He kissed Louise on the cheek, close enough to the mouth that it would leave her wanting more. Those types of kisses always worked, even on his wife, Layla, after all this time. Although it wasn’t as though he needed to do that. Donnie could tell she was attracted to his appearance all on its own. Why wouldn’t she be? Smart suit, carried himself well, of course she’d want more of him.
‘I’ll see you soon then? I’ll take you out, just the two of us?’ Donnie smiled.
Louise nodded, and he watched her throat move as she swallowed. He made her nervous in a good way. That’s what he wanted.
He watched as she walked away and didn’t move until she was in the taxi and out of sight. He didn’t want her to see what was about to happen, and he certainly didn’t want her to think he was a bad person and put her off. He needed Louise to view him in a certain light. Charming, successful and an all-round good guy. He’d managed it before with the others, so his experience would go in his favour.
‘You ready?’ Steff asked, appearing from the crowd as they filtered out of the warehouse.
‘Aye. I can’t fucking wait to see the look on their faces.’
Steff led them round to the back, where the Barrhouse Firm vans were parked. Donnie eyed Kev’s van and glanced at Steff.
‘It’s definitely set to go?’
‘Aye, all done during the fights.’
Donnie nodded. The Barrhouse Firm were already outside, waiting for the crowds to disperse so they could go home. One of them wouldn’t be going anywhere. Donnie had always planned to take Kev Barclay down, ever since the days when they were at high school together. That night at the rave on the outskirts of the city at Barrhouse Farm Estate, the year they all celebrated turning eighteen, Kev had thought himself the big guy, even tried to lamp one on Donnie. Not that he’d managed it, although that had angered Kev even more.
‘I’ll make sure everyone fucking knows what you are, Donnie Black,’ he’d said. But Donnie knew he’d be able to talk him down, get him back on side. It wasn’t that difficult; Kev was always a soft touch back then. Now that he was working fully against Donnie and Steff with Cammy and the rest of them, Donnie had to make sure that things wouldn’t come back to bite him. As petty as some might think it, Donnie wasn’t going to take any chances.
Cammy acknowledged Donnie with a nod but continued talking to the rest of them. Donnie listened as the sirens in the distance grew in volume. Cammy and the others didn’t seem to pay any attention to them until they were close enough to suggest that something might be wrong.
The police vans pulled in. There were three of them. Officers spilled out of them and chaos ensued. Cammy tried to calm the situation, but the officers weren’t listening.
‘What’s this about?’ Kev Barclay asked, trying to stay calm.
Donnie’s stomach lurched with the thrill of the scene unfolding in front of him.
‘We’ve reason to believe that one of these vans has a high volume of cocaine inside, and we’ve a warrant to search them,’ one of the officers said.
Cammy and the rest of them laughed, and Cammy glared in Donnie’s direction. ‘This is you, isn’t it?’
‘I’ve no idea what you’re on about, Cammy.’
Kev turned, gave Donnie a death stare before the police opened his van.
Donnie felt exhilarated when he saw the packages. The back of the van was almost full to the top with drugs packages. That was a lot of jail time. Now that Donald senior was gone, Donnie had to make sure that Kev honoured his agreement with his dad. As little a problem as it was now, it would still put a strain on Donnie’s reputation. All the years he’d spent making sure people thought well of the Black family could be ruined if Kev opened his mouth.
‘Jesus, Kev,’ Donnie said. ‘You could have stashed it somewhere a little less conspicuous.’
‘This is because of what I know, isn’t it?’ Kev sneered. ‘You’re worried now that the old man can’t keep me quiet, that I’ll speak out against you, so you’ve decided to warn me off yourself.’
Donnie watched as Cammy took everything in. He could tell by the look on Cammy’s face that there was no way Kev had said a word to anyone about what he knew. And that was good for Donnie, but he had to make sure that it stayed that way.
‘What are you talking about, Kev?’ Cammy asked, stepping forward. ‘What do you know?’
Everything and everyone stilled for a moment. Donnie wondered if Kev was about to reveal all.
‘Go on, Kev,’ Donnie said, testing him. ‘Tell them what you think you know.’
Kev scowled at Donnie and then eyed Cammy. ‘Nothing.’
‘Is this because we left Black Enterprises?’ Mackie said, stepping closer and standing next to Donnie.
Donnie shrugged his shoulders. ‘I can’t say I know what you’re talking about, Mackie.’
Donnie watched as Cammy balled his fist. This was the reaction he’d wanted.
‘I’ll fucking have you, Black,’ Cammy shouted, but before he could launch himself across the car park at Donnie, the officers were on all of them.
‘I can help,’ Donnie said. ‘I’m not your enemy, Cammy.’
The Barrhouse Firm were huckled into the back of the police vans and driven away, while a cordon was placed around Kev’s van.
‘And you think this isn’t going to start a war?’ Steff said, his hands in his pockets. ‘You’re fucking mental, bro.’
‘I don’t want a war. I just need that bunch that call themselves a firm to know that there’s only room for one fucking boss in this city, and that’s me.’
‘You mean us?’ Steff said.
Donnie shot his younger brother a look.
‘No, I mean me. Dad didn’t leave the family business to you, did he?’
Steff shook his head. ‘You’ve just declared a war on those lads. It takes away focus from business, Donnie.’
Donnie frowned. ‘No, it doesn’t. It takes away the possibility that we’d have competition. Dad didn’t hire lads for them to up and start their own shit, Steff. If you work for Black Enterprises, you don’t leave. This will teach them a fucking lesson.’
Of course, there were only two people who knew fine well the real reason behind the set-up. Kev and Donnie. If this didn’t warn Kev to continue to keep his mouth shut, then Donnie would have to resort to the next option. Now that the threat of Donald senior was no longer effective, he needed new ways to keep him quiet.
‘And I take it Mel has no idea that you just had her man arrested?’ Steff asked.
Donnie glared at him. ‘Oi, whose fucking side are you on here?’
‘I’m a Black, Donnie. You shouldn’t have to ask that question.’
‘Aye, well maybe Mel needs to have a think about that herself. I question where her loyalty lies.’