Bella’s father stared at his daughter via the interior mirror. Clint didn’t exist. He knew that much. He’d even sent a man over to New York to find him. He’d also done his homework regarding Michael Butler. Had sent the same man to watch him in London. Having studied the photographs, Giovanni D’Angelo was sure that Michael was Antonio’s father. Little did he know that his beloved grandson was actually conceived by the satanic sperm of Vinny.
‘You OK, Papa?’ Bella asked, aware that his eyes were focussed on her.
Giovanni smiled. He was more than OK. Being the boss of the D’Angelo family meant that he could wipe out a man in a split second. Including Michael Butler, if he ever wronged his daughter again. The Butlers might be classed as big fish in London. But in Sicily and Giovanni’s world, they were nothing but mere tadpoles.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Christmas Eve 1985
Mary Walker could barely contain herself. ‘How much longer, Donald?’
‘I don’t know, dear. Like yourself, I’m unfamiliar with the area. Ah, hang on. I think we’re in the right street. Look at the numbers on your left.’
‘Number forty!’ Mary squealed.
Slowing down, Donald pulled up outside a four-bedroomed detached house. ‘I’ll get the presents out the boot. Go and knock then.’
Mary didn’t need telling twice. She ran up the path and straight into the arms of her stunning daughter. ‘Nancy!’ she cried. ‘I’ve missed you so much.’
When Christopher had first told her he was going to help Nancy fake her own death, Mary had been appalled by the idea. Not only was pretending Nancy was dead so very wrong, but how the hell was she meant to lie to people? Christopher had convinced Mary to go through with the sham. Said it was the only way to free Nancy from a life of misery. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous. Nancy’ll end up in prison and you’ll be slung out the police force,’ Mary had argued.
Donald had a different view. ‘Christopher is talking sense, Mary. Nancy’s only chance of happiness is to rid herself of Michael Butler for good. I know this is difficult and we’ll miss her dreadfully, but Nancy has a chance to start again. Raise another family with a decent man instead of that scoundrel.’
The decent man Donald referred to was Dean Smart. Dean had met Nancy at Beachy Head, and had even helped her write her suicide notes before driving her to his home in Glasgow.
Christopher had sorted false documentation for his sister. He’d hated breaking the law, but sometimes you had to put family first, and what his superiors didn’t know couldn’t hurt him.
‘Dean, how are you, lovey?’ Mary asked, hugging the man who had put a smile back on the face of her daughter.
‘I’m very well, thanks, Mary. Your daughter takes good care of me. So much so, I asked her if she would do me the honour of becoming my wife.’
‘And I said yes!’ Nancy exclaimed.
‘We’re getting married in Gretna Green on my birthday and we’d love you and Donald to come. Can’t exactly invite anybody else, can we?’ Dean chuckled.
‘Congratulations,’ Donald said, shaking his future son-in-law’s hand. ‘Mary and I wouldn’t miss your big day for the world.’
Mary was crying tears of joy. Nancy looked so radiant. Sitting through her daughter’s remembrance-of-life service had been one of the hardest things Mary had ever done, but Christopher had insisted she go through with it. ‘I’m so happy for you both, and wouldn’t your nan be delighted too, Dean?’
‘Me nan’s probably looking down, grinning as we speak. Just before she died she told me never to give up on Nance. Reckoned we were made for each other – and she was right.’
Watching the happy couple gaze lovingly into one another’s eyes, Mary smiled. Lying to friends, neighbours and customers at the café had been awful. But seeing Nancy so happy made it all worthwhile. Her daughter had sacrificed a lot to be with Dean, and had finally found the peace and happiness she truly deserved.
EPILOGUE
Father Patrick had heard many a confession in his lifetime. But as Queenie Butler finally stopped speaking about her dysfunctional family, he was shocked to the core.
‘You OK, Father?’ asked Queenie, shoving another large brandy into the man’s visibly shaking hand. ‘You better drink that.’
‘Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil,’ Father Patrick rambled, closing his eyes.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, Queen, shut him up. Silly old bugger is as pissed as a fart,’ Vivian hissed.
