by Sam Michaels
She climbed out of the car, acknowledged the doormen and made her way down to the club but noticed she couldn’t hear the usual sound of muffled music and laughter floating up the stairs. ‘What’s the time, Victor?’ she asked, wondering if it was earlier than she’d thought.
‘Eight, on the dot, Miss Garrett.’
‘It seems terribly quiet so why has Mr Harel got an extra man on the door? Is he expecting trouble that he hasn’t told me about?’
‘Not that I know of,’ Victor answered.
‘Stop,’ Georgina told him.
They were halfway down the flight of stairs.
‘Turn around and look at me.’
Victor did as he was told.
‘I’m going to ask you again. Am I going to find trouble behind those doors?’
‘No, Miss Garrett. Not that I know of.’
Georgina’s eyes narrowed. ‘You’re lying to me, Victor. I can see you squirming,’ she said as she reached inside her clutch bag and felt the cold metal of the gun as her fingers wrapped around it.
‘No. No, Miss Garrett. I promise you, there’s no trouble here.’
‘Something’s going on. I can feel it. And I know you. You’re hiding something from me.’
‘I’m not, please, Miss Garrett, you have to believe me.’
Victor never spoke much but she could tell by the way he was avoiding eye contact with her that he was keeping something from her. And one thing she’d learnt – she couldn’t trust anyone.
Georgina pulled out her gun and pointed it at Victor. ‘Put your hands above your head… slowly,’ she said.
Victor took a deep breath and followed her instructions.
‘No funny business. I don’t want to use this, but you know I will if I have to. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?’
She saw Victor gulp. She knew it! There was something! Was he leading her into an ambush? And were Benjamin and Ivy held hostage or worse?
‘You’d better tell me, or else,’ she threatened.
‘Shit. I’m not supposed to talk. Mr Harel and Johnny will be right pissed off with me.’
‘Benjamin is involved?’ Georgina asked, shocked. She’d have never thought he’d turn on her.
‘Yes, it was his idea. Him and Johnny actually. They’ve arranged a birthday party for you. It’s supposed to be a surprise.’
‘Are you kidding me?’
‘No. That’s why it’s so quiet. All your friends and family are waiting for you.’
A smile began to spread across Georgina’s face. She could see Victor was telling her the truth yet here she was, waving a gun at him. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said as she put it away.
‘Don’t let on that I told you,’ Victor asked.
‘No, I won’t. I’ll act surprised. Shit, Victor, sorry.’
‘It’s all right. I suppose I should be pleased that I got you this far before you became suspicious. Can we go in now?’
‘Yes, and thank you. Hang on, let me put on my best astonished face. How’s this?’ Georgina asked and looked at Victor with her mouth agape.
‘It’ll pass muster,’ he answered and led her down the rest of the stairs.
He opened the door and as they walked in, the lights went up and Georgina was met with an array of voices shouting, ‘Surprise,’ and paper party streamers floated through the air towards her. She glanced around and pretended to be amazed.
‘Happy birthday, Miss Garrett,’ Benjamin beamed as he handed her a glass of champagne, though she noticed he was shaking.
‘Thank you. Did you do all this?’
‘Erm, some of it.’
‘It’s wonderful. Thank you,’ she told him and hoped she’d put his fears at rest.
Her father hugged her and Georgina was pleased to see he was sober. Her eyes roamed the club, noting all the familiar faces. It was a shame her gran’s was missing but Georgina felt sure she was there somewhere in spirit.
‘You invited David Maynard?’ she whispered to Benjamin.
‘Was that a mistake?’
‘No, not at all. I’m just surprised he came.’
‘Georgina, happy birthday. This is from me and Oppo,’ Molly said and handed her a wrapped box.
‘Thank you. I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me. To tell you the truth, I thought everyone had forgotten my birthday.’
‘It wasn’t easy and as if we’d forget. Come and say hello to Jane. She’s busy trying to calm Edward down. I think the loud noise when we all shouted surprise has startled him.’
