The Goldsworth Series Box Set

  “What did you say?” Sanjay asked. Brandy heard the edge to his voice, noticed how tense he looked.

  “I said he was lying,” Brandy replied. Sanjay looked relieved, letting out a long breath. She stepped forward, frustrated that he could relax whilst she took the heat. “I mean, what else was I supposed to say?”

  “You did the right thing,” he reassured her.

  Brandy narrowed her eyes.

  “Really?” she demanded. “Did I do the right thing?”

  Sanjay sighed.

  “What do you want Brandy?” he asked. His shoulders squared.

  Brandy levelled him with a look.

  “I’ve done what you asked and then some,” she hissed. “I want you to make sure I don’t get in trouble for this.”

  “You won’t,” Sanjay said. Brandy did not know whether to believe him or not. He went to his jacket, slung over the back of a sofa. He reached for his wallet and pulled out a few notes, counting them off. Brandy watched, holding her breath. He gave her the money. “Here you go. Something extra, for the trouble.”

  Brandy snatched the money from him and stuck it down her bra, feeling a little more at ease.

  “Just remember, we never had this conversation,” Sanjay said. “We never talked at all. Neither of us is involved with what happened. You understand me?”

  Brandy looked into his face and saw the underlying threat there. She knew that he had killed Jayden Healy. She could read it on his voice, hear it in his voice. He would leave her alone, if she kept her mouth shut.

  She nodded.

  “Tyrese killed Jayden,” Sanjay said firmly. “We’re agreed on that?”

  Brandy swallowed hard, nodding again. She knew that Sanjay would not hesitate to kill her if he thought she was a threat. She had no intention of dying, especially not for Tyrese Banks’ sake. He could rot in his cell for all she cared. She would not stick her neck out for him.

  “As nice as this visit has been, maybe we should make it the last one,” Sanjay said. “We don’t want people to talk, you know?”

  “Agreed,” Brandy said.

  Brandy headed for the door. Sanjay stepped forward, momentarily blocking her path, and heart pounded hard. He smiled and opened the door for her. Brandy forced a smile, hoping he would not notice her flicker of panic. She left the house and hurried down the street, breathing hard.

  She wished that she had not got involved at all, but it was too late for that. All she could do now was keep quiet and give Sanjay no reason to come after her. If she did that, she would be fine, she told herself, as she glanced over her shoulder.

  * * *

  Aurora had sensed a change in Clint’s behaviour, and she was starting to get concerned. All afternoon he had been quiet, and this evening he had insisted she should go and see her friends, whilst he babysat Angel.

  It was a touching gesture, Aurora thought, but she did not understand where it was coming from. She hoped that their recent conversation had not made him feel trapped, that she had not rushed things too fast and scared him.

  “Stop worrying,” Zoe said, laughing at the surprise on Aurora’s face.

  “Is it that obvious?” Aurora asked, joining in the laughter. “I thought I was hiding it well.”

  “You really weren’t,” Zoe grinned. “Come on, you know Clint. He’s not up to anything. Besides, even if he was, it’s not like it would be anything bad, right?”

  Aurora looked at her friend, narrowing her eyes.

  “Do you know something?” she asked. “You seem so clued-up about all this. I mean, you even had those cocktails chilling in the fridge when I arrived.”

  Zoe blushed but shook her head furiously.

  “Absolutely not, I always have a few emergency cocktails tucked away,” Zoe stammered. “You never know when you’re going to need a good margarita. Besides, they’re smart price. Bargain.”

  Aurora laughed, shaking her head. Perhaps she was just being paranoid. Zoe glanced at her phone, then picked up her drink.

  “You’re waiting on a message from Tamar?” Aurora asked.

  “Something like that,” Zoe said coyly. Her phone vibrated and she snatched it up, her face flushing with excitement. She glanced at Aurora. “We should drink up, you know, so we’re not late.”

  “Late for what?” Aurora asked. She knew something was up now. “Come on, Zoe. What’s going on?”

  Zoe blushed, her look pleading.

  “Please don’t make me spoil it for you,” she said. “Just drink-up.”

