“I assumed surname. You haven’t heard it before?”
“It doesn’t ring any bells, but I’ll ask around.”
“Why would someone we’ve never heard of order an attack on the warehouse?”
Tam’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Does that mean you’ve changed your mind about the Gilligans being the ones responsible?”
I couldn’t help my thoughts going to Ivy. She hadn’t exactly stuck up for her family name either.
“No. He could just be someone who works for them.”
“To order a hit of that level? I’d expect something like that to come from the top.”
“It could be a way of the Gilligans protecting themselves,” I suggested. “Adding another layer of defence. They know if we find out for sure that they did this thing, it’ll be enough for full-on war.”
Tam arched an eyebrow. “I thought that’s what you were waging anyway.”
The truth was that I wanted to be king here, but Hallie’s marriage to Tam complicated things. I didn’t want to share my throne, and I hated that, with Tam being the eldest, even in his own family, he ruled the roost. His brother, Leo, seemed content to live the easy life with Kaja and let Tam lead the way, but I wasn’t going to sit back and take things so easily.
“I’ve got a meeting this afternoon with a potential new supplier,” I told Tam. “I think we’ll be able to undercut what the Gilligans are bringing in substantially, so we can bring some of their business over our way.”
“You want to move onto their turf?”
North London had some boroughs with serious money. It would be an area worth having.
“I don’t just want to move onto their turf, I want to turn them off it and piss all over it to mark my territory. Since we’re in this together now, I assume I have your support.”
Tam cocked his head. “Let’s see if we can make the deal first.”
If the Gilligans left North London, what would happen to Ivy? She’d have to go with them. She’d be too exposed living alone without the protection of her family. Would that mean I’d never see her again? I’d secretly hoped I might bump into her by accident in central London sometime soon.
That wouldn’t happen if I drove her family out of the city.
Chapter Six
Ivy