Fernanda glanced from Sanjay to Amal, and nodded.
“Fair enough,” she sighed. She stood up, her nails finished, and padded out of the lounge and off up the stairs to Sanjay’s bedroom.
Amal glared at his brother. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, a lad’s only night? Fernanda was right, he’d had enough of no-girls in prison, he was damned if he was going to miss out on the chance to hook-up tonight.
“What the fuck?” he demanded, but Sanjay put a finger to his own lips. Amal glanced around, and Sanjay leant back in his seat to look down the hallway, checking Fernanda was out of earshot. Amal lowered his voice. “What you talking about? No girls?”
“Don’t worry,” Sanjay said, a smile creeping onto his lips. “There’ll be plenty of girls. I just don’t want Fernanda here.”
Amal was relieved.
“How come? You not interested in her anymore?” Amal asked. He thought Fernanda was hot.
“She’s rushing me,” Sanjay shrugged. “We need a bit of space. I need some time, a chance to party it up, not get settled-down right now.”
Amal nodded in understanding.
“Yeah, I get you,” he said with sympathy.
The front door opened and Naz walked into the lounge a few moments later. He was wearing a cap and baggy jeans, and he had a gold chain around his neck. He sat down beside Sanjay on the sofa in the seat Fernanda had just vacated.
“What’s happening?” he asked, putting his feet up on the coffee table.
“We’re going to go get some beer,” Sanjay said, and he clapped his hands together, grinning at Amal.
“Nah, I mean, what’s really happening?” Naz asked. “About, you know –”
Amal knew at once what his cousin was asking about. The plan to take over the estate had been on his mind since his release, and he too was eager to know what Sanjay had come up with. He leant forward, and Sanjay gave them a reassuring smile.
“Look, guys, we need to take our time,” he said. “This won’t happen overnight.”
“Why not?” Naz demanded. “They’re weak.”
“The Banks brothers are,” Sanjay conceded. “But the Healy brothers aren’t.”
“Who gives a fuck?” Naz shrugged.
Amal remembered all the chaos from before. Troy and his brothers and their feud with Jayden and Corey Healy, which had pretty much caused a turf war over the Goldsworth.
“If we take out the Banks brothers, Jayden Healy and his dumbass brother will just step straight in and take over,” Sanjay said, shooting Naz a frustrated look. “And they’ll be a lot harder to take down than the Banks’s.”
“So what do we do?” Amal asked, knowing his brother was right.
“Work for them?” Naz rolled his eyes.
“We wait a while,” Sanjay said, ignoring Naz’s comment. “We’ll have to play them off against each other, make sure they’re both weak before we strike.”
“How long?” Naz wanted to know.
“However long it takes,” Sanjay said firmly. He looked from Naz to Amal, his eyes determined. “But we will take over, don’t you boys worry about that.”
* * *
Tamar crossed the estate with his hands in his pockets, thinking of what the Banks brothers might do to him if they knew he was still in contact with Clint. They had clearly already paid him a visit and he thought Clint had come off pretty lightly, just a black eye and a few cuts and bruises. He knew a lot of people who hadn’t escaped with such minor injuries after getting on the wrong side of them. If they’d had words with him already, he hoped they wouldn’t care too much who Clint hung out with. He didn’t want to stop being mates with Clint, they went back years. If Amal was willing to invite Clint to his party that was a show of solidarity in support of Clint, and Tamar was reassured. Amal and his brother were tough; if they had Clint’s back, then so did he.
He was distracted from his thoughts when he caught sight of Zoe coming towards him, pushing her daughter’s pram. Zoe hesitated when she saw him and Tamar smiled as he approached her.
“Hey,” he greeted her. Zoe smiled at him, her cheeks flushing. He hesitated a moment, remembering the last time he had seen her. He felt bad for leaving her flat in such a hurry, and he knew that she must have been upset by it. He hadn’t even text her since. He wanted to make things right. “You heard about the party at Amal’s tonight?” he asked.
“I thought he was locked-up,” Zoe said.
