Back in the Game

‘But now he’s in some sort of trouble?’ Grace asked.

‘From what I could gather, someone is sabotaging his shipments and trying to muscle him out of the game altogether. He was supplying to some people in Manchester – I assume some of Sol’s men – but that deal went south when the police raided a warehouse he was using. It seems the plod had a tip-off, but thankfully there was nothing to link the drugs to Jake or any of his firm. But instead of keeping his head down, Jake seems to be doing the opposite. He’s declared war on anyone who wants to cross him. And he’s not shy about sending a message either,’ Ivan sucked air through his teeth and shook his head disapprovingly. ‘I think he takes after his father in that respect.’

‘The stupid little bastard,’ Grace snapped. ‘After everything I did to keep him away from that life.’

‘What will you do now?’ Ivan asked.

‘I’m not sure yet. But I can’t go in there all guns blazing or he’ll just shut me out. As much as I love him, he’s developed an ego like his father too. He won’t admit he’s in any trouble, and even if he did, he wouldn’t want his mum stepping in to help him out.’

It seems you’re in a pickle then,’ Ivan said as he sat back in his chair.

‘A pickle? I’m in the eye of a fucking shitstorm, Ivan.’

Grace closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of Ivan’s leather sofa. She was so bloody tired. Her head was pounding and her limbs ached. She’d been back in Liverpool for less than five hours and already she felt like she was being sucked back into the darkness she’d tried so hard to escape. And if that wasn’t enough to contend with, she had to walk around wondering when her cover would be blown and her dirty laundry would be out in the open for all the world to see.

She knew it was only a matter of time.

Chapter 4

Liam McGuinness crossed the tarmac and ducked behind a shipping container, sticking to the shadows in case one of the security cameras picked him up. If they did, they’d see a man of average build wearing a dark hoodie, which could fit the description of half the people in Liverpool. He waited in the darkness until he saw the unmistakeable form of Nudge Richards walking out of the security office towards him.

‘You been waiting long?’ Nudge asked as he approached.

Liam shook his head. ‘Only a few minutes.’

‘Had to square things with my buddies in there first,’ Nudge said. ‘They’ll leave us in peace.’

‘Great,’ Liam said.

‘So what have you got for me?’ Nudge asked, indicating the container Liam was standing in front of.

‘Fifty kilos of coke. Six Baikals and two machine guns.’

Nudge gave a low whistle. ‘Heavy-duty stuff. That’s not so easy to shift, lad. If you give me some time, I can get you top whack for them, otherwise you’ll have to take what I can find. And my cut will be the same, regardless of how much you get.’

‘I understand that. But like I said, I need them gone fast.’

‘Which nutter did you nick ’em off then?’ Nudge said with a grin.

‘None of your fucking business,’ Liam growled. ‘Not backing out, are you?’

Nudge shook his head and laughed. ‘Nope. Let’s get this moved before your boss finds out, eh?’

Liam frowned. Did Nudge know more than he was letting on? ‘I can count on you keeping your mouth shut, can’t I, Nudge?’

Nudge, whose demeanour up until that point had been friendly, squared up to Liam. Having almost a foot on him, Nudge had to bend his head to bring his face close to the younger man’s. ‘Don’t you fucking question my integrity, you little shit,’ Nudge spat. ‘I’ve been doing this job longer than you’ve been alive, and if I was a betting man, which I am, I’d put my life’s earnings on the fact I’ll still be doing it when you’re six feet under.’

Liam nodded and took a step back. ‘Just making sure we’re on the same page.’

Satisfied with his response, Nudge backed off. ‘Let’s get this loaded into my van then,’ he said.

‘Anything you say,’ Liam replied, now desperate to get out of the dockyard and away from the stolen merchandise. He was going to end up selling it for a fraction of its worth, he knew that, but it wasn’t about the money; it was about his boss finally doing something about Jake fucking Conlon. Liam just wanted the stuff gone as quickly as possible, before his boss got even the slightest sniff of what had really happened to his lost shipment. Nudge Richards was the best fence in Liverpool. He could get anything for anyone, and get rid of anything too. Because of that, he was untouchable. There were few people who hadn’t had cause to use Nudge’s services at one time or another. Not that Nudge would admit that. He was the embodiment of discretion, and that was why he was so bloody good at his job.