Smiling politely, Queenie snatched Father Patrick’s drink out of his hands, grabbed him by the elbow and edged him into the hallway. ‘Lovely to meet you, Father. And thank you so much for ridding my family of evil spirits,’ Queenie said, as she all but pushed the shocked priest out of the front door, slamming it behind him.
‘Do you reckon his prayers will work, Queen?’ Vivian asked, bemused by the whole affair.
‘How the hell should I know? I’m not a Catholic! Ask God. On second thoughts, don’t bother. That bastard hates us. Stop feeling fucking sorry for yourself, Queen. The past is the past. Sod all we can do to change it, so harping on about it is pointless. It’s time to move on. Concentrate solely on the future.’
Taken aback by Viv’s little speech, Queenie glared at her. ‘You’ve changed your bloody tune. Does forgetting the past and concentrating on the future include you forgiving my Vinny, then? Loves you that boy does. Breaks his heart you still won’t talk to him.’
Vivian chose her words carefully. ‘I’m not ready to forgive, but I am ready to try to forget. Bitterness eats away at your insides like cancer. I don’t wanna be bitter no more.’
Queenie poured two glasses of sherry and handed one to Viv. ‘So what’s brought on this change of heart then? And don’t say “nothing” as you were acting weird earlier.’
‘I had a dream last night. Lenny was sat on the edge of my bed, urging me to make things right. Mum was with him an’ all, holding his hand. They both said they were happy, and told me to be happy too. So vivid it was. I cried when I woke up. But not with sadness. I felt comforted.’
Eyes welling up, Queenie squeezed her sister’s hand. ‘Fat Beryl reckons spirits can visit us in our sleep. I reckon Mum and Lenny came to talk to you. Probably to bang our bleedin’ heads together. You’re right. It is time to leave the past behind.’
Vivian held her glass aloft. ‘To new beginnings.’
Queenie chinked glasses and smiled. ‘New beginnings.’
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Huge thanks to the wonderful team at HarperCollins. Getting to number one with Payback was an incredible moment and I owe you guys big time.
A special mention for my fab editor Kimberley Young, my wonderful agent Tim Bates, publicist Louise Swannell, Sue Cox, Sarah Ritherdon, Rosie de Courcy and Mandasue Heller.
Also Katie, Claire, Adam, Sarah, Oli and Tom.
I can’t thank the supermarkets and stores that sell my books enough.
And last but certainly not least, my readers. It is all down to you lovely people that I achieved my dream. A number one Sunday Times bestseller! Who would have ever predicted that? Certainly not my parents and school teachers, that’s for sure lol xxx
The Butlers will return in the explosive new novel from Kimberley Chambers
TAINTED LOVE
Out in Spring 2016
Click here to preorder now
And if you enjoyed the Butler collection, don’t miss out on THE SCHEMER, available to buy now
It’s 1983 and Stephanie Crouch’s life is dull. She is desperate to escape the run-down, pokey council house she shares with her overbearing family, but at fourteen years old she has nowhere to go.
When Stephanie meets East End wide-boy Barry, his cockney charm and quick tongue soon have her head over heels in love. Finally Stephanie feels like her dreary life is on the up. But too young to control their fate, Stephanie and Barry are torn apart when he is whisked away to
Spain by his family.
Lonely and heartbroken Stephanie turns to Barry’s childhood friend Wayne for comfort, and their friendship soon blossoms into romance, leaving Barry fuming and promising revenge …
Ten years later Barry returns to England. Within one month Stephanie’s happy world with Wayne is turned upside down. People immediately start to point the finger of accusation at Barry, but is he the one to blame?
Or, should Stephanie look elsewhere to find the schemer who has ruined her life?
Click here to buy now
About the Author
Kimberley Chambers lives in Romford and has been, at various times, a disc jockey, cab driver and a street trader. She is now a full-time writer and is the author of ten novels.
Join Kimberley’s legion of legendary fans on Facebook/kimberleychambersofficial and @kimbochambers on Twitter.
Also by Kimberley Chambers
Billie Jo
Born Evil
The Betrayer
The Feud
The Traitor
The Victim
The Schemer
The Trap
Payback
The Wronged
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Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Butler Collection Page 132