“He got out, so he’s having a big party to celebrate,” Tamar explained. “Anyway, it’s tonight, and it would be cool if you could come too.”
Zoe blushed harder and shifted on her feet.
“I’m not sure,” she muttered.
“Come on, it would be good for us to hang out a bit more together,” Tamar said, hoping he didn’t sound too keen. “And Clint and Aurora are invited too.”
“Really?” Zoe asked, looking more at ease. “And you’re sure I can come?”
“Yeah, ‘course, you’ll be my guest,” Tamar said, smiling.
Zoe smiled with pleasure and nodded.
“Cool, I’ll try and get a babysitter,” she said.
“Great, I’ll see you tonight then,” Tamar said, trying to hide his excitement.
Zoe waved him off and walked on. Tamar watched her go and wondered why he felt so excited at the thought of spending time with her. He had hung out with her and their mates so many times before and always regarded her with indifference. He realised that he actually might fancy her. He was attracted to her and he enjoyed her company, but the thought of Amal, Clint and the lads finding out he was into Zoe made him cringe with embarrassment. They would laugh at him, he knew that much, and he was sure he would lose some respect.
He headed for home, worried about what people might say when they learnt he had invited Zoe to the party, but unable to shake his delight that she was coming.
* * *
The cell was quiet and Troy relished the chance to relax and be left alone with his thoughts and give his mind a break. Dante was off doing the rounds and Troy had to admit he was impressed with his cellmate’s smarts when it came to business. He would definitely be passing Amal’s old job to Dante on a permanent basis, but he wouldn’t tell Dante that just yet, it was best to keep him on edge for now, so he didn’t get too comfortable until Troy was certain it was the right decision. Dante wasn’t even asking to be paid in cash, which had surprised him. Dante just wanted a bit of coke and the use of the mobile, and Troy was still considering the proposal, though he thought it was a pretty good deal. Tyrese would surely be pleased that he wasn’t after money, and it meant more for Troy anyway.
Troy missed Amal, though he wouldn’t admit it aloud. He had valued his advice and friendship, and now he was gone Troy felt more alone in prison. He hadn’t bothered making any mates in here, because he was sure he’d be out when he was found not guilty in court. There was always Dante, Troy thought, but he was still untested, though he was starting to think that he could trust his cellmate.
Troy and Amal went back years though, and Troy didn’t know much about Dante, except for what little he had shared with him. Troy didn’t even know what Dante had done to end up in here, and once he had starting to wonder, he couldn’t shake the questions from his mind. As much as it grated on him, he was starting to rely on Dante to carry out the tasks he couldn’t be arsed with, especially if the heat was still on him.
Dante walked into the cell, rounds completed, and smiled at Troy. Troy returned the gesture and made his decision then. Dante was a valuable asset to him, and the fact he didn’t want paying was a sign that he could trust him, Troy was sure of that. It meant Dante wasn’t out to take the piss and Troy had to respect that.
He passed Dante a baggie of coke and the phone.
“You got yourself a deal,” Troy said quietly. “Ten minutes on the phone a day and a bit of blow. That sit good with you?”
Dante considered him a moment and nodded, smiling.
“Cheers
man,” he said. “It’s a deal.”
* * *
Aurora watched as Clint buttoned up his shirt and tucked it into his jeans, unable to shake her concern about the party. She wasn’t sure if it was the fact that it was a party or that Clint had agreed to attend without even consulting her first that so grated on her nerves.
“Are you sure you won’t come?” Clint asked, turning from the mirror to look at her, sat upon the edge of the bed. He looked disappointed by her decision.
“I’ve already told you, I’m babysitting Sienna,” Aurora said testily.
Zoe had text her about the party and Aurora had admitted that she didn’t want to go. When Zoe was unable to find a babysitter, Aurora had volunteered herself, and when she had informed Clint, he had sulked for the rest of the afternoon.
“You’d rather babysit than come to a party?” Clint asked, skeptical.
“I’d better get used to it,” Aurora said, putting a hand on her baby bump. Clint followed the movement and held his tongue. “So should you, you know. It is your baby too.”
