‘You all right?’ Vivian asked.
‘Yeah. I worry about the future, that’s all. Ava’ll be getting to that age soon where she wants to stay out a bit later, and over my dead body is she ever roaming the streets round ’ere.’
‘Too bleedin’ right. I haven’t been out after dark since Fat Beryl got her purse snatched.’
‘Me neither. Wish we could go back to the good old days. Things ain’t what they used to be and that’s a fact.’
Finn O’Marney was a smooth-talking, extremely savvy, handsome young entrepreneur. Born in Limerick, Finn’s parents moved to London when he was a small child, and after starting out his working life in the city, he branched out on his own before joining forces with Little Vinny.
‘No. I can’t go to four thousand. Three and a half is our limit. The clean-up costs a fortune, and we’re paying for that also, remember?’
‘Three eight,’ the landowner bartered.
Finn spat on his right hand before holding it out. ‘Three seven and you’ve got yourself a deal.’
When the geezer accepted the handshake, Little Vinny smirked. Even with the cost of the land, clean-up, security and DJs, he and Finn would be quids in. Three thousand ravers at a tenner per head was a very tidy profit indeed. And on top of that was their cut from the pills. No way did Finn or Little Vinny want punters dropping down dead at their raves, hence them employing their own dealers. Decent ecstasy tablets, rather than the ones cut with strychnine, made their job a whole lot easier.
Walking away from the landowner, Finn asked, ‘You happy?’
Rubbing his hands together, Little Vinny grinned broadly.
‘Right, let’s go celebrate. I know a nice little restaurant not far from here. It’s the other side of Braintree.’
‘Stick the roof down, eh?’ Little Vinny suggested.
‘Yes, boss,’ Finn chuckled. He’d first met Little Vinny a couple of years ago when he’d paid a random visit to his father’s club with some clients. They’d hit it off immediately and six months later had become business partners. At twenty-eight, Finn was three years older than his pal, but Little Vinny reminded him of himself in so many ways. Both liked to work out, and look after themselves and their image. It was all about creating a name and persona in their world. Designer clothes and watches, fast expensive cars and being seen at the trendiest restaurants and clubs was all part of the job. To be a somebody, you had to look a somebody, and Little Vinny being a Butler was an extra-big fucking bonus. Nobody wanted to mess with them.
For the time of year, the weather was very warm, and as the wind swept through his hair, Little Vinny shut his eyes and smiled. He still worked part-time at his dad’s club, even though he didn’t need to any more. Life had changed so much for the better since he’d met Finn. It was great to have a best mate again and be a success in his own right. His dad was really proud of him, and so was Sammi-Lou.
‘What you thinking about?’ Finn asked.
‘Life. I’ve got a beautiful wife, three wonderful sons. You as my business partner, and we’re fucking cake-o. Ain’t life grand?’
With Ava bathed and tucked up in bed with Fred, Queenie and Viv were sorting through the rest of the photos.
‘I’ve got some good ones ’ere. Look,’ Queenie said.
Vivian peered over her sister’s shoulder. ‘Christ, don’t Little Vinny look cute there. I don’t ever remember him wearing suits at that age though.’
‘How many gins you had? I think you need a trip to the opticians, you daft old bat. That’s Antonio, Bella’s son. Look, that’s Ava in the background. These were taken at Vinny’s fortieth.’
‘Gawd, stone the crows!’ Vivian exclaimed, flicking back through her own pile of photos. She put the one of Little Vinny smiling as a young boy next to the one of Antonio. ‘Now tell me I’m a daft old bat. They could be twins.’
Queenie studied the photos carefully, then laughed. ‘OK, I’ll take the daft old bat bit back. Jesus! They do look alike, don’t they? I never noticed that before. Antonio’s even got the infamous Butler eye colour.’
‘Don’t reckon he’s Michael’s kid, do you?’
‘Nah. Why would Michael and Bella keep that secret? I must show Vinny though. Uncanny, ain’t it?’
‘Freaky.’
