BooksBarbecue
Back The Jump Save as PDF
Chapters (52)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. BOOK ONE
  6. Chapter One
  7. Chapter Two
  8. Chapter Three
  9. Chapter Four
  10. Chapter Five
  11. Chapter Six
  12. Chapter Seven
  13. Chapter Eight
  14. Chapter Nine
  15. Chapter Ten
  16. Chapter Eleven
  17. Chapter Twelve
  18. Chapter Thirteen
  19. Chapter Fourteen
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. BOOK TWO
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. BOOK THREE
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Chapter Forty-Two
  50. Chapter Forty-Three
  51. Chapter Forty-Four
  52. Epilogue

Alan stood up and walked around the desk. ‘Look, calm yourself down and I’ll pour you a nice brandy. Take a few deep breaths. It was only a few nuts, Donna, nothing major. I’m not going to bite your head off or anything, no matter what you’ve heard about me. I draw the line at killing women or children.’

He watched her face pale at the words and knew immediately that his reputation had preceded him. He was sorry, because he hated to intimidate anyone he didn’t need to. His murder charge was what made his restaurant select; people whispered about it, and he played the part of the bad man gone straight. He was a perfect example of the villain gone legit. In fact he was legit. The fact amazed even him at times. He had no qualms about what he had done, rarely thought about it now, though there had been a time when it was on his mind constantly. But he had paid his so-called debt to society and now was free and clear. It was a long time ago and unless he was reminded of it, like now, he didn’t think about it for weeks at a time. He went to his globe drinks cabinet and poured out a large brandy. He took it back to Donna and placed it in her hand.

‘Look, love, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but divide it by four and then halve it. I am a legitimate businessman, I am seeing you even though you didn’t have an appointment, and I promise faithfully, cross me heart and hope to die, not to murder you or anyone else tonight. Now I can’t say fairer than that, can I?’

Donna looked up into his face and felt a flush of shame roll over her. He knew what was wrong with her, the man could read her like a book.

‘Drink your brandy,’ he said kindly, ‘and then just come out and say what it is Georgio wants. Whatever it is, I’ll give it to him. I owe him one, as he so succinctly put it.’ He smiled at her disarmingly.

Donna took a large gulp of the brandy, feeling it burn her throat as she swallowed. Looking into his face, she gathered up her courage and blurted out: ‘Georgio wants you to get him out.’

She saw Alan’s face drop, and it was his turn to go white. Donna sat watching for long moments before she spoke up. ‘Did you hear what I said, Mr Cox?’

Alan Cox nodded. ‘I heard, and there’s only one thing I can say.’

Donna swallowed hard. ‘What’s that?’

‘I think I’ll join you in that brandy.’

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Alan sipped his brandy and stared at the woman opposite him. She was smoking nervously. He got up and once more replenished her glass.

‘I’m driving.’