Fall and Rise of the King (Kings Duet)

by Ruby Wolff

  “Beer?” I look over to the right as Vinny walks over to us, then back up at the window. “She wants me out of the apartment. Andy said it's best if I come to join you.”

  I nod to let him know I heard him, then take a drag of my cigarette before taking the beer off him.

  “I'm sorry I've put you in this position,” I tell Vinny again. I don't know how many times I can apologise to him, but it’ll never be enough.

  “I hate that it's come to this. I knew Ben walking away from them wasn’t an easy job, but him going like this was not something we expected.” Vinny says. “You protected your sister. You didn't know about Ben. There’s nothing else to really say.” I watch him for a moment, wondering if he’s just saying that to make me shut up, or if he means it. “Angel, once she’s past the grieving stage, Stuart will talk to her. Then, we’ll go from there.”

  I've only spoken to Stuart on the computer. For the first time, I may have to let someone else fight to win back my queen. There’s no way she’ll even look at me, never mind talk to me.

  “Mr Frost?” a voice calls out.

  I look at one of my police friends. “Officer Jones, how are you this evening?” I ask.

  He’s the one who normally tells the family when something’s happening, and that we need to clean it up. His dad worked with my grandad, and then he joined the force and has helped us. When he first started, he wanted nothing to do with us. Then, he slowly realised we aren't here to make trouble in Sinwick. We want to clean it up just as much as he does—we just do it our way.

  “Good. I heard there was some trouble at the bar tonight.”

  “Nothing I can't fix.” I look over at him, and he knows what I mean without having to say anything more. “How are the streets?” I ask, taking another drag of my cigarette. I look back over the window, hoping Alice will look outside.

  “We picked up a group of lads two days ago selling drugs. They had guns on them, but wouldn't say where they got them from,” he says. I look over at him as he looks through his notebook. “I was going to come to talk to you this week about it.”

  “The last we checked, gun and drug crime had gone down.”

  “It has, way down,” he agrees. “And that's because of you and your family, but you always said if anything comes across, to tell you.”

  I look over at Pike so he knows we need to look into the boys and find out where they got the guns and drugs. “Give me time—I’ll have a chat with them.” Throwing my cigarette on the ground, I step on it. “Officer Jones, how's the family doing?”

  I might not want to talk about business with him, but I need to talk to someone other than family at the moment. Even if just for a few seconds, talking about something other than business is good for me.

  “Good, Mr Frost. The wife is pregnant again, so that’s exciting, and the little one starts school soon.” A huge smile lights up his face

  That’s what I want. That smile on my face when I talk about my family.

  Sometimes, I wonder if this is the life I want to continue living. Is this the road I want my kids to take? Then I shake that thought out of my head. The moment the Frost family hangs up their guns, my city will get a beating, and my kids will grow up in a broken town. I can't let that happen, either. If I have to say it as it is, this is my city, and I love being the king of it. As soon as I get my queen back, nothing will stop us.

  “Congratulations,” I say to the officer.“ Remember, if you need anything, you know where we are.” I shake his hand, then lean back against the car.

  “And if you need anything from me, you know where I am as well. Have a nice evening, Mr Frost.”

  “You too, Officer Jones,” I say as he walks away from us.

  I turn back to Vinny and Pike. Without saying another word to each other, we settle back into watching Alice’s apartment, ready for whatever the night brings.

  Chapter 23

  Alice

  I haven't stopped crying. I haven't stopped replaying the night. My throat hurts from shouting that night and from the endless crying.

  Drew hasn't left my side. She’s tried to talk me into speaking with Vinny, but I don't want to see any of them. They all stood there while this happened. They all did nothing to save my brother. In the end, I told Drew to stop talking about them or leave.

  I walk over to the window and see that Angel's still out there. He’s been out there all night, and Vinny and Pike are with him. I never thought the time would come where I couldn’t even look at the man who’s protected me for so long.