***

Nudge Richards drove his old transit van through the quiet streets of Liverpool with his newly acquired stash safely tucked away in the false bottom in the back, should he be stopped for any reason. He had to get rid of it as soon as. That shit was so hot it might burn a hole through the floor if he didn’t move it soon. He knew Liam had nicked it off his own boss, but he had no idea why. It wasn’t like he was going to make a life-changing sum of money from it. Nudge had made it clear that moving merchandise like that in a matter of days limited his buying pool and he’d have to sell it at rock-bottom prices. But Nudge didn’t care. He didn’t ask questions. What was it to him if these gangsters insisted on ripping each other off? What he did know was that Liam’s boss was a vicious fucker, and if he ever found out, the lad would wish he’d never been born.

Nudge shook his head. He sometimes wondered why he still did this shit. He was getting on for sixty. He should be thinking about retiring. If only he could stop gambling his money away at the bookies, or paying for women, he might have built himself a little nest egg. Instead he was facing a few more years being the go-between of every gangster in Merseyside, and sometimes beyond. He had no affiliation or loyalty to any of them. It was his number one rule and one which had kept him alive and in business for this long. Well, all except for Grace Sumner – but she was different. She wasn’t like those narcissistic egomaniacs, running around waving their dicks at each other to see whose was the biggest. She was a businesswoman, pure and simple. She was a stunner too. Besides, he owed Grace. Years earlier she had saved him from losing absolutely everything and he had never forgotten it.

As he turned the corner into his scrapyard, Nudge was already lining up potential buyers in his head. He had some contacts in Cheshire who would bite his hand off for some cheap, clean guns, and there was a bloke in Fazakerley trying to make a name for himself who’d take the coke and wouldn’t care where it came from. He’d have it all moved within two days and earn a decent wedge in the process.

Chapter 5

Pushing open the double glass doors of The Blue Rooms, Grace suppressed a shudder. The last time she’d been in this place had been to see her ex-husband, Nathan. It had changed a lot since then. Jake had spruced the place up, with new tiled floors and a professional paint job. Taking advantage of the regeneration of the Dock Road area, The Blue Rooms was no longer a seedy lap-dancing club but an up-and-coming nightclub which booked some of the best DJs in the country. Despite all that, the place still felt the same in so many ways. The smell. The neon lighting. The way Grace’s skin prickled as soon as she walked through the doors.

Grace’s heels clicked along the tiled floor as she made her way through to the manager’s office – now Jake’s office. She wondered if he had any idea of the things that had happened in there. The great Tommy McNulty had been murdered in that very room. She shivered at the thought of her last few visits there, when Nathan had pawed at her clothes and she’d had to allow him to touch her, to kiss her. She shook her head in annoyance. Nathan was gone. He’d been dead for eighteen months. Six feet under with a hole in his chest. When would she stop allowing him to have a hold over her?

The office door was open and Grace could see Jake as she approached, talking to someone on the phone. No doubt one of his employees, judging by the tone of his voice.

‘Just fucking sort it, Vinnie,’ he snapped before ending the call.

God, he looked so much like his father it made her stomach churn.

‘Mum,’ he said as he looked up, unable to hide the shock on his face. Then, remembering his manners, he stood up and walked towards her, pulling her into a warm hug. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I missed you. Thought I’d pay you a visit. I’m getting bored in that big old house in the middle of nowhere.’

‘Really? I thought you loved that place?’ He raised an eyebrow at her.

‘I do. But it can get a bit boring when the only company you have is an eight-month-old baby whose solitary word is bloody Dada.’ She laughed.

Stepping back, Jake eyed her suspiciously. ‘Why the sudden visit though? I only spoke to you yesterday and you never mentioned you were coming.’

‘It was a last-minute decision. I wanted to surprise you. Now, aren’t you going to offer your old mum a drink?’

Jake laughed. ‘Sorry, Mum. Remy do you?’ he asked as he took the bottle from the cabinet near his desk.