It probably had, Georgina thought. It wasn’t that long ago when the poor baby had been petrified by the noise of gunfire. Georgina had been concerned that his ears may have been affected but so far, he hadn’t shown any signs of lasting damage.
‘I’ll be over in a minute,’ she told Molly. ‘I just have to say hello to David.’
It took her several minutes to cross the room. Everyone wanted to give her their best wishes but eventually, she stood at David’s table and he rose to his feet.
‘This is for the birthday girl,’ he said and handed her a gift.
‘Thank you but you shouldn’t have,’ she replied and smiled at him.
‘Open it, then.’
Georgina looked into his eyes and felt herself caught there again. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled her own away, worried that someone may recognise the attraction between them. She pulled at the white ribbon around the small velvet box and opened the lid, then gasped.
‘Oh, David, this is too much,’ she said as the sapphire earrings twinkled in the lights.
‘Shut up, you silly cow, and try them on.’
‘I can’t. They’re stunning but I can’t accept them.’
‘Come now, Georgina, you wouldn’t want to hurt my feelings?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘Here, let me help you,’ David said and pulled back her hair on one side. ‘There you go, clip it on.’
Georgina felt his hand had gently brushed her cheek and found herself fighting against feelings she didn’t want to emerge. She loved Lash. This, whatever it was with David Maynard, wasn’t right. She clipped one earring on and then the other.
‘Beautiful,’ David said as he studied her. ‘But not as beautiful as you. They match your eyes.’
‘Thank you. Have you, erm… er, have you got enough drinks?’ she asked, stumbling over her words.
‘Yes, we’ve been well looked after. Are you joining me?’
Benjamin appeared at her side and had found his Penthouse Club persona again, the one so different from the Benjamin in the office. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but can I steal Miss Garrett away? We have a very special birthday treat for her.’
Georgina had never been so glad of an interruption. ‘I’m in demand tonight.’ She smiled at David. ‘What’s a girl to do?’
‘Bring her back to me,’ David told Benjamin.
Georgina felt Benjamin’s hand under her arm and he led her towards the end of the bar. ‘Sit here, and close your eyes. I’ll tell you when to open them.’
‘Oh, you’re giving out the orders to me now, are you?’ she said jokingly.
‘Yes, and for once, do as you’re told,’ then he shouted, ‘Drum roll, please.’
Georgina sat on the tall bar stool and closed her eyes. She expected he’d be bringing out a birthday cake and she wouldn’t have been surprised if one of Benjamin’s acts had jumped out of it.
‘You can open your eyes now.’
Georgina blinked. There was no cake. No candles. She jumped down from the stool and felt tears begin to prick her eyes. ‘Lash…’ she said and fell into his open arms.
His lips were on hers and she could feel herself melting into him. ‘I’ve missed you,’ he husked into her ear.
‘I’ve missed you too,’ she whispered back. ‘I can’t believe you’re in the club. I know you hate it.’
‘I do, but I guessed you’d never expect me to be here so I asked Benjamin to arrange this party for yo
u.’
A round of applause echoed round the room and she realised everyone was watching them. She pulled away from him and stood at his side with his arm around her waist. ‘This has been the best birthday, ever. Thank you,’ she shouted.
Glasses were raised and Ivy appeared with the cake Georgina had expected. As she blew out the candles, she noticed David slip out of the doors.
The cake sliced, toasts done and glasses refilled, Georgina couldn’t wait to get Lash alone and dragged him past the stage and into the small dressing room. Here, he pushed her against the dressing table and cupped her face as he passionately kissed her. His hands roamed down her neck, over her breasts and then stopped on her stomach.
‘I want to put a child in here,’ he said and kissed her again.
Georgina now reached up to his face and held it in her hands as she looked into his dark eyes. ‘Not yet, sorry, Lash,’ she said and shook her head.
‘When?’
‘One day.’
‘When you’re ready. I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when your gran passed away.’
‘It’s all right. It wasn’t your fault. My dad explained everything. Your family had to take you, I understand.’
‘I should have been stronger, Georgina. You needed me. I’m so ashamed I left you alone to deal with it.’
‘It’s fine. I’m fine. Like I said, my dad explained everything.’
