Tainted Love by Hunter T.S

Author:Hunter, T.S.
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-916426-27-6
Publisher: Red Dog Press
Published: 2019-04-17T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Russell sat in the window of the small pub opposite Tony Lagorio’s restaurant, nursing a pint that was rapidly going flat, and monitoring the comings and goings down the side alley.

He had left Tony half an hour ago with the distinct feeling that the burly gangster knew more than he was telling. Russell didn’t really know what or who he was waiting for, but he had a hunch he should watch the place for a while and see who showed up.

He was just beginning to doubt his instincts, when he spotted a young man he recognised hurrying down the street towards the restaurant. Gavin Jones—Chris’s business partner in the fashion label. Sharp suit, high-waisted pants, nice brogues, hair slicked in an immaculately precise side-parting.

Russell sat up straight, suddenly intrigued as Gavin walked straight past the alley and pushed open the door of the restaurant. He disappeared from sight for a moment, and then reappeared at a table in the window. One of the two invitation-only tables. He said something to the waiter who scuttled off, leaving Gavin alone to settle down.

Russell hadn’t spent much time with Gavin. Chris rarely socialised with his business partner outside of work. He had seemed charming enough on the few occasions that Russell had met him. A little awkward and uptight though that was probably more down to his family background and private education than his personality.

Gavin came from a very wealthy family and, from the sound of it, had spent most of his life not living up to his father’s expectations. It was one of the few things Russell had thought Gavin and Chris had in common—disappointed fathers.

Gavin looked up from his menu as a Bentley pulled up alongside the kerb. Tinted rear windows, personalised plates. Speak of the devil.

The driver in the car behind hooted and swerved around them, waving an insult as he passed. No reaction from the chauffeur of the Bentley.

The rear passenger door opened and Gavin’s father stepped out. Russell recognised him from the launch party for Gavin and Chris’s label, not to mention the countless newspaper articles about his various deals and scandals. A businessman, multi-millionaire, and one of the most arrogant and dismissive men Russell had ever met.

He crossed the street quickly, entered the restaurant and joined his son at the table in the window. Gavin stood as his father arrived, but there was no embrace, not even a handshake. No wonder the kid was uptight.

The waiter arrived with a bottle of water and filled their glasses, took an instruction from Gavin’s father and hurried off. The conversation was one-sided. Gavin’s head nodding sullenly as his father spoke, fast and firm, hands gesticulating fluidly.

The conversation stopped abruptly as Tony appeared at the table and sat down between them, elbows on the table, fat fingers interlaced. He looked flustered and unhappy.

Gavin slid a folder across the table towards him, saying something as Tony opened it and read the contents. Tony closed the folder, looked up at Gavin

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