Two updates today! Short chapters (sorry for that) But chapter 18 will be longer! Remember to review!

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The Dragon and the Rose

Chapter Sixteen

Debt

'It smells good,' approved Pete, coming up behind Tegan to see her stirring pasta in a pan. She added herbs, smiling when he pressed himself against her and kissed her neck.

'Thanks,' she smiled. 'It's just about ready. Would you set the table?' Pete nodded, reluctant to move away, but making his way over to the cutlery drawer.

They were having a romantic evening in; nice meal, bottle of wine, a movie later that night…

Suddenly, the front door burst open and Rhys bounded in. Taking no notice of them, he grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned the TV on. He flicked over to the rugby, turning the volume up loud.

'C'mon, Ospreys! Fucking c'mon!' he cheered over the racket the TV was making.

'Rhys!' Tegan shouted over the noise. Her younger brother looked up with a frown.

'Oh, are you in the middle of something?' he asked.

'Yeah, we are,' Pete growled in reply. Rhys stared at him for a moment, before turning the TV off.

'Sorry,' he said without meaning. Getting to his feet, he strolled past the table, snagging the bottle of wine and heading for the bedroom.

'Little cunt,' Pete hissed, starting towards him.

'Leave it,' Tegan sighed. 'We can drink something else.'

'Like what?' he demanded, turning to look at her. She moved towards the fridge and opened it up.

'We have cola and… Fosters.'

'Oh, that's just fucking great, init?'

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Pete stared moodily into his beer, sat beside Bov and Keith in the Abbey. 'You've got a face like a slapped arse, bruv,' Bov told him.

'You would too if your fucking girlfriend's brother was a total shit.'

'What's he done now?'

'Me and Tegan was trying to 'ave a little romantic dinner last night and he just comes in and steals our fucking wine… I could hear his music from the bedroom. It ruined the mood.'

'We could just sort him out,' Keith shrugged, sparking up. Pete frowned.

'That's what I've been debating. But is it worth loosing Tegan over this?' The three men fell silent in their thoughts.

'I could easily do an Adam,' Bov said, after a moment.

'An Adam?' Pete frowned at his best mate.

'Yeah; you remember Adam. Years ago, when Lucy came back. And I beat him up to send him away. Well, I could easily do the same to Rhys.'

'Rhys ain't a puff like Adam was. He'd fight back. He's different.'

Bov frowned and sat back, draining his glass.

'Shame; I could do with a good fight.'

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Rhys was sat in the living room watching TV when his mobile rang. Flicking it open, he answered the call.

'Yes?'

'Where've you been, Rhysey boy?' The voice sent a chill shuddering through him and he almost choked on his beer. Regaining brief control, he straightened up, setting the can down.

'How'd you get this number?'

'I'm not as stupid as you think,' the man replied in a smooth, if dark Welsh accent. It was Craig More. Rhys used to work for him; did the dirty work for him and his 'friends'. More like a bunch of big fisted morons….

'I want you to do something for me.' Rhys exhaled, shaking his head.

'I don't do that anymore.'

Craig continued as if he hadn't heard him.

'His name's Gary Dwayne. He stole a few things off me. I want him dealt with.

Rhys sighed. He couldn't get out of this one. 'Where can I find him?'

'He resides in Central London,' Craig replied, before giving him an address. 'Oh, and I hope you haven't forgotten.'

'Forgotten?' Rhys frowned.

'The debt.'

'Oh.' Rhys hadn't forgot. How could he? Knowing that he had to pay it back sooner or later before things got… worse.

'You're late with the payment, but if you do this for me, I'll give you a second chance.'

'I'll get it paid,' stressed Rhys.

'Yeah; you will.' The line went dead and Rhys slowly lowered his phone.

Shit.

Running a hand over his head, Rhys slumped back in the chair. He thought he'd gotten out of that; gotten away at least.

He recalled all the times he'd been sent to beat someone up, or kill someone… He'd only done it for the money and had wanted out from the start.

It just wasn't as easy as that.

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