Payback

‘Pleased to meet you too,’ Ben Bloggs added.

‘Jo, did Dad leave me any money? Only me and Ben are bored and we want to go to the pictures.’

‘No, he didn’t, but let me get my purse and I can give you some.’ Jo was so relieved the child hadn’t showed her up in front of her mother that she would happily have given him the contents, but instead she handed him a five-pound note.

‘Cheers, Jo. Bye, ladies and Molly,’ Little Vinny shouted, as he and Ben marched out of the door.

As they ran off down the road, Little Vinny waved the five-pound note in Ben’s face. ‘Told you I would get money off the silly slag, didn’t I? Now who can we ask to get us some fags?’

Vivian stood open-mouthed as she stared at her kitchen.

‘I knew it, she don’t like it,’ Queenie mumbled, punching her son in the arm.

‘It’s even got a dishwasher, Auntie Viv, look,’ Vinny said, pointing out the appliance.

All of a sudden, Vivian clapped her hands together in glee. ‘It’s the bollocks! I love it!’

‘Thank goodness for that,’ Queenie muttered.

‘And we’ve got another surprise for you, haven’t we, Mum?’

Queenie nodded. She had been worried how Viv would react on walking into the house, having to face how empty it was without Lenny, but so far she had been fine. However, Viv hadn’t seen her second surprise yet and even though Queenie thought she would be thrilled, she was nervous in case it had the opposite effect and send her sister back into a depression.

Vivian followed Vinny and Queenie up the stairs and gasped as they opened Lenny’s bedroom door. All his toys, clothes and other belongings that she had thrown out for the dustmen were now back in the room, including Zippy the monkey, who was perched in his usual place on the bed.

Vivian burst into tears, but they weren’t sad tears, they were ones of happiness. Out of all the things she had done when she was ill, chucking her beloved son’s belongings out was the thing she had regretted the most. ‘Oh dear God. This is wonderful! How did you get the stuff back from the dustmen?’

Crying happy tears too, Queenie hugged her sister. ‘The dustmen never took it – I did. I knew how much you would regret throwing Lenny’s belongings away once you felt better, Viv, so I rang Vinny and he collected it from mine and stored it at the club.’

‘I am so relieved. This has to be the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for me. I feel like a part of Lenny is back here with me now. Thank you both so much.’

Vinny took his aunt in his arms, rocked her side to side and kissed her on top of her head. ‘No need to thank us. We’re your family. Welcome home, Auntie Viv.’

Nancy Butler poured herself a glass of wine and dejectedly flopped onto the armchair. She had just been upstairs to apologize to Lee and entice the boys downstairs. Lee had been understanding, but Daniel had looked at her with hatred and refused to come out of his bedroom until his father came home, which had upset Nancy immensely. As for Adam, he was far too young to understand what was going on.

Desperate to speak to somebody, Nancy debated who to phone. Her friend Rhonda had gone to stay with family and Nancy knew her mother wouldn’t be very sympathetic, as she always sided with Michael when it came to Lee.

Picking up her handbag, Nancy opened her purse and stared at the phone number that Freda had given her the day before. She’d had no intention of contacting Dean, didn’t think it was right now she was back with Michael, but she was desperate for a friendly ear to tell her troubles to. Freda had told her under no circumstances should she ever call Dean from her home phone, so Nancy folded the number up and put it back in her purse. She then ran up the stairs. ‘Come on, boys, get your coats on. I’m taking you out for a burger.’

Vinny walked into the club and was surprised to see Michael sitting alone with a bottle of Scotch. ‘What’s up with you? You had another row with Nancy?’

When Michael explained what had happened earlier, Vinny tutted and shook his head in disgust. ‘You need to get rid of her, bruv, she’s a wrong ’un. What about that other bird? Have you got back in touch with her yet?’

Michael shook his head dismally. He was still constantly thinking about Bella and was sure she was the reason why he couldn’t get an erection with Nancy. ‘If I tell you something, you won’t take the piss, will you?’

Vinny shook his head, but when Michael admitted he had erectile dysfunction, Vinny couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ‘Alfie can’t get it up! Who would ever have thought it, eh?’

‘You ain’t fucking funny. I wish I’d never told you. If you tell anybody else, I swear to you, Vinny, me and you are finished.’

