The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

  “I’m okay,” he groaned. “Just cuts and bruises. Nothing’s broken. They’d only just got started when you got here.”

  Aurora sighed and helped Clint to his feet. He was unsteady, and he wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his arm.

  “Fine, let’s get you home then,” Aurora sighed, reluctant to dismiss such injuries, but he managed to walk with her support and she knew he was right that she had arrived just in time, before any bones could be broken.

  A few people stared at Clint’s battered face and blood-soaked clothes as they walked, but for the most part people averted their eyes. Nobody wanted to be called upon to help, nobody wanted to get involved or offer their help. It was best to stay out of it, that was what people round here thought, and Aurora understood it, she was sure she would be the same if it were the other way around.

  She opened the front door to her mum’s flat, relieved it wasn’t locked, and helped Clint into the bathroom. She called out for her mum but there was no response, and she was grateful for that at least. Helping Clint out of his clothes, Aurora tried not to worry as he winced with each movement. His chest and arms were heavily bruised and was relieved that there were no real wounds, no broken bones. Clint had a hot shower to calm the aches and wash away the blood, whilst Aurora went into the kitchen and put the bloodied clothes in the wash. She was glad her mum had not seen any of this; she would surely have been alarmed by the sight.

  When Clint finished in the shower, Aurora guided him to bed and rubbed lotion onto his cuts and bruises. He gave a weak smile, eyes closing, and she let him rest. Her mum came in soon after, the shopping bags she held clinking with bottles.

  “I knew you wouldn’t bother,” Marlena said, as she unpacked her wine.

  “I did –” Aurora protested, then stopped, remembering she had dropped the bottles and they now lay smashed on the path in the playing fields. “Never mind.”

  “Is he here too?” Marlena asked, pouring herself a glass of white wine.

  “He’s in bed,” Aurora said. “There was a – an incident.”

  “Surprise, surprise,” Marlena grumbled.

  “He’s really hurt,” Aurora said. “He was attacked earlier today.”

  “No more than he deserves,” Marlena shrugged, sipping her wine. “After what him and those animals did to my Shan, I hope they crippled the little –”

  “Mum!” Aurora protested, voice rising. “Clint got attacked by the Banks brothers. You know why they did it? To try and stop him from testifying in court, from trying to get justice for Shan and make sure Troy Banks gets locked up.”

  “Too little, too –”

  “Oh, shut up mum!” Aurora snapped. “He made a mistake and now he’s putting things right, making sure Troy gets put away for a long time. He wasn’t the one who killed Shan.”

  Marlena stared at her for a long moment and slurped her wine. Without saying another word she left the kitchen, picking the bottle of wine up off the counter and carrying it with her into the lounge. The door closed behind her.

  Aurora let out a sigh and went to check on Clint.

  * * *

  “I’m okay, honestly,” Clint insisted. Aurora looked concerned, but he forced a smile. “Seriously, go see your mum, see how she’s doing. I’ll be fine in here.”

  Aurora smiled at him and left the bedroom.

  When she was gone, Clint let the pain wash back over him. It was duller now than it had been thanks to the painkillers, but every movement made him jump with the agony.

  The pain was great, but nothing compared to the turmoil in his mind. He had heard Aurora and Marlena’s argument, or at least what they had said when their voices were raised. Aurora was a good girl, he knew, and she liked to see the best in people. She was so convinced that all would be forgiven once he had given his evidence in court. He hoped so too, but he knew it would be far harder than that.

  Marlena’s hurt was too deep for forgiveness, and he wondered if Aurora’s was too and she just hadn’t realised that yet.

  He loved her, he wanted to do the right thing by her and help her get justice for her sister, but he was scared. He knew what the Banks brothers were capable of; Shaniqua wasn’t the first to die at one of their hands and he knew she wasn’t the last either. He wondered if he might be added to that list if he didn’t take their advice and give court a miss.

  The thought worried him and he knew that Aurora would never forgive him if he didn’t do all that he could to get Troy sent down, but could he risk his life, his brother’s life, Aurora’s life even, just to get justice for someone who was already gone, already dead? Testifying wouldn’t bring Shaniqua back to life.

