Duality (25 page)

“W…why?” said Malc, breathless with fear.

“Because I want to punish you both together. Call him. Now.”

Malc recovered his bravado. “Go fuck yourself Toni. You’re not going to do anything to me and Tam, we’ve got too much back-up.”

“And who would that be exactly?”

“Most of the family are for us. They don’t want a woman running things.”

“Do you mean this family here?” she said, gesturing to the men behind her.

“Not those treacherous pricks,” he yelled at them.

Toni pressed the tips of her fingers against his lower left eyelid. Malc went rigid in his seat, attempting to lean backwards to escape her but there was nowhere for him to go.

“If you don’t want me to pluck those eyes out of your head right now you will call him.”

Malc’s huge chest heaved, sweat popping out on every part of his body. “Alright Toni, I’ll call him.”

“Good boy,” she purred. “You will tell him you’re in trouble and you need him to come out here.”

“Where am I?”

“Greenpark Industrial Estate. Drumfrochar Road. He’ll be able to find it. Caesar will dial for you seeing how your arms are preoccupied.”

Caesar dialled, looking amused and put it on speakerphone so they could all hear.

“Tam,” Malc burst out the second he answered the phone. “You’ve got to help me.”

“Alright, calm yer jets,” said Tam’s voice. “What’s happened?”

“I…I was attacked.”

“Attacked? It wasn’t that mad bitch Toni, was it?”

Malc’s panicked eyes flicked to Toni, who looked like she wanted to lop someone’s head off. “No, not her, it was…” He looked around the room for inspiration before his eyes settled on Mikey and Jez. “Some English bastards, they called me a jock prick and attacked me.”

“Why?”

“They were pissed and I was on my own. There were four…no six of them. I managed to beat them off but they’ve left me in a bad way. I need your help Tam.”

“Now?”

This annoyed Malc. “Aye now if it’s not too much bloody trouble.”

“Fine. Where are you?”

“Greenpark Industrial Estate. Drumfrochar Road.”

“That shite hole. What are you doing there?”

“I…fancied a walk.”

“You, a walk?” Tam was suspicious. “What were you really doing there?”

Malc looked up at Toni, real fear in his eyes when she glared back at him, hand on her hip. “I…I met up with a woman. She’s married. We shagged in my motor.”

Tam’s laugh, very rarely heard, echoed through the speaker. “You’re a fucking hound Malc, you’ll do anything for your hole, including meeting up with tarts on manky estates. Give me half an hour.” With that he hung up.

Malc looked up at Toni, eyes pleading, desperately seeking her approval.

“You did well,” she said.

He sighed and closed his eyes. “Thank you. So, what now?”

She perched on the edge of an upturned crate, Caesar placing a large white handkerchief on it before she sat down. “Now we need to make it look like you’ve been beaten up.”

“What?” Malc managed to exclaim before two of Toni’s men stepped up and started hitting him.

“Alright, that’s enough,” said Toni after they’d had a go at him for a couple of minutes. “He looks the part. Tie him up and drag him outside.”

As they untied his bonds Malc fell forward onto the concrete floor with a groan. The two men hauled him up by the armpits and began dragging him to the door.

Suddenly Malc shot to his feet, knocked the two men over and made a dash for the door.

“Stop him,” screeched Toni.

Shane stuck out his leg and Malc toppled back to the ground, the rest of Toni’s men hurling themselves on top of him as he attempted to push himself back up.

“Good work,” said Toni, addressing Shane. She sashayed up to him, tenderly taking his chin between her thumb and forefinger. “You’re really going to be something when you’re all grown up sweetie.” With that she took his face between both hands and kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue into his mouth.

When she finally relinquished Shane he staggered back, cheeks bright red, looking dazed.

“Mmm,” said Toni, licking her lips. “You taste like sugar.”

“I…I had a donut in the truck,” he murmured.

She smiled and gave him a wink before following her men as they continued to drag Malc outside, barking orders at them as she went.