‘Calm down, you tart. I’m just messing with you. The only reason you can’t get it up with Nancy is because you’ve met someone else. Go on, ring the other bird – what you waiting for?’ Vinny asked, pouring himself a large Scotch and downing it in one.

‘What you doing here so early? You got problems as well? I thought you were picking Auntie Viv up.’

‘I did pick Auntie Viv up. She’s back at home, loved the kitchen, and you should have seen her face when she saw Champ’s room, Michael. Bowled over, she was. As for problems, I have my fair share, trust me on that one.’

‘You not getting on with Jo?’ Michael asked. He had been gobsmacked when he found out Jo was Johnny Preston’s daughter, and guessed that Vinny had only got with her out of some sadistic lust for revenge.

Vinny shook his head. He then admitted that Little Vinny had started to spiral out of control, and told Michael that he had found Yvonne Summers. ‘You should have seen the state of the fat slag, bruv. Made me feel ill to look at her. Reminded me of a sow on a fucking pig farm.’

Michael felt his blood run cold. He knew his brother had a tendency to wipe out people who had upset him and he only hoped Vinny wasn’t going to ask him to help. ‘If you want my opinion, you’d be mad to bother with Yvonne now. You could lose everything if you get banged up, Vin. Is she worth it?’

Vinny took a sip of his drink. ‘No. She ain’t worth a wank, Michael. However, I would still like to set the fat cunt on fire and watch her go up in flames.’

Queenie and Vivian were both hard at it in Queenie’s new kitchen. All the neighbours were bringing food for tomorrow’s street party, but being the type of women they were, both sisters were determined that their input into the occasion would beat any other.

‘Well? What do you think? Ain’t lost me touch, have I?’ Vivian asked, as she showed Queenie her tray of homemade Cornish pasties.

‘Oh, Vivvy, they look handsome, girl. Look at the gloss on that pastry. Do you know what, I’m amazed they didn’t let you help out with the cooking in that loony bin. You could have taught that mob a thing or two.’

Vivian chuckled. The pair of them had been sipping sherry while they worked, and with Mrs Mills on in the background it was just like old times. ‘I offered once, but the nurse looked at me in horror. I think she thought I was going to shove my head in the oven and gas meself.’

‘Well, don’t forget I told all the neighbours you’ve been recuperating in the country. Them nosy load of bastards will be prying tomorrow, you can bet your life,’ Queenie warned her sister.

Vivian smiled. It had hit her like a ton of bricks, walking into her own home without her Lenny being there to greet her, but she hadn’t wanted to show it. She might cry a few tears when she climbed into bed tonight, but she was determined not to wallow in grief again. Her Lenny had gone for good, and however many tears she cried he wasn’t coming back. If being institutionalized had taught her one thing, it was that. ‘Sod the neighbours, Queen. I couldn’t give a shit what they think. Now, turn Mrs Mills up and let’s have a singalong.’

Vinny and Michael were still having a brotherly heart-to-heart when the phone rang. ‘I’ll get it. You can bet your life it’s Nancy,’ Michael stated.

‘If it’s Ahmed, I ain’t here, bruv,’ Vinny said.

‘What’s going on, Vin? That’s the third time in the last two days you’ve made me tell Ahmed that you ain’t around. I’m not stupid, so please don’t lie to me. Have you got yourself involved in the drug game with him?’ Michael asked, when he sat back down. He knew Vinny wasn’t snorting any more. He could see it in his eyes and hear it in his speech, but he wouldn’t put it past his brother to deal in the stuff. Vinny was a greedy git when it came to money. Always had been, and always would be.

Knowing he’d have to come clean to a certain extent, Vinny told him, ‘It’s not drugs, Michael. There’s a business deal he wants to involve me in and I’m not sure about it.’

‘What sort of deal?’

‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing too serious, just a bit of a gamble. And there is a lot of dosh involved.’

‘Do you want my honest opinion?’

Vinny nodded.

‘If you think Ahmed has forgiven you for that accident, then you must be mad. I can see the truth in his eyes. I reckon he’s trying to rip you off, and if I was you I wouldn’t trust the Turkish cunt as far as I could throw him.’

Vinny took a swig of his drink. Before the accident, he had trusted Ahmed like a brother, but intuition told him that Michael might be right. Scraping together over a million in cash was a difficult enough task, but parting with it was even harder.

‘Where you going?’ Michael asked when Vinny stood up.

