“I’m going to take a slash.”

I sat back, folding my arms. “Well, that was unexpected.”

“Stu’s got dyslexia, but numbers are his thing. I have him do all the accounts at the garage.”

“Seriously? Imagine what he could do if he hadn’t left school so early.”

“Yup.”

I was still contemplating Stu’s unforeseen show of intelligence when Lee began coughing fitfully. He winced as he held onto his stomach.

“Tell me what happened,” I said quietly, moving closer and touching him softly on the arm.

“Prick got to me around four this morning and brought two of his pals. Did a number on my ribs.”

I gasped and found myself scrambling for the hem of his T-shirt, pulling it up and finding two large, dark bruises along one side of his ribcage. “Lee! You need to go to the hospital.”

I was touching him then, frantically running my fingers along his injuries. He let out a gruff breath as he closed his eyes.

“Not that I don’t enjoy you fussing over me, but I’ve had broken ribs before, and these aren’t broken. It looks worse than it feels.”

“It doesn’t look like it feels very good.”

“I’ll heal.”

I couldn’t have been frowning any harder if I tried. “He can’t get away with this. As soon as I clock in for work tomorrow, I’m going to my sergeant and filing a report.”

Lee turned his body, and my hands fell from his bruised ribs. “Karla,” he murmured. “No.” There was a finality to the word that brooked no argument. I argued anyway.

“I’m doing this, Lee. Steve Burrows is a disgrace to the uniform he wears, and he won’t be wearing it much longer if I have my way.” Christ, I might even go to my dad about it.

“It was payback,” said Lee. “And, like the saying goes, she’s a bitch. I’ve had far worse beatings in my time. I’m not having you involved in this. Burrows will get his, never doubt that.” His hand slid along my shoulder before grasping my neck. I closed my eyes for a second, savouring his touch before I shifted away.

“So, why did you give him the black eye?”

“Huh?”

“Last night you told me you lied, that it was you who hit him but you had a reason. What was the reason?”

Lee huffed out a breath. “He came around again looking for money. I sent him on his way, just like I said I would.”

I didn’t like that, didn’t like how seemingly easily violence came to him.

“You hit David, too, to warn him away from Sophie. How long do you think using your fists as a solution is going to last, Lee?”

“If someone hurts my family, I hurt them back. If somebody threatens me with blackmail, I hurt them, too.” Lee shrugged. “I’m not saying I like it, but if you live in a war zone, you don’t survive with peace and love.”

“And what about when you get hurt? You’re hurt now, and you don’t seem to care.”

“Every method has its flaws.”

I stared at him sadly, thinking of the life he’d lived and how it had hardened him. Stu returned to the table then, and a second later the waitress was there with our food. I took my time stirring sugar into my coffee while the brothers dug into their breakfasts.

“These eggs are bullshit,” said Lee. “Have they ever heard of seasoning?”

I couldn’t help but smile, for a moment forgetting my worries. It was sort of cute how much of a foodie he was.

“It’s a greasy spoon,” said Stu, mouth full of bacon. “What do you want?” It sounded more like “whaddayawant.”

“Some cracked black pepper wouldn’t go amiss. Maybe a pinch of sea salt,” Lee replied, goading his brother on.

Stu shook his head and continued shovelling down bacon as he flipped Lee off. I wasn’t too sure if Stu liked me much, but in a strange way I enjoyed watching the two of them interact as siblings. Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I pulled it out and found a text message from Tony, informing me that the girl I’d handed off to the paramedics last night had to have her stomach pumped, but she was doing well now. Her parents had been called to the hospital.

I shot off a quick message thanking him for letting me know and glanced up to find Lee watching me. He raised an eyebrow.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I answered, brow furrowing. “Uh, do you mind if I ask a question you might not like to answer?”

“Hit me.”

I cleared my throat. “Well, there’s this new ecstasy drug all the kids are taking. I helped a girl last night who’d been in a really bad way. You wouldn’t happen to know who’s distributing it, would you?”

Stu whistled low, shaking his head. “You have some balls asking that, Karla.”

Lee shot him a silencing look and turned back to me. “Sorry, but I can’t help you there.”

I knew instantly that he was lying. “So what you really mean is, you know but you’re not going to tell me.”

“I’m not your PI, and I’ll never be a snitch. So, like I said, I can’t help you.”

I narrowed my gaze at him. “Are you involved?”

Stu slammed down his coffee cup. “Fuck me, Constable. You need to stop asking questions.”

Lee seemed offended. “I told you how Mum died. She was a heroin junkie nearly all her life. Liam was born addicted, and it’s a miracle he survived.” He paused to look me dead in the eye. “I’ll never be involved in the drugs trade. Never. There’s your answer.”