“Did he stay home? He didn’t go anywhere else?”
“He stayed put. Silly sod probably passed out in a pool of his own sick. With a bit of luck he’ll drown in it, problem solved.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. Piss off home and get some rest.”
“We should get him now, while he’s rat-arsed.”
“You said yourself he has two friends with him and I don’t want any witnesses.”
“We can kill them too.”
“Listen to yourself Terry, you’re talking about bloody mass murder. Brandon’s the only one with a bull’s eye on his forehead. Have his house watched, don’t let him slip out of our sight. Now go, I’m knackered.”
Terry stormed out, looking pissed off but at least he didn’t backchat him, that was always a good sign. Frank locked up behind him then decided to have an early night, making sure he had an array of knives secreted about his bedroom before hitting the sack. But his dreams weren’t of death or revenge, they were of a petite little blond with big blue eyes.
“Well, where’s Brandon?” yawned Frank when he met up with Terry the next day at their favourite café for breakfast.
“Still not crawled out of his pit. I got John to watch him.” John was a long-serving enforcer of Michael’s who had sided with Frank. He couldn’t stand Brandon either.
“Good. Maybe you’re right and he has drowned in a puddle of his own vomit. Sorry love,” he added when the woman at the next table grimaced and pushed away her plate of greasy fried eggs.
“So, are you seeing Martina today?” Terry said as he tucked into his fry up.
He’d asked casually but Frank wasn’t fooled. He knew his brother was smitten with Martina so Terry now saw her as a threat to the future he’d envisioned for them both, someone to come between them and get in the way of business. “I don’t know, I said I’d give her a bell.”
“Okay,” was all he said.
Frank was relieved that he didn’t mention her again. Instead they focused all their attention on the Brandon problem. While they were still puzzling out exactly how to kill him and get away with it, Frank received a call from Lily.
He rushed to the hospital, abandoned his car at the curb and raced into the hospital. But he was too late. Michael had already gone and Lily was in a mess.
It took him two hours to extricate himself. When he couldn’t calm Lily down he called in the big guns - her three sisters, who wailed and cried right along with her and he was left alone with four hysterical women. The hospital staff decided to sedate Lily and once she’d calmed down so did her sisters and Frank found himself free to leave.
Unfortunately his car had been clamped and by the time he’d got that sorted out it was late afternoon and he still hadn’t called Martina or murdered Brandon. His thinking was heavy and foggy. Although he’d seen Michael’s body he still couldn’t quite process that he’d gone. It was like a big, empty space had been ripped open in his world and he didn’t know how it would ever be filled. Sod it, he’d go to Martina’s house, hearing her voice wouldn’t be enough, he needed to see her. She was having a powerful effect on him, he’d never thought this much about a woman before.
When he was almost there he began to have doubts. Would she think it too much? Would she get scared, think he was being too heavy? He didn’t want to drive her away. He recalled the look in her eyes, her words just after they’d kissed. No she wouldn’t, she felt the same, he was certain.
“You soppy sod,” he told himself.
He remembered the way to her house no problem and pulled up a few doors down from hers. In his line of work he’d made it a rule never to leave his car directly outside where he was going in case someone was following him. He hesitated before getting out of the car when he saw a figure lurking close to Martina’s front door. There was something familiar about them. He strained his eyes, leaning forwards in his seat and when he saw who it was he erupted with rage.
Not stopping to think about what he was doing he started the engine, threw the car into gear and sped down the street. He pulled up right beside the figure and leapt out.
“Brandon, you dirty bastard. What the fuck are you doing?”
Brandon - still wearing the same revolting suit he was in the night before - looked horrified to see him. “Just visiting.”
“Visiting who?”
When he didn’t reply and started to sweat Frank lashed out with his fist, knocking him out. He caught him before he fell, dragged him to the car and threw him into the boot. Pulling open Brandon’s jacket he saw three sharp knives lined up in his inner pocket.
“Bastard,” repeated Frank. Brandon’s intention was unclear. Either he’d meant to kidnap Martina and use her to get to him or he was going to kill her outright when she got home.
Frank paused to look around to make sure he hadn’t been observed but the row of houses Martina lived on overlooked waste ground and no one seemed to be around. He set off, cursing himself when he spun the wheels, hoping no one heard and came to the window. He couldn’t believe it. Brandon had intended to hurt Martina. No more planning was necessary. He was fucking dead.
“Jesus Frank, I wish you’d stop pulling your vanishing act,” said Terry when Frank barged into his flat, tired and pale.
“It’s done,” he muttered, slumping onto the couch.
“What’s done?”
“Brandon. He’s gone. Permanently.”
“Did you do it?”
He nodded.
“Aw Frank, I thought you were going to let me be in on it.”
“I had no choice, I had to act quickly. I caught him lurking outside Martina’s house with a load of knives in his pocket. I mean, how did he know where she lived and that we were seeing each other?”
“He must have had you followed last night, just like you had him followed.”
“I would have noticed.”
“Would you? You’re pretty smitten with this Martina bird.”
Frank thought he had a point.
“He probably knew who she was, she works at The Orchid Lounge and he’s a regular there.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Frank cursed himself. His carelessness had almost led to Martina being murdered. He would never allow it to happen again. “I thought John was watching him?”
“He was but he’s only one man and Brandon lives…I mean lived…in a big drum with a back door. He could have left and John might not have seen.”
“You should have put more men on it,” he yelled.
“You should have put more men on it Frank, you’re the boss man, not me. You’ve got your head in the clouds thinking about some bird instead of the job.”
Frank’s anger deflated. Terry was right, he was the boss and the buck stopped with him. “Sorry.”