Grace watched him pour them both a generous measure of brandy. At least he didn’t drink whisky like his father. Just the smell of that still made her nauseous.

‘So are you down for a few days, Mum? And where’s Belle? I can’t wait to see her. Do you need me to get Siobhan to sort out the spare room for you both?’

Grace sat in the chair opposite Jake’s desk, thankful that he’d changed the furniture in here too, and sipped her drink. Her boy was a bit wet behind the ears but he wasn’t stupid; she had to think of a convincing reason for being there. ‘I’ll be staying at the house. I’m planning on sticking around for a few months,’ she said casually. ‘I’m thinking of getting back into the restaurant business so I’m looking for the right premises. Ivan’s going to help me. You remember him, don’t you?’

‘Yeah, but I thought you were done with the restaurants too?’ he said as he sat down, unbuttoning his jacket as he did so, another habit he’d inherited from his father.

‘I thought I was, but like I said, I was getting bored,’ she lied. ‘I need something to keep me busy, Jake. I always enjoyed the planning and the bustle of setting up a business. So, I’m hoping to get one up and running, and then I’ll go back to my quiet little life in Harewood. Until I get restless again, anyway.’

‘What about the horses and chickens?’

‘Those two girls from the village, Lol and Beth, are going to look after them for me.’

Jake rolled his eyes. Lol and Beth were two sixteen-year-old girls who loved horses and were always happy to help Grace mucking out her stables in exchange for some riding time. However, whenever Jake visited, they found as many excuses as possible to call at the house. Then they spent most of their time following him around, giggling and bombarding him with questions. Jake’s girlfriend, Siobhan, found it all amusing, but it annoyed Jake no end.

‘Oh, right,’ he said as he continued to eye her suspiciously.

She wondered if he believed her. It was a plausible lie. At least she thought so. Why wouldn’t someone like Grace, who had always been in the thick of it, not get fed up living in the arse end of nowhere? But now came the more difficult part. Convincing him that he needed her in his club. ‘But that won’t keep me too busy, so I was hoping you might have a use here for me?’ She smiled at him.

‘Me? Why?’ Jake snapped, and then, remembering who he was talking to, said more softly, ‘Why would you want to work here, Mum? You hate the place.’

She shook her head. ‘I used to hate the place, when it was your father’s. But now that it’s yours, well, I’d love to help you make a success of it. I did run a pub for twenty years, in case you’ve forgotten about that?’

‘I know. It’s just … I’m not sure what you’d do, to be honest.’

‘Well, how about the books? Knowing you, they’re probably your least favourite job, and I bet they’re nowhere near up to date,’ she said.

The way Jake averted her gaze and fiddled with his collar confirmed her suspicions. ‘I know you’re busy with other stuff,’ she said pointedly. ‘Let me sort out the books and some of the admin in this place for you. Leave you more time to focus on your other, more pressing, business?’

‘I don’t know, Mum.’

‘Look, Jake. Have I taught you nothing? I know you’ve taken on more of your dad’s businesses than just this club. If you’re involved in anything like he was, like I was, then one of the most important things you need to do is to keep your legitimate front appearing legitimate. Even your dad knew that. He kept dodgy books, but he kept books.’

Jake blinked at her. He acted the big tough guy, but in a lot of ways he was still a little boy learning the ropes, and there was no doubt in her mind that he knew it too.

‘Okay, Mum,’ he sighed. ‘But just the books.’

‘Just the books,’ she agreed.

‘And maybe the staff rotas?’ he added. ‘The bar manager, Martin, has been doing them, but he’s causing murder by giving his mates the best shifts.’

‘Anything I can do to help, son.’ She smiled.

Before long, she’d know exactly what he was up to.

Chapter 6

Grace walked into The Blue Rooms for her first day of work. After almost eighteen months of wearing maternity clothes or her go-to mum uniform of jeans and a T-shirt, it had felt strange putting on smart clothes again. Smoothing her skirt over her hips she walked through the club and into the manager’s office at the back, leaving her handbag and coat on Jake’s chair when she saw he wasn’t in.

