No Going Back by Casey Kelleher (bill gates books recommendations TXT) 📕

He needed to pace himself, he mused, grinning at the thought of Kate, one of the young hostesses he’d been plying with drinks all night, finishing her shift shortly. He’d pulled, and he was going to need every bit of stamina he had if he wanted to keep that one on her toes. Ashley knew the score. He wasn’t completely stupid; he knew what the hostesses were all about. They were paid generously to keep the men dangling, clutching to the belief that these women wanted to spend time with them. Stroking the men’s egos and anything else that helped in order to keep the men spending their money. And Ashley had spent out all right.

But Ashley knew that Kate wasn’t using him. She was different. He could sense it. They’d been flirting with each other for weeks, and it was getting more and more intense each time he saw her. She had been doing more than just her job tonight. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. The chemistry between them had been palpable, almost electric. And she’d made her intentions blatantly obvious when she’d invited him back to hers tonight, after her shift finished.

She should be out soon.

Glancing at his mobile and seeing the first of many missed calls from Shelby, Ashley groaned inwardly before switching it off and shoving the phone back inside his pocket. Tonight, finally, after a whole week of feeling sorry for himself since losing his big bet on the horses, his luck was well and truly in. This time he’d cracked it, he was certain. And Ashley needed this more than he realised.

Craving the thrill of the chase and much-needed boost to his ego.

Nothing, not even his nagging wife would ruin that for him.

‘That was quick…’ Hearing a noise behind him, Ashley grinned as he turned, expecting to see Kate standing there. Only his smile was knocked from his face just as quickly as he was knocked off his own two feet.

The force of the unexpected blow sent an almighty explosion of pain through the side of his skull as he slammed backwards onto the ground.

‘What the fuck?’ he managed to say as he lay on the cold, damp pavement and stared up at the two men who loomed over him menacingly.

‘Sam. Russ,’ Ashley said, gulping down the bile in the back of his mouth. A wave of pure fear engulfed him as he recognised the faces of the notorious Boland brothers.

‘Ashley, mate!’ Sam sneered. ‘Long time no see! Anyone would think you’ve been avoiding us.’ The two men didn’t wait for Ashley’s reply. Instead they set upon him. Unleashing their pent-up fury as they dished out countless kicks and punches.

‘Please, Sam. Russ,’ Ashley begged, gasping for breath as he curled up into a ball on the pavement and tried to shield his head with his hands as the blows kept coming.

Though even that didn’t help. The men were fierce and brutal with their reprisal, as Ashley had known they would be once they finally caught up with him.

He’d let his guard down tonight, being out in public and flashing his cash around inside the club. The alcohol and promise of spending the night with Kate had made him lose his head.

He’d known that the Boland brothers would catch up with him eventually. He was stupid to think that someone inside wouldn’t have tipped them off.

Of course, they had.

Everyone was out for themselves. On a mission to make their own earn and Ashley had made enough enemies in his time.

He screamed out as an explosive punt of a boot caught him under the chin. Ashley felt his jaw crack before the metallic tang of blood trickled down his throat, along with a jagged piece of a broken tooth. He was scared but he knew if he didn’t at least try and speak up for himself, these two monsters would kill him.

‘Lads, please. I’m about to be a dad, Sam. Please, don’t do this…’ Ashley begged. But the truth be known, he knew that this had been coming to him. Sam was right. Ashley had been avoiding the brothers like the plague all week. Because he didn’t have their money, and he knew that you couldn’t bargain with the likes of the Boland brothers.

Tonight, stupidly, he’d been too busy thinking about getting his leg over with a pretty hostess, after weeks of flirting had made him forget for a few minutes to keep his wits about him. The brothers must have been waiting outside the club for him in their motor. They must have seen him here, lurking alone in the alleyway, hidden away from any passers-by, and taken their golden opportunity to set upon him.

And Ashley was under no illusion that anyone would intervene and help him. Even the doormen at the club wouldn’t come to his aid. Because if they’d spotted the Boland brothers making their way down here, they would have known that it was in their best interests to turn a blind eye. Anyone with half a brain cell knew that interfering with the brothers going about their business would cause more trouble than it was worth. Everyone except Ashley, that is.

He’d stupidly believed that he’d be able to pay the men back somehow, and now he realised how naive he’d been. He’d pissed these men off big time, and the ultimate reprisal would be to pay with his life.

‘That’s enough, Russ!’ Sam Boland ordered, seeing the stream of blood pouring from Ashley’s nose. He put his hand on his brother’s arm, a signal to rein it in.

Russ needed telling. His temper was colossal and, when it got the better of him, there was no telling what damage he could cause. Sam was glad that this time Russ listened. He knew they needed to be smarter than that. Putting the man in a wheelchair or killing the bloke wouldn’t get them back the money