When Queenie put the two photos in an envelope and stuck them in the drawer, she had no idea of the can of worms she was about to open. If she had, she’d have burnt the fucking photos there and then.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Daniel Butler put the flowers on his brother’s grave and stared at the headstone in silence. Today was Daniel’s nineteenth birthday and it would have been Adam’s seventeenth, had his brother lived that long.
Michael Butler glanced at his watch. He’d promised to be in Tunbridge Wells by noon, and Katy was bound to have one of her infamous tantrums if he was late. What a bitch she’d turned out to be. A nasty, blackmailing, money-grabbing cow. Michael had no choice other than to keep her sweet though. It was the only way to keep his dirty little secret safe.
‘I’m starvin’. Fancy a fry-up, Dan?’
‘Yeah. I’m still lagging after last night. Need something to soak the booze up.’
‘I’ll have to drop you at a café near home, lads. I’m meeting a pal this afternoon in Kent.’
‘Who? And why you gotta meet him? Every year you disappear all day on my poxy birthday,’ Daniel complained.
‘I’m sorry, son. Important business,’ Michael replied guiltily. Only he could produce three sons that were all born on the same fucking day. What were the odds on that? And Katy had him by the short and curlies. Insisted if he could not make a fuss of their son on his birthday, then she might as well send a letter to Bella explaining everything.
Michael drove towards home deep in thought. He’d moved out to Warley, a suburb of Brentwood, when Bella had fallen pregnant with Camila. He’d bought a bit of land and had their dream home built from scratch. He’d also had a separate bungalow built there for Daniel and Lee. He knew Bella didn’t particularly want his sons living with them. She felt they were a bad influence on Antonio. The set-up had worked out reasonably well, apart from the occasions when his sons rolled home pissed and woke every bastard up. Michael had forbidden Daniel and Lee to bring any birds or pals back in future, told them it wasn’t fair on Camila.
Listening to his sons bantering about the two sisters they’d pulled the previous evening, Michael smiled. Daniel and Lee both worked for him at the club now. Music had changed beyond recognition and it had been his sons’ idea to move with the times. Soul, disco and pop were seen now as old hat. House, garage and trance had taken their place, so Michael’s club was now full of ravers, pilled up to the eyeballs on Friday and Saturday nights. All his new punters seemed to drink was bottles of water, so Michael charged a quid for those and twelve quid entrance fee to make up for the profit he lost on booze. Thursday was an old school disco night. Sunday lunchtimes the strippers still went down a treat, and the grab a granny night on a Monday had always been busy.
‘You gonna see these birds again?’ Michael asked.
Daniel burst out laughing. ‘Lee is. He likes a pig.’
Lee playfully punched his brother’s arm. ‘You can talk. What about that Tessa bird you shagged? She was well fat and ugly. Ten-Ton Tessa.’
When Daniel got Lee in a headlock, Michael chuckled. His sons were no longer the lairy teenagers who’d he’d given a good hiding to for being thick enough to set Jake Jackson’s flat alight. They were now bright, six feet tall, handsome, strapping lads. Remembering his own plight, Michael decided to dish out some fatherly advice. ‘Enjoy yourselves by all means, lads, but always use protection. Birds’ll be queuing up to trap yous two. You’re Butlers, the perfect catch.’
Vinny Butler grinned as his daughter came out of the shop changing room in Romford.
‘I didn’t like two of the dresses, Dad. But I like all of these,’ Ava said, clutching an armful of clothes. ‘And D
estiny likes that white dress, so will you buy it for her?’
‘No, Ava. My mum gave me some money,’ Destiny said, embarrassed. Ava’s dad was extremely generous to her as it was, and she hated taking liberties.
‘Put your money away, girl. I insist,’ Vinny said, as poor Destiny began pulling out fifty-pence coins from her purse. When his daughter had first started knocking about with Stinky Susan’s child, Vinny had been anything but impressed. Over the years though he’d grown fond of the kid. Unlike her mother, who was greasy-haired, soapy-looking and obese, Destiny was a pretty little slim girl with a lovely disposition.
When Ava snatched the two fifty-pound notes out of his hand and marched up to the till, Vinny winked at the two women who were gawping at him. He’d recently turned forty-six, still looked as suave as ever, but really couldn’t be arsed with birds any more, not even prostitutes. All they’d ever done was cause him grief.
