Ardent

James shook his head; opening his eyes he looked around wildly, then vomited. ‘Oh god’ he cried out, the pain in his head stabbing him. Blinking his surroundings into focus he spotted Tom sat opposite him hooding a new shirt and a whiskey.
’You always did vomit after being knocker out’ Tom laughed, handing him the drink, ‘There’s that whiskey I owe you, sorry mate but well you know’ he muttered looking at the floor. Tom was a huge man, over 6 ft but James had loved him all his life, they used to be best friends.
‘god I feel rough’ James whined, pulling his stained shirt over his head and snatching the new one from Toms hand, ‘I used to laugh at people who got hit by you, I bloody pity them now’
’I did it light, honestly, I didn’t want to kill you did I?’
‘God knows what she had ordered you to do, where is she anyway? Wait. Am I on a plane?’
’Sure are, she has an offer for you, and if I were you I would take it, because I would hate to have to beat you up mate, but you know. What she says goes. Between you and me her father is getting impatient about his money’
‘Aww its so nice to see you two back together again. My sweet boys, fighting for me’ Emily laughed, walking from the other room.
’I didn’t exactly want to be on this plane though did I?’ James snarled looking around her private jet, ‘was this a present from Daddy?’
’Yes just like you were, but think has been with me longer, takes me higher too’ she cackled, ‘Tom tell him the deal, I’ll be back in an hour’.
James stared at his old workmate and winked, laughing together they hugged warmly, ‘How have you been mate? Did you ever get to be an actor?’
’Did I fuck, after everything I did with you, acting seemed hypocritical’ James laughed, swigging down the whiskey. ‘God I cannot believe I have been dragged bak into this, its like old times. What’s this bloody deal then? He smiled. Tom pulled a bottle of whiskey from the side, pouring himself and James another glass.
’Well son, turns out some guy in America has been hassling you know who, bag daddy. The one who owns your arse an so forth’
’I get the point’ James shouted, rolling his eyes.
’A deal was secured in Los Angeles, but it fell through and the boss lost two men, so we are out to find them, and collect the drugs’
‘Always the drugs’
‘Its where the money is, anyway, she needs you. Whether you want to or not, you are one of the smartest men she ever broke, and you are the one she enrages about the most, you left.’ Tom smiled, ‘I’m proud of you, and would do this without you if I could but its Nobel, I cant face Noble without you’
‘I thought Noble was inside?’
‘Was, now he’s out, but when we get there he will be dead’
‘Tom I have never killed anyone in my life, you know that’
‘I do’ Tom smiled, throwing him a gun, ‘But they don’t, I will get the first shot in don’t worry, I will even say you did it, get her of your back’
‘If I refuse?’ James asked, gripping the gun in his hand.
‘She knows what Keira looks like and where she lives’
‘Fucking hell’ James roared, ‘When can I just live?’
‘Look mate, you do this, your debt with her dad is cleared, he has even said he will give you 20k as a thank you, you can leave move away you will never see her again. Surely that’s easier? You fucked up badly last time, I need not remind you that if you enrage him now it could be the last thing you do’
‘I cannot believe I am doing this, what about her? She will be all over me!’
‘Go with it, you guys were good together. Well you were good anyway,’ tom laughed, ‘She will be back soon. Look just forget your good civilian life, live as you used to, be the James I know for a few weeks then you can put this all behind you’
James stood up, patting Tom on the shoulder; he walked into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Emily sat opposite Tom, staring at him, ‘You told him everything?’
‘Everything you said ma’am.’
‘How long has he been in there?’
‘He probably needs some time to think, you know he has been living life fairly normally, well pitifully in our comparison’ tom smiled, turning away from her icy glare. ‘Give him time’
Tom stared at the woman, who had ruined James life so wonderfully. Years ago when James was 19 an naïve she had dragged him into this violent world of sex, drugs and crime, and he had never looked back. Tom had taught him well, and James had proved to be a worthy partner, until her started fucking Emily. As much as she condemned him in front of Tom, Tom knew she couldn’t get enough of the fiery Scot, but after he lost 50k worth of drugs and 2 men in a bad deal years ago, she had taken control of him. He owed her father a lot of money ad she used that to control him, bit-by-bit he was paying it back, but if he did this deal he would be free forever. Staring at her, Tom wasn’t sure if Emily would ever let James go, deep down she cared for him, he could see that. Tom jumped as the bathroom door was flung open.
James stood, his hair was cut short, his beard shaved completely off, his eyes held no warmth, he was back.
’James’ Emily asked, stepping in front of him.
James looked at her and ripped his gun from his belt, holding it to the side of her head he threw her backwards and kissed her.
’James’ she squeaked with joy, her face a picture of delight as she threw her head backwards, ‘Your back’.
’I’m back, now get out of my sight, I need to talk to Tom’ he demanded, nipping at her neck and grabbing her arse. Emily smiled, ‘Play nice’ she laughed, closing the door behind her. James turned to Tom and winked, ‘Let the games begin’.

Miles away Keira sat shaking, ‘He isn’t answering his home phone, or his mobile. He has left me. I’m telling you, he doesn’t love me anymore’ she wept into Kayleigh arms.
‘Hush I am sure something has come up, he will be round here with his stupid floppy hair and grins very soon, its James e are talking about you know him!” Kayleigh smiled.