Tainted Love

‘Apology accepted, but it doesn’t change anything, Vinny. Michael’s family is everything to him, you know that. I can’t avoid visiting your mother or family parties. Michael would know something was wrong if I didn’t ever go with him, which is why I have to tell him the truth.’

‘Seriously, Bella, you’ll cause World War Three if you open your trap. My mum’ll despise you, so will my aunt. And my brother will never forgive us. Why can’t you just keep schtum?’

‘Because you and I will have to socialize from time to time and you won’t let go of what happened. It was meaningless sex, that’s all.’

‘Whaddya mean, I won’t let go? Jesus, you must rate yourself, girl. I’ve had hundreds better than you in the sack, believe me,’ Vinny lied. ‘Look, let’s be adult about this. You love Michael and he loves you. I want my brother to be happy in life. Let’s not mention me and you ever again, and try to be civil to one another on the odd occasion our paths cross, for Michael’s sake. The past is the past, we can’t change that, but you can have a blinding future with my bro if you don’t start blabbing your mouth off.’

‘OK. But I’m warning you, Vinny, if you go back on your word, I swear I will tell Michael every single vulgar detail. Including that I only fucked you in the first place because you reminded me of him.’

Queenie Butler was feeling guilty. Vinny had given her a stern talking to yesterday. ‘I feel sorry for Auntie Viv. You’ve got all us, but she must be stuck in her house on her Jack Jones. You’re all she’s got and I really feel you should be the bigger person. Give her a knock, an’ tell her you wanna sort things out. That’s the advice you gave me and Michael when we were at loggerheads,’ her son had reminded her.

Determined to bite the bullet, Queenie picked her handbag up and marched next door but one. Deciding not to use her own key, Queenie rang the bell.

There was no answer.

Having not spoken to a soul for days, Vivian Harris was thoroughly enjoying a bit of company. She and Albie were in the Grave Maurice, reminiscing about years gone by.

‘You are a funny one, Vivvy. Is that true?’ Albie chuckled.

‘Cross my heart, and hope to die. Pissed as farts, me father and the registrar were. Me mother couldn’t spell. That’s why my name’s spelt like a man’s. It was meant to have an i-e-n-n and e on the end. I thought you knew that story. Queenie must’ve told you, surely?’

‘She probably did. But knowing me, I was bladdered at the time and don’t bleedin’ remember. You and Queen’ll be as thick as thieves again soon, you know. Both as pig-headed as each other, ain’t ya?’

‘What will be will be. No way am I apologizing though, not this time. I’ve been a bloody good sister to her, Albie. Vinny kills my Lenny and she’s got the cheek to throw a wobbler over a clash of words. I’ve even been polite to that murdering bastard of a son of hers since Christmas, purely to keep her happy.’

Aware of the twisted expression on Vivian’s face and the unshed tears in her eyes, Albie leaned across the table, took her hands in his and did his best to comfort her.

In the far corner of the pub, Nosy Hilda very nearly dropped her Guinness in shock. She’d been glued to her chair watching Albie and Viv laughing and joking for the past half-hour. Now they were acting like lovesick teenagers.

Deciding to sneak out of the pub before either spotted her, Hilda grabbed her coat. She couldn’t wait to tell Mouthy Maureen this bit of gossip. Albie Butler and Vivian Harris – whoever would have thought it?

Unsettled by his meeting with Bella, instead of going back to the club, Vinny Butler went on a pub crawl. To say he was seething was an understatement. Bella had come out on top today and he knew it. But he’d had no choice other than to agree with her in case she decided to carry out her threat and spill her guts to Michael. No way could his brother find out the truth. It would almost certainly tip him over the edge.

Strolling into the brothel, Vinny was met with a look of distaste by the old madam on the desk.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked curtly.

‘Yeah. I want the tall dark-haired bird. Monica, I think her name is.’

Aware that the last time this man had visited these premises he’d been very heavy-handed towards Monica, the madam replied, ‘Monica is currently otherwise engaged. Would you like to pick another girl?’

‘Nah. How about you ask Monica if she can unengage herself for five hundred quid, eh? There’s a oner on top of that for you, of course.’

Scuttling away from the reception desk, the old madam returned and held her hand out for payment. ‘Monica is just freshening up. I’ll take all the money up front, thank you.’

Fifteen minutes later, Vinny Butler had his rock-hard penis shoved as far up Monica’s back passage as it would go. She was obviously in pain from the savage way he was banging her and Vinny liked that very much.