  Aurora downed her cocktail, eyeing Zoe as she sent a message on her phone, looking excited. She reached for her jacket and headed for the front door. Zoe picked up Sienna, cradling her in one arm, as they left the flat.

  “I can’t believe it,” Zoe grinned, her excitement palpable.

  Aurora waited whilst Zoe locked the front door. She glanced over the balcony to the courtyard below and froze. At her side, Zoe gasped.

  Hundreds of candles were on the concrete floor, spelling out ‘Will you marry me?’

  Beside the candles, Clint looked up at her. A few feet behind him, she spotted Tamar, hands in his pockets. Next to him, Aurora saw her mum, wiping at her eyes, clasping Femi’s arms in hers. She looked back at Clint as he gestured to the display.

  “So, what do you say?” he asked, half-shouting up to her. He dropped to one knee. She saw he held a jewellery box clasped in his hands. “Will you marry me, Aurora Curtis?”

  Aurora looked from the candles, flickering in the breeze, casting their orange glow across the walls, then back to Clint, his arms wide, looking up at her.

  She felt her heart beating hard in her chest, butterflies erupting in her stomach.

  “Yes,” she called down to him, “Of course I will.”

  * * *

  “She said yes,” Clint gasped, turning to Tamar and Marlena. “She said yes!”

  Tamar grinned and hugged him, clapping him on the back. Marlena was crying, wiping her eyes with the back of her free hand, Angel balanced in the crook of her other arm, fast asleep. She pulled Clint into a tight hug, murmuring into his ear, but he could not make out what she was saying. Angel opened her eyes, gurgling happily. His mum grabbed him and squeezed him tight against her.

  Then Aurora was coming down the stairwell and across the courtyard. His mum and Marlena took a step back as Aurora threw herself into his arms. Clint held her tight against him. He kissed her, and she responded.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” she was saying, over and again.

  Clint thought he might never be able to let her out of his arms. Zoe was behind her, wiping tears from her eyes too. Tamar slid an arm around her shoulders.

  When Aurora released him from the embrace, Clint held out the jewellery box. Aurora gasped as she looked down at the ring. Illuminated by the candle light, Clint saw her eyes were brimming with emotion as she took the ring out of the box.

  “It’s beautiful,” she gasped. Clint took the ring from her and slid it onto her finger. Aurora held it up to the light, admiring it. “This is all so beautiful, Clint.”

  She gestured to the ring and the candles.

  “So are you,” Clint smiled back.

  He did not think he could get any happier than this moment.

  “I love you,” he said to Aurora. “And I always will do.”

  Aurora pulled him close to her again.

  “I love you too,” she whispered in his ear.

  * * *

  Troy had waited long enough. Now was his moment.

  He was nearing the front of the queue for dinner, tray in hand. Goldie was a few steps behind him, sniggering with his mates as usual. Troy let the affront wash over him. Payback would be better, he thought, knowing Goldie still thought he was top dog.

  Troy hung back, letting a few people pass him, as he pretended to take interest in a tray of food that he thought was supposed to be chicken pie. Two large vats of soup stood at the end of the array of food. They were always on stand-by at lunch and dinner.
Troy had counted on it.

  Goldie picked up a plate of food and slid his tray further along the rail. Troy waited. He had to pick his timing perfectly.

  “You taking a shower tonight?” Goldie asked him, a cruel smile playing on his lips, gold teeth flashing. “Might see you there,” he laughed.

  He looked behind him, but his mates were preoccupied with choosing their food, and they did not laugh at his joke. Troy narrowed his eyes.

  Before Goldie could do anything, Troy reached for the vat. He was holding a serviette, but the hot metal still scorched his skin. He tipped it over. The hot liquid poured over Goldie and he let out a guttural shriek as his trousers steamed. He dropped to the floor, grabbing at his pants, writhing in agony.

  People dived backwards, avoiding the boiling liquid. Troy reached for the other vat before anyone could stop him. He tipped it over Goldie, who let out another shriek as it splattered over him.

