One of Malky’s guys, Daniel, who was sitting beside Malky, took out a handgun and started checking that it was loaded and in good working order. He was going to die today if he didn’t find a way to play this right.

“They were frightened off by Jamsey and Murdo. They’re Nikki’s men.”

“Nikki Sharkey. Do you know what they call her?” Malky said.

Kevin knew exactly. “The Queen of the Glasgow Streets.”

“That’s right.” Malky leaned forward in his seat. “You almost sound as if you agree with the name.”

“No, no, I don’t. You know I hate the Sharkeys,” Kevin said.

That was true. He did hate them. Nikki had beat him badly, along with Mack’s help, but he was also terrified of them. His position was a precarious one. Be killed by the Sharkeys? Or by the McDades?

That was no choice, but all he could do was try to stay alive as long as possible.

“You know the Sharkeys and the McDades go way back?”

“No.”

“Aye, the Sharkeys were like brothers to the McDades, but then they betrayed us. It was bad enough that they took territory that was rightly ours in Glasgow, and then thought they’d gain respect by going straight, but now they have a woman leading them. Do you think a woman can beat me?”

Kevin’s inner voice said yes immediately. He knew first-hand how scary she was, and that was without lifting a finger.

“No, Malky.”

“So you find new dealers who are more desperate, and get those drugs sold. Let me see what you got left from the gear I gave you this morning.”

Kevin gulped and pushed his trembling hands in his pockets. He brought it out and set it on the car seat.

Malky looked at it and then back to Kevin. “Where is the rest?”

Kevin closed his eyes and tried to calm his fast-beating heart. “I…so some of the dealers disappeared with it after they were warned off by the Sharkeys.”

Malky simply said, “Get out of the car.”

This was it. He was dead. Kevin was given a push out by Daniel. He got out, and his legs felt like jelly, and his hands were shaking so much that he had to squeeze them into tight fists to try to not let it show.

Daniel pushed him in the back and told him, “Follow Mr. McDade.”

Malky was standing by the edge of the river wall. Kevin stood beside him, knowing his life was probably over. Malky took out a cigarette and offered one to him.

Since these were probably his final moments, he might as well. Kevin took one, and Malky lit it before lighting his own. Malky inhaled the smoke and exhaled slowly.