  I look over at the door as Drew walks in. "Uncle Stuart will be here any minute. Can you please eat something?" She sets a croissant on the dressing table, then walks over to me and wraps her arms around me.

  "Are you…?"

  "No, Drew. You were there." I stop as I feel tears escaping my eyes again. "He stood there and did nothing. Right now, when I see him, I hate him even more," I say, wiping the tears away.

  I move away from the window the moment Angel looks up. I hear the door open and spin towards the sound. Making my way out to the front of my apartment, I see Vinny putting down a bag.

  "I got—"

  "I want you to leave," I snap. My gaze locks with his, making it clear I mean what I've just said.

  Vinny looks over at Drew and, without saying another word, he leaves.

  "He just wants—"

  "He just wants to not feel like shit for standing there," I interrupt. I walk back into my room, slamming the door behind me.

  I look back out at the road and see Angel standing there. My gaze moves to the car parking in front of his.

  My heart drops when I see Uncle Stuart getting out. Angel walks over to him as Andy and Robert join them. I can’t hear anything with my window closed, but Angel looks up to my window, and Uncle Stuart nods and walks into the apartment building.

  Opening the door, I walk out to the sitting area and wait for my family to come up. Drew opens the front door, and I watch Uncle Stuart as he moves closer to me. He opens his arms, and I fall against him and start crying again.

  “It'll be okay, sweetheart,” he says as he rubs my back. “This is—“

  “Angel’s fault, and I don’t want to hear anything else about it,” I interrupt. I don’t need another person telling me that it’s not Angel’s fault.

  “Alice, sweetheart, he needs to see you.” He cups my face, and I shake my head. “I’m here, and we'll make everything right, but let’s sit and get some food into you, first.” Uncle Stuart walks over to the table and pulls out a chair for me.

  Aunt Lisa sits on the chair next to me and takes my hand in hers. She doesn’t say anything. I think they all understand how I’m feeling, and the fewer people who talk to me the better.

  ***

  I finally slept a little after we ate. Aunt Lisa kept telling me to go rest, get some sleep, and I didn’t really realise how tired my body was. Now, I sit next to Uncle Stuart and lean my head on his shoulder.

  “Sweetheart, that man has been standing out there day and night, in the rain, and it’s starting to get cold, maybe—”

  “No,” I snap. I’m not telling Angel to stand out there. He's doing that himself. He can stand there for as long as he likes. I’m not letting him close to me.

  “I know things aren’t in a good place at the moment, but I spoke to Ben every day. When it came to you, Ben trusted Angel. Ben told me that if there was going to be anyone who would protect you and give you the world, it’d be Angel,” Uncle Stuart says. I stay quiet, and I look over at Drew, bringing us all some tea. “Neither Ben nor I wanted you to get involved with someone in the lifestyle of the Frost family, but Ben said Angel loved you. Vinny told me the same thing.” Uncle Stuart stops when I sit up and take my tea from the table.

  “Please, just for an hour, can we not mention his name,” I plead as I stare at the TV.

  I love that they’ve come over from America to be here, but all I want to do right now is sit here and think of nothing. />
  ***

  Three days later

  I sit in church and stare at the casket. This isn't how this was meant to be. This isn't where Ben should be. He should be sitting here watching me get married. That's how I saw my future, not like this. I haven't stopped crying all day. The moment I woke up, it started. I hated waking up. All I wanted to do was hide, or pray hard enough that God would let me take Ben's place.

  I turn to see Uncle Stuart walking away, which tells me Angel has arrived. Uncle Stuart has been my rock. He’s held me when I needed someone to blame.

  "Vinny, she said you can stay for Ben, but everyone has to leave. She doesn't want to you here," I hear Uncle Stuart tell them.

