Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

Faith might have looked entertained but Vance knew she was furious. It was in her eyes and the way she held herself, as though she was restraining herself from punching Kevin right in the face.

“I wouldn’t have stuck the vault out in the sticks,” snapped Kevin. “I would have put it somewhere we could have kept an eye on it.”

“And do you think it would have turned out any differently if we’d put it in the centre of town? Patrick would still have put that tracking device in the drugs. Ben Cooper and his friends would still have broken in, beaten up our men and stolen the product. And if I remember correctly, you were the one who recommended we employ Patrick in the first place.”

Kevin turned bright red as he realised she was right. “Well I didn’t know he was going to do that.”

“So you’re not the all-seeing god you claim to be.” She thrust her face into his, Kevin swallowing hard as he suddenly realised he was standing on very shaky ground. “You called me back from Scotland because you couldn’t handle a fucking lemon like Lenny Paisley. I sorted that mess out for you. It was me who saved our entire family from getting nicked by Marlow. If you like, I can always go back to Scotland and leave everything in your hands.” That grim smile returned to her lips. “You wouldn’t last five minutes so, instead of arguing with me, do your fucking job and keep an eye on Pulse and if you ever challenge me again I promise you’ll regret it.”

“You’re threatening me?” he exclaimed.

“I love you Kev but our success as well as our lives depend on us sticking together. Your words here today have weakened us and I will not allow that to happen again. Do it once more and you’re out for good. Do you understand?”

He nodded angrily.

“Say it Kev. Say I understand.”

He was so angry his lips drew back over his teeth, which remained clamped together. “I. Understand.”

“Good. Now that’s settled, me, Caleb and Vance will go and check out the community centre while it’s daylight. Let’s go.”

She turned on her heel and stormed out, Caleb and Vance looking at each other and shrugging before following, leaving Kevin behind to seethe. When Jason patted him sympathetically on the shoulder, Kevin angrily shrugged him off.

“I can’t believe that just happened,” said Caleb, sitting in the back seat of Vance’s car. “We never fall out, I mean beyond the usual stupid rows about Monty humping my leg and Jason and Kev arguing about who gets my old bedroom.”

“I know,” sighed Faith. “And I wish I hadn’t been so harsh but he had to be put in his place before he took things too far. It’s important we’re united. If people know we’re in-fighting they will exploit that weakness.”

“I’ve never seen you and Kev argue before.”

“I know and it sucked but he gave me no choice. The Maguires have almost been torn apart too many times to count by fighting over who should be in charge. I won’t let the same thing happen to us.”

“I don’t know what he was thinking. He could never run things. I love him to bits but he doesn’t have the brains.”

“That’s usually the type who always thinks they should be in charge. Just look at the government,” said Faith wryly. “But Kev’s a man of action. He thinks all this following people about and being cautious is weak. He can’t get it into his head that we have to be careful. Don’t worry, I’ll smooth things over with him. It’ll be fine.”

“It’ll take some smoothing Faith. He was furious.”

Her dark eyes glittered. “He’s not the only one.” She looked to Vance. “You’re being very quiet.”

“What happened back there wasn’t good,” he replied as he drove.

Faith looked at him expectantly, a little confused when he didn’t say anything else but she turned her attention to the window, nursing the anger inside her that Kevin’s rebellion had created.

None of them spoke until they reached Claremont Road. Vance parked at the end of the street and they got out of the car and walked together, as though they were just taking an innocent stroll through the park.

“I want one of us to be here when she arrives,” said Faith, studying the community centre as they passed it by. “After everyone’s gone inside, we can pull one of their own tricks on them and plant a tracking device on Amanda’s car, then we don’t need to follow her everywhere.”

“I’ll do it,” said Vance.

Faith knew he wasn’t happy with her. He didn’t want to meet her gaze and his conversation was stiff and stilted but that would have to wait.

Caleb received a call about some issue at Eclectic to do with the plumbing that he had to go and sort out. After dropping him off at the club, Vance drove Faith home in silence.

“Are you going to speak at all?” she said.

“We’ll talk once we’re back in the flat,” he retorted, once again without looking at her.

Faith decided not to reply, knowing it would be pointless. He wouldn’t speak until he was good and ready.

They took the lift up to Faith’s flat in silence, Vance refusing to look at her while Faith regarded him with an amused smile. His eyes were that brilliant hue again and she loved looking at them.

“Go on then,” she said once they were safely inside her flat together. “Tell me off.”

“You went straight for Kev’s jugular when a little reassurance was all that was needed.”

“He might be your little brother Vance but he’s not a baby anymore. He needed putting in his place. Kev’s always been a bit of a loose cannon and he needs to be kept under control.”

“That’s not what