The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

  “Remember,” Tyrese said, as he rose to his feet, “Not a word of this to anyone.”

  * * *

  Aurora walked hesitantly down the corridor and paused outside the front door. School had finished quarter of an hour ago, and Aurora had walked back to the estate alone. Clint hadn’t returned after going off to meet Troy, and Sasha and Brandy had been kept behind because they hadn’t handed in any coursework.

  Pushing her nerves aside, Aurora pressed the doorbell and heard the noise echo inside the flat. Footsteps came down the hall and the door opened, and Zoe poked her head outside.

  “Hi Zoe, its only me,” Aurora said, smiling awkwardly, “I just wanted to check how you and Sienna were, if that’s okay.”

  Zoe seemed surprised, but she opened the door and Aurora stepped inside, grateful for the warmth.

  “You been to school today then?” Zoe asked, as she led the way back to the kitchen.

  “Yeah,” Aurora shrugged, “Same as usual. How long have you got off?”

  “They said I could have up until summer off, but I’m thinking I might not go back at all,” Zoe said, as she filled up the kettle, “Not like I was a genius or anything anyway.”

  “So how are you feeling now?” Aurora asked.

  “Good, thanks. Tired, but good.”

  “And Sienna?”

  “She’s great,” Zoe smiled, “Best thing that’s ever happened to me, if I’m honest.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Yeah,” Zoe said, “And my mum’s been round today.”

  “That was nice of her. Whereabouts does she live?”

  “Manchester,” Zoe said, blushing slightly. “We had a bit of a row, so I got my own place here and she moved off to Manchester with her boyfriend.”

  “But you sorted everything out now?” Aurora asked.

  “Kind of,” Zoe sighed. “You know what mums are like. One minute she’s all nice and friendly, next thing she’s shouting and swearing at me like I’m some piece of shit.”

  Aurora nodded. She knew the feeling only too well, especially recently.

  “I know how you feel,” Aurora said, “Me and my mum have been having problems lately, since Shaniqua died.”

  “Yeah,” Zoe said, suddenly looked uncomfortable.

  “It’s been hard for her,” Aurora continued, “Well, for both of us really, but mum has started drinking loads and taking antidepressants. Still, I’m sure she’ll get better soon, you know, it just takes time to heal. Once she’s finished grieving she’ll be back to normal.”

  “Yeah,” Zoe nodded, “I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

  The kettle finished boiling and Zoe poured them drinks, spilling hot water over the surface. Aurora watched her shaking hands and wondered why Zoe became so nervous around her.

  “I’m glad you and Sienna are okay, by the way,” Aurora said, hoping it would put Zoe more at ease.

  Zoe turned around, looking surprised, “Thanks. It’s nice of you to come around, too. Nobody else has been round to see me, except for my mum and Sasha.”

  “Not Brandy?” Aurora asked, surprised.

  “No,” Zoe said, handing her a cup of tea, “We had a falling out at the party.”

  “I thought Sasha said she’d seen Brandy at the hospital?”

  “Yeah, Brandy came to see me. Hardly looked at Sienna, she just wanted to make sure I didn’t say anything -”

  Zoe suddenly stopped and turned a deep shade of crimson. She tried to take a sip of tea but coughed, splattering it across the table. Aurora jumped to her feet and got a tea towel, mopping up the mess, whilst Zoe looked flustered and more uncomfortable than before.

  “Are you okay?” Aurora asked, concerned.

  Zoe nodded, “Yeah, sorry. Tea went down the wrong way.”

  Aurora smiled and patted her hand, as Zoe began talking about the baby clothes she planned to buy for Sienna. Aurora looked at the young mum and wondered what she’d been about to say before she’d caught her tongue.

  * * *

  Brandy and Sasha walked down the road, heads bent against the wind and light rain that had started to fall.

  “I can’t believe that bastard teacher,” Sasha grumbled, “Keeping us behind for not doing her stupid-ass essay.”

  “Fucking dick,” Brandy agreed. “And now we’ve got to walk home in the rain.”

  “Have you and Troy sorted everything out yet?”

