Hi again,thank you for the great reviews! And hi to my new followers too :) Here is the chapter. Struggled a bit with this one,but hope you like it. Feel free to review :) x

Chapter 3

Brendan woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing, it was Cheryl.

"Hey Chez, how's things?" Brendan yawned.

He hadn't slept much last night, thoughts racing at high speed through his mind. He had decided at around 4 am that this was just crazy, one guy, someone he would probably never see again, clouding his judgement. He had to snap out of this, he was due over in Liverpool today, to see Cheryl.

"Brendan! Are ye listening to me? Where's your mind at this morning? I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Brendan noticed a cheeky tone to her voice as she spoke.

"No of course ye ain't Chez! I just woke up, give me a break if I'm not singing a song!" Brendan was up walking now, coffee was needed with 3 heaped spoonfuls of sugar. They had said their goodbyes, not before Cheryl had given the third degree on manners, and agreed to see him at Chez,Chez later that day.

It was a warm morning again,sun was shining. Brendan made his way to the club, Kevin and Walker were already there setting up. Brendan motioned to Walker to come into his office and left Kevin sorting out the bar.

"Do ye think Kevin is telling the truth, that Warren is playing some stupid game with me?" Brendan sat on the edge of his desk, his trousers pulled tight over his crotch and thigh as he brought up his leg slightly. Walker sat down on the couch opposite.

"Hard to say, boss. I mean he is an idiot, but yeah, been loyal hasn't he? And Warren just wants to be lord of the manor. Do you want me to get some of the lads together, and sort it all out?" Walker sits up straight ready to go all out guns blazing.

Brendan pinches the top of his nose deep in thought, moving his fingers down his moustache. "No not yet, I am going to see him myself, Foxy and I have some catching up to do." He walked round to the drinks stand, poured a whiskey, mindful it was still early morning.

He went to take a drink then paused,and said "The guy who was here last night, Kevin served him, he leave a message for me?" Walker stood to walk back into the bar.

"Erm, the one you were sat talking with at the table area? Not as far as I know, shall I ask the staff for you boss?" Brendan shuffled on the spot, and took a quick drink.

"No," and cleared his throat, "No thank ye, that will be all. Oh and try not to burn the place down while I am away, yeah?"

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Ste woke up still fully clothed sprawled on the bed. He groaned loudly as he stretched out cracking all his bones. He recalled how he got there last night, after being at the club with Brendan, the man he's supposed to be watching, gathering evidence on, and ultimately bringing his world crashing down.

Ste felt uneasy as a sadness came over him, he would need to delve deep to find the strength to complete his mission. He would have to forget these feelings he has. Besides, Brendan wont have even noticed he wasn't around any more, I mean he was a powerful man, business man why would he be interested in him.

Ste had a shower and got dressed for the day, this time he was dressed smart, in a grey suit, and blue shirt. He stood in front of the mirror, and instantly thought of him again, wearing that tight suit that clung onto his every curve. Ste bit his bottom lip, lifted up his finger and rested it on his top lip, and smiled. You're in trouble Ste He thought to himself.

Ste looked through his mission file again, putting Brendan's photos to one side, he looked through his known associates Danny Houston Warren Fox Simon Walker. He knew that last name, he remembered him from the club the other day. Brendan had called him Walker. So this a good a place as any to start with. Ste was sat in his BMW over the road from Bradys. He was waiting and hoping Brendan would leave soon, as he couldn't risk him seeing him there again . Ste's phone rings, it's Leanne.

"Alright Leanne! What have you got for me today then?" Said Ste.

"Hi Ste, right well we have been listening to his calls, looks like there's a problem with a Warren Fox? They have been trying to set up a meeting, Brady sounded heated on the phone. Yeah, anyway he's jetting off to Liverpool today, to see his sister and overlook the club." Ste listens intently.

"Right so, Liverpool, that's where Danny Houston is, isn't he?And one of his known contacts, I wonder if he is mixing business with family eh? Think I may need to get over there too; can you sort me out a flight?"

Brendan makes his way out of the club with his bags, a bright light shines in his eye as he looks up he sees a silver BMW pull away, didn't see who was driving as the sun blinded him. He threw his bags on the back seat, when his phone rings again. Caller withheld, Brendan answers it.

No one speaks, so he hangs up, only for the call to come through again. Brendan answers with a hello, but whoever this is obviously doesn't want to talk. Brendan speaks through his teeth.

"Think ye funny do ye? Calling me up and not speaking? Ye messin with the wrong man, watch ye back I'll be stood there soon enough." Brendan takes a sharp breath in, moves his head round and cracks his neck. Gets in his car and makes a hasty drive to the airport.

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Danny Houston sat around a table; he was talking to a man.

"You know what has to be done, right? He is stealing all my clients, and getting the stuff into the country behind my back".The man,took a drag from his cigarette and puffed out a long breath of smoke, it swirled around Danny's face.

