Maura's Game by Martina Cole Read Free Book Online

protest.
    “So what do I do while you lot are gallivanting around tonight then?”
    Maura looked at him and said seriously, “You make yourself busy, of course, Benny. You carry on routing out all our minor personnel and you put the fear of Christ up them. See what you can find out. But don’t glue anyone’s eyes shut, please. It’s very bad for business.”
    Benny was clearly thrilled at the opportunity for further violence and Maura watched him with distaste.
    He was so like her brother Michael, in looks and temperament. But unlike the eldest Ryan who had had an exemplary business sense, Benny as far as Maura could see was strictly a bully boy Like Michael, he would explode into violent rages and now she wanted to tap into that part of him and use it for her own ends. If anyone knew anything they would be most likely to tell Benny Ryan. She loved him but found his wildness hard to deal with, especially when they had so much else to worry them. She knew he was offended by her reaction to him and didn’t care. She had no intention of nursing him through this. He had to learn to deal with life, as they all had. She knew his father agreed with her way of thinking and that was all she cared about.
    “I have been in touch with a few faces around town to see if I can get the SP on the latest killing, Maura. I’ll let you know what I hear.”
    Garry let Lee speak then asked her: “What about the filth, what have they had to say about Terry?”
    Maura had expected the question and had also expected it from Garry. None of the others would have had the front to ask her outright. The tension in the room was almost unbearable as she answered him.
    “I’ve batted them off so far. I’ll have a meet with our pal Caldwell obviously before I can even begin to think about talking to anyone else.”
    Garry nodded, satisfied.
    “Well, he was one of their own so they’ll be as interested as we are, won’t they?”
    Benny’s voice was dismissive and Maura felt an urge to throttle her nephew until he passed out. Instead she said coldly, “Do you know something, Benny? One of these days that trap of yours is going to get you into all kinds of trouble, starting with me. Whatever you thought of Terry Petherick, and frankly I don’t give a toss what that was, he was part of this family through me and me only. I am warning you, Benny…” she looked slowly around the room ‘.. . I am warning you all, any personal feelings you may have had about him get left at the door. We have to work together on this and I do not want to have to explain myself to you, the filth or anyone else. Do you understand what I’m saying here?”
    Her blue eyes were as cold as flint and her perfectly made-up face was hard. For the first time ever Benny saw his aunt as all her brothers saw her and it unnerved him. He knew that in this mood she would order his disappearance without a second’s hesitation if it would make her quest easier. Far from finding this scary he admired her for it. Fear was the key in their business and she was one of the few women who knew how to use it.
    That she was under immense pressure never occurred to him. That she was trying to keep them together, show a united front to the criminal fraternity, never occurred to him either. He was still too young and too immature to see what was really going on. It would be his downfall if he wasn’t careful. He had never been in the middle of a gang war before and Maura knew he was going to be properly blooded before the week was out. She would watch him and help if necessary, but she had no intention of babysitting him today. He had to be put in his place sooner rather than later, that much she knew for sure.
    One day her nephew’s mouth and attitude were going to get him into trouble big time and he had to be made aware of that fact.
    All the men in the room were staring at Benny and he felt uncomfortable. He also realised he was going to have to watch himself. Even his father didn’t