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

‘We said a week, Ashley. We agreed. It’s time to pay up; only suddenly you’ve disappeared off the radar. Not to be seen or heard from by any fucker. Not answering my calls. It doesn’t look good, Ashley, does it? The fact I’m having to chase you for what’s mine…’ Sam shook his head to emphasise his disappointment. ‘In fact, it almost looks as if you’re purposely mugging us off. Making us out to be a couple of cunts.’

Ashley shook his head, finally realising the enormity of the situation and the real danger he’d put himself in. The brothers were capable of murder, and the only thing stopping Russ from beating him to death was Sam’s instruction. Ashley needed to try and keep Sam onside and explain.

‘No, Sam. I’m not. Honest… I was sorting it.’ He cradled his head; the pain inside his skull was excruciating. The truth was Ashley had no way of getting his hands on that kind of money. Only he wasn’t going to admit that out loud. Right now, he needed to focus on making these two men believe that he could get it. Otherwise they’d set upon him again, and Ashley wasn’t sure that he could take much more. They’d end up killing him.

‘I’ve had a lot going on. My missus is about to drop our firstborn…’

‘Yeah, we heard. Shame you left your missus on her own tonight. Be a real shame if one of our boys was on his way round to yours to dish out a little warning to you. Guess he’ll have to leave her a message for you,’ Russ taunted.

‘Please. There’s no need to drag them into this. I will get your money. I swear. I just need a bit more time,’ Ashley begged.

As sick and twisted as these two were, even they wouldn’t stoop as low as to hurt a pregnant woman, surely?

‘It’s out of our hands now, mate,’ Russ sneered, enjoying the look of terror on Ashley’s face as the man winced.

‘Fuck!’ Ashley said, screwing his eyes shut in despair at the thought of these animals hurting Shelby.

And even if this was just a veiled threat to scare him, the last thing he needed was the Bolands paying Shelby a visit full stop. Because she’d go running straight to her old man the first chance she got. Then he’d really be in the shit. Pete would kill him for dragging his precious daughter into this mess.

‘You’ve got forty-eight hours, Ashley! Do you understand?’ Sam said now, looming over Ashley and glaring down at him closely, his words concise and loaded with intent so that Ashley understood.

‘H-h-how am I going to get that k-k-kind of money, Sam, in two days?’ Ashley said, glad that for now the beating had stopped. Only his dilemma was far from over. There was no way that Ashley would be able to get his hands on the £20k he owed the brothers in such a short time. Otherwise, he would have done so already and saved himself the kicking.

‘That ain’t our fucking problem, mate, and I think the words you are looking for are “thank you”! We’re doing you a favour, mate!’ Russ interjected then, narrowing his eyes as he continued to glare at Ashley with disdain.

Russ had come across a lot of men like Ashley over the years. Chancers. Ponces. Men that, when it came down to it, wouldn’t know what integrity was if it hit them full force in the face with a bat.

‘Thanks… Thank you.’

‘Forty-eight hours, Ashley. No more, no less, so you do what needs to be done. Beg. Borrow. Fucking steal. Just make sure you get every last penny to us.’

‘This is yet another lifeline, Ashley,’ Sam said. ‘Because trust me, my brother could happily finish you off right now.’

Ashley nodded as he tried to sit up. Crouching awkwardly on the wet ground, he winced as his head throbbed at the sudden movement. Aware that Russ was capable of committing his murder and grateful for the lifeline that Sam was throwing him. That he wasn’t going to die. Not tonight, at least.

‘I’ll get it. You have my word…’

‘Oh, fucking behave!’ Russ roared with laughter. ‘This spineless, gutless, poncing little weasel has given us his word, Sam.’ Russ shook his head before spitting out a gob of phlegm in Ashley’s face. ‘You’re so full of shit, mate. It wouldn’t surprise me if you were conceived by your mother taking it up the arse. Your word don’t mean shit to us. We want our money.’

Nodding profusely, Ashley let the two men know that he heard and understood them completely, then watched as they turned and walked back down the alleyway before he collapsed back down onto the cold, wet floor and stared up at the black night sky.

His clothes were torn and covered in blood. His whole body was burning in pain. Closing his eyes, desperate to fight back the tears that threatened, he was grateful for the small mercy of being alive. But he was well aware that there wouldn’t be any more chances after this. Somehow, he was going to have to get the Boland brothers their money.

He thought of Shelby then.

He grabbed his phone from his pocket; he needed to warn her.

Though seeing all the missed calls, Ashley’s finger hovered over the voicemail button instead. Wincing as he listened to the newest message. The usual barrage of abuse as Shelby screamed down the phone at him, calling him every name under the sun.

Only this time she said that she’d had enough. That she was going to her parents’ house.

Ashley hung up. Part of him felt relieved; despite the inevitable fallout from his disgruntled in-laws that was to come, at least Shelby would be safe.

She wouldn’t be home to open the door if any unexpected visitors turned up at the flat tonight.

Because Ashley knew that Sam and Russ meant it when they said they’d send someone to pay Shelby a visit, and if they did that then all hell would