  “No,” Brandy sighed, “And it’s not likely to happen anytime soon, either.”

  “What did you argue about?” Sasha asked.

  “Just stupid things,” Brandy said, but Sasha knew that there was much more to it than that.

  As they crossed the courtyard, two guys on bikes whistled.

  “Ignore them,” Brandy hissed in Sasha’s ear.

  Sasha, however, slowed down her pace.

  She’d seen the two boys, wearing hoods and baggy jeans, a few days ago. The taller one, with a shaved head and smooth caramel skin, winked at her.

  “What’s your name gorgeous?” he asked.

  “Sasha,” she replied.

  “Nice name,” the boy smiled, “My name’s Wright.”

  “That’s sexy,” Sasha said, licking her lips.

  “Eugh, please,” Brandy said, standing between them now, “You can do so much better, Sasha.”

  “Who is your friend?” Wright asked, gesturing to Brandy.

  “This is Brandy,” Sasha said, and Brandy glared at her.

  “Yeah, my names Brandy,” she said, turning on the two boys, “My boyfriend’s name is Troy Banks. You know, one of the Banks brothers.”

  The two boys exchanged looks.

  “Scared of him?” Brandy said smugly, sneering at Wright.

  Wright laughed, and Brandy looked surprised.

  “Scared of that pathetic twat?” Wright laughed, “No chance.”

  “Well, I guess you won’t mind if I ring him right now,” Brandy persisted, “Ask him to come on down and have a chat with you.”

  “Go ahead,” Wright shrugged, “We can call a few of our mates down.”

  Brandy sniggered, “Right, whatever.”

  “You ever heard of Jayden Healy?” Wright’s friend asked. “He’s pretty well known in these parts.”

  Brandy froze and looked at Sasha, but Sasha seemed unaware of any problem with the names. She hadn’t listened to Troy and his brothers discuss the rivalry between the gangs, the tension on the street, the worry about future violence between them.

  “I’m guessing you have,” Wright grinned, “From the look on your face.”

  Brandy shrugged, “I’ve heard of him, sure. But I’m not scared of him.”

  “Well, maybe you should tell your boyfriend and his brothers that they should be,” Wright laughed.

  “Whatever,” Brandy retorted, “I can’t be arsed wasting my time listening to this crap.”

  She grabbed Sasha around the arm and led her across the courtyard away from the boys, Sasha looking over her shoulder at Wright.

  “Hey sweetie,” Wright called out, “We’ll be down here later if you’re up for it.”

  “She won’t be,” Brandy called back, “She’s got too much class than that.”

  As they rounded the corner, Brandy chanced a look back. Wright and his friend were joking around on their bikes, the confrontation already forgotten. Brandy forced herself to observe their faces, remember every little detail. She wouldn’t forget any of this so easily.

  * * *

  Aurora opened her front door and immediately heard the television. She closed the door quietly and walked through to the lounge, where Marlena was sat on the sofa, drinking a can of cider.

  Marlena looked up at her as she walked in, eyebrows raised in suspicion.

  “Where have you been ‘til now?” she asked, eyeing the clock.

  Aurora groaned. She had known this would happen. She had stayed at Zoe’s for longer than she had intended to, and it was now two hours since school had finished.


  “I was at a friend’s house,” Aurora replied.

  “Boyfriend?”

  “No, at a friend’s house.”

  “Which friend?”

  “Zoe Taylor.”

  “Whose she?” Marlena asked, “I’ve never heard of her.”

  “Why would you have? She’s in my class at school, and she’s just had a baby.”

  “Right,” Marlena said, clearly doubtful of Aurora’s story.

  “Anyway, I said I’d meet Clint later, so I just need to shower and get changed,” Aurora said, waiting for her mother’s explosion, but none came. “Is that okay mum?”

  “Do whatever you like,” Marlena said, “Most people do.”

  “Okay,” Aurora said uncertainly, “I’ll just jump in the shower, and I’ll come see you before I go out.”

  “Fine,” Marlena said.

