The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “BUT JANE,” MAGGIE EXCLAIMED, “what’s going on with Eliza? She’ll fuck you up.”

  Jane shook her head. “No she won’t.” She couldn’t say too much, but knew the route had been quickly blocked for Eliza’s plans.

  Eliza had chosen the wrong people to blackmail and it had shot her well and truly in the foot. She’d expected her demands and threats to be acknowledged and acquiesced to without argument, but she hadn’t counted on what had happened. Not only was the deal of running Crystals retracted, but so was her welcome in this city.

  Bill had then promised if a word so much as slipped from Eliza’s mouth again to anyone about Jane and Seth, or if she attempted to bring the police into the equation, then she’d be finished. Completely.

  Jane wasn’t sure why Bill had chosen to take her corner so vehemently, but he indeed had and for that she’d be forever grateful. Which was another reason, apart from her own survival, why she needed to respect and honour his feelings regarding getting involved with other members.

  It was just a shame Bill couldn’t wave a magic wand and mend her heart and mind.

  “Are you alright, Jane?” Maggie asked. “You seem, well, I don’t know, on edge?”

  Jane laughed. “Aren’t I always?” Time to change the subject before she blurted out that she wanted Seth back. Wanted him so badly it was crippling her. “How are things going between you and Dan?”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Hard work. He thinks I’ve been hiding things.”

  “Well you couldn’t do a lot about that. Besides, you didn’t even know about half of it, did you?”

  Maggie shook her head. “You know I didn’t! Trouble is, Dan doesn’t believe me. He thinks I had a thing with Seth!”

  A rush of cold ran though Jane. “You didn’t, did you?”

  Maggie looked horrified. “God no! I wouldn’t do that! Besides, he scares me too much.”

  “Eliza did though...” Jane hissed through clenched teeth, still unable to believe Seth had put his cock in her ex-friend.

  “Well, he thought you were dead, I suppose. Still, she’s paid for that hasn’t she? You gave her a right beating, Jane,” Maggie said, recalling the state of Eliza when she’d found her in the toilets.

  Jane shrugged. Not as much as she’d liked to have done. “Maggie, I’ve fucked up.”

  “What do you mean?” Maggie questioned.

  “I slept with Seth...” Jane answered quietly.

  Maggie put her face in her hands. “Oh shit, Jane. Why?”

  Jane raised her eyebrows. Did Maggie really need to ask? Wasn’t it obvious?

  BILL SAT WAITING IN his office. He knew it was only a matter of time before the Millers made contact once it became common knowledge there was a Carter-shaped gap this side of the city. But it was his gap to fill and not the Miller’s or any other fucker, come to mention it.

  Now Gordon Miller himself had requested a meeting, of which Bill had accepted. He wanted to hear what the guy was proposing and get it over with. He turned his jar of paperclips around absentmindedly in a pointless circle on his desk and reached for a cigar from his carved box.

  As expected, Digger and Barry had spoken to him about Seth and Jane and even he had been surprised at what had been suggested. Although he’d already come to his own conclusions, he’d still been horrified to hear Digger suggest they both be outed as a risk.

  It had been interesting that the man’s idea was to remove Seth completely, but move Jane elsewhere. Phil had been right. The guy had an agenda.

  Bill knew Barry’s reasoning stemmed purely from loyalty, but Digger’s was definitely for personal reasons only. He’d promised them he’d put serious thought into the situation and if what had been seen was repeated, he’d put steps into place to rectify the situation. He failed to mention he’d already seen it with his own eyes.

  It was quite clear Seth and Jane were fighting with their feelings. That could be seen by just looking at them, but Bill knew the issues ran a lot deeper than the ‘no relationship’ rules he enforced.

  As for Eliza, that silly tart had been dealt with and would soon be sent on her way. He was confident no one would have any further problems where she was concerned. Sheila had been right about her, as usual.

  Interrupted from his thoughts by a loud knock on his office door, Bill sat up alert. “Come in,” he bellowed, his voice strong and confident.