‘I would have won that fight. They cheated.’
‘I know. He had something in his glove.’
‘Yes, he did. But you’ll never have any trouble from the Portland Pounders again. They’ve had the pleasure of running into my family and not even Kevin Kelly is mad enough to bring my lot down on him again.’
‘My dad said it was very impressive. I wish I’d been there.’
‘I’m glad you wasn’t.’
‘Where did your family take you?’
‘To Ireland. I’ve brought you back something. In that bag, over there.’
Georgina walked over to a brown pigskin bag in the corner of the room and crouched down to pull it open. ‘Oh, my goodness,’ she exclaimed as she peered at the wads of notes inside. ‘Where did you get this much money from?’
‘It doesn’t matter where it came from. It’s yours. Do whatever you want with it.’
‘But, Lash, there’s a small fortune here.’
‘I know. It doesn’t make up for leaving you alone all this time but it’s good to feel like a man and bring home the bacon.’
Georgina stood up and turned to Lash. ‘I’m the one who should be apologising, not you. I’ve been awful to you. I’m sorry for how I’ve made you feel.’
‘You did what you had to do. I was under no false pretence when I took you for my wife. I’m proud of you and what you’ve achieved. You’re like no other woman, Georgina, and I wouldn’t want to change you. But you have to let me be a man sometimes. Your husband.’
‘I know and I will. Please tell me how you got your hands on this much cash.’
‘Ha, a typical woman, you have to know everything.’
‘Please, Lash, stop teasing me.’
‘I robbed the National bank in Ireland. Just a small village branch. It was easy. The manager and his wife and children lived on the premises. No-one was hurt. Just the threat of violence was enough for the manager to open the safe. I’m clean away, Georgina.’
‘Shit, Lash! Robbing banks! That’s madness.’
‘I know, but it was easy.’
‘Well, what’s done is done and to be honest, we need the money.’
‘Is business not going well?’
‘It’s doing all right but I need money to buy a property. We have to leave Queenstown Road and I don’t want to rent again. This is perfect timing. With this, I’ve got enough to pay Molly off and to buy a large house. Oh, Lash, I love you,’ Georgina said and stepped back across the room and flung her arms around his neck.
‘Do you want to stay at this party? I was thinking we could get away early and…’ he said as he nuzzled her ear. Then stopped suddenly. ‘These are new earrings. A gift?’
Georgina felt herself burning red. ‘Yes. For my birthday. From David.’
‘They’re a very expensive gift from an associate.’
‘Well, he’s either a generous man or he’s being flash.’
‘Or he’s trying to impress you. I bet he’ll be gutted to hear I’m back.’
‘Maybe,’ Georgina answered, and recalled the disappointed expression on David’s face as he’d left the club when he’d seen Lash.
Lash pulled her closer. ‘I can’t blame the man for wanting you for himself. But you’re mine,’ he said and kissed her again. ‘I want to make love to you, Georgina. Would you like that?’
‘Yes… yes, please,’ she answered. ‘And I can leave this party early. I’d much rather be naked with you.’
‘You may not want a baby yet but we can have fun practising to make one,’ he told her before kissing her again.
As Lash’s tongue probed her mouth, she tried to dismiss the memory of Frank Cunningham kicking her stomach and his wishes for her to remain forever childless. She’d heard he’d lost his job but he hadn’t yet paid for attacking her. And she couldn’t tell Lash what had happened. She wanted her own retribution and she planned on getting it.
‘Yes,’ she answered Lash and rested her head on his shoulder. ‘We can have lots and lots of practice.’
Georgina Garrett was at the top of her game. It had been hard work of late. A never-ending cycle of fighting for those she loved and battling for what she wanted. Now, with her husband home, her father sober, Molly content and Jane recovered, life at last felt good. Her gran had died but that was out of Georgina’s control. She’d always miss Dulcie, but finally there was some peace and Georgina allowed herself to feel a glimmer of happiness. For now.
About the Author
SAM MICHAELS lives in Spain with her family and a plethora of animals. Having been writing for years, Trickster was her debut novel.
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