“I know,” Clint said, turning from her to check himself out in the mirror again, adjusting the collar of his white shirt. Aurora thought he looked good, despite her mood. He wore black jeans, white shirt and black shades. He looked fine, and she hoped that other girls didn’t notice him, though she was certain they would. “But I haven’t seen the boys in ages and –”
“You seem to have forgotten all the trouble you get into when you hang out with them,” Aurora interrupted. “Fights, getting wasted, oh, and stabbing my sister.”
“That was Troy,” Clint said pointedly. “Not me. Not Tamar or Amal.”
“They were both there though,” Aurora insisted.
“So was I, but –”
“Yeah,” Aurora muttered.
It was becoming impossible for her to forget that fact now that they were back on the Goldsworth. Everything seemed to remind her of Shaniqua, and her mother never let her forget that Clint was partly responsible for her death.
Clint turned and came to sit beside her on the bed.
“You don’t really think I’d do anything stupid, do you?” Clint asked, his voice soft and gentle. “I love you babe, I’d never risk messing that up, seriously.”
Aurora knew that he was speaking from the heart.
“I know,” she sighed. “I just worry about you.”
“And that’s sweet,” Clint said, “But I’ll be fine, okay?”
“Promise me,” Aurora whispered.
“I promise,” Clint said. He smiled and kissed her on the lips.
Aurora smiled as he stood up and went back to the mirror. She felt only a little more at ease. She knew that Clint meant what he said, but she couldn’t say the same of Tamar, Amal and all the other boys who would be there. She was under no doubt that some, if not most, of them were still involved in shady activities and she didn’t want Clint getting caught up in stuff like that.
He turned to her, posing.
“How do I look babe?” he asked.
Aurora stood up and fixed his collar for him, kissing him playfully on the lips.
“You look amazing,” she said.
Clint smiled, ran a hand over his shaved head, and checked his pockets.
“I’ll give you a text,” he said. “And give me a ring if Kojo finally shows his face. Damn, that boy just refuses to listen to anything I say.”
He shook his head, kissed her goodbye and was gone from the flat, off to the party that Aurora wished wasn’t happening. She knew he would be on his best behaviour but she couldn’t shake her fear that he would be led astray by the boys who had been there when her sister had been murdered. Not one of them had stopped Troy from stabbing Shaniqua, and not one had stayed with her sister as she lay dying on the estate, cold, alone and afraid.
She shuddered, unable to forget that Clint had left Shaniqua to die alone too.
* * *
Kojo took the can and cracked it open, wondering how pissed off Clint would be if he could see his younger brother now, drinking and getting ready to party. Kent, his best mate, flexed his arms in the mirror, checking himself out. Kojo was still surprised how much his mate had changed in the months since he had left the Goldsworth. Kent Dixon had sat next to him class, always the first to suggest skiving off a lesson and the best footie player in their year, but now he seemed to have forgotten about his dreams of playing in the Premiership, preferring to drink, smoke and party it up. He had been working out, and Kojo had met his new group of mates, who all seemed so much more mature than Kojo felt.
“You just going to stare at that beer or get drinking it?” Kent asked, turning to him. His skin was fair and Kojo knew he got plenty of attention from the girls. His blond hair was gelled and Kent insisted that he would pull tonight, and that he would help Kojo do the same. “Come on, Kojo, it’s a fucking party, you got to get in the spirit.”
“Yeah, ‘course,” Kojo said, and slurped the beer. It tasted bad to him, but he drank anyway, not wanting Kent or his mates to think he was a pussy.
“Good man,” Kent grinned, drinking his own. “Tonight will be messy.”
“Messy?” Kojo asked, uncertain.
Leon and Mickey, Kent’s two new mates, sitting on a beanbag in Kent’s bedroom with cans of their own, exchanged amused looks. Kent ignored them and shook his head, bemused by Kojo’s innocence.
“Messy drunk,” Kent explained. “Jeez, man, Manchester must be a right shithole if you ain’t even been drunk before.”