“No worries. How did you do it?”
“With his own knives. His body’s in the boot of a car in Michael’s scrapyard waiting to be crushed.” He sighed heavily and raked his fingers through his mane. “He’s gone too.”
“I know, I heard. You know what this means? You’re the fucking big man now Frank.”
Frank noted the eagerness etched all over his younger brother’s face, and was dismayed. Terry didn’t care that two people were dead, even if one of them deserved it. He only cared about what he could get out of it. He’d always been a selfish bastard but only now did Frank become concerned that the business they were in would only make it worse. All he could do was wait and see.
“You’re going already?” said Terry when Frank got to his feet. “We’ve got lots to discuss.”
“It can wait till tomorrow. I want to grieve for Michael and I need to see Martina.” He felt if he didn’t reassure himself that she was okay he’d explode.
“You’re seeing her again?”
“Yeah, got a problem with that?”
“No.”
Terry watched his brother leave through narrowed eyes. Finally everything was going their way and this blond bint was
getting in the way. He didn’t like it. He’d been the one to anonymously slip Brandon her name and address in the hope he’d get her out of the way, but the moron couldn’t even do that properly. Anyway, Frank was the boss man now so he’d let her live and see how it played out. It might be for the best if Frank was distracted by her. If they got married they’d have kids and Frank would need help with the workload, which would only mean more control over the businesses for him. In hindsight he was glad his plan had failed. Martina could prove to be useful after all.
This time when Frank pulled up outside Martina’s house he was relieved to see no shadowy figures lurking nearby. Killing had proved easier than he’d thought and he wasn’t sure if that was because he was so furious at what Brandon had planned or if it just wasn’t a problem for him. The thought troubled him.
He hopped out of the car, strolled up to Martina’s door and rang the bell, his heart thudding as he waited for her to answer. The door was pulled open to reveal her in all her blond, blue-eyed glory. He beamed with delight when she looked pleased to see him.
“Frank, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Do you want me to go?”
“Course I don’t you daft sod. Get yourself in.”
She practically dragged him inside and, unable to restrain himself, he kissed her. It was just so good to see her alive and well.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” he smiled.
She pulled him back down to her. “Stop being a gentleman and help yourself again,” she said, wrapping herself around him.
They ended up in her bedroom, hot and naked together, Martina calling out his name as he fulfilled all of her expectations of him.
“I want you to know, I’ve never done it on the second date before,” she panted.
He kissed her. “To be honest, neither have I.”
“I bet you’ve always got women after you.”
He shrugged. “None of them compare to you.”
“Yeah right.”
“I’m serious. They don’t.”
She patted his face. “You’re so sweet.”
He realised the moment had come to tell her. “No I’m not. I’m bad Martina. I’m a gangster. I was an armed robber for a few years then I started drug dealing, beating up people who didn’t pay their debts. I’m not the innocent businessman you think I am.”
“You berk.”
“What have I said?”
“I work at The Orchid Lounge. Course I know who you are. I just never realised before how gorgeous and sexy and generally lovely you are.”
Frank released a loud peal of laughter. “So it’s not a problem for you?”
“I wouldn’t have let you in my bed if it was.”
“You are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
“Yeah, sure I am,” she said doubtfully.
He rolled onto his side and reached out to stoke her sleek, petite, creamy body, which was even more perfect without clothes on. “I mean it. Marry me Martina.”
“Are you bloody mad?” she spluttered. “We’ve only known each other two days.”
“It’s long enough for me. I want you to pack up your stuff here and come and live with me. I’m going to buy us a nice big house to live in. I want us to get married and have babies together. I want to spend my life with you.”
“But…I…” She sat up, unsure of what she should say.
He sat up with her, terrified he’d gone too far. “I don’t want to scare you off, I just know this is right.”
He went silent when she drifted off into her own world. Not sure what he should do he reclined back on the bed, hands behind his head, praying to whatever god there was that she didn’t throw him out on his arse. Maybe he could plead temporary insanity because his friend had died? She was a kind, warm woman he was sure she would forgive him.
“Ow,” he groaned when she leapt on top of him, her knee accidentally catching him in his exposed privates.
“Oh Frank I’m sorry, it was an accident,” she exclaimed.
“It’s alright,” he squeaked, curling into a ball. “Serves me right for stepping on your foot.”
“It’s just that I’ve reached a decision and I’m so excited. Yes Frank, I’ll marry you.”
The pain in his privates was almost forgotten in his delight. “You will?”
“Course I will. We’re made for each other, I knew that the second I looked in your eyes. I just didn’t want to tell you sooner because I thought it would scare you off.”
“Nothing you do could scare me off, just as long as you don’t make a habit of kneeing me in the nuts.”
“I’ll try not to,” she said, kissing him.
“I’ll get you a ring, the fucking best money can buy.” He stroked her face. “Christ I love you girl.”
“I love you too Frank,” she smiled.
They kissed hard and Frank thought he might faint with pleasure when she gave him the most wicked, mischievous grin he’d ever seen while her hand caressed his injured area.
“Want me to kiss it better?” she purred.
“That would be fucking smashing love,” he grinned. Finally he had everything he could ever want. Life was absolutely perfect, just like her.
THE END
Many thanks for downloading and reading my book, your support is much appreciated. If you enjoyed ’Origins’ there are already six books in the Dividing Line series on Amazon Kindle and the seventh is soon to follow. I also have many other books available to download.
You can follow me on Twitter on heatheratkinso1 or on my Facebook page - the books of Heather Atkinson. I also have my own website, heatheratkinsonbooks.com
Heather Atkinson July 2014
Dividing Line Origins (Short story anthology - Dividing Line Series) Page 16