“Good job,” Mikey told Shane.

“Thanks,” he said quietly, still dazed.

“Uh oh, he’s been Tonied,” said Jez. “Was that your first kiss mate?”

The insult snapped Shane out of his fugue. “No way, I’ve kissed loads of girls.”

“Alright, scratch that. Was that your first kiss with a murdering, psychopathic gangster?”

“No. Jules already kissed me.”

Jez threw back his head and laughed while Mikey glowered.

CHAPTER 24

Tam got out of his car and stood staring down at Malc, who was lying on the pavement.

“You alive then?” said Tam, nudging his leg with his foot.

Malc’s eyes flickered open and he squinted up at him. “I’m sorry Tam.”

“What for? Dragging me out to the arse end of nowhere?”

“No.”

Tam jumped back when Toni’s men popped out of the surrounding undergrowth, brandishing guns.

“What the fuck is this?” bellowed Tam, looking furious but not in the least bit afraid. “You set me up Malc?”

“I had no choice. Toni made me do it.”

“Where are you Toni?” yelled Tam, throwing his arms wide and turning in a mad circle, searching for her. “Getting the men to do your dirty work as usual?”

There was the click of high heels and Toni emerged from inside the warehouse. “Not at all Tam,” she said with a smirk. “I’m perfectly capable of being extremely dirty all on my own.”

When Tam drew the machete from inside his jacket they all leapt back, even the men with guns while Malc scrabbled closer to him, sitting on the floor at his feet like a dog.

When Jez, Mikey, Shane and Mark exited the warehouse to watch, Tam’s lip curled with disgust. “You had to bring in your English sheep-shagging friends.”

“We’re not sheep-shaggers, are we Mikey?” said Jez pleasantly. “I can safely say that’s something I’ve never done. Now my sister on the other hand, who knows?”

Tam gave them a contemptuous look before turning his attention back to his niece. “Come on then Toni, why don’t you show your men that you’re just capable as them? Take me on.”

“Pleasure,” she smiled, removing her fur coat and tossing it to Caesar, who caught it with one hand and folded it neatly over his arm.

“Aren’t you going to step in?” Mikey whispered to him.

Caesar shook his head. “No need.”

“But she’s not a fighter.”

Caesar’s gaze hardened. “Says who?”

They all watched as Toni approached Tam in her high heels, carrying no weapon while he swung the machete through the air with an expertise that was frightening.

Toni just stood there, regarding him with amusement in her eyes before reaching into her cleavage. She pulled out a flick knife, extending the blade with a click.

“I’m warning you Tam,” she said. “Last chance.”

His eyes widened, jaw sliding to the side as the red mist descended. With a roar he charged at her.

“Caesar,” said Mikey, seriously concerned.

“Don’t worry about it,” he replied casually.

But Mikey was worried, very worried. If Toni was killed everyone would side with Tam and they’d be seriously outnumbered and no doubt slaughtered.

He watched with baited breath as Toni calmly drew back the knife and sent it spinning through the air, embedding it perfectly in Tam’s right shoulder.

He stopped in his tracks, face twisting with rage. “You fucking bitch, you went through the nerve.” He tried to lower his arm but was unable to.

Toni laughed with delight. “Frankie taught me well. Get this wank inside,” she ordered her men. “Don’t forget this one too,” she added, kicking Malc in the back, who yelped.

Tam was hastily disarmed and shoved face down on the ground, screeching in pain when his injured arm was forced down by his side. As both men were hauled back into the warehouse Caesar turned to Mikey with a smug smile. “Told you she’d be fine.”

“You weren’t wrong.”

The four of them followed the others back inside, watching as Malc was tied back to the chair and a second one was pulled up alongside it for Tam.

Toni stood over them both, arms folded under her bosom, blatantly smirking.

“What are you looking so fucking pleased with yourself for?” Tam barked up at her.