It didn’t take long for Grace to get back into the swing of things. She’d run her own pub for over twenty years and it was second nature to her. She was going through the previous week’s stock order when Jake came bursting through the door.

‘Mum?’ he said. ‘What are you doing here?’

Grace frowned at him. ‘I’m working here. We discussed it yesterday.’

‘Oh yeah, right. I just didn’t realise you’d be here today – and in my office.’

Grace looked at him. She hadn’t even considered that this was his office and she really had no right being in there without him. ‘I assumed it would be okay. There isn’t really anywhere else for me to work.’

He shook his head and stared at her. ‘But you can’t be in here. This is my office.’

Grace stared at him in surprise as she waited for the sting of his response to lessen. Suddenly she realised that she was working for her son. It hadn’t crossed her mind until now that he was technically her boss, and she wasn’t used to having to answer to anyone – not anymore. Now here was her son, the person she had taught to read, how to use a bloody spoon, telling her that she wasn’t welcome in his space. He was treating her like a spare part – or, worse, a nuisance. It saddened and infuriated her at the same time. If only he knew the real reason she was there. With that in mind she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll find myself somewhere else.’ She forced a smile as she picked up her handbag. She supposed she couldn’t blame him. This was his place, not hers. It couldn’t be easy for him allowing her into his domain, not given who she was – who she had been.

Grace hadn’t considered that it wouldn’t be easy for her either. Coming back to Liverpool and not knowing where she fitted in the new order of things. She had been on top for so long, it felt like the place she most belonged.

‘I’ll catch up with you later, Mum,’ Jake said as she walked out of his office.

‘Yeah, okay,’ she said, as she wondered where on earth in this club she could find somewhere she could call her own.

Grace felt the tension building in her shoulders and creeping up her neck as she walked down the tiled hallway. No doubt Jake was sitting in his office feeling as annoyed as she was. He was probably contemplating his empire, with no idea of the trouble he was actually in. With no clue that she had been drafted back in to save his skin. It irritated her that he thought he was helping her out by giving her something to keep her busy. If she wasn’t so worried about him, it would be bloody infuriating.

But, as she rubbed her neck with her free hand, she reminded herself that he was her son, and just like she always had, she would do anything for him – even if it meant stepping back into a world she’d tried so hard to leave behind.

Chapter 7

Grace placed the ledger back in the safe. With Jake’s agreement, she’d turned one of the old unused rooms into an office for herself. It had been used for a similar purpose in an old life and although it had no windows, she’d brightened it up with a good clean and some antique furniture from an old acquaintance of hers.

With Ivan’s help, it had taken her almost a week to put Jake’s accounts in order. They’d been in such a state she’d hardly been able to make sense of them and it seemed he’d barely touched them since he’d taken over the running of the place a year earlier. Last year’s tax return had been filed, but that was about the extent of the accounts upkeep.

Of course, she’d been preoccupied with her real reason for being there – to find out just how much trouble her son was in, who was trying to take over his business, and, more importantly, how she could fix it – all without Jake’s knowledge, if she could help it. Getting information about her son’s extracurricular activities was proving a much simpler task.

It was quite clear that Bobby White was the man trying to take over Jake’s business. He was the obvious candidate seeing as he was the one who was in direct competition with him. Grace didn’t know Bobby; in fact, nobody seemed to know very much about him at all. Ivan had mentioned he was a newcomer and Grace was sure she’d find out who he was before the week was out. She’d spoken to all of Jake’s employees at The Blue Rooms, all under the pretence that she was interviewing them about their shift patterns and preferences, in preparation for taking over the staff rotas. She was good at getting information from people without them even realising. It was laughable how much people trusted her simply because she was a woman. Despite being brunette, she knew how to act like the proverbial dumb blonde when required, and when she did, most men were happy to give her the benefit of their wisdom and expertise.

Although she was Grace Sumner, who’d once run one of the biggest drug operations this side of the Mersey, one of them had even explained the various drugs terminology to her. She’d sat, nodding at him and pretending to be enthralled by his dazzling insight, while desperately trying to keep a straight face.

