from view from anyone inside and as the window faced the back of the building, from prying eyes out the front when they arrived.
He was seasoned enough to know that this was the calm before the storm. That even though Jerry knew the Manchurian gang leader and had worked for and trusted him, he didn't, and that with that amount of coke and money, greed and double dealings could flare up.
Bending his head a fraction he kissed the top of Rachel's head and she twisted her head up to look up at him, smiling a small tremulous smile.
"You know I wish I had met you ten years ago, before I met Snake and my life would have taken a different route." he told her.
Shaking her head and laughing she answered, "Don't be soppy you would have been done for child abuse. I would have been fourteen and you still would have done what you have done with your life. It's in your nature Patrick. Remember you told me that first night....I'm a thief....its what I do."