Losing himself in the moment, Vinny stroked Monica’s long dark hair. The ugly slut looked nothing like Bella from the front, but from the back she did. ‘You think you got one over on me, did you, eh? Well think again,’ he hissed as he pounded away like a madman. ‘Nobody messes with me, nobody,’ he panted.

When he finally shot his load, Vinny yanked Monica’s hair back with such force he was lucky he didn’t break her neck. ‘Oh, Bella,’ he sighed in ecstasy.

CHAPTER SIX

‘Gandar!’ cried Oliver Butler joyfully.

Gary Allen picked his fifteen-month-old grandson up and lifted him in the air. He’d been so disappointed when his teenage daughter had first told him she was pregnant, but he couldn’t imagine life without Oliver now.

‘Whaddya think of his outfit?’ Little Vinny asked.

Gary chuckled. Oliver, or Ollie as he was usually referred to, was dressed in brown corduroy trousers, leather boots, a chunky beige cardigan and a check cap. ‘Looks like a little old man. Suits him though.’

Little Vinny beamed with pride. He and Sammi-Lou both loved shopping and dressing their son up to look the business. ‘Once upon a time it was me and Sammi with wardrobes full of designer clothes, Gal. How times change, eh?’ he joked.

Times had most certainly changed. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones had been all the rage when Gary was a teenager, but now groups like Duran Duran and Wham! topped the charts. Women no longer dressed like ladies. They wore ripped jeans and their hair messy. Grown men walked around thinking they looked cool in ridiculous bright-coloured shell-suits. But in Gary’s eyes the most surprising change of all was Little Vinny. Gary had hated the lad with a passion when he’d first started dating Sammi-Lou, thought he was a total waste of space. Thankfully, the lad had proved him wrong. Considering he was still only nineteen, he’d turned out to be a top-drawer dad. He also made Sammi-Lou incredibly happy.

‘My dad isn’t meeting us now. He rung me this morning, said something had cropped up. He told me to pick the suits and he’ll get measured up for his in the next day or two.’

Gary Allen was pleased. He’d never liked Vinny Butler. Michael was OK, but Vinny had a cocky arrogance about him. Having built up his construction business from nothing, gangsters didn’t impress Gary Allen. He was a self-made millionaire through pure hard graft, so why would he be impressed by anything less?

Gary introduced his future son-in-law to his tailor, Maurice.

‘I want all the main men at my wedding to be wearing the same suit as me. My fiancée has chosen crimson for her bridesmaid dresses, so I want a similar colour and style to this, but with a waistcoat underneath,’ Little Vinny explained, showing Maurice the magazine.

‘I have another suit in that colour. Would you like to try it on for size, sir?’

‘You got one my son can try on first? I’m dying to see him in it.’

Oliver Butler’s hair was now a strawberry-blond colour, which today was Brylcreemed with a side parting.

‘Look at him, Gal. Cool dude or what?’ Little Vinny gushed minutes later, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

‘He most certainly is. Looks so grown up.’

Little Vinny crouched down and put some aviator-style dark glasses on his pride and joy. ‘It’ll be sunny in June.’

Gary Allen laughed. ‘Miami Vice!’

Vinny Butler was in a foul mood. He’d drunk a bottle of Scotch last night, had woken up with the headache of all headaches, missed his son’s suit fitting, and was now running late for his meet with Eddie Mitchell.

Cursing as he stubbed his little toe, Vinny punched the door that had caused his pain. Trouble was, the door wasn’t to blame. Bella was.

Vinny stepped in the shower and closed his eyes. Engulfed by hot water, he thought back to the past. Only one female had ever got under his skin in his lifetime: Yvonne Summers. When she’d broken his heart, Vinnie had vowed never to allow himself to be cast under a bird’s spell again. He hadn’t, but there was something about Bella that had an undesirable effect on him, and he was sure the bitch knew it.

The Enemy had learned a lot while banged up, including the art of deception.

Today, he was back in Whitechapel dressed like a geek. He’d purchased the duffel coat, woolly hat and satchel in a charity shop. Glancing at his reflection, he smirked. He looked like a student. To carry books under his arm had been an awesome idea.

Clutching the satchel close to his side, he walked towards Michael’s club. Inside the satchel was the filleting knife and the first opportunity that arose to use it, the Enemy intended to take it. Seeing his father in that hospital, unable to talk or eat, had been a sight that would live with him for ever. No kid should ever have to go through what he had. That was why he’d been so messed up. Not any more, though. He was ready to get even.

