‘Cheers,’ Cammy said, sliding the envelope of cash into the inner pocket of his jacket. ‘Things going good here, Pete? Door staff keeping an eye on things?’
Cammy knew the answer to the question. Of course his boys were doing their job properly. Cammy and the rest of the Firm had instructed them of their duties. It was all part of the agreement with each premises. Good security for a no interest, fixed monthly rate and the Barrhouse boys would be able to operate their drug business from each place, no questions asked. It had been a deal each owner had been willing to do. Their only other option was to have Donnie and Steff Black on their cases, high rates of interest that couldn’t be paid other than having their premises attacked and burned to the ground. Losing their livelihoods wasn’t an option.
‘Aye, Cammy. All good. Boys do a great job,’ Pete replied. ‘Although, it would’ve helped if they’d been here this morning.’
Cammy glanced at Pete, whose eyes were wide yet blinking rapidly. He was worried about something.
‘What happened?’
‘It’s Donnie Black. He paid me a visit.’
Cammy felt his jaw clench. Although he couldn’t say he was surprised at all. Donnie Black was a businessman, just like Cammy – a failing businessman at that. And after what he and the boys had done to him because of Kev’s prison sentence, was it any wonder he’d visited a Barrhouse Firm business?
‘Oh aye? And what did he have to say for himself?’
‘He threatened me and the pub. Told me that if I didn’t switch over to his security company within the week, then I wouldn’t have a business at all. Demanded a thousand a week.’
Cammy took a calming breath and closed his eyes for a moment. ‘A thousand a week? That’s cheap coming from the likes of him.’ Cammy caught Pete’s expression, knew that he was thinking a thousand a week is far from cheap to someone like him. Cammy ignored it. ‘He must be desperate. I wouldn’t say you’ve got anything to worry about here, Pete. I’ll let the door staff know about this, get an extra couple of guys on to your premises. Donnie Black won’t be threatening you again.’
Pete looked unsure. ‘How do you know?’
Cammy frowned. ‘Because I’m telling you. You pay us for security, and I give a full service. I couldn’t give a shit what Donnie Black thinks he’s going to do, but it’s not happening on our watch. And you’d do well to trust me, Pete. You don’t fucking pay us for nothing.’
Pete nodded quickly. ‘Of course, Cammy. I do trust you. It’s him I don’t trust. The dirty bastard that he is. You’ve heard the rumour that he’s responsible for the disappearance of that young lassie, Demi Simpson. I know some of the family too. Fucking shame so it is.’
Cammy patted Pete on the shoulder. ‘Aye, Pete. We know. Like I said, Donnie Black won’t be threatening you again. He’s getting desperate, so he’ll do anything to keep himself in this game.’
Cammy exited the office and out to the main bar area, where Mackie was sitting in with some of the locals having a game of poker. When Mackie locked eyes with him, he was on his feet, abandoning the game.
‘What’s up?’
Cammy motioned for Mackie to follow him outside. A few of the older punters stood outside, smoking pipes and talking horse racing. They hadn’t even noticed that Cammy and Mackie were there.
‘It’s Black. He’s threatened Pete. Told him that if he doesn’t switch over to him for security that he’s going to burn the place down. Demanding a grand a week off Pete.’
Mackie sniggered. ‘That’s pennies to him. He’s only saying that because of what happened to the yard. He’s bluffing.’
‘I don’t think so. We need to move fast, get him off the streets and settle the unrest surrounding the rumours. He’s a dangerous bastard, Mackie. If we don’t act fast, another girl will go missing. He’ll have Louise to replace.’
Mackie lit a cigarette and nodded. ‘Aye, your call. But aren’t we waiting on the green light from—’
Cammy shot him a look, and Mackie fell silent. ‘Aye. But keep that quiet. Anyone overhears us and the whole plot could fall apart.’
Mackie took a long draw on his cigarette and smoke billowed from his nostrils.
‘When I get the call, you’ll be the first to know.’
Mackie had resumed his game of poker, Dunny stood at the back of the bar next to the puggy machine and Thomson and Kev were outside, chatting with the door staff. Their presence alone would be enough to deter Donnie.
The man had lost his yard and hadn’t even come after the people he knew were responsible for it. Neither had Steff. So what the hell was going on with them? Had their bollocks finally deflated and now Cammy and the rest of the Firm were seeing them for what they were? Fraudsters? Yes, Donnie Black was minted and a well-known gangster, but the level of respect that people didn’t have for him nowadays was laughable. He wanted to be like the McAdams, to claim the city as his own. But he was failing miserably. The McAdam clan had something that Donnie didn’t. Ferocity, class. Even though Cammy and the rest of the boys hated them for what they stood for, it was clear that Donnie was never going to be a match for what they once were. And as for demanding Pete pay him a mere grand per week, maybe his finances weren’t all that great. Maybe the Black empire was falling a lot faster than any of them realised.
His phone pinged in his pocket and Cammy pulled it out, stared down at the screen and refrained from smiling.
He forwarded the message to the rest of the boys. And as the messages pinged up on each of their phones, one by one each of his brothers and cousins looked up. They all knew it was time.