“Because you two are tied to chairs and I’m not.” Her eyes narrowed. “You thought you were being so fucking clever but I’ve known what you’ve been up to for a while. Did you actually think it was going to work, scrabbling about behind my back like a couple of escaped scrotums…”

Everyone glanced at Shane when he sniggered.

“…thinking you were capable of taking
me
on,” she continued, pointing at herself. “I’ve been laughing myself rigid watching you run around cutting off people’s toes and thinking I didn’t have a clue.”

“Couldn’t stop us yourself though, could you?” snarled Tam. “Needed this bunch of English fannies to sort it out for you.”

“I didn’t need them Tam. I wanted them here to show you who has the contacts. My allies are the most powerful criminal family in England.”

“Never could fight your own battles,” Tam went on. “You had to call in that shower because you’re a weak, helpless wee woman and you’re not fit to be in charge of this family.”

“Wrong you fucking dick. I brought them here to show you all that
I
am the one who brings in the big cash for this family, not you and not this thick prick,” she said, gesturing at Malc.

“Frankie set that deal up, not you,” came back Tam.

“Oh yes, Saint Frankie,” sighed Toni. “You really worshipped him, didn’t you? God knows why, he was a loon.”

“Because he got things done,” he bellowed at her, straining at his bonds. “I saw him cut off his mentor’s head and take over the whole of Glasgow. Everything you’ve got you inherited, you didn’t work for it.”

“Oh didn’t I?”

“No you fucking didn’t,” he yelled, spittle flying from his lips.

“Shows what you know you fat little haemorrhoid.”

Another snigger from Shane.

“Who do you think Frankie was taking advice from all those years?” said Toni. “I was the one he turned to first. I was the one who told him to take out his mentor. At first he couldn’t believe he was capable of running everything but I convinced him he was. You always thought you were the one he went to but you were always second best Tam. I got the best schooling possible at the feet of Frankie McVay, talking over strategies, planning jobs, networking. That’s why you’re royally fucked.”

Tam looked to the men gathered around them. “You don’t want this mad cow running things. Kill her then you can work for me, like you’ve always wanted to.” He appeared outraged when none of them moved.

“Oh dear,” commented Jez, lips twitching.

“What the fuck’s wrong with you jessies?” Tam yelled at them. “Do it.”

It was Toni who replied. “They don’t want to work for you Tam because basically, they think you’re a dick.”

“What?” he demanded, eyes bulging.

“You assumed they’d all be panting to work for you just because you’re a man. Well they’re not because they think you’re weird.”

“I’m weird?” he spat, glaring at them all.

“You’re an ugly little tub of lard who can only string a sentence together when he’s angry and who threatens to hack anyone to bits with his machete if they piss him off. Not the best work ethic Tam.”

“I’ve got plenty of men behind me, the streets will run red with all your blood if you kill me.”

“And me,” piped up Malc, who had wisely decided to remain silent up until then.

Toni looked to Caesar, who nodded back, making her smile. “I see. Do you mean these men?”

The doors were pulled open and in marched three men carrying guns, pushing along five men who all looked like they’d taken a beating, hands tied behind their backs.

Tam threw himself back and forth in his chair, rocking dementedly, lips twisted. “Bitch.”

“Oh please, is that all you’ve got? I used to look up to you Uncle Tam but now I see you’re just a fat old man way past his prime and you’re dead weight.” Toni started to breathe harder as she slid her hand into her coat pocket to produce two glasses cases. “Now I want my eyes.”

“Take them,” said Tam. “I don’t need them to see what a useless fucking leader you are.”

“Oh I’ll take them but not until you see me take the eyes of the man you think of as your son.”

With that she leapt on Malc, straddling him, dress riding up her thighs. Malc tried to shake her off, screaming and stamping his feet, unable to do anything else as she sank her fingers into his right eye socket.

“Leave him alone,” Tam cried, writhing in his chair like a fat worm. “You’re not fit to touch him you fucking mincey-heid.”

But Toni couldn’t hear him, so consumed was she by her grisly task.