  The door opened and a man walked in. Over six feet tall with broad shoulders and thick red-gold hair, he was handsome in an angular way.

  “Mr Benson,” the man said, extending his hand. “Jason Miller. My father sends his sincere apologies. He had a particularly bad angina attack this morning and has had to go to hospital for tests. He suggested I take his place at this meeting. I hope that’s ok?”

  Shaking the young man’s hand, Bill smiled. “Of course. Send your father my best wishes for a speedy recovery.” He motioned to the chair the other side of his desk. “Please. Have a seat.”

  Bill studied Jason Miller. He knew of all Miller’s sons and Jason was the oldest. All of them were identical looking, younger versions of their father from their powerful builds, down to their copper hair.

  “Condolences regarding your fiancée again,” Jason added. “I did pop into the wake last week, but unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to pass my wishes directly to you.”

  “Thank you,” Bill said, picking up the whisky decanter. “Drink?”

  Jason nodded and watched as Bill poured him a glass. Taking the proffered crystal tumbler, he smiled. “I’ll get straight to the point, Mr Benson. We’ve all heard about Ernie Carter’s unfortunate ‘disappearance’ and our firm have a proposition for you.”

  Bill’s mouth set in a hard line. “Listen son, I have great respect for your father. We go back many years, but Carter owed me big time. I’m sure you know why and so therefore I’m not open to anyone wanting in on what I believe I am due.”

  Jason Miller held his hands up. “I completely understand Mr Benson, but I’m not here to suggest we want a share of Carter’s patch. Everyone knows it’s yours and yours alone.” He took a sip of his whisky. “If I can just explain?”

  Bill folded his arms and leant back in his chair. “I’m listening.”

  Jason smiled easily. “You’re probably more than aware that thanks to a gentleman’s agreement many moons ago between Carter and my father, we were tied to getting our coke from them. This was not a partnership we were overly comfortable with, especially over the last few years, but an agreement is an agreement.”

  He paused to make the point and seeing Bill nod, continued. “But now Carter’s out of the picture that deal is null and void. Our option now is to deal with the Russians, but we want no dealings with them unless it’s a last resort.”

  Jason placed his tumbler on the desk and knitted his long fingers together. “Therefore we’d like you to supply our patch with coke and in return we’d like to offer you an in with our girls. I’m sure you’ll need a new range to stock Carter’s club?”

  Bill’s eyebrows knitted together. It was true the Millers had a good reputation for girls the other side of the city and those girls were of a similar grade with his at the Glint. A new outlet for Phil’s coke would also not go amiss. “Carry on...”

  Jason smiled once more. “My father’s recently made the decision to take a back seat following his ongoing heart problems. He’s not getting any younger and the constant pressure is worsening his condition. As from this week I’ve been given the reins. My father’s still involved, but in less of a capacity.”

  Bill nodded. It made sense. “None of us are getting any younger. I for one know that!”

  “I just want to reiterate we don’t want an in on your newly acquired patch, we want to work with you, Mr Benson,” Jason said. “You’re a well-respected and formidable force, as is my father and you have never disrespected each other. It makes logical sense to combine our power.”

  Bill turned his whisky tumbler around in
his fingers. If the Millers were on board and linked to Carter’s patch which sat half-way between both their areas, it would certainly lessen any aggro from wannabe firms trying to muscle in.

  It was also true that the Millers were equally well-respected in the city as he was. Furthermore it would make good sense to at least properly consider it, especially with the decision he’d finalised in his mind last night that was yet to become public knowledge.

  Bill smiled. “Ok Mr Miller. I won’t give you an answer now, but I will say I’m interested in your proposal. I’ll give it careful consideration and then we’ll meet in a few days?”

  Jason Miller stood up and extended his hand. “Of course. I’ll wait to hear from you. I trust you know that whatever decision you make will be completely respected?”

  Shaking his hand, Bill smiled. He knew Gordon Miller well enough to know he would have instilled his morals into those of his sons.

  Firstly though he needed to speak to Phil to see what he thought and then let the rest know what options they had.

