‘N cunts huv bumped yi?’

‘Aye.’

‘Who like?’

‘Wullie McLean.’

A knew there hud tae be a fuckin catch. The McLeans wurnae as wealthy n organised as the likes ae the McIntires or the Maynards but that didnae mean they wur less dodgy particularly. There’s a squad ae them anaw n they run aboot shiftin weights. The elder McIntires huv businesses n fancy motors n aw that. The McLeans didnae huv anyhin like that, far as a know. ‘So let me git this right. Yir sellin gear fur Marcus McIntire … and sellin shit tae the McLeans.’

‘Kinda.’

‘Wit possessed yi tae sell gear tae that fuckin heedbanger?’

‘Cos it wis an ounce cash. Then when A turned up at the gaff, the full McLean clan wis there n there wis a shotgun sittin on the table. Noo, the Broonie boy is fuckin mad, but no mad enough tae tell him n five ae his cousins he wis gittin fuck aw! A wis just glad tae walk back oot the gaff.’

‘So he’s done yi?’

‘He’s said he’ll gees it back in gear. A swap, know? Ounce fur an ounce.’

‘That’s better than fuck aw.’

‘Aye, his stuff is shite but.’

‘Fuck it. Take it n bang it oot in cheap tickets. Cut yir fuckin losses fur a couple ae hunner quid n move on.’

‘Aye …’

Yi kin always tell when Broonie is holdin back. ‘So wit’s the problem? Yi should manage tae git that sorted.’

‘Problem is, mate, the bit that git stole wis aff Jamesy Maynard n noo Wullie n Marcus ir joinin up n dain stuff the-gither. So, A’ve basically bumped Maynard fur them. Or at least that’s how he’s gonnae see it, if he ever fuckin finds oot. It looks like A wis part ae the whole fuckin set-up.’

‘Fuckin Maynard anaw. Fuck sake, sir. That cunt is mental, Broonie! Wit yi playin at? If the McIntires find oot yir dealin wae them, you’re finished, son.’

These families’ mutual existence is always a tense affair n Broonie’s in wae them aw, tryin tae git clever. Once he’s reached his credit limit he would be on tae the next tae feed his greed n ain habit, mixin bits n monies n debts n customers.

‘A know mate, fuck sake. A try no tae muddle up the tick money. McIntire gees me ma big bits ae council cheap but Jamesy gees us the pure n A make some dough aff that.’

‘Fuck sake, son. Aw heatin up eh? Don’t end up caught in the crossfire if they start fightin among themselves, mate.’

‘Just need tae hope A kin save up the dough tae pay aff Jamesy before he clicks on. If A dae that A should be in the clear. Plus, it’s only Wednesday yit. Hopefully git more dough in fur Friday tae soften the blow, if needs be, know wit A mean?’

This is aw way above ma heed. A hud come across some ae these cunts, but A wis smart enough tae say awright n disappear. This kind irnae daft. They collect wee cunts like Broonie. The wee young runners git individual units tae sell – quarters ae dope, grams ae coke n aw the rest ae it. Broonie dealt these individual bits tae aw the wee guys n bought the big bits tae chop. Noo he’s supplyin the wee runners anaw n movin up the food chain. Runners feel special, cos they git let away wae a bit ae debt when they fuck up at the beginnin or they git a loan ae money. It’s aw just tae suck them in. When yi git tae this stage, yi cannae say naw n they huv yi right where they want yi.