  Troy stood over him, smirking. Goldie’s trousers were plastered to his skin, steam drifting up from the material, and Troy knew that Goldie would not be fucking anyone for a long, long time with burns like that.

  Goldie’s shrieks had stopped. He was unconscious.

  Officers ran forward, dragging Goldie across the floor and out of the liquid pooling on the floor. Troy felt his arms being pinned behind his back as he was pulled away roughly.

  “Take him down to solitary,” one of the officers shouted, pointing at Troy.

  Troy smiled as he watched two officers kneel beside Goldie, shouting urgent instructions, calling for a medic.

  Troy did not resist as the officer marched him out of the canteen. He was still relishing the noise Goldie had made, the pain contorting his face, his eyes widening with horror as the soup had hit him.

  Allowing himself to be led down the corridor, Troy did a double-take as he saw two officers at one of the gates. Between them, Tyrese was being marched in the opposite direction down the corridor.

  “Tyrese?” Troy managed, staring at his brother as they passed in the corridor.

  “Troy?” Tyrese said, their eyes meeting.

  “What are you doing here?” Troy demanded, but the officer was pushing him along the corridor, and he got no response.

  As he was led to solitary confinement, Troy glanced back over his shoulder at his older brother being led to the wing. He had so many questions, so much to discuss with his brother, but he had no opportunity now.

  Troy cursed and struggled, but the officer was strong, and his grip was too hard on Troy’s arms. He knew he would have to wait until he got out of solitary.

  He caught one last glimpse of Tyrese, before they rounded the corner and his brother was out of sight.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It had been almost two weeks since his brother’s death and Corey wanted someone to pay for it. He had just buried his brother, something that no man should have to do so soon after burying his girlfriend.

  The grief had hit Corey Healy hard, but he kept going, stayed strong, because he knew that he had to fight for his brother. Tyrese Banks was in prison, was awaiting trial for the murder, but Corey wanted proper justice. Street justice.

  He wanted Tyrese dead.

  “I know that look,” his sister, Jazz, said, eyeing him closely. She leant against the bar, and Corey surveyed her. She was growing up now. She had lost just as much as him, he realised. Her best friend Jessie, and now her oldest brother. Life had made her suffer just as much as it had made him suffer. Jazz leant closer, so that they would not be overheard. “You’re up to something, Corey. And I can guess what it is.”

  Corey admired his sister. She was smart. She would go far in life, he knew.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said slowly.

  “You can’t fool me,” Jazz said, raising an eyebrow. “I know it wasn’t a coincidence that Trent Banks died so soon after Jessie. And I’d bet money that you were behind it.”

  “You shouldn’t gamble,” Corey said, attempting a joke. Neither of them laughed. “And this isn’t the place to talk about this,” he said, gesturing around at the wake. “We should respect Jayden.”

  “Exactly,” Jazz said. “And he wouldn’t want you to do something stupid in his name.”

  “Really?” Corey asked. “You believe that? Even when we’ve just buried him?”

  “Especially now that we’ve just buried him,” Jazz insisted. “When will it end? You go after the Banks brothers, so they’ll come after you, or me. It’s a vicious cycle, can’t you see that? Are you going to let us all die before you realise you’re wrong?”

  “I’d never let anything happen to you,” Corey reassured her.

  He wished his sister could see that he was doing this for her, for them. For Jayden. The Banks brothers had to pay for what they had stolen from them,

  “If you mean it,” Jazz said. “Then you’ll do nothing.”

  Corey nodded, but he knew that his sister did not really believe he would just sit here and do nothing. Jazz sighed and squeezed his arm, then went over to make the rounds, receiving condolences and playing the good sister.

  He watched her go, proud of her, and let her words sink in.

  Perhaps she was right. He stopped himself from making a call.

  He would respect Jazz’s wishes, so long as Tyrese did his time for Jayden’s murder.

  * * *

  It had been a long week in solitary confinement, and Troy tried to hide his relief as the officer unlocked the door and gestured for him to come out. It had felt like an eternity, unanswered questions chasing each other around his mind, driving him half-crazy. What was Tyrese was doing here? What had happened to Goldie?