  I don't look back. I’ve thought so much about that night, the things Harvey was saying, and the last thing Ben said to me. He could’ve said anything, but he said Angel didn't have a choice. I told Drew about what Ben said to me, and she said that if I want to hear what he meant, she'll tell me because she knew what happened that night, and how Angel just stood there. That night, I wanted to know why the man who said he loved me did nothing. This morning I asked her to tell me everything she knows. Once she finished, I could only sit at the table, staring at nothing. I didn't know what I felt. I was hurt that Ellie was selfish enough to do that. I hate that their mother didn't tell them what she was doing. I didn't know what or how to feel about Angel.

  Uncle Stuart told me I need to talk to him, give him a chance to tell his side of the story, or to at least talk to Vinny. He said Vinny just wants to tell me he's sorry. Angel wants to be here for me and hasn't left the side road since. I told Uncle Stuart that I need to bury my brother first, and then think about everything else. My mind's all mixed up with emotions, and I need some time to think about what I want to do.

  "Can I just see if she'll talk to me?” I hear Angel ask.

  I stand up and turn to face him. It’s the first time in days I’ve looked straight at him. He looks like a man who's as broken as I am. There's nothing dark around him. The devil in his eyes isn't there. The piercing blue eyes staring at me are begging me to let him get close.

  "If you want to stay, stay, but don't come close to me," I say. I don't know why he wants to stay. He didn't really know Ben—none of them did. They're all here for me, and I don't want them here. Right now, I don't care about them. I only care about my brother.

  I sit back down and lean my head against Aunt Lisa's shoulder. Becky walks to the other side and sits with Vinny.

  "Sweetheart, I think Ben would hate that you're not even talking to Vinny. It's killing him not being able to help you through this. Ben and Vinny were close, just as you are with him," Aunt Lisa says as she moves some of the hair away from my face.

  I close my eyes for a moment and think about Aunt Lisa’s words. Maybe she's right, and Ben would hate that I've pushed Vinny out. Maybe he’d be shouting at me right now. I have to shake my head at the thought of Ben standing in front of me, telling me how stupid I’m being.

  I look at Aunt Lisa, and she nods, telling me to go to Vinny and tell him I don't blame him for what happened.

  Walking over the other side, I hear Aunt Lisa call Becky over. She smiles, and I look up at Vinny when he stands up. Without me having to say a word, he wraps his arms around me and pulls me in, tightening his grip. I don't know which emotions have taken over my body, but I cry into his chest.

  Vinny gives me a kiss on my head and tells me everything will be okay, and that he's there for me. "I'm sorry," he says when I look up at him. "There's nothing I can say to tell you how sorry I am, but—"

  "Vinny, I don't want to talk about it. Today is hard enough," I whisper. I sit down next to him, and his arm settles around me, pulling me closer to him.

  We both sit there as the service begins, and I think about where my life will go from here. I'm still hiding from the family from hell, and I've lost my brother.

  ***

  The service was everything I hope Ben would’ve wanted it to be. I told Vinny I didn't want Angel here for the reception, but that went the way I thought it would. Angel's standing out in the living room.

  Sitting on the side of my bed, I stare out the window until I can’t stand it anymore. From under the bed, I pull out the box with all the things my dad had put in the bag for me. I retrieve the bunny teddy. This would go everywhere with me. As I look at it, I remember my parents.

  I haven’t looked at this for years. When I got to Andy’s, I put it in the box and never took it out. Right now, I need my family close to me. My fingers move over the soft fur, but I stop when I feel something in the foot of the bunny.

  Looking at it more closely, I see a small tear. Slowly, I rip it open and dig my finger inside to see what it is. When I pull it free, I realise it’s a USB stick. I rush to pull out my laptop and quickly connect it. I open the file and wait for the video to load. When it does, the sight of my father’s face instantly brings tears to my eyes.

