No Mercy by AJ Adams

Author:AJ Adams
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ellen Whyte
Published: 2021-11-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

I woke up to bright sunshine and an even brighter Rachel. "I made you tea." The smile was ear to ear but ice-cold. "Would you like some toast?"

My ribs were giving me gyp, but her brittle cheeriness killed me. "Rachel, I'm sorry."

Her chin was up. "Nothing to be sorry for."

Damn. "It's not you, love." Deep breath, and I was sitting up. "I just can't get involved."

"Of course. I'm grateful, Max. I feel a lot better." Another gigantic smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The decorator is on her way to my place, so I'll be running along."

"But Rachel -" I hastily whipped the blanket back to cover my morning boner.

She chattered on. "My clients need to see me, too. I'm on in an hour."

And then she blew me a kiss and walked out the door, leaving me still on the sofa, saying, "But Rachel" like a damn fool.

As it took me a good few minutes to sit up, she was well gone before I got it together. There was no point in chasing after her, so I got on with my morning.

The newspaper noted three men had been attacked and beaten, but mistakenly speculated a gang attack. From the photo, they were taking up space in the hospital ward rather than the nick. One of their mates had done the sensible and tidied away their inventory before calling for help.

My hitching a ride wasn't mentioned. I guess the driver decided he'd rather not be involved. It was excellent news, as it meant there was no connection to me.

I drank my coffee, enjoyed the luxury of an egg and bacon sandwich, and by the time I washed up, the codeine was working miracles and noises were emanating from downstairs.

I went down expecting to see Quentin and ran into my mother.

"Max, you've been in the wars again." She acted cool, but her eyes gave her away. "Have you seen Doc Jerry?"

"Morning, Mum. Don't fuss. I'm fine."

"What happened?"

I had forgotten she was intent on being informed. She was worried, but old habits kicked in. "Just a drunk."

"Not the Razor's chief dealer and his mates that deal from their flat above the Spinnaker?"

"Mum, you should work for MI6."

She rolled her eyes. "It's all over the papers. Three men mysteriously beaten."

"They mistook me for an easy target. It won't happen again."

She pursed her lips. "And we thought you were just hooking up."

"Oh?"

Quentin staggered in, carrying packed pies, pastries and Scotch eggs. "Nice shiner. Does Rachel like it rough or did you slip in the shower?"

"Bugger off."

I acted cheery and began helping to stack the food in the display case, but with those two, it didn't fly.

"No luck, huh?" Quentin sympathised.

"Rachel's a sweet girl and she's had a crush on you since you were kids." Mum shook her head. "But there's too much baggage, Max."

"She's a looker," Quentin mused. "I've asked her to sit for me. She has brilliant eyes."

"Her dad was violent and a soak," Mum said. "And her mum was a sad case. Heroine, I think.

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