"It will be dealt with; don't know why you are so wound up about it. Of course, we are going to need some leverage, a way to get him to back off." Danny stood up and laughed.

"Get him to back off? Oh no, I want him gone, as long as Brady around, I am not in control." The man took another drag and stubbed out the cigarette into the ash tray. These things take time you realise? You can get anything you want from him, if you know his weakness" Danny thought momentarily.

"You know his weakness then? A fail safe plan? Could work..." As the man stood up he was walking out when Danny called back to him

"You know what to do." The man nodded and left.

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Right on time, Brendan walks over to check-in. The woman behind the counter smiles up at Brendan longingly, something about this him that has men and women throwing themselves at him. Brendan just brushes it off and checks in his baggage, awkwardly smiling and making a quick exit from the lady. So, he's a bit early, an hour before his flight, he wanders off to buy something for Cheryl.

As he walks around the duty free, he hears a familiar voice. Heavy Manchurian accent, followed by a laugh what can only be described as a donkey? A donkey?! He thinks to himself. Brendan slowly backs up around and out of the shop doorway and glances over to a cafe next door. There stood chatting with the counter assistant is a the man he met last night, but dressed in a suit this time. Brendan felt his breath hitch as he walked over to him.

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Ste arrives in the airport car park, he parks up his car, grabs his overnight bag and heads inside. Walks over to the flight desk reception to pick up his ticket. He doesn't need to check in any bags, just have it as a carry on. So he sits down in the waiting lounge.

After a while people watching Ste decides to get something to eat, so wanders off to the nearest cafe, passing the duty free, he considers it, before ordering a drink and a sandwich. As the assistant passes over his drink Ste puts out his hand and knocks the cup flying, it splashes over the floor and on the assistant.

"Oh bloody el,sorreh about that!" Ste finds it highly amusing and starts to laugh out loud.

A tap on his shoulder startles him as he turns around, and his heart sinks, Brendan is stood there. Fuck thinks Ste.

"Well, fancy seeing you here!" Ste blurts out.

"Do ye? Well Steven, just as well I turn up then." Brendan smiles the biggest grin, and Ste believes he's actually just melted on the floor.

"Ey, what ya mean?" Ste asks him. "You said, 'fancy seeing me here'. No need to now, right?" Ste opens his mouth and looks to the side thinking, he gets it eventually.

"Wow, that's the best you can come up with? Don't give up ya day job then." Ste now beams wide at Brendan, completely lost in the moment, and forgetting why he's actually there.

"Well, seen as we are both here, let me buy you another drink, as your other one is thrown over that assistant." Smirks Brendan. Ste agrees and goes to sit down, trying to think on his feet.

He decides to go with it; they'll be on their flights soon anyway. Brendan joins Ste at the table and they sit looking at each other, this seems to go on for the entire hour until Brendan's phone rings. He sighs loudly as he sees it says Caller withheld. Brendan looks at the screen and rubs his temple.

"Hey...you okay? Who is it, a friend?" Ste moves over his hand to curl Brendan's arm in comfort, but Brendan moves it away quickly.

"Oh,I,I'm sorreh,I didn't mean...You looked troubled." Ste suddenly feels very uneasy and looks at the time left, half hour he decides.

"Someone...some GIT keeps calling me, but stays silent on the phone when I answer, it just gets me angry." Brendan admits, and then takes a drink of his coffee and winces, no bloody sugar!

Ste passed over some and watches mouth open as he rips 3 bagfuls in to the drink. "Ye will catch flies like that" Brendan glances up with a smirk.

He notices Ste's eyes better in this light gorgeous blue, and his golden hair still falling down over his forehead. Makes his heart fall into his stomach, that aching feeling again.

"What are you thinking about Brendan, you look deep in thought while you swim in my eyes." Ste feeling more confident now and likes to flirt with him.

"Yeah, I could drown if I'm not careful, by the way, why are you here? I mean, obviously you flying somewhere?" Ste panics a bit now; I mean what can his excuse be to be heading in the same bloody destination?

"Sightseeing! I erm, am a big, huge Beatles fan yeah? So where the place to visit, than Liverpool!" Ste felt his cheeks warm up and turn red again;this was embarrassment at its worst.

"Ye serious? Liverpool?Well, call it fate if ye loike, but that's where I'm going." An announcement boomed out over the speaker system, and Ste has never been so relieved to hear an announcement in his life. It was asking for a Mr S Smith to go to check out, that's all Ste needed so got up to leave.

"Um, so was nice seeing you again, Brendan. And I hope you have a good flight, and erm..." Ste surprised himself as he leaned down towards Brendan's cheek and was about to plant a kiss there when Brendan turned his face and they met each others lips.

It was gentle and quick, but Ste's heart fluttered and knees grew unsteady. He stood back up quickly, shouting "See ya!" As he hurried to check out.

Brendan took his fingers and smoothed them over the kiss he had received looked up from his hand and smiled.