‘I’m going to ring Ahmed. If he thinks he can get one over on me, then he’s picked on the wrong fucking person.’

The two figures put the hoods up on their matching Adidas jackets and giggled as they approached Vinny Butler’s house. Both were in high spirits, thanks to the bottle of cider they had just polished off.

Seeing a woman in a hairnet walking towards them pulling a shopping trolley behind her, the boy grabbed his older accomplice’s arm and gesticulated for him to sit on the kerb alongside him.

When the woman passed without even glancing in their direction, the boy stood up. Satisfied that the coast was now clear, he held out his right hand. ‘Give it to me. I want to do it.’

The boy’s accomplice shook his head. ‘No. This was my idea and I can throw further than you.’

‘No, you can’t.’

‘Yes, I can.’

‘Give it to me.’

Ignoring the boy’s wishes, the older lad ran towards Vinny’s house and hurled the brick straight through the downstairs window.

At the sound of the blood-curdling scream from inside the house, both boys then ran for their lives.

Queenie and Vivian were both cooing over baby Tommy when the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ Brenda said. Having moved back home two days ago, she already hated living in the house without Dean. She was hoping that, if she made herself useful, her mother would let her and the kids stay at her place for a while.

‘I am so sorry for bothering you, but I didn’t know where else to go. Somebody threw a brick through the lounge window and it nearly hit Molly,’ Joanna gabbled when the door was flung open. She’d been in such a rush to leave the house, she’d carried her daughter in her arms.

Overhearing the conversation, Queenie darted into the hallway. Lots of women would never have forgiven their son for taking up with the daughter of a man who had virtually ended the life of one of their other sons, but Queenie was different to those shallow people. She trusted her first-born implicitly and if Joanna made him happy, then it made her happy too. ‘Whatever’s the matter, sweetheart?’

Joanna explained once again. ‘I tried to get hold of Vinny, but he’s not at the club,’ she wept.

Queenie led Joanna into the lounge. ‘Now you sit down, with Molly, my angel. Brenda will make you a nice sweet cup of tea and I’ll ring around and see if I can track Vinny down.’

Vinny Butler rammed his rather large penis up the blonde bird’s backside and grinned as Ahmed did the same to the black girl. He and Ahmed had often joked in the past that they had bonded as friends because they shared the same sadistic nature and warped sense of humour, and Vinny was pleased that their friendship seemed to be on track once again.

When Molly had been born and he had first held her in his arms, Vinny had made a mental pact with himself to give up the whorehouses for good. Abusing females in the sometimes violent manner that he had become accustomed to did not seem morally right now he had a daughter himself. However, after Ahmed had so gracefully accepted his decision and his reluctance to part with such a massive amount of money, Vinny had felt unable to say no to his suggestion that they have a night out, like old times.

‘Please do not squeeze my throat. You are hurting me,’ the blonde croaked.

‘Shut the fuck up,’ Vinny hissed, squeezing the girl’s throat even harder. He got off on inflicting pain and terror; had done since the day he beat a lad senseless in the school playground at the tender age of eight.

Vinny shut his eyes and thought of how Yvonne Summers used to look, upping the speed of his thrusts as he did so. When his orgasm arrived, it was a belter. But as soon as it was over, Vinny thought of his daughter, leapt off the bed and got dressed. ‘I’ll wait for you outside. It’s stuffy in here,’ he told Ahmed.

When Ahmed emerged minutes later, he asked Vinny why he had left so swiftly.

Not wanting to sound like a numpty by admitting that having a daughter had put him off whores, Vinny shrugged. ‘I was just hot. Come on, I need a drink.’

The two of them stepped into a nearby pub and found a quiet spot in the corner. Ahmed had known from the way Vinny had been avoiding his phone calls the last couple of days that he wasn’t going to part with the dosh, so Plan B was already well under way.

‘So, what happens now? Are you still going to go ahead with the deal?’ Vinny asked anxiously.

‘No. We are partners and in this together, which is why I have already spoken to another supplier. I think we might be able to set up a deal with them, but they have insisted on meeting you also. They are in London at the moment and have suggested we meet tomorrow evening.’

‘That’s fine by me. Thanks for being so understanding about the other deal, pal.’

Inwardly seething, as he had been desperate to rip Vinny off for over a million, Ahmed forced a smile. ‘No need to thank me. That’s what friends are for.’

