Reckoning Read Online Free PDF

for the first time she silently cursed her dead husband.
    “He’ll be fine,” said Riley, putting his arm around Beth.
    “I hope so,” she sighed into his shoulder. She feared what she’d do with Archie once Riley had returned to his unit. Her little slice of heaven was going to quickly descend into hell.

CHAPTER 4
     
    “Jules, visitor,” called Anita, a cute twenty-something with short, spiky dark hair, nose pierced, tattoo sleeves up both arms. She was also a very talented artist, which was why Jules had hired her to help out at the tattoo studio, located right next door to the gym owned by Mikey. Thanks to Jules’s own excellent reputation as a tattoo artist business was booming.
    “Tell them I’ll be there in five,” she called back. “I can’t leave Kenny here with a bare bell end,” she said before pushing the needle through the delicate foreskin. Kenny’s eyes bulged and he released a shriek of pain. “It’s alright, almost there,” she said. The needle erupted through the other side of the skin and Kenny released a groan and sagged back in the chair, sweating. “I just need to put the jewellery in now,” she said, expertly threading through the ring. “There Kenny mate, all done.” She patted the dazed man on the shoulder. “I’ve got a visitor, Anita will finish you off, so to speak.”
    She pulled off the latex gloves and tossed them into a bin. After washing her hands Jules walked through to reception and smiled. “Dane Black. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
    Dane seemed to fill the small reception area, broad shoulders blocking out the light. “I didn’t expect to be here but we need to talk.”
    “About what?”
    “Is there somewhere more private we can go?”
    “Told you I was irresistible,” she grinned.
    “It’s not that. I’ve got something to tell you.”
    “Like I haven’t heard that old chestnut before.”
    “Jules, I’m serious. You need to know this.”
    “We can talk here, my next appointment isn’t due for another ten minutes, unless you want to see Kenny and his amazing jewelled nob.”
    “Here will be fine,” he said, pulling a face. “Someone just tried to fuck over one my deliveries.”
    “Delivery? Cake? Flowers?”
    “Stop fucking about, I’m seriously pissed off,” he growled.
    Jules knew when to stop larking about and she recognised now was that time. “You mean, the product?” Dane and his crew were the main suppliers for methamphetamine in the city, under the umbrella of the Maguires.
    “Yes.”
    “I take it the culprits are six feet under?”
    “No, we’re not animals but they are currently enjoying the finest healthcare Manchester has to offer and they will be for weeks to come.”
    “Did they give anything up?”
    “Yeah. They swore no mastermind was behind it, it was just a band of drugged-up fuckwits who thought they might try their luck. Apparently the Starklaws have been mouthing off about how Jez and Mikey are finished and they’re going to be the next kings of Manchester. They were too scared to take them on directly so they thought they’d have a go at me instead. The Starklaws’ big fucking gobs are going to get them into a shit heap of trouble.”
    “This is how it always starts.”
    “How what starts?”
    “War. Pricks with a death wish start trying their luck. It means everyone thinks we’re weak.”
    “Word’s spread about the attack on Mikey’s bookies and Jez’s garage and they’ve not retaliated for it yet.”
    “We’re still looking for Nilsen, he’s gone to ground like the coward he is. Why have you come to me with this anyway? Go to Mikey or Jez.”
    “I’m not setting foot in the compound.”
    “Afraid you won’t come out alive?”
    “Plenty haven’t and Mikey is still pissed off at me for not telling him about my relationship with you.”
    “That’s history, he’s over that for God’s sake. Stop being a wussy and go and see him.”
    “I am not going to the compound,” he