  Aurora left the lounge and Marlena continued staring unblinkingly at the television. She heard running water and wondered at how quickly her daughter had gained her independence. And now there was a boyfriend. Clint. Marlena had heard of the family. Or at least, she’d heard of his father. A wife-beater, no less.

  Marlena sighed. She knew that Clint was little like his father, or at least that was what it seemed to her. Aurora was a smart girl, she knew that, and she knew that her daughter would never put up with something like that. She had raised her daughters too strong, too independent, for that to ever happen.

  Still, Marlena was worried. Shaniqua had been taken from her and now Aurora was being taken from her. How could God be so cruel? Marlena downed the rest of the can and went into the kitchen to find some more. The cider was finished, but a bottle of wine she’d had for months was in the fridge door. Oh well, she thought, and reached for the bottle opener.

  One daughter was lost and the other was leaving her. Marlena wondered how long it would be before she was all alone in the flat, deserted and betrayed. She took a deep sigh and drank heavily straight from the wine bottle.

  * * *

  With the streetlights flickering on, Sasha crept out of her flat and went down the alleyway. Brandy’s words rang in her mind. She had told her not to meet Wright and his friends, under any circumstances, but Sasha had chosen to ignore her. After all, Brandy had a boyfriend, so her rejection of the boys had been because she was jealous of Sasha’s freedom, not because there was anything wrong with them.

  Her phone vibrated and Sasha saw a text from Zoe. Aurora had been round to see her. Sasha smiled to herself and quickly sent back a reply. She was glad that Aurora and Zoe finally seemed to be getting closer, and she was even happier that Aurora and Clint were finally together.

  Now all she needed was to bag herself a man and everything would be sorted.

  As she neared the corner, she listened for the noise of bikes or lads’ laughter, but it was all quiet. Perhaps Wright had gone home, or perhaps he’d never intended to meet her at all and was just playing games like so many guys did.

  Sasha hoped that he hadn’t gone. She’d done her hair and make-up, and she’d chosen a tight-fitting black dress that showed off her figure. After all this effort, she didn’t want it to end up like her party, with a quick grope and nothing more, or worse, nothing at all.

  She turned the corner and saw nobody. The bikes had gone. She took a few more steps and stopped. Nobody was here.

  She heard movement behind her and suddenly hands slipped around her waist.

  “I was starting to think you weren’t going to show up,” Wright whispered in her ear.

  Sasha grinned. She slipped out of his grip and looked into his face. Shiny earrings glistened from both of his ears, and his face was just as beautiful as she’d remembered it.

  “I thought you might have gone home already,” Sasha said.

  Wright laughed.

  “No chance,” he smiled, “Not when I know I can get my leg over.”

  “Who said anything about you getting your leg over?” Sasha whispered, closing the gap between them, “It’s all about me getting my leg over tonight.”

  She pushed him hard against the wall and kissed him. She pressed against him, her hands moving quickly over his body, taking it all in, whilst his hands slid from the small of her back up to her chest.

  “You sure about this?” he gasped, their lips inches apart.

  “Of course,” Sasha replied, unzipping Wright’s jeans.

  * * *

  Brandy stood in Troy’s bedroom watching the expressions change on Troy’s face.

  “What do you mean, you saw some of Jayden’s guys?” Troy repeated, glaring at her.

  Brandy was surprised by his reaction. He had been apologetic, as always, when she’d turned up at the flat and she’d forgiven him. Then she’d mentioned seeing Wright and his friend, and Troy had leapt off the bed, looking like a wild animal.

  “I already told you,” Brandy sighed, “They were just talking shit, trying to impress Sasha.”

  “They said we should be scared?”

  “Yeah,” Brandy laughed, “As if they’re some tough guys. Your brothers could walk all over Jayden and his team of pussies.”

  Troy was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.

  “Is everything okay?” Brandy asked, bewildered.

  “Yeah,” Troy nodded. “Fine.”

  “You’re not scared of them are you?” Brandy asked incredulously.

  “Of course not,” Troy sniggered, “Why would I be?”

  “Good, because we shouldn’t be scared of them. They’re losers.”

  “So did Sasha go and meet them then? That Wright guy?”

