Die Tryin' by Stavro Yianni Read Free Book Online

‘This is a will,’ he said.
    ‘A photocopy of a will,’ Marco replied.
‘Her
will.’
    ‘How did you get it?’ Nick Black asked.
    ‘I just did. Look, I’ve been totally up front with you lot, told you the truth, and backed it up with evidence. So, you lot in or what, ’cos if not I’ll find myself another bunch of volunteers. I’m sure there’s plenty round here…’
    Nick XR2 showed him his palms. ‘No, no. We’re interested, just wanna know what we’re dealing with before we give you our word.’
    ‘Well, I’ve told you what’s going down. Now, I wanna get this done ASAP before someone else
does
find the stash first. I’m talking the next few days. I got a buyer, so everything’s set. But, you’ve all gotta be up for it and I don’t think your mate here is.’ He cocked a thumb towards Charlie as he spoke.
    ‘Charlie’s in,’ Nick XR2 stated, provoking Charlie to spin round and face him.
    ‘Am I?’
    ‘Yeah, you are. We’re all in.’
    Charlie gave Nick XR2 a stern stare. Nick XR2 ignored him.
    ‘Good,’ said Marco. ‘But, we’re a man short. Know any other upstanding citizens such as yourselves who’ll be up to the task?’
    Nick Black contemplated; Charlie shook his head; Tony swigged more beer.
    ‘I know someone,’ Nick XR2 said. ‘I’ll get him on board, but I’ll make sure he gets a smaller cut than the rest of us.’
    Marco slapped his knees. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘I’ll give you my number. You call me tomorrow when you’ve all resolved your differences and let me know if you’re definitely in.’
    ‘Will do,’ Nick XR2 said as he shook Marco’s hand, who then went to Nick Black to shake his. He then put his hand out for Charlie, who hesitated for a second before reluctantly shaking it. That suspicious expression never left Charlie’s face for even a second.
    ‘She’s long dead,’ Marco told him in one last attempt to win him over. ‘There won’t be a problem.’
    ‘If you say,’ Charlie replied, but didn’t look so sure.
    Marco then moved over to Tony, who was lying on his side like
Jabba the Hutt
, cans of Stella dotted around him. He wasn’t getting up for no one, and so Marco squatted down and put out his hand. Tony stared at it.
    ‘No hard feelings,’ Marco said to him.
    Tony glanced downwards before nodding. He shook Marco’s hand firmly. Nick Black was relieved. Especially for Marco.
Prick didn’t know how close he came…
    He shook his head and puffed his cheeks.
    ‘Isn’t that Maria?’ Charlie then said, and Nick Black’s eyes immediately darted to where he was staring. He found himself looking at the fair again just like Charlie when he first spotted Marco. But, no matter how hard he scanned the area, Nick Black couldn’t see Maria at all. ‘And who’s she with?’ Charlie asked.
    Nick Black’s eyes widened.
    With?
That implied she wasn’t alone. It also implied she was with a bloke. A bloke
with
her. Not good. No, no, not good at all. Not with Tony around.
    Nick Black stared over at Tony who was now up on his knees, his neck craned, that brow furrowing as fast as icicles melting in the desert sun, telling Nick Black that he was brewing again.
    Twice in one night? Jesus Christ…
    He turned his attention back to the fair, squinting his eyes to try and spot her quick before Tony did, hoping that Charlie was just mistaken. But, unfortunately, he wasn’t. Nick Black finally spotted her. She was down there. And she really was
with
someone. They were holding hands, laughing together as he fed her candyfloss.
    Nick Black put a hand up to his forehead.
Jesus…
    ‘WHO THE FUCK…!’ Tony shouted, throwing his can of Stella away, sending frothy beer flying all over the place. He jumped to his feet and made his way down there faster than a lynx on heat.
    ‘What the fuck did you have to go say that for, Charlie?’ Nick Black berated him.
    ‘Because it was the truth. She was there. There. In front of me. Right there. I can’t lie,’ Charlie