In a far more upmarket part of London, Michael Butler was feeling like some stupid lovesick schoolboy as he stepped into the posh lift. Unlike the lifts in his neck of the woods, this one didn’t stink of sick and piss, and the walls weren’t covered in graffiti. In fact this one was so clean you could eat your dinner off the floor.

When the lift stopped, Michael could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He had tried his hardest not to ring her, he really had. But here he was in Chelsea, like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

Bella opened the door in a red see-through negligee. Being the red-blooded male that he was, Michael immediately felt his penis jump to attention.

‘Do come in, Michael. Would you like a glass of wine?’ Bella asked.

Michael nodded and followed her into the kitchen. Her voice was just as sexy as the rest of her. Husky, with an Italian lilt to it.

Making sure she was showing plenty of cleavage, Bella sat at the table opposite him. ‘So, what can I do for you? You said on the phone you had something to tell me.’

‘I do, but now I feel like an idiot saying it.’

‘Don’t be shy, Michael. You weren’t shy on the evening we met,’ Bella said with a smirk.

Michael stared at her. Her lipstick matched her negligee and all he could think of was fucking her senseless. ‘OK, I’ll be honest. I can’t stop thinking about you. You are on my mind every minute of every day.’

Bella took a sip of her wine. She was secretly thrilled by Michael’s confession, but didn’t want to show it. ‘You took your time getting in touch with me.’

‘I know and I’m sorry. I was just trying to fight it, I suppose.’

Bella stood up, undid her negligee and let it fall to the floor. ‘I think we need to make up for lost time then, don’t you?’

Michael did not need asking twice. He positioned Bella against the kitchen table and entered her like a rat up a drainpipe.

CHAPTER NINE

Vinny Butler woke up with the most excruciating headache. He hadn’t taken cocaine since Roy had killed himself, but last night after they had left the whorehouse, Ahmed had insisted that they must try the sample that his new contact had supplied.

Hearing the phone ring yet again, Vinny staggered into the lounge to answer it. He and Ahmed had ended up in some Soho nightclub and he hadn’t got back to the club until six a.m.

‘Where you been? Worried sick about you, I was. I never slept a wink last night.’

‘I’m sorry, Mum. I had a business meeting and didn’t get back until late, which is why I crashed here. I’d had a few bevvies, so didn’t want to wake Jo and the baby.’

‘Wake them! They were already bastard well awake, Vinny, which probably had something to do with the brick that flew through the window and nearly wiped out poor little Molly’s life.’

Vinny felt his blood run cold. ‘You what? Is Molly OK? What happened, Mum? If anyone has hurt her, I swear I will fucking kill ’em.’

‘Molly’s fine. Her and Jo stayed here the night. Best you get round yours and see if Little Vinny’s there. Poor sod’s been on his own all night, and I couldn’t go round there – not with Jo in a state and Vivvy just getting out of hospital. You want to take a good look at your life, son. You’re not a teenager any more, you’re a grown man with responsibilities. Those kids of yours should be top of your list of priorities, not your dodgy business dealings.’

‘I’m really sorry, Mum. Can I talk to Jo?’

‘No, she’s feeding Molly. Just get your arse home, then round here – and bring Jo and Molly a change of clothes and the pram. I just pray, with that window smashed, you haven’t been burgled as well.’

Vinny felt as guilty as sin when his mother ended the call. No way would he take cocaine again or visit whorehouses, ever! Molly deserved far better than that. Not knowing who had it in for him was driving him insane, but somebody obviously did, and when he found out who that individual was, he would personally chop their fucking head off.

Michael Butler groaned in ecstasy as Bella brought him to a shuddering orgasm. Nancy wasn’t a lover of blow-jobs and on the rare occasion she did give him one, it was with a very half-hearted attitude. Bella was the opposite. She couldn’t get enough of his cock and gave the best head that Michael had ever received in his life.

‘Babe, I’ve got to go now. My sons will be waiting for me to take them to my mum’s street party.’

‘Will we be seeing one another again? Only I’m not the type to sit at home staring at the phone hoping you might call, Michael.’

‘How about I take you out on Sunday? We’ll go up the West End if you like?’

Bella smiled. ‘I like that idea very much.’

Vinny Butler felt as guilty as hell when he walked into his mother’s lounge. He picked his baby up, held her close to his chest and turned to Joanna. ‘I’m so sorry you couldn’t get hold of me last night. You must have been terrified. Did you clock who did it?’