‘Sorry I’m late, Ed. The morning from hell,’ Vinny Butler apologized, shaking his pal’s hand. Eddie Mitchell was the youngest son of the legendary Harry Mitchell, and it was well known in the underworld that it was now Eddie who pulled most of the strings within the Mitchell firm.

Ordering the waiter to bring Vinny a drink, Eddie grinned. ‘How’s tricks? Seems like ages since we’ve had a proper catch-up.’

‘All good my end, thanks. How’s Jess and the kids?’

‘Driving me mad and costing me a fortune, as per usual,’ Eddie joked. ‘How’s Michael doing?’

‘Plodding on. His club’s been busy, so that keeps his mind off all the other shit. Still cut up over Adam, but he’ll learn to live with it. I had to with Molly. Made of strong stuff, us Butlers.’

‘Did Nancy’s body ever show up?’

‘Nah. Long washed out to sea, her. Never mind. At least she died the way she wanted to die, so that’s a comfort,’ Vinny replied, his voice laden with sarcasm. ‘So, what’s this business deal you’ve got for me? Fancy opening a club together, do ya?’

Eddie Mitchell chuckled. He liked Vinny Butler, but Vinny had a few skeletons in the closet. Ex drug baron, prostitute basher and suspected psychopath, to name just three. Perhaps one day Eddie would consider going into business with Vinny. But not until his pal had proved himself completely. Eddie was no man’s fool and even though he trusted Vinny, loose cannons were a liability. Eddie only had to look at his own brother to realize that. ‘Nah, I’m not ready to become a club owner yet, pal. However, I do have a container-load of booze up for grabs.’

Knowing that whatever Eddie had on offer must be kosher, Vinny rubbed his hands together in anticipation. ‘Enlighten me.’

Having had no joy spotting Michael Butler, the Enemy could barely believe his luck when he saw Vivian Harris strolling along the street, arms weighed down with shopping bags. He quickened his pace and furtively glanced around. There were only two other people about, an elderly couple holding arms.

Sliding his right hand inside the satchel, he felt for his knife. He was a fast runner, had a change of clothes with him, and an alibi lined up.

He thought back to the last time he’d used a filleting knife. He’d felt no remorse on that occasion, none whatsoever. The incident had happened inside a packed carvery. He’d been a young lad at the time, happily tucking into a roast lamb dinner when he spotted a boy from school. Martin Mabbutt came from a big, loving family, and resentment and hatred had flooded the Enemy’s thoughts as he’d lunged towards him. He’d ended up stabbing Martin twice and his interfering father once. Both had lived, but he’d revelled in the havoc he’d caused and how close he’d come to killing them.

Breaking into a jog, he felt pure adrenaline pump through his veins as he inched closer to his prey. He glanced around again. The coast was clear. This was it. The moment he’d been waiting for. He pulled out the knife and was about to plunge it in Vivian’s back when he heard a voice shout ‘Rex!’

The Enemy discreetly slid the knife back inside the satchel, before locking eyes with a bloke who asked, ‘You seen a black-and-white dog?’

‘Nah, mate. Sorry,’ he replied, before crossing over the road. The geezer had got a very good look at him, and he wasn’t stupid. Revenge would have to wait until another day.

Chuffed with the container-load of spirits he’d just shaken hands with Eddie Mitchell on, Vinny Butler was celebrating the deal with a spirit or two himself. ‘I haven’t seen you since the Deborah Preston drama, have I? Did you hear what happened, Ed?’

‘No.’

‘Deborah, the delightful mother of my ex-bird, Joanna. Well, she only went and made a home-made bomb with the intention of blowing up my club.’

‘You what!’ spluttered Eddie, spitting his Scotch back in the glass.

Vinny laughed. ‘Honest to God. A nail bomb it was, the Old Bill told me. Her son tipped ’em off, apparently. Turned out she blamed me for Joanna and Johnny’s deaths and had gone off her rocker. They’ve carted her off to the funny farm now, thank Christ. That’s all I’m short of, some psycho bird lobbing bombs my way.’

Eddie Mitchell shook his head. ‘I’ve never met the woman, but she sounds a proper nutjob. Speaking of the Prestons, how’s your Ava doing?’

‘Good, mate. Settled in well. Buying her that mutt helped. Took her mind off her mother’s death, and she barely mentions Jo now.’

