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

“Love you too Kev,” she smiled before hanging up. “Well, it’s done,” she told Caleb and Vance. “He’s planted the tracking device. He watched Amanda teaching her class and she’s very skilled, which is not good news.”

“Don’t worry,” said Caleb, sliding his arm around her. “We’ve got the toughest woman in Blackpool right here to take her on.”

She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. Vance watched them enviously. He wished he could do that for her but they always went out of their way not to display any physical affection towards each other. He was getting tired of the deepest love he’d ever felt in his life being treated like it was something sordid and dirty.

Vance burst into the kitchen the following morning, feeling much better after a good night’s sleep. Faith was already up, putting a tray of croissants in the oven. He strode across the room in two strides, took her face in his hands and kissed her.

“I missed you last night,” he breathed, pressing his forehead to hers.

“I missed you too.”

“I tried to sneak into your room but Caleb got up, so I had to pretend I was going to the bathroom.”

“I was out like a light anyway. I was knackered after yesterday.”

“How do you feel now?”

“Fine. I slept solidly.”

“Good because Caleb’s in the shower and we don’t have much time.”

She grinned and kissed him. Vance bent her over the kitchen table, lifted her dressing gown, pulled aside her panties and groaned with pleasure as he slid inside her, Faith moaning and pushing back against him, sending him in even deeper. They moved together hard and fast, biting their lips to stifle the cries wanting to burst from their throats. Faith gasped and arched her spine as Vance flooded inside her, burying his face in her neck.

She exhaled as her eyes slowly rolled opened, that delicious sense of satisfaction washing through her body as it always did when she made love with Vance.

“Best start to the day,” he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck.

“Mmm, yes,” she breathed.

They straightened up, Vance tugging up his jeans and straightening his shirt while Faith retied her robe.

There was the sound of footsteps approaching and Faith checked on the croissants while Vance poured himself a cup of coffee. Caleb wandered in with a cheery good morning, noticing nothing out of the ordinary.

“How did you sleep?” Faith asked him, removing the tray from the oven.

“Great, thanks. It’s a comfy bed. God they smell good, I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving,” she said, placing the croissants on a plate and putting the plate on the kitchen table.

Caleb took a seat and picked up a croissant. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

“Head over to Mum’s and look at the tracking data Jason will have recorded of Amanda’s movements.”

“What if she just went home after the class and stayed there?”

“Then at least we’ll have her home address.”

They looked at each other when there was a knock at the door.

“I’m not expecting anyone,” said Faith.

“Stay here,” the two men told her, getting to their feet.

“Sod that,” she scowled, heading out the kitchen door before either of them could.

“Faith, wait,” said Vance as he and Caleb hurried after her.

She peered through the spyhole. “It’s Jason and Kev,” she said, unlocking the door.

The two younger brothers entered full of self-congratulatory ardour. Faith took in their rumpled clothes and unshaven faces. The Chambers men grew stubble very quickly.

“What happened to you two?” she asked them.

“We’ve been up all night,” Kevin announced proudly.

“Picked up a couple of women, did you?” said Caleb.

“No actually. We’ve been working, following Amanda about.”

“All night?”

“Most of it,” said Jason. “She got up to some pretty interesting stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Something smells good,” said Kevin. “We’ve not had breakfast yet.”

“Come on through,” said Faith. “There’s plenty for everyone.”

Faith put more croissants in the oven and brewed a fresh pot of coffee while her brothers gathered around the kitchen table.

“Amanda went home after her class last night,” began Kevin, talking through mouthfuls of croissant. “We stayed at home watching her from the laptop then. Just before midnight she got back in her car and headed out again to the fire station.”

“To start her shift?” said Vance, taking a sip of coffee.

“That’s what we thought, until she left the station in her car with Ben Cooper and another two firefighters.”

“Where did you track them to?” said Faith.

“A church,” he smiled, enjoying the surprise on the faces of his older siblings. “And not for midnight mass because it’s a derelict church.”

“Why would a bunch of firefighters go there?” said Caleb.

“Don’t know but do you want to find out?” said Jason. “I checked out the church online. It was shut down after it was badly damaged in – get this – a fire.”

Faith beamed. “I’m so proud of you two. You’ve done really well. You were right Kev, you are more than just muscle.”

“Not that I’ve got much of that,” he grinned, raising his skinny arms.

“I think it’s time you both had more responsibility in the business.”

“Our own nightclub?” said Jason eagerly.

“Sorry, that’s down to Jules but we’ll find you something.”

“Great,” grinned Kevin.

“Now I’m going to hop in the shower and then we can get going. Let’s check out this church.”

CHAPTER 15

Faith and her brothers headed over to the church in the north of the town in the same people carrier with the blacked-out windows that they’d once made their escape in from Marlow and his men. Vance was in the driver’s seat in case they needed to utilise his skills again. Faith sat up front with him while the other three occupied the middle seats. She worried that