“Yeah, it’s shit,” Kojo agreed, realising as he spoke that it was true. He hated the place. “London’s the best place, like, fucking ever.”
“Damn right,” Kent said. He lifted the can up in the air and the others copied. Kojo did the same. “Cheers lads,” Kent shouted.
“Cheers,” Kojo and the rest repeated, and Kojo smiled, feeling himself relax. He had spent too long listening to Clint and Aurora’s stupid rules. They weren’t his parents, they had no right to tell him what to do and besides, they were hardly perfect teenagers themselves. Clint’s best mate had killed someone, perhaps more if the rumours were true, and Clint had kept quiet to the police. Aurora was pregnant and argued constantly with her mum. They had run off to another city, dragging him with them, so they were hardly in a position to begrudge him a few cans, or a good night out with his mates.
“You buzzing yet?” Kent asked, looking at Kojo.
Kojo drained the can and Kent chucked him another one, smiling widely.
“Almost,” Kojo grinned back, “This party will be fucking wild.”
“That’s the spirit,” Kent called back, and turned up the music.
* * *
Tyrese watched his brother leave the flat to go clubbing, and felt frustrated that Trent did not seem to care what happened to the Banks brothers; their reputation was everything to him, but Trent didn’t seem to share such concerns.
Trent was still off with him and Tyrese knew it was because he had brought up the subject of Troy and his future, and Trent still had misplaced loyalty towards their youngest brother. He wanted him out as quick as possible, even if it meant he was free to fuck things up for them again. Tyrese wasn’t so keen on that to happen, but he still didn’t want to leave his youngest brother’s fate to the courts alone, that would be cruel. It was a difficult situation, he thought, and that was why he wanted to discuss things with Trent, not just argue with him.
With Trent out clubbing, Tyrese realised that he couldn’t really rely on either of his brothers for help in reclaiming their territories and rebuilding their respect.
It was becoming harder to ignore talk of the Healy brothers now. They were still encroaching upon the Goldsworth, their guys were dealing openly on Banks brothers’ turf and this was clearly an affront, yet Trent didn’t seem all that bothered. Tyrese couldn’t let such disrespect slide so easily, but he knew that they were in no position to fight back, not when their position was so tenuous and the Healy brothers’
seemed so strong.
Tyrese had been thinking of a plan for some time and he had finally come up with an idea that he couldn’t shake, and he knew he had to give it a shot, even if he had doubts as to whether it would pay off or not.
Jessie, his sister, the youngest of the Banks family, was dating Corey Healy and lived in the Healy house, a fortress where the innermost plotting of the Healy brothers’ gang took place. He was going to arrange a meeting with Jessie and see if she couldn’t help out her brothers and start showing some much-needed family loyalty. He would have dismissed such a notion but his mum seemed to think that Jessie was no longer as happy as she had once been at the Healy house.
She had suffered two miscarriages, one just a month ago, and he was sure that this must have damaged her relationship with Corey, and perhaps the time was ripe for him to have a chat with her, see if she could pass on some valuable information to her brothers. Corey probably talked to her about things he wouldn’t dare share with anyone else, and so Jessie was in a prime position to share secrets with Tyrese about the enemy’s plans. He wanted to know if they planned a takeover of the Goldsworth, and Jessie could help him no end, if she agreed to help.
He just hoped she was in enough pain to be turned away from Corey and help her real family out in their time of need. He picked up his phone and typed out a message, asking her to come around for a chat. He sent the message, hoping that Jessie would be accommodating of his plan, and then he could find out what kind of danger they faced from the Healy brothers.
* * *
Clint heard the music blaring from the open windows of Amal’s terrace house as he walked down the street towards the party. Amal lived in a house on a quiet street across the playing fields from the Goldsworth, in the no-man’s land between the Goldsworth Estate and a rival housing estate, The Kingswood, where the Healy brothers ruled, but Clint felt no fear. He wasn’t associated with any gangs, not now anyway, and he knew that nobody would care if he crossed into the next postcode; he had no part in the postcode wars between the Banks and Healy brothers.
The Goldsworth Series Box Set Page 88