Bella giving birth to Camila had sent Vinny on the bender of all benders, and he’d very nearly throttled another brass. He’d been out of his head on Scotch and cocaine, and the following day had decided enough was enough. He’d had more lives than a cat when it came to getting away with murder, and he knew if he didn’t clean up his lifestyle his luck would run out sooner rather than later.
These days Vinny was a saint in comparison. He never touched the gear, rarely got steaming drunk, and his sex life was that of a monk’s. The only vice he did have was the porn and snuff films. A punter at his club sold the real hardcore stuff, and Vinny would satisfy his own sadistic urges while watching birds getting murdered, raped, strangled or tortured. He often imagined the women were Bella, especially when they were dark-haired and attacked from behind. Vinny never saw himself as a saddo or a wanker. Unlike other perverts who watched such films, he was only doing so for a legitimate reason. It beat doing another long stretch, and his daughter and mother needed looking after in life.
‘Happy birthday, Daniel,’ Camila said, holding out the card her brother Antonio had helped her make.
Daniel crouched down and ripped open the envelope. ‘Wow! Did you write all this yourself?’
‘Yes,’ Camila grinned. She loved all of her brothers, but Daniel was her favourite.
‘Happy birthday,’ ten-year-old Antonio said, handing Daniel the wrapped-up bottle of aftershave his mother had bought from Harrods.
Daniel ruffled Antonio’s hair. ‘Cheers, pal,’ he replied, before lifting Camila in the air and giving her lots of kisses.
Bella put her arm around Antonio’s shoulders. Daniel and Lee doted on their little sister and even though they were always kind and polite to Antonio, she feared he felt left out at times. When her son was a toddler, he’d been so happy and vibrant. Then she and Michael had decided to move in together. They’d rented a place first, and that had been a nightmare. Daniel and Lee were fifteen at the time, and very boisterous. Antonio had become withdrawn and even though he was very bright and doing extremely well at the private school he now attended, he’d never got his old bubbly personality back.
‘Is it OK if I go to my room, Mummy? I have lots of homework to do,’ Antonio asked.
‘Of course you can, sweetheart.’
Michael Butler glanced at his watch anxiously. When Daniel had suddenly felt sick and decided he needed to stop at the nearest café, Michael had agreed. He’d rung Katy from outside, explaining he was going to be late, but as usual, she wasn’t happy.
‘You OK, Michael?’ Bella asked.
‘Fine, but I’m running late for that business meeting I told you about. Make a fuss of the kids, eh? I won’t be home too late.’
When Bella kissed Michael goodbye, she had no idea he was off to visit the illegitimate son that had been conceived while she’d been in Italy. Bella had inherited her father’s temper, and had she known, she’d probably stab Michael, chop his dick off, or both.
Vinny Butler had just ordered food in the Pizza Hut when he spotted Joey Mitchell having lunch with another lad. He craned his neck wondering if the other geezer was a pal or lover.
Eddie Mitchell’s twins had turned out a proper disappointment. It was now common knowledge among villains that Joey was as bent as a nine-bob note, and as for his sister, she’d turned out to be the wrong ’un of all wrong ’uns. It was Frankie’s fault that Jessica was dead. The silly little cow had gone and got herself knocked up by the son of Jimmy O’Hara. Not only were the O’Haras a villainous gypsy clan, Eddie despised them with a passion because of a feud that dated back as early as 1971.
‘Who you looking at, Daddy?’ Ava asked.
‘Joey Mitchell, and I think he’s spotted me. Stay ’ere with Destiny, babe, while I go and say hello.’
‘Is that the son of the man who shot his wife?’ Ava asked loudly.
‘Shush,’ Vinny ordered, when the people on the next table all looked around.
Joey looked sheepish when Vinny strutted over to him. He stood up and held out his right hand. ‘Hi. How are you? This is Dom, my erm, friend.’
‘I’m all good, cheers. How’s your dad?’ Vinny enquired. Eddie had written to him a few times, but had never sent a VO. Since being sentenced, Ed would only be allowed limited visits, so Vinny guessed he used such for family.