  He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep so that he could get some rest from the dark thoughts swirling in his mind. He wanted to please Aurora, but he didn’t want to die trying. He tried to clear his mind, but his doubts lingered on.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Clint was relieved to find the aches and pains had died down when he woke up, and he was able to get out of bed and shower without Aurora’s assistance. He joined Aurora in the kitchen when he’d dressed and felt bad for his thoughts last night, as if one look at him and Aurora would know he was having second thoughts about going to court and taking the stand against Troy.

  “You feeling better today?” Aurora asked, passing him a mug of coffee as he sat down at the table. Clint stared at her for a moment, fearing he might have spoken in his sleep about his doubts, but realised she was talking about his injuries. He sighed and nodded.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” he assured her. Aurora looked uncertain, but Clint smiled at her and she seemed pacified.

  He realised that he had not seen Kojo in the flat, and the lounge was silent. He looked at Aurora, a sudden panic rising in his chest.

  “Where’s Kojo?” he asked.

  “He didn’t stay here last night,” Aurora replied, sitting down at the table beside him and sipping her tea. “He text me, saying –”

  “And you didn’t think to tell me?” Clint asked, frustrated, rising out of his chair. “Something could’ve happened if he’s stayed round mum and dad’s place.”

  “If you let me finish,” Aurora interjected, her voice clipped. “Kojo text me last night and said he’d met up with some old mates and he stayed round at one of theirs. He’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

  Clint hesitated and then sat back down, feeling only a little reassured.

  “You still should have told me,” Clint said sullenly.

  “You were asleep,” Aurora argued. “And what would you have done anyway? Not like you were in any fit state to make decisions, or go round and bring him back. Besides, he deserves to spend a bit of time with his mates whilst he’s here.”

  Clint knew that she was right but he still felt frustrated. He had been dead to the world and anything could have happened to Kojo if he had stayed round at his parents’ and he would’ve been the last to know.

  “You’re not mad are you?” Aurora asked tentatively, watching him closely.

  Clint sighed and shook his head. He hated that he had made Aurora worried, and he knew she had done the right thing. He wondered if it was his guilt over his thoughts about the trial that was making him edgy and irritable.

  “It’s fine,” he said quietly. “Kojo should be with his mates.”

  Aurora looked relieved and Clint felt worse for what he had been thinking. He wondered if he should tell her, get it out in the open so they could discuss it, instead of him bottling these dark thoughts up inside him. She would be furious, he thought, and no doubt feel let down, but she might respect his honesty.

  He searched for the right words, before a knock on the front door disrupted his thoughts and he went to answer it, leaving Aurora to drink her tea.

  Tamar was standing there and he grinned when he saw Clint. Clint was surprised to see him, though he knew he shouldn’t have been. He realised a part of him had still wondered if Tamar was on Troy’s side or not.

&n
bsp; “What happened to your face man?” Tamar asked at once, cringing as he took in the black eye and split lip.

  “You know, ran into the Banks brothers,” Clint shrugged, and Tamar’s grin faded quickly.

  “Yeah they got me too,” Tamar said. “Ages ago now. They were looking for you, but I didn’t say nothing.”

  “Cheers man,” Clint said, feeling guilty that one of his friends should have had to take a beating just because of him. “And I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tamar said, waving off his apology. “How you been? I see you and Aurora are still together.”

  Clint nodded, smiling, and he stepped out of the flat and closed the front door behind him. A part of him did not want Aurora to know about the visit, because he still wasn’t sure how she felt about Tamar and Amal, who had been there when Shaniqua was stabbed as well.

  “Yeah we’re going strong,” Clint said. “You got any girls on the go?”

  Tamar shook his head, but Clint thought he saw a blush creep up his cheeks and he shifted uncomfortably, scuffing his trainers on the concrete balcony floor.

  “What are you doing back here then?” Tamar asked, “I mean, you must’ve known the Banks brothers wouldn’t be too keen on seeing you mate.”