  FIFTY EIGHT

  THE CAR PULLED UP AGAINST the kerb as Jane made her way along the road to the Glint. She hadn’t got time to mess about giving people directions, she was cutting it fine to get to Bill’s meeting as it was.

  “Get in,” Seth’s deep voice demanded through the lowered electric window.

  Opening the door, Jane clambered into the car almost falling into the passenger seat when the car screeched off.

  Seth glanced at her as she fumbled with her seat belt. “Where the fuck were you last night? I came round but you weren’t there.”

  Jane sighed. “Seth, you don’t have the right to ask me things like that anymore.”

  Seth’s eyes narrowed and concentrated back on the road. “Fair enough, I don’t. Let’s get to this meeting then, shall we?”

  “That’s where I was going, yes,” Jane snapped. She eyed Seth’s hand resting on the gear stick inches away from her leg and began imagining his hands on her. Don’t start that Jane, she berated herself silently.

  “Unless you fancy a drink first?” Seth asked, raising his eyebrow as Jane stared fixedly out of the window like a sulky child.

  “No I don’t. Besides we haven’t got time. Let’s just get there,” she snapped.

  “I want to talk to you,” Seth continued, trying to ignore both Jane’s snotty attitude and the need to pull her body close against his. “I wanted to catch you before this meeting with Bill.”

  “I said everything I needed to say last week,” Jane said quietly. “Don’t make it any more difficult than it is.”

  Ah, so she was finding it difficult was she? “I’m not trying to make anything difficult, Jane. The opposite if anything. I’m trying to make it easier for both of us.” A nerve in Seth’s neck twitched compulsively as he fought the urge to just take her right now.

  “Oh really! What, by keeping pushing yourself in my face?” she barked. He was just making it worse. Constantly reminding her that she wanted him so badly.

  “I know you want me, Jane,” Seth muttered, reading her mind whilst torturing himself by not being able to touch her leg, run his hand up her skirt, slip his fingers insider her knickers and make her come without even stopping the car. “Like, as you well know, I want you!”

  Jane sighed. “It’s irrelevant. It can’t happen. You know that!”

  Slamming the brakes on, Seth swerved into a layby. “What the fuck are you doing?” Jane screamed.

  Seth yanked the handbrake on and twisted around in his seat. “I was coming round to tell you I’m moving on. I wanted you to be the first to know. I’m going to tell Bill the same.”

  “Thought you’d already moved on,” Jane bitched, unable to help herself, her eyes drawn like traitors to Seth’s mouth. How she wanted to run her tongue over his lips. Taste him.

  Seth ignored her barb as well as the incessant throbbing in his jeans. “No, I’m leaving. I figured it would be easier for both of us.”

  Jane swung around and looked into Seth’s eyes, feeling suddenly scared. “Where are you going?”

  Seth’s eyes traced the outline of Jane’s lips, then lit a cigarette to try and distract himself. “I honestly don’t know.”

  “You don’t have to go!” Jane cried, realising it sounded horribly like she was pleading with him. Shut up, Jane!

  “Yes I do,” Seth smiled, trailing his finger down her face. “I can’t carry on like this. You here, yet not being with you.”

  “Oh Seth, don’t...” Jane said, turning away. She wanted to unbutton his shirt, run her fingers down his chest, feel him under her hands.

  “Jane,” Seth said, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look into his face. “Do you still love me? If you don’t, then I promise I’ll go and leave you to get on with your life. You can carry on believing I’m dead,” he whispered.

  Jane stared at him, the words she wanted to say sticking in her throat. If she uttered them she knew the floodgates would open along with her heart and both would be difficult to shut.

  Seth’s thumb continued along Jane’s jaw and across her bottom lip. “If you do still love me then you’ve got to tell me. I’ve changed and I won’t fuck it up this time. I’m not like I used to be.”

  Jane raised an eyebrow knowing full well he was very much like he used to be.

  Seeing her expression, Seth smiled slightly. “It will be different this time, I promise.” He grabbed both her hands in his. “We can do this, Jane. Properly. No more shit.”