‘Dad’s doing OK,’ Joey replied, glancing at Dominic. His father had actually disowned him since finding out he was gay, but no way was Joey giving away such information in the middle of the Pizza Hut.
‘When you speak to the old man next, tell him I’m due another letter. How you and your sister doing?’
‘Not bad. Obviously life has never been the same since Mum died, but you have to carry on, don’t you? Frankie’s got two kids now, Georgie and Harry.’
‘Nice,’ Vinny replied sarcastically. Eddie might not have had a lot of luck with his twins, but he’d had a proper touch when his case went to court. His brief and QC had played a blinder, and by all accounts nobody could believe it when he’d got a ‘Not guilty’ for murder and manslaughter. The only charge his pal had been found guilty of was possession of a firearm. Good behaviour permitting, Eddie should be out in the next few years and Vinny couldn’t wait. He’d missed his mate big time. ‘Oh well, best I get back to my Ava and her mate now. You take care, lads.’
When Dominic stood up and shook his hand, Vinny smiled politely, before sauntering back to his own table. His heart went out to Eddie Mitchell, it really did. He could understand why his pal didn’t want many visitors. Vinny knew how tough it was to suffer a bereavement of a loved one, then be confined to a cell. How he’d got through his stretch after Molly had died, he would never know. He also knew how other inmates would try to wind you up, and Ed had more to feel humiliated about than most. Not only had he accidentally killed his own wife and unborn child, it would be common knowledge in a prison that his son was gay and his daughter was shacked up with a gypsy. Poor fucking Eddie.
Another Butler dining out was Michael. The opening of the M25 had been a godsend for his secret life, especially on a day like today when there’d been no accidents or roadworks, and he’d been able to keep his foot full on the throttle.
Katy Spencer flicked back her expensive blonde curls. Now Nathan was at school she could spend lots of time in the West End, shopping and pampering herself, so that’s what she did. She still loved Michael with a passion, but he’d made it perfectly clear that he was in love with Bella, and the only thing between them was their child. That’s why Katy had decided to rinse him financially. If she couldn’t have the man she idolized, his money was the next best thing.
Michael ruffled Nathan’s hair. The lad thankfully had his looks and nature. ‘What do you fancy to eat, son? Shall Daddy help you choose?’
Nathan grinned. ‘Burger and chips.’
Waving her hand frantically, Katy finally caught the attention of a waitress. ‘We’d like to order our food now. And could you also bring over a bottle of finest champagne? It’s our son’s fifth birthday today,’ Katy proudly announced, in that
extra-loud tone Michael despised.
Nathan not only looked like Adam had at a similar age, his sweet nature was the same. Michael truly felt guilty every day of every week for not allowing Nathan to be part of his family’s lives, but what could he do? It was an impossible situation he’d found himself in, and he couldn’t lose Bella and Camila. There was also Bella’s father to contend with, but that was another story. As for his own mother, Michael knew she’d never speak to him again if she found out he’d been keeping such a beautiful grandson from her for all these years.
‘Lucy Kendall is over there. Her son William is in Nathan’s class, but he isn’t with her. William’s with his dad this weekend. If she comes over here, you know what to say,’ Katy warned.
Michael stared at Katy as she marched off. There was no denying she was a pretty girl, with a figure worthy of a Page Three bird, but he felt no desire whatsoever when he looked at her. The only good thing ever to have come out of Katy’s mouth or body was Nathan.
‘Daddy, why does Mummy always say “You know what to say” to you?’
Michael chose his words carefully. His name was not on Nathan’s birth certificate as he’d put his foot down on that one, and as far as his son, Katy’s family and every other nosy bastard in Tunbridge Wells was concerned, he was a rich banker from London who was still in a relationship with Katy, and went by the name of Michael Jones. ‘It’s because Daddy has a secret job at the bank, boy. I have to travel around the world a lot, that’s why your mum says such stuff. That’s also why I don’t get to see you half as much as I’d like to.’
Nathan put his arm around the waist of the man he adored. ‘I love you, Daddy.’
‘State of her, look! All fur coat and no knickers,’ Queenie said, nudging her sister.
Tainted Love: The gritty new thriller from the #1 bestseller Page 18