  “I came back for Troy’s trial,” Clint admitted. “Got to testify, ain’t I.”

  Tamar nodded slowly, his lips thinning with worry.

  “You giving evidence?” Clint asked. “You gave a statement, right?”

  “Yeah, I gave a statement.”

  Clint waited for more but Tamar looked away, unable to meet his eyes, and Clint knew that his mate didn’t intend to be at court to give evidence against Troy. He wondered if Tamar was just scared of the Banks brothers, or if he didn’t want to be seen as a snitch, or if it was something more, if he still might have respect for Troy.

  “There’s a party tonight,” Tamar said, breaking the awkward silence. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Amal just got out of pen. Having a wild party to celebrate. I went round yesterday to see him, he said I should invite you.”

  “You sure?” Clint asked. He still wasn’t certain if he could trust Tamar and Amal, not if they still had Troy’s back whilst he was going to take the stand against him.

  “Yeah, it’s been way too fucking long man,” Tamar said, understanding Clint’s concern. “No trouble, no motive, just a bunch of us getting fucking wrecked and having a good time. You going to come?”

  “Yeah,” Clint decided, nodding. Tamar was right, it had been too long since he’d hung out with him and Amal. He had missed his mates, he realised now. He loved Aurora and Kojo, but they were his girlfriend and brother, not his mates, and a guy needed time with his mates.

  “Aurora can come too, ‘course,” Tamar said.

  “Wicked man,” Clint said, feeling excited now about tonight.

  “I’ll see you round Amal’s later then,” Tamar said. They bumped fists and Clint waved him off, before going back inside the flat. He thought this was what he needed, to have a few cans and be around his old mates. That was why he had been feeling so frustrated lately, he thought, he needed interaction beyond just Aurora and Kojo. He only hoped that Aurora would be as pleased as he was.

  * * *

  Trent rolled out of bed and glanced at Adrianna beside him, naked beneath the damp sheets. He reached out and stroked a strand of her blonde hair and she stirred, but didn’t open her eyes. It wasn’t often he let her spend the whole night in his bed, and even rarer that he didn’t make sure she was gone before he got out of bed. The last thing he needed was for her to get the wrong idea, to think that they were in a relationship or something. He had seen both his brothers get fucked over by girls they were in a heavy relationship with and he had no wish to make their mistakes himself. Troy had been well and truly shafted by fucking Brandy, and Tyrese was still moping over Mercy, a girl he’d been dating and who had left him because he didn’t want to get married. Fuck that, Trent thought, he preferred no strings fun and a bit of banter, no talk of marriage or any of that other serious shit.

  Tyrese poked his head round the bedroom door and caught Trent’s eye.

  “We got to talk about –”

  “Okay, okay,” Trent waved him off, and Tyrese retreated from the door.

  Trent nudged Adrianna and she gave a groan.

  “What time is it?” she mumbled, opening her eyes. She looked at Trent, stood in his boxers by the side of the bed, and smiled. “You want to play some more baby?”

  Trent felt himself stir as she slid the blanket off her and lay there naked in his bed, but he knew that Tyrese wouldn’t take kindly to waiting whilst he fucked around. He shook his head, turning away from her in case he changed his mind.

  “Suit yourself,” Adrianna said, clearly put out by his rejection. “Are you at least going to offer me a coffee or you just gonna throw me out like this?”

  “You got two minutes to get dressed,” Trent said, pulling his jeans on, his back still to her. “I got business to take care of, can’t all lie on our fucking backs all day.”

  “That’s what you think I do?” Adrianna snapped. “Fuck you, Trent.”

  He heard the mattress springs creak and her mutterings under her breath as she pulled her clothes on. He turned to look at her, and she was already fixing the straps on her dress and pulling her heels towards her across the floor.

  “You sure can change quick,” Trent said, trying to lighten the mood. “Can tell you’ve done this before.”

  Adrianna levelled him with a furious glare and said nothing as she stood up, heels on, and made to leave the room.

  “You’re not seriously pissed off?” Trent asked, shaking his head with bemusement. Girls were so fucking overdramatic, he thought.