  “No, she’s too clever for that,” Brandy replied. “Way too clever.”

  “Good,” Troy said firmly.

  “I’m just going to take a shower,” Brandy said.

  “Okay.”

  As Brandy stripped down and stepped out into the bathroom, Troy went into the lounge, where Jessie, Tyrese and Trent were watching television.

  “Can I talk to you a minute?” he asked, looking at Tyrese.

  Tyrese and Trent exchanged looks, and Tyrese nodded.

  “Jessie, fuck off,” Troy said.

  Jessie turned towards him, her eyes suspicious.

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so,” Troy replied.

  “Pah, as if I care what you say.”

  “Give us a minute,” Tyrese interrupted.

  Jessie looked between her brothers and groaned, sliding off the sofa and to her feet.

  “Fine then, I’ll go out and see Jazz then,” she snapped, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

  “What is it?” Tyrese asked.

  “Brandy just saw some of Jayden’s guys,” Troy explained, “Hanging about downstairs. They tried it on with her and a mate.”

  “Talk about overstepping the mark,” Trent spat.

  “That’s not all,” Troy continued, “They said we should be scared of Jayden.”

  “Huh, not likely,” Trent grinned.

  “I think it’s about the guns,” Troy persisted, “Maybe they got some more.”

  “Don’t worry,” Tyrese said, holding up his hand. “It’s sorted.”

  “Sorted?” Troy repeated. “What do you mean?”

  “We’ve sorted that little problem out.”

  “How?” Troy asked.

  “We got a delivery about an hour ago,” Trent said, excitement evident in his voice.

  “You got some guns?” Troy asked, surprised.

  “Two for now,” Tyrese said, “So we’re all set.”

  “Can I see them?”

  Tyrese nodded and stood up, leading Troy into his bedroom. The room was messy, but Tyrese reached under the bed and pulled out a blue blanket.

  He laid it on the bed and unwrapped it gently, as if unwrapping a baby or a delicate gift. Troy leaned closer, eager for his first look.

  The last fold of blanket fell away and the gun lay there, shiny and exciting. Troy reached down, but Tyrese put h
is hand up.

  “No, we don’t want to leave any prints,” he said, and Troy nodded, suddenly feeling like a foolish child. As if sensing Troy’s emotion, Tyrese added, “Don’t worry, everyone gets like that. Forget themselves. But you’ll have a go soon, I promise.”

  Troy smiled, and watched as Tyrese carefully refolded the blanket and tucked it back under the bed.

  “What if mum finds it?” Troy asked.

  “She won’t,” Tyrese replied, “She knows much better than to sneak about in my room.”

  They retreated to the lounge, when the bathroom door opened and Brandy stepped out in just a towel. Trent wolf-whistled and Brandy shot him a filthy look, before disappearing into Troy’s bedroom. Troy winked at his brothers and followed her into his room.

  “What were you lot whispering about in there?” Brandy asked, turning to look at him.

  “Just gang-stuff,” Troy replied, and Brandy smiled.

  “Anything you can tell me?”

  “It’s private stuff,” Troy said, “Big stuff.”

  Brandy beamed with pride and moved closer, resting her arms on Troy’s shoulders.

  “So you’re doing well then,” she said, “If they’re trusting you that much.”

  “Of course,” Troy said, his pride wounded.

  Brandy moved closer and pressed against him, her face inches from his. Troy quickly hooked his finger underneath the towel and pulled it away, leaving Brandy standing naked in front of him. He slowly backed her onto the bed and she fell onto the sheets, still glistening from the water. Troy kicked off his clothes and fell on top of her.

  His thoughts quickly turned to the events of the day. He’d learnt two major things. One was that he had proved himself at last to his brothers - he was officially a gang member. Second was that he wanted Aurora. Her body against his, her lips against his. As he entered Brandy, groaning with pleasure, he didn’t think of Brandy. He thought of Aurora.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  As the curtains were pulled back and filled the room with light, Troy groaned and buried his head deeper into the pillow. Beside him, he could hear Brandy’s muttered grumblings too.