Cammy McNab stood at the back of the warehouse in the outskirts of the city and took it all in. The old warehouse grounds which were situated on the perimeter of the Barrhouse estate, just a few miles before hitting the main roads, were the perfect place to host the event. The surroundings were quiet, enveloped by the undiluted sky, far enough from the city lights and pollution.
Tonight was just the beginning for the BBF. The Barrhouse Boxing Firm was something that Cammy was proud of. He had built this firm up from nothing. Just a couple of the boys getting together, training out in the fields at the back of the Barrhouse estate. Bare-knuckle boxing had been a part of their lives since they were young, and they’d decided to use it to build a family business. Bringing the family in on things was just good business sense. Kev, and Duncan ‘Dunny’ McNab were not only cousins with Cammy and the others, they were also the boys who organised and recruited the boxers, and they were bloody good at it.
‘Cammy?’
He’d recognise that voice anywhere. A voice he’d heard almost every day since his school days.
Cammy turned in response to his name and watched as Donnie Black walked towards him, Steff Black by his side. It was the first time he’d seen Donnie since he’d told him that he would no longer be working for him or Steff, that none of the boys would be working for them anymore because he’d heard that Donnie and Steff were venturing into a line of work that Cammy didn’t want to be a part of. Donnie hadn’t taken the news well, had denied all knowledge of the claim.
‘Donnie, good to see you.’ Cammy nodded. Both men looked at each other, knowing that Cammy’s words weren’t sincere. ‘You got yourself a drink.’
Donnie held up a beer and smiled, and Cammy couldn’t help but wonder who the hell Donnie thought he was, turning up to a boxing match in a full suit. Under that well-dressed, well-turned-out man in a designer suit was nothing but a top-of-the-charts scumbag who earned money off other people’s misery. The Barrhouse firm’s involvement with Donnie and Steff had been through historic friendship and loyalty. Drug runs, deliveries and pick-ups, and security set-ups for local pubs and clubs. But aside from their new, not so clean venture with that guy from Amsterdam, Cammy didn’t want to be anyone’s lapdog.
‘This is’ – Donnie hesitated as he took in his surroundings, as if looking for the right word – ‘impressive.’
Cammy held in the sarcastic laugh ready to burst out of him. He’d keep his eye on Donnie, and Steff. If he didn’t know any better, Donnie would be thinking about ways to make the evening fail. It would be his revenge for Cammy and the rest of the boys’ departures from Black Enterprises. But there was no way Cammy and the rest of them could’ve stayed and continued working for Donnie and Steff. There were some things even Cammy wouldn’t be part of. Their departure just six months earlier had put a strain on his relationship with Mel, though. She’d been stuck in the middle for the last few months while she still grieved the loss of her dad.
‘No Mel tonight?’ Donnie asked.
Cammy shook his head. Donnie would’ve known Mel wasn’t in attendance at the event. She was doing her job for Black Enterprises, working on the accounts side of things. One of the reasons she and Cammy had been arguing a lot. He’d tried to persuade her to quit her job with her family. But she had a loyalty to her bloodline, even if she didn’t agree with it. It was part of the reason she was still grieving for Donald, even though he’d made her feel inadequate; deep down she was a good person.
Mackie and Thomson stood either side of Cammy and stared out at the crowd. Cammy noted how Donnie took it all in and could tell by the look on his face that he hadn’t expected such a big crowd. It would be killing Donnie Black that he wasn’t the kingpin in this scenario. As far as Cammy was concerned, Donnie would never be viewed as a king in his eyes, not now.
‘You’d better head off to find a decent spot to catch the fights. They’re going to be fucking brilliant, you won’t want to miss a single blow,’ Cammy said. He wanted Donnie to know that things were going well. If his former best mate and colleague was going to stay for the show, Cammy wanted him to see that he had no regrets leaving.
Donnie smiled, eyed Steff and they both slipped into the crowd.
‘Keep an eye on them,’ Cammy said to Thomson and Mackie. ‘The first sign of anything dodgy on their part, I want them out. They’re scum, boys. Don’t forget that.’
‘Understatement of the fucking century,’ Mackie said.
As the crowd grew louder as they sang, chanted for their favourite boxers, Cammy moved through the throngs of people and followed Donnie and Steff from a distance. Donnie was speaking to Steff, his expression agitated. Steff, as always, kept his own expression neutral. That man never seemed to crack under any sort of pressure. Cammy wondered if he was a bit of a sociopath in that respect. It would make sense, being the brother of Donnie Black. They were like the Krays; except they weren’t twins. One was outwardly nuts, the other calm and collected. It would take a lot to make that one snap.
The first fight was about to start, and Tam Bellshaw’s music started. Cammy turned in the direction of the entrance aisle, and Tam bounced down towards the ring, Kev and Dunny at his back. Cammy’s ears buzzed from the noise, and he couldn’t help but smile. Tam would be buzzing. He’d fought many a fight, now, and won all of them in the field matches. Now, his first indoor, ticketed event and the place was completely packed out.
Tam climbed into the ring, and Kev and Dunny stayed down on the ground as Tam’s opponent entered. Cammy returned his focus to Donnie, who was standing back, mouthing something to Steff but with his eye on Tam. His words looked like they were coming through gritted teeth. It was clear Donnie was angry. But then his eyes fell from Tam to Kev before he smiled. Whatever he found amusing didn’t sit well with Cammy. Donnie turned his back to the ring and headed for the bar.
There was something going on with Donnie Black. He had something planned, and Cammy and the rest of the boys wouldn’t know what until it was too late.