Joanna shook her head. ‘The brick only missed Molly by an inch or so. It could have killed her, Vinny. I looked out of the window, but whoever did it must have already run off. I was too scared to go outside. Where was you? I thought you were working at the club?’

‘I was, but I then had to go out on business. I didn’t get back until late.’

‘Well, you should let Michael run the club for the next few nights and stay at home with Jo and the baby, Vinny. It was probably kids, but you can never be too careful,’ Queenie warned her son.

Vinny sighed. Michael had mentioned he had seen two little herberts hanging around outside the club earlier this week, so perhaps they were the culprits? But why would two kids have it in for him? It just didn’t add up.

‘I need to shoot out tonight, so best Jo stays here until I get back. I shouldn’t be too late.’

‘Where’s Little Vinny? Did you find him?’ Vivian asked.

‘Yeah, he’s round at Ben Bloggs’. They’re both coming to the party later and somebody is fixing the window as we speak.’

When Joanna left the room to get changed, Queenie stared at her son. ‘Has somebody got it in for you, boy? Best you tell us the truth in case we’re all in bloody danger.’

Not wanting to worry his mum or aunt, Vinny chuckled. ‘Don’t be daft. As you said, it was probably just kids.’

Nancy Butler had tears streaming down her face as she drove towards Queenie’s house. Michael hadn’t come home last night, hadn’t even contacted her, and Nancy knew their relationship was in trouble. Dean hadn’t been much help. Their conversation had been cut short as the kids were playing up outside the phonebox, but he had urged her to leave Michael. ‘Just get away from that family before it’s too late, Nance. You’ll regret it if you don’t,’ were Dean’s exact words.

‘Why you crying, Mummy?’ Adam asked innocently.

‘Because she was nasty to Lee, now Daddy hates her,’ Daniel replied.

Feeling panicky as a lorry overtook her, Nancy bumped the car up a nearby kerb. She had only passed her driving test a couple of months ago and Michael had bought her a Mini, but she rarely drove alone as she wasn’t confident enough. Feeling dreadfully sorry for herself, Nancy took a tissue out of her bag and blew her nose. No wonder Michael hated her right now. She was a crap driver, mother and wife.

Having helped decorate the street and tables with Union Jacks and bunting, Queenie and Vivian set about getting themselves glammed up. Most of their neighbours were as scruffy as arseholes, but Queenie and Vivian enjoyed standing out from the crowd. It was what they were all about.

‘Does this look OK, Queen? I lost weight in that hospital. Don’t look too big, does it?’ Vivian asked. She was wearing a pale blue sleeveless dress, navy shoes and a big straw hat.

‘You look a million dollars, Viv. But don’t forget to put your gold on. I’m wearing my sovereign today, and you should wear yours. What about my outfit? Not too over the top, is it?’ Queenie replied. She’d chosen a white sleeveless dress which she’d matched with a big red hat and red shoes. Both women had thought they were the bees knees since they were teenagers.

‘You look fabulous. When’s Vinny setting the disco system up in the front garden, Queen?’

‘He’s sorting it now. Right, shall we start taking the food out? I wonder what Stinky Susan has made?’

Vivian chuckled. Stinky Susan had moved into the house next door while she was in hospital. An unkempt-looking woman with permanently greasy hair, she had knocked on Viv’s door this morning and Viv had been greeted with a distinct whiff of unadulterated piss. ‘Christ knows, but I’m not eating anything she or anybody else brings. None of their homes are that wholesome, so we’ll just stick with our own grub.’

Queenie agreed, then linked arms with Viv. Usually, they avoided the neighbours like the plague, but there had been rumours flying about that Viv had been carted off to the nuthouse, and Queenie was determined to restore family pride. ‘Come on, let’s go and knock the nosy bastards dead.’

Having never driven to the East End before, Nancy panicked when she found many of the roads, including Queenie’s, were blocked off for street parties. Instead she headed for Michael’s club and was fortunate to find a parking space nearby.

‘Look, there’s Daddy! Dad, wait for us,’ Daniel screamed, as he and Lee chased after their father.

Picking Adam up, Nancy walked towards Michael. He had obviously stayed at the club as he was wearing different clothes to the ones he’d left home in the previous day. Nancy was relieved about that, as when she had rung the club late last night and again this morning she had been informed that her husband was not there.