‘It’s all there. Please, help yourself. Test the product. You’ll find it’s of the highest quality.’
‘I will, thank you,’ Archie said, striding over to the bag, ignoring the gun-wielding Albanians as he did so.
He drew a knife from his pocket and, pulling out a bag of white powder, cut through the plastic and dipped his finger inside it.
Sucking the powder, Archie glanced back at Lloyd. That glance told Ruby everything she needed to know. The gear was bad. It had been stamped all over, perhaps cut with glucose or baby teething powder. She kept her eyes on Saban, but the hairs on the back of her neck had risen.
Time seemed to slow down.
Her heartbeat slowed, seemed to deafen her as she reached down to open the suitcase. Lloyd was beside her.
‘Let me, darlin’,’ he said as if he was playing the gent. Ruby demurred, holding back but feeling for the handgun she had hidden in her jacket lining.
The suitcase lock clicked open.
‘Come and see your money. It’s been good doin’ business with ya,’ said Lloyd. Before the Albanians could see what was inside the suitcase, Lloyd pulled out a machine gun and opened fire.
Two of the bodyguards were killed instantly, but Saban was quick. He’d pulled out a gun and with one single blast shot Archie in the chest. Archie fell backwards as Ruby fired her gun, pointing at Saban’s head.
BANG. Blood sprayed from Saban’s forehead, and for a moment he stayed there, swaying, looking at Ruby with something like disbelief.
Then he staggered back, blood running down his face, soaking his expensive jacket, his shirt, even his chinos.
BANG, BANG, BANG!
Ruby stared at the cartel boss as he fell to the floor. Gunshots rang out behind her and within seconds the henchmen she’d sent to the warehouse the day before walked out of the shadows, each holding an automatic firearm. One of them was instantly recognisable. It was Alfie, Archie’s twin. Ruby had recalled him from South America. She’d realised they’d need all the loyal back-up they could get.
‘Take that, you lyin’ fuckers!’ grinned Alfie, his eyes wild. He released another round of bullets, pumping them into the air, crowing with delight. ‘DIE, YOU FUCKERS!’
Blood, thick and red, soaked into the earth. All five Albanians lay dead in the dirt.
Ruby turned round, still holding her gun aloft in case there were more but the place was silent. Then she dropped her weapon and ran to her husband’s side. He’d hit the floor hard but as she cradled his head in her arms, his eyes fluttered open.
‘Bloody lucky I wore a bullet-proof vest,’ he said, smiling up at his wife. She kissed him gently on the lips.
‘Bloody lucky,’ Ruby said, as she tried to blink back the tears threatening to spill. She could have lost him. If he hadn’t worn his vest, if she had been a second slower with her gun. She’d shot her first man, but all she could think was how grateful she was that she’d been quick enough. Trembling with adrenaline, she tried to direct Archie’s attention away from her shaking frame. ‘Look who’s ’ere. It’s Alfie. He’s come home to help us out.’
Archie smiled up at his brother, the spitting image of him, yet so unlike in other ways, and took the arm offered to help him up.
‘Bruv, good to see ya,’ Archie said, hugging his twin.
‘It’s been too long. Look what ’appens when I leave ya, you get into all sorts of bother!’ Alfie laughed. He slapped Lloyd on the back as his dad greeted him.
‘Alfie, son, it’s good to see ya. Still got spirit, eh?’ which made the twins laugh.
‘You don’t know the ’alf of it, Dad.’
‘Sorry to break this up, but we need to go before the Old Bill arrive,’ Ruby reminded them all with some urgency.
The twins nodded.
‘I thought you was a goner there, son,’ Lloyd laughed to Archie, throwing the suitcase into the boot while the twins and the other bodyguard got into the back seat.
‘Leave the dud coke, and the bodies,’ Ruby commanded, ‘when the police come they’ll write it off as a deal gone wrong.’ She was amazed at how steady her voice was. She’d killed a man and it hadn’t bothered her one bit.
Lloyd glanced over at his daughter-in-law as he drove the car away at speed. She was sitting in the front passenger seat, staring out of the window.
‘You did well there, girl. You did well.’
Ruby smiled over at him, then turned back to her thoughts. The Albanians might be fixed but she had more trouble to deal with – her brother George.
CHAPTER 36
‘Look, Archie, I can handle it. Give me a box of weed and I’ll double your money by Monday,’ George wheedled.
Archie looked to Ruby, whose face was like thunder. They were standing in the lounge of their Chigwell home after flying back to sort out George. His stay at Bobby and Belle’s had been, on her older brother’s account, fraught, as their little brother had refused to talk about school or what he would do next.
‘I’m not havin’ ya dealin’, got it? I won’t allow it,’ she said, knowing how this would rile her younger brother, who appeared to do nothing all day except play video games or go out with his mates.
‘For fuck’s sake, Rube, you ain’t my mother. You don’t tell me what to do,’ shouted George, turning to her.
Quick as a flash, Archie went to Ruby’s side. ‘Don’t speak to your sister like that. She’s as good as your mum, and you’ll treat her with respect,’ he warned.
‘Or what?’ George sneered.
The sixteen-year-old was wearing his usual gear; a black hoodie pulled up over his dark hair, and slouchy jeans worn low at the back. A single, thick gold chain hung around his neck and he was wearing an expensive pair of new trainers. The effect was menacing, and Ruby almost recoiled.
‘I know I’m not your mum, but you are my