Eddie Mitchell studied his pal as he chirpily continued to chat about Ava. This wasn’t the first time it had crossed his mind that Vinny’d had something to do with Joanna’s death, but surely not? Even Vinny Butler would not stoop that low to get custody of a kid – would he?

‘I’d never have hurt Jo. You know that, don’t you, Ed?’ Vinny lied. ‘Me and her might not have always seen eye to eye, but she had a good heart and was a decent mother.’

It was now Eddie’s turn to lie. ‘I know you better than that, mate. It never even crossed my mind. How’s your mum keeping? If Ava’s living with her now, you really should consider getting your mum a gaff out my way. Whitechapel’s had its day, like the rest of the East End. Unrecognizable from when we were kids. The schools are far better in Essex.’

Vinny explained he’d been badgering his mother to move, without success, then told Eddie about Brenda’s latest escapade. ‘I’m embarrassed to call her my sister, Ed. I goes to the hospital to try and help her and she threatens to grass me up to the Old Bill about things that happened years ago. Mum’s insisted I leave her to get on with it. I wanted to give the geezer a right pasting, obviously – cheeky bastard. I mean, you don’t hurt a woman, do ya? Even a nightmare like Brenda.’

‘I feel your pain, Vin. My Ronny’s more of a hindrance to me than a help. I cringe every time he starts opening his trap after a bevvy. Mouth starts running away with him and he’s a fucking liability. However, if I had a sister and a bloke clumped her, I’d have to give him a dig. That geezer took a massive liberty. Bren’s your flesh and blood.’

Vinny had no feelings for his sister whatsoever, but nodded in agreement. If Eddie Mitchell thought giving Dave a pasting was the right thing to do, then he would. He might not love Brenda, but he adored a bit of violence.

Having seen her sister arrive home, Queenie gave it half an hour, then strutted up her path and rang the bell.

‘Oh, it’s you. What do you want?’ Vivian asked, pursing her lips.

‘Us to get back to normal. Can I come in? Only if Nosy Hilda sees me standing on the doorstep, the whole of Whitechapel will know our bloody business.’

Secretly pleased that Queenie had made the first move, Vivian marched into the kitchen and put the kettle on. ‘Spoke to me like shit you did, Queen. So hurtful, some of the things you said.’

‘I feel exactly the same about the stuff you said to me. Why don’t we just forget all about the row? We’re both as bad as one another when we lose our rag. If Mum were still alive, she’d bang our bleedin’ heads together.’

When Vivian and Queenie argued as kids, they’d always make up by linking their little fingers together and singing a rhyme. It was Viv who held hers out first.

Queenie chuckled as their fingers entwined. ‘I’ve missed you, you miserable old cow.’

‘Not as much as I’ve missed you, you cantankerous old bat.’

Talk about things coming in threes, Michael Butler pondered to himself. First, he’d had to sack two of his bar staff for thieving. Then his ice machine had broken. Now the toilet in the men’s was blocked. It was the end to a perfect day – not.

Depending on the day and people involved, Michael would occasionally hire his club out privately. Today was one of those days when he wished he hadn’t. Irish Danny had been a big old lump who’d probably killed himself due to his love of food. The club was packed with rowdy Irish relatives and there had already been two punch-ups.

Sighing as he heard yet another alcohol-fuelled rendition of ‘Danny Boy’ being belted out over the mike by some pisspot, Michael poured himself a Scotch, sank back in his leather chair and swung his legs on top of his office desk. He shut his eyes and was disturbed seconds later by a pounding on the door. ‘What?’ he yelled.

‘You’ve got a visitor, boss.’

‘Who?’

‘A beautiful lady.’

Michael leapt up and kicked the leg of his desk with frustration. Katy had been stalking him via phone all day and he’d told her not to come here tonight. ‘Send her in,’ Michael spat. No way was he going to succumb to her charm. The only fuck she would get tonight would be him telling her to ‘fuck off’.

He was pouring himself another drink when the door opened. He turned, ready to treat Katy to a barrage of abuse, then dropped his glass in shock.

‘Bella!’ he exclaimed.

CHAPTER SEVEN

As dawn broke the following day, Michael and Bella were still trying to sort out their differences. Michael wasn’t happy with Bella’s explanation as to why she’d disappeared for months. It had hurt him beyond belief when she’d told him she was staying away because she ‘needed space’. Obviously, he was elated to see her, but he wasn’t about to allow her to waltz back into his life as though she’d never been gone in the first place.