  “Sweetpea, I don’t know how old you may be when you watch this. A part of me wishes you never see this and your life is calm, and the worst hasn’t happened. If I know the family, they'll be looking for you, trying to figure out what you know about them. So, I’m hoping that by the time you find this, you’re a beautiful grown woman. I know you’re beautiful.” My dad stops for a moment and looks down at the floor. “Andy knows everything, and I trust that he and Vinny will do everything they can to make sure you’re safe. On this USB stick are things I’ve found on the Midlands. I think they’ve started to realise I know about it, which means my life’s in danger. They'll kill all of us to make sure no one else knows about this. The family are working with some very dangerous people in Mexico. They’re bringing girls over and selling them. Then, there are the drugs.” My dad pauses and shakes his head wearily. “All the information's on the USB stick. When you find this, give it to the police. Be careful, though. The Midlands have police in their pockets, and trusting them won’t be easy.”

  My dad stops again, and I wipe the tears away. Seeing my dad’s face is overwhelming. I know that I'll listen to this again, many times. The emotions brought up by seeing him are indescribable. I’ve missed him so much, but I can barely focus on that with what he’s telling me. I know I’m missing important information, and have to stay focused on that right now. Later, when this is all over, maybe I’ll be able to finally face the loss of my parents and properly grieve for them without all the fear and unanswered questions.

  I take a deep breath and look back at the screen.

  “I know you’re brave, and that you’re the most beautiful woman there is. I hope Ben's protecting you and being the annoying big brother he should be,” my dad says with a small smile. Tears spring to my eyes and a rush of mixed emotions run through me. “Tell Ben that he better be a lawyer.” My dad starts laughing, and I shake my head. “Sweetheart, I can keep talking all day, but the most important thing I want you and Ben to know is, we love you so much, and we want the best for you.”

  I turn to the door as it slowly opens. Ann walks in, and I shut the laptop and put it on the bed.

  "It was a beautiful service." She sits on the bed next to me, and I smile. "I got this in the post yesterday. Ben sent it to me to give you." She hands me an envelope. "You need to know that your brother loved you, and he only ever wanted you to be safe."

  I wipe tears from my cheeks. "But it cost him his life. He spent his whole…" I start sobbing so hard I can't even finish what I want to say. Ann pulls me in closer to her, and I just cry. There's nothing I can say or do to change how I feel about all this.

  "Everything will be okay," she whispers into my hair. "If you ever want to talk and get away from all this, even for a day, call me, and I'll be there.”

  ”I will. Thank you, Ann, for being there for Ben when he needed someone.”

  She smiles sadly and leaves me to sort out my thoughts and emotions. I look at the envelope in my hand after she leaves, and stare at the last thing Ben wanted me to have.
r />   Alice,

  If you're reading this, things didn't turn out the way either of us wanted it to. I could say sorry for not leaving them when you begged me, but I'm not. I was able to keep you safe for so long. Because of that, my little sister found love. You found someone who makes you smile, and I don't regret that for a second.

  Whatever you do in your life from here, I know you'll make the most of it. Smile every day, and remember I love you.

  I sent this to Ann, just in case something happened to me before I could show you myself. I knew I'd find the mole, and I have. Show Angel, and tell him to kill them, or you do it if you have to. While I had the camera up, I've finally found out why they want you, too. Watch the video. Find it. I know you'll know what to do.

  Smile, Alice, you deserve it.

  Love, Ben

  I take another look in the envelope. There's nothing about the mole on the other side of the paper, but I see another USB stick.

  I grab my laptop and connect it. I wait for images to appear, and as I flick through them, I can’t believe what I'm seeing. How could they do this? How could they do this to their family?

  I look at my bedroom door, wondering who I should tell about this. I’m so angry at Angel right now, that he's the last person I want to see. I need to tell someone, though, and there's only one person I can trust with this.

  Chapter 24

  Angel

  "What do you mean she's not in her room?" I ask. I push past Drew to Alice’s room. Where the fuck did she go? I walk back to the dining room. "Where is she?" I look over at Ann since she was the last person to go in there.