Kimberley Chambers - Payback

Vinny walked into the club and was surprised to see Michael sitting alone with a bottle of Scotch. ‘What’s up with you? You had another row with Nancy?’

When Michael explained what had happened earlier, Vinny tutted and shook his head in disgust. ‘You need to get rid of her, bruv, she’s a wrong ’un. What about that other bird? Have you got back in touch with her yet?’

Michael shook his head dismally. He was still constantly thinking about Bella and was sure she was the reason why he couldn’t get an erection with Nancy. ‘If I tell you something, you won’t take the piss, will you?’

Vinny shook his head, but when Michael admitted he had erectile dysfunction, Vinny couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ‘Alfie can’t get it up! Who would ever have thought it, eh?’

‘You ain’t fucking funny. I wish I’d never told you. If you tell anybody else, I swear to you, Vinny, me and you are finished.’

‘Calm down, you tart. I’m just messing with you. The only reason you can’t get it up with Nancy is because you’ve met someone else. Go on, ring the other bird – what you waiting for?’ Vinny asked, pouring himself a large Scotch and downing it in one.

‘What you doing here so early? You got problems as well? I thought you were picking Auntie Viv up.’

‘I did pick Auntie Viv up. She’s back at home, loved the kitchen, and you should have seen her face when she saw Champ’s room, Michael. Bowled over, she was. As for problems, I have my fair share, trust me on that one.’

‘You not getting on with Jo?’ Michael asked. He had been gobsmacked when he found out Jo was Johnny Preston’s daughter, and guessed that Vinny had only got with her out of some sadistic lust for revenge.

Vinny shook his head. He then admitted that Little Vinny had started to spiral out of control, and told Michael that he had found Yvonne Summers. ‘You should have seen the state of the fat slag, bruv. Made me feel ill to look at her. Reminded me of a sow on a fucking pig farm.’

Michael felt his blood run cold. He knew his brother had a tendency to wipe out people who had upset him and he only hoped Vinny wasn’t going to ask him to help. ‘If you want my opinion, you’d be mad to bother with Yvonne now. You could lose everything if you get banged up, Vin. Is she worth it?’

Vinny took a sip of his drink. ‘No. She ain’t worth a wank, Michael. However, I would still like to set the fat cunt on fire and watch her go up in flames.’

Queenie and Vivian were both hard at it in Queenie’s new kitchen. All the neighbours were bringing food for tomorrow’s street party, but being the type of women they were, both sisters were determined that their input into the occasion would beat any other.

‘Well? What do you think? Ain’t lost me touch, have I?’ Vivian asked, as she showed Queenie her tray of homemade Cornish pasties.

‘Oh, Vivvy, they look handsome, girl. Look at the gloss on that pastry. Do you know what, I’m amazed they didn’t let you help out with the cooking in that loony bin. You could have taught that mob a thing or two.’

Vivian chuckled. The pair of them had been sipping sherry while they worked, and with Mrs Mills on in the background it was just like old times. ‘I offered once, but the nurse looked at me in horror. I think she thought I was going to shove my head in the oven and gas meself.’

‘Well, don’t forget I told all the neighbours you’ve been recuperating in the country. Them nosy load of bastards will be prying tomorrow, you can bet your life,’ Queenie warned her sister.

Vivian smiled. It had hit her like a ton of bricks, walking into her own home without her Lenny being there to greet her, but she hadn’t wanted to show it. She might cry a few tears when she climbed into bed tonight, but she was determined not to wallow in grief again. Her Lenny had gone for good, and however many tears she cried he wasn’t coming back. If being institutionalized had taught her one thing, it was that. ‘Sod the neighbours, Queen. I couldn’t give a shit what they think. Now, turn Mrs Mills up and let’s have a singalong.’

Vinny and Michael were still having a brotherly heart-to-heart when the phone rang. ‘I’ll get it. You can bet your life it’s Nancy,’ Michael stated.

‘If it’s Ahmed, I ain’t here, bruv,’ Vinny said.

‘What’s going on, Vin? That’s the third time in the last two days you’ve made me tell Ahmed that you ain’t around. I’m not stupid, so please don’t lie to me. Have you got yourself involved in the drug game with him?’ Michael asked, when he sat back down. He knew Vinny wasn’t snorting any more. He could see it in his eyes and hear it in his speech, but he wouldn’t put it past his brother to deal in the stuff. Vinny was a greedy git when it came to money. Always had been, and always would be.

Knowing he’d have to come clean to a certain extent, Vinny told him, ‘It’s not drugs, Michael. There’s a business deal he wants to involve me in and I’m not sure about it.’

‘What sort of deal?’

‘Don’t worry, it’s nothing too serious, just a bit of a gamble. And there is a lot of dosh involved.’

‘Do you want my honest opinion?’

Vinny nodded.

‘If you think Ahmed has forgiven you for that accident, then you must be mad. I can see the truth in his eyes. I reckon he’s trying to rip you off, and if I was you I wouldn’t trust the Turkish cunt as far as I could throw him.’

Vinny took a swig of his drink. Before the accident, he had trusted Ahmed like a brother, but intuition told him that Michael might be right. Scraping together over a million in cash was a difficult enough task, but parting with it was even harder.

‘Where you going?’ Michael asked when Vinny stood up.

‘I’m going to ring Ahmed. If he thinks he can get one over on me, then he’s picked on the wrong fucking person.’

The two figures put the hoods up on their matching Adidas jackets and giggled as they approached Vinny Butler’s house. Both were in high spirits, thanks to the bottle of cider they had just polished off.

Seeing a woman in a hairnet walking towards them pulling a shopping trolley behind her, the boy grabbed his older accomplice’s arm and gesticulated for him to sit on the kerb alongside him.

When the woman passed without even glancing in their direction, the boy stood up. Satisfied that the coast was now clear, he held out his right hand. ‘Give it to me. I want to do it.’

The boy’s accomplice shook his head. ‘No. This was my idea and I can throw further than you.’

‘No, you can’t.’

‘Yes, I can.’

‘Give it to me.’

Ignoring the boy’s wishes, the older lad ran towards Vinny’s house and hurled the brick straight through the downstairs window.

At the sound of the blood-curdling scream from inside the house, both boys then ran for their lives.

Queenie and Vivian were both cooing over baby Tommy when the doorbell rang.

‘I’ll get it,’ Brenda said. Having moved back home two days ago, she already hated living in the house without Dean. She was hoping that, if she made herself useful, her mother would let her and the kids stay at her place for a while.

‘I am so sorry for bothering you, but I didn’t know where else to go. Somebody threw a brick through the lounge window and it nearly hit Molly,’ Joanna gabbled when the door was flung open. She’d been in such a rush to leave the house, she’d carried her daughter in her arms.

Overhearing the conversation, Queenie darted into the hallway. Lots of women would never have forgiven their son for taking up with the daughter of a man who had virtually ended the life of one of their other sons, but Queenie was different to those shallow people. She trusted her first-born implicitly and if Joanna made him happy, then it made her happy too. ‘Whatever’s the matter, sweetheart?’