Jez noticed Shane lower his head and shift from foot to foot, disturbed by the scene.

“Do not look away,” Jez quietly told him. “This lot will see it as weakness and that could be lethal.”

Shane nodded, took in a couple of deep breaths and forced himself to look up, keeping his gaze slightly to the right, so he wouldn’t have to look directly at the scene. He’d never seen anything like this before and somehow it seemed worse that a woman was doing the torturing and enjoying it at the same time.

With a horrible squelch Malc’s eye was finally removed from the socket, Toni eagerly scooping it up and placing it in the glasses case.

“Now you’ve got one you can leave him alone,” said Tam.

“Uncle Tam, you know I do hate not to have the set.”

It didn’t take as long for her to take Malc’s other eye, she was done torturing him and just wanted it over with so she could move onto Tam.

When she was done, Malc leaning back in his seat and breathing erratically, she took a few deep breaths, fingers covered with blood and goo as she slipped the eyes into the glasses case and pocketed it. She produced a second glasses case, Tam’s name emblazoned on the front in diamantes.

“I had this specially made for you Uncle,” she said with a macabre smile. “It will be a nice memento for me to look upon when I’m sitting in my ivory tower, surveying my immense domain while you’re rotting.”

“Someone will see you get yours one day,” Tam growled. “I wish it could have been me but someone will. You can’t stay on top forever.”

“I’m always telling Caesar that,” she said with a lascivious smile at her second-in-command. “He’s more balls than the two of you put together. Especially after I’ve finished with you. You won’t have any left at all.”

Malc, who was staring up at the ceiling with his sightless eyes, released a strangled groan filled with fear.

“Don’t worry Malc,” said Toni, stroking his cheek. “You won’t notice. You’ll have lost far more of your body parts by then.”

Another strangled groan was his response before passing out.

“Looks like I don’t need to take his balls,” she commented. “He’s already lost them.” She turned back to Tam. “Time to take my prize.”

As Toni burrowed her way into his eye sockets Tam refused to utter a sound, even though he must have been in agony.

As he’d already been subjected to the horrific sight once Shane found he was better able to stomach it the second time but it was still incredibly unpleasant.

Toni needed Tam to show how much pain he was in not only for her own personal gratification but so she wouldn’t lose face in front of her men either. Neither did she want Tam’s amazing tolerance for pain marking him out as a legend. So she produced the flick knife again and sank it into his crotch. Finally she got the reaction she so desired when he screamed.

Shane thought he might faint and had to lean back against the wall, arms tightly folded across his chest. He was relieved that some of Toni’s men appeared to feel the same. This was something they’d never forget, especially if they ever thought about betraying her.

“Not so tough as you like to make out Tam,” smiled Toni, twisting the blade to make him scream louder.

The torture went on for almost two hours, Toni getting her hands very dirty to prove she was just as capable as a man of being ruthless when required. By the time Malc was put out of his misery with two bullets to the head by Toni herself, even some of her own men were looking quite sick, trying not to look at his famous manhood lying on the floor.

Tam did his best to lift his head, blood dripping from his many wounds, skin white, staring at her with empty eye sockets.

“You fucking bitch,” he managed to mutter through all his injuries.

“Poor last words Tam,” she said before raising the gun and putting him out of his misery too.

Next she turned her attention to the five men who had been forced to kneel on the cold concrete floor and watch their friends being tortured and killed. “Get rid of that shower of shite too,” she said.

Only one of the men attempted to escape, desperately trying to push himself to his feet but his knees were too numb and he just fell onto his side. Three of the men appeared resigned to their fate, already knowing this would happen while one started to cry.

“You see,” exclaimed Toni triumphantly, pointing at the crying man. “This is the sort of man Tam liked to have working for him, a big wet soppy Jessie pants.”

His tears were quickly stopped by a hail of bullets being pumped into him and his friends.

When the sound of gunfire died away Toni looked round at all the bodies wearily. “Get rid of them. I’ve got tickets for the ballet tonight.”