In a few days, Grace had learned that few people employed at The Blue Rooms were loyal to Jake, and very soon she’d be giving most of them their marching orders. A few choice words in their ears about Jake not knowing what he was doing had most of them willing to throw their boss under the bus for the promise of more or better shifts.

What was clear was that Jake had no idea how to run a business – at least not a legitimate business. It seemed he was faring better, if only slightly, in his criminal activities – but due to sheer brute force, stubbornness, and stupidity rather than anything else. He had the brass neck to front anyone, and he wasn’t shy of using extreme violence when the occasion called for it. All of which was earning him a reputation to rival his father’s back in the day. No doubt the ghost of Nathan had played a part too, as well as the fact that many of Nathan’s former minions were now happy to serve Jake instead.

If the stories Grace had heard were to be believed, Nathan Conlon’s son was turning out to be as ruthless as he was. It made her feel sick to think that everything she’d done to keep her son away from this life had been for nothing. He was like his father in so many ways, it was alarming.

Grace sighed as she sat down in the chair in her office. As much as Jake was like Nathan, he was like her too. She had to hold onto that. Now, if only he could learn to use his brain along with his muscle, she had no doubt that he’d be running Liverpool before long. It was her worst fear, but now she knew it was a path she’d never be able to deter him from. It was in his blood.

So, until then, while he was still learning the ropes, she would have to lend a helping hand – and try to make sure he didn’t get himself killed.

Chapter 8

John Brennan’s large frame almost filled the doorway of Grace’s office. She hadn’t seen him since before Nathan’s murder but he hadn’t changed a bit. Unsure of the reception she’d get from him, she had been anxious about inviting him in. But as soon as she saw his face, she knew she’d made the right decision. John had one of those smiles that was infectious. Nathan had always called him the Smiling Assassin and Grace had to admit it suited him. John might look like a gentle giant, but he was a vicious bastard when he needed to be. He was one of the few people who’d worked for Nathan who hadn’t continued working for Jake too. Grace had heard he was doing well on his own. Nothing too major, dodgy fags and booze mostly, along with a bit of weed, but he was still a man with a fearsome reputation and few would be stupid enough to try and cross him.

‘Hiya, Grace,’ he said, beaming, as he walked into the room. ‘Long time no see.’

‘Hi, John.’ She returned his smile as she stood up to be hugged. But a hug from John felt like a hug from a grizzly and she was eager to escape. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ she asked him.

‘I wouldn’t say no,’ he replied as he released her.

Grace poured him a glass of her best brandy and sat on the desk beside him.

‘So what brings you back to these parts?’ John asked as he sipped his drink.

‘Jake.’

‘Of course.’ He’d known Jake and Grace for years through his connection with Nathan. Grace often wondered if, in another life, she and John could have been friends. Whatever they were, they had a healthy respect for each other.

‘I thought you wouldn’t be too pleased about his new career choice,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Stupid kid. After everything you did for him. He should have stayed in uni and made something of himself.’

‘I couldn’t agree more, John. But it is what it is. He’s made his choice and nothing I, or anyone else, can say will persuade him otherwise.’

John nodded in agreement.

They both sat in silence for a moment until John spoke again. ‘Although it’s nice to see you, Grace, I’m sure you didn’t just invite me here for small talk …?’

‘Of course. I know you must be busy, so I’ll get straight to it. I want you to come and work for me.’

John laughed. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Deadly.’

‘Are you back then? To be honest, I’d hoped you were when I heard you were home. There are a lot of people out there who would be very happy about your return, Grace.’

Grace laughed. ‘And some not so much.’

John took a sip of his brandy. ‘Not many. It was definitely much calmer when you were in charge.’

‘Well, that may be. But, no, I’m not back. Not in the way you’d hoped anyway.’

‘So why do you need me to work for you?’ He frowned.

‘Well, you’d be working for Jake really, I suppose.’

John laughed again. ‘So what you really want me to do is to spy on your son?’

‘No,’ Grace snapped, before realising that John had a point. ‘It’s just that you’d be so good for him, John. I wish you’d stayed on with him. I know you’ve got your own thing going on, but …’