‘Something don’t add up to me, Bell. I can understand you shooting back to Italy to visit your sick nan, but not for all that time. You obviously got cold feet. I ain’t no mug, so don’t lie to me. We don’t have a future unless you tell me the truth. Did you get cold feet? Or did you meet another geezer? There’s definitely something you ain’t telling me.’

Bella was sick of repeating herself. She’d guessed Michael would be peeved, but thought he would’ve been more pleased to see her. They’d not even kissed yet and he was as cold as ice. ‘I am not lying to you, Michael. My nana was at death’s door for a long while. Even the doctors were amazed she finally pulled through,’ Bella lied. What else could she do – admit that she’d fucked his brother senseless?

‘OK, so I believe your nan was ill. That still doesn’t explain you telling me you needed space. I thought we were a couple and I wanted to be there for you. That’s what people that love one another do, Bella. No matter how awful the situation, we’re meant to support each other. You were my rock when Adam died. I try to return the favour and you push me away like I’m some nuisance, a worthless piece of shit. I was still grieving an’ all, you know. I didn’t get over my son’s death overnight. Still bloody haven’t, and probably never will.’

Bella was a tough cookie, barely ever cried, but she finally broke down. She had been selfish, had not given Adam’s death a thought when she’d first blanked Michael’s calls, then ordered him to give her some space. How she hated herself for that now. But she’d been so consumed by guilt, she couldn’t think about anything other than what she’d done.

‘Well, say something then. Crocodile tears don’t wash with me.’

‘The truth is I was worried about the pace our relationship was developing. I love you with all my heart, Michael, always have done and always will. But to take on your two boys is a massive ask. Not so much from my point of view, but I have Antonio to think of – he is my world. Your sons are much older, and I’m not sure it would work out if we all lived together. No way will I risk my son’s happiness by rushing into anything, especially marriage.’

‘More lies, Bella? You were probably at it with some other geezer,’ Michael spat accusingly. He had no idea why he was being so horrible to her. Was it guilt because he hadn’t been able to keep his cock in his trousers?

When Bella began to sob and plead her innocence, he finally softened. Sitting next to her, he put his arms around her. ‘I’m so sorry, babe, I know you’d never cheat on me really.’

‘And I’m so sorry too.’

Michael held the woman he loved close to his chest. ‘Everything will be all right, Bell. Please don’t shut me out again though, that’s all I ask. My life was like an empty shell without you, and believe me, I’m no soppy bastard that usually comes out with such crap. But it was. I only feel whole when we’re together.’

Laughing and crying at the same time, Bella held Michael’s handsome face in her hands. ‘I swear to God, I will never shut you out again.’

‘Things will work out, you know. Perhaps I came on too strong, mentioning marriage and stuff? I know it’s not gonna be easy, us making a go of it with the three boys. So let’s make a pact to take things more slowly. There’s no rush for us to move in together. And even if we decide we want to, there’s certainly no rush for us to get hitched. We’ll make a fresh start. Go on some proper dates, and when the time feels right we’ll introduce the boys properly. Sound OK to you?’

‘I’ve missed you so much,’ Bella murmured, in her sexy half-English half-Italian drawl.

Michael breathed deeply, lust taking over every part of him. ‘I want you badly. I promise if you ravish me, I’ll return the favour.’

Bella unzipped the man of her dream’s trousers and took his penis in her mouth.

Michael Butler stared at Bella’s beautiful face as she pleasured him. She truly was his soul-mate and he knew it.

Katy Spencer and her friend Lucy Tompkins were in high spirits as they joined the pharmacy queue in Boots.

‘I’m so excited for you. When will you tell him – if you are?’ Lucy giggled.

‘As soon as I get him alone. I’ve never been a week late before, so I reckon I must be,’ Katy convinced herself.

‘I wonder if he’ll ask you to move straight in with him?’

‘Michael can be very romantic, so it wouldn’t surprise me. You should see the faces and hear the noises he makes when we have sex. He’s totally into me, Luce, I can tell. The only reason we’re not already living together is because he thinks it’s too soon for Lee and Daniel after Nancy. He loves me, I know it.’

‘He is such a catch, Katy. You are one lucky girl. Which reminds me: while we’re in Romford you must pop into Downtown and get that record. Every time I hear it, it makes me think of you and Michael.’

‘What record?’

‘The new one in the chart I told you about. It’s so you and Mr Butler.’