  Now he would finally get some answers, Troy thought.

  “You’re lucky to be getting out so soon,” the officer said, as he led Troy down the corridor. “If it were up to me, you’d be spending a good month sat in there. Burning a man’s private bits. Shame on you, Banks.”

  “Like I said, it was an accident,” Troy said. It was the story he had given when he had been questioned, and he was sticking to it, though he knew nobody believed him. He was pleased about that. Goldie and his mates knew he was not to be messed with now, and Troy imagined their faces as he walked back onto the block.

  “And I’m a frigging millionaire,” the officer said, rolling his eyes. He shoved Troy roughly through the gate as they went onto the block. “If you know what’s good for you, Banks, you’ll keep your head down now. Stay clear of trouble.”

  Troy ignored him. He did not need a lecture from a pathetic, greying officer who would be retired or dead in a few years. Pathetic twat, Troy thought.

  They walked the rest of the distance to the block in silence. The officer seemed glad to be rid of him as he let Troy go.

  Troy stood in his doorway and he did not have to wait long to catch a glimpse of his brother. He followed Tyrese down the corridor and saw him disappear into a cell.

  Troy waited a moment and then went over. Tyrese looked up, surprised, when Troy stepped into the cell.

  “Troy, what the hell happened?” Tyrese demanded, half-rising from his bed.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Troy said. He stepped further into the cell, pushing the door half-shut behind him to give them some privacy. He stared at his brother, trying to read his expression. “We’ve got a lot to talk about, right Ty?”

  * * *

  Dante felt calm as he was patted down and processed ready for his visitor.

  Though he did not really care much that he had a daughter, he still wanted answers from Zoe Taylor. He wanted her to tell him the truth. He did not want a relationship with either her or the child, but it might come in handy having someone on the outside who he could bully into doing what he wanted.

  She had struck him, even in the brief moments he had known her, as a pushover. If he played his cards right, perhaps he could persuade her to bring drugs in for him, or at the very least pay him off so that he would not pursue a relationsh
ip with their daughter. That could be useful, he thought.

  The doors opened and Dante went into the visiting room. Other inmates went to see their families, their loved-ones. Dante scanned the room for Zoe. He knew she was a redhead, pasty-skinned and not a looker. He could not see her.

  Someone waved him over and Dante narrowed his eyes, approaching the table and the guy sat there, who was clearly not Zoe Taylor.

  “Who the fuck are you?” Dante asked, sitting across the table from him.

  “I’m Tamar,” the guy said. He smiled as Dante looked around, still hoping for a sight of Zoe. “She’s not coming, mate. Not now, not ever.”

  * * *

  Aurora looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled.

  Behind her, she saw her mother and Zoe, hands clasped to their mouths, blinking away tears. She looked radiant. The white dress was not expensive, but it accentuated her curves, contrasting against her dark skin, and seemed to glimmer in the sunlight pouring through the window.

  She gave them a twirl, the fabric twisting with the movement, and Aurora could have cried herself. She resisted, not wanting her make-up to run. She wanted to look perfect when she walked into the registry office and married Clint.

  “You look stunning,” Zoe said, eyes wide.

  “Beautiful,” Marlena agreed.

  Aurora beamed at them, blushing with their compliments.

  She could hardly believe that today she would become Mrs Jackson. She had been reserved at first, when Clint had suggested they book the registry office so soon after his proposal, but it made sense. They loved each other. There was no use in waiting, in drawing out their engagement. She wanted nothing more than to be Clint’s wife and so her wedding day had dawned, faster than she could have imagined, but she felt no hesitation, had no reservations for saying her vows.

  “I bought some champagne,” Zoe said, bustling from the room. She returned a few moments later with a bottle and a corkscrew. She blushed. “Well, it’s not really champagne, but it’s fizzy.”

  “It’ll be perfect,” Marlena reassured her, taking the bottle from her and opening it. Zoe blushed harder, leaving the room to get glasses. She returned with two wine glasses and a chipped mug. Aurora laughed, and Zoe smiled.