  Jane prayed her head would win over her heart, but knew she was fighting a losing battle. She could feel her resolve slipping from her grasp. How could she continue with anything knowing he was still alive, but not with her? The answer was, she couldn’t. She felt like she was going to faint. A single tear escaped and ran freely down her cheek.

  “Jane,” Seth pressed. “What’s it going to be? We can tell Bill this is what it is and that we need to be together. I love you Jane, more than anything. Can you love me again?” He held his breath waiting to hear the answer he needed more than air and traced his lips down the side of her face.

  Jane raised her eyes to his. “I can’t get on with my life without you,” she whispered. “I do love you Seth, yes. I always have. Some things just can’t be changed.”

  Exhaling with relief, Seth smiled and grabbed Jane’s face gently with both hands. “You won’t regret this baby,” he murmured onto her velvet lips, his fingers pulling at the straps of her top.

  Jane pulled away. Even though she’d have quite happily forgotten the world and abandoned herself to him here and now, she knew there was one more thing she had to get out in the open if they were to have any chance of making it work. “Seth,” she whispered. “I need to tell you something.”

  Seth’s mouth was still searching for hers, one hand travelling up her skirt, the other desperately trying to free himself from his jeans. “Oh God, Jane! Fuck everyone else, they’re not important. Fuck Bill and his rules. If they don’t like it then we’ll leave. I need to be with you. We’ll go somewhere new and make a fresh start.”

  “It’s not about Bill. It’s not about anyone. It’s about us,” Jane said quietly.

  Seth sat back in the driver’s seat and ran his hand through his hair impatiently. He knew there would be a catch. “What the hell is it then, Jane?” he asked, a note of warning in his voice. “I love you and you love me. What’s the difficulty in that?”

  Jane sighed. “Let’s get this meeting done and then I promise we’ll talk.”

  BILL SMILED AS EVERYONE took a chair in his office. “Right, I’ll keep this as short as possible because I know you’re all busy.” He looked at Digger sitting between Seth and Barry.

  “Digger, I’d like you to drop the lovely Eliza off at her new residence.” He’d made the necessary arrangements so the manipulative little cow wouldn’t be causing them any problems for the foreseeable future.

  Digger nodded. “No problem.” He’d been expecting Eliza to
get shipped out after the threats she’d thrown around. In his opinion she was lucky she was being allowed to walk away from this at all. He smiled slightly and glanced at Barry. Seth and Jane would be the next ones on the list.

  He was glad Bill was taking heed of his warning and expected Phil would be relieved too. He’d been looking forward to a few jars in the club tonight, but if it meant this got wrapped up quicker, then he’d gladly drive Eliza anywhere. That was fine by him.

  Bill lit up a cigar and slowly looked around the room. He knew Digger wouldn’t like what was going to be said next but that was not his concern. Phil fully supported him and his decision and would be following things up from his end and that was all he was bothered about.

  Bill’s gaze fell to Jane who was looking straight at him. He’d watched her and Seth as they’d walked in completely professionally, but it was the little things which gave them away.

  The way Seth, without hesitating had immediately pulled out Jane’s chair for her, his hand resting on her shoulder as she’d sat down. The way his eyes burned like embers every time he looked at her. The way Jane’s breathing hitched when Seth was near. Her want for him was palpable. The connection between them was difficult to ignore because the electricity joining them glowed like a light.

  Seth watched Bill studying Jane. They’d decided to tell him that although nothing had been agreed, they’d talked about giving their relationship another go and felt he should know.

  Personally, he’d wanted to state they were back together and if Bill didn’t like it then they’d leave, but Jane had been adamant not to. She’d insisted he hear what she’d got to say later before he decided if he still wanted her and that was giving him the fear. What could possibly be so major to make him not want her?

  Not wishing to cause problems, he’d agreed to do it her way but was itching to get this meeting over and done with so she could just bloody well tell him and then they could get on with their lives, even if that meant leaving the club, which he was half expecting to have to do anyway.