  “Just get on with your oh-so-fucking-important meeting,” Adrianna hissed, and threw the door open and left. Trent followed her out the bedroom, pulling a vest on and heard her clattering along the kitchen tiles and out the front door.

  “She seemed happy,” Tyrese said, rolling his eyes. “Another satisfied customer I see.”

  Trent laughed and sat down in his armchair.

  “She’ll get over it,” he grinned. “What’s this you need to talk to me about that’s so important anyway?”

  Tyrese put down his coffee and looked at his brother, and Trent thought he knew what he was going to say and gave an inward groan.

  “Not about Troy,” Trent shook his head.

  “Yeah, ‘course it is,” Tyrese said. “We need to –”

  “No man, you need to drop it,” Trent said, his voice rising. “He might be a prick but he’s our brother, and he’s one of us. End of discussion.”

  Tyrese was agitated, Trent could see that on his brother’s face, but he didn’t care. The thought of leaving Troy locked up was disrespectful, even if he did hate his little brother sometimes.

  “I can’t believe you got me in the doghouse with the blonde for this,” Trent said, feeling angry with his brother for that more than anything right now.

  Tyrese sighed and let the subject drop, but Trent knew his brother wouldn’t forget about it and he was sure that it wouldn’t be long before the question of Troy would come up again. He just hoped next time it wasn’t when he had a bird round.

  * * *

  Amal was psyched for his party tonight and it wasn’t just because he was free and able to do whatever he wanted now he was out of prison. He had been out drinking last night and got his end away, so he was feeling good, but this party signified more to him than just a celebration of his freedom. It was a sign of things to come, he knew.

  When him and Sanjay had taken over the Goldsworth, their lives would be an endless party and he couldn’t wait for the days when his dreams would become a reality, and he was sure that the day could not be far away now. He had barely paid a thought to Troy, still locked-up, except to be grateful that he no longer had to sleep in a cell, and didn’t have to abide by stupid rules. He wondered if Tro
y would still be locked up when the Banks empire crumbled and him and Sanjay took over.

  Relaxing on the sofa, his mum brought him a coffee to wake him up, though he didn’t really need it. The party was enough motivation for him. The television was already on a music channel and Sanjay had cracked open a can, ignoring the disapproving look from his mum.

  “Here you are sweetheart,” his mum said as she put the mug down on the coffee table. She paused a moment, smiling adoringly down at him. “Anything you want, you just let me know.”

  Amal smiled back at her. She was delighted to have him back home and had waited on him hand and foot since he had walked through the front door after the court case. She had even agreed to make herself scarce tonight, and Amal knew she had no intention of sticking around to watch them all get drunk.

  She retreated to the kitchen, and Sanjay, sat on the adjacent sofa, smiled knowingly at his younger brother. Amal grinned, knowing his brother must have received the same treatment when he too had been released. Beside Sanjay, Fernanda was wearing a dressing gown, her dark hair wrapped up in a towel, and her foot up on the edge of the coffee table whilst she painted her toenails.

  “Naz is coming around soon so we can go pick up some crates,” Sanjay said, looking at Amal. “And we might pick up a bit of weed, to keep us chilled before the party gets started.”

  “Perfect,” Amal said, rubbing his hands together with excitement.

  “I still don’t see why I can’t come,” Fernanda said, looking at Sanjay with frustration. “I mean, what difference does it make if I’m here or not?”

  Sanjay put an arm around her shoulders, smiling at her.

  “We’ve been over this,” he said calmly. “It’s a lads’ night, no girls allowed.”

  Fernanda narrowed her eyes at him.

  “He’s been in prison, he’s had enough of just lads,” she protested. “I could bring some of my friends around, make it into a proper party, not –”

  “Yeah, that would –” Amal began, not seeing a problem with her offer, but Sanjay shot him a dark look and he fell silent.

  “Come on, it’s just a party to catch up with his old mates,” Sanjay insisted, kissing Fernanda on the cheek tenderly. “You get that, don’t you?”