The Traitor (39 page)

Eddie glared at his eldest boy. ‘What I do with my life is my choice, got that? Gina is a wonderful woman and if it all goes tits-up between us, which it won’t, it’s my problem, nobody else’s.’

‘Where you gonna live? You moving into her place?’ Ricky asked, shell-shocked.

‘We’ve rented a place in the countryside. It’s a new beginning for both of us and I thought yous two would be pleased for me. Yous boys are both still young, you’re happy playing the field and so you should be. I’m knocking on a bit now and I just wanna be settled and part of a couple again. You understand where I’m coming from, don’t ya?’

‘Of course we do,’ Ricky said, nudging his brother.

Ed turned to Gary. ‘What about you, son?’

‘I want you to be happy, so I hope it works out for ya, Dad,’ Gary replied grudgingly.

Stuart waking up snapped Eddie back to reality. He could barely believe that the longed-for day had finally arrived.

‘You awake, big man?’ Stu asked.

‘Sure am. You OK, boy?’

Stuart jumped off his bunk and smiled at Eddie. He was going to miss his pal terribly, but at the same time he was pleased that Ed’s sentence was over.

‘I don’t wanna sound like some soppy cunt, but I ain’t ’arf gonna miss ya.’

Overcome by emotion, Eddie stood up and hugged the lad he’d grown so attached to. ‘I’ll write and visit and, before you know it, you’ll be out of this dump and working alongside me. Without you, Stu, I don’t think I could have got through this bit of bird, and I want you to know that I will be indebted to you for ever for that. When you get out, your life will change, son, I guarantee it.’

Gina was nervous as hell as she drove towards Wandsworth. Visiting Eddie in prison was one thing, but being alone with him on the outside was different gravy. She’d had butterflies in her stomach for the last few days now, but all of a sudden they felt more like bats flapping about. Eating was also out of the question. Her appetite had gone AWOL recently and she hadn’t been able to eat a morsel since breakfast yesterday morning.

Gina pulled up outside the prison and checked her make-up in the mirror. She was sweating a lot more than usual and she was sure this was to do with her nerves rather than the hot weather. From the first time Gina had met Eddie Mitchell she had dreamed of him throwing her onto a bed and making mad, passionate love to her. Hopefully, by the end of the day, her dreams would finally have come true.

Oblivious to the fact that her father was currently strolling through the prison gates and into the arms of his new girlfriend, Frankie was having the day from hell. Alice and Jimmy had invited themselves over, and Alice’s obsession with Georgie was really beginning to grate on her. She nudged Jed and gesticulated to him to follow her into the bedroom.

‘What’s up?’ Jed asked.

‘Your mum, that’s what. She’s spent all morning playing with and fussing over Georgie, yet she’s barely glanced or spoken to poor Harry. I know she was always desperate for a girl in the family, but it ain’t right, favouring one grandchild over the other.’

Jed sat next to Frankie on the bed, and desperate to keep the peace, put an arm around her shoulder. ‘She don’t mean it. Me mum loves Harry, I know she does. Anyway, me dad’s been playing with Harry, so he don’t feel left out.’

As Alice’s raucous laughter echoed around the trailer once more, Frankie sighed. ‘I’ve got a really bad headache, Jed. Do you mind if I lay down for a bit? If I take some tablets and shut my eyes I should be able to get rid of it. Wake me up when we’re gonna have lunch.’

‘I’ll wake you in about half-hour. You can’t be rude, Frankie, my parents don’t come over here that often.’

Frankie closed her eyes and was relieved when Jed slammed the door. She wasn’t tired and had lied about the headache just to get away from Alice. Wondering if Jed was slagging her off to his parents, Frankie tiptoed over to the crack in the door and put her ear to it.

‘Tell your nan and grandad what your dad told you to say to your teacher when she told you off, Georgie,’ Jed said proudly.

Georgie stood up, put her hands on her hips and grinned at Alice and Jimmy. ‘Daddy told me to say, “Fuck off, you dinlo.”’

Alice started to laugh so much she very nearly wet herself. ‘You’re a proper little O’Hara, Georgie girl, ain’t ya? Come ’ere and give your nanna a cuddle.’

Absolutely seething, Frankie stormed out of the bedroom. ‘Don’t you dare encourage our daughter to swear,’ she yelled at Jed.

‘Where’s your sense of humour? I was only mucking about. Right, who’s hungry? Shall I go and get the fish and chips now?’ Jed replied, desperate to change the subject.

‘I want sausage, chips and a pie,’ Georgie shouted.

‘Get your mother a decent size bit of cod and I’ll have rock eel,’ Jimmy told his son.

Jed glanced at Frankie. She had a right cob on, he knew that. ‘I’ll get Harry the same as Georgie, and what do you fancy, babe?’

‘I dunno. I think I’ll come with you.’

‘You can’t leave the kids,’ Jed said immediately. He didn’t fancy an earful and he’d promised to ring Sally.

‘I’m sure your mum and dad are capable of looking after them for ten minutes, Jed,’ Frankie said sarcastically.

Angry that his preplanned phone call had now gone up the Swannee, Jed glared at her. ‘Move your arse, then, I’m fucking starving,’ he spat.

Frankie put her trainers on, ran out to the Shogun and slammed the passenger door. ‘Don’t speak to me like shit in front of your parents and don’t keep laughing and encouraging Georgie to swear. It ain’t funny, Jed. If she repeats what you say, you ain’t the one who’s gotta stand up that school wishing that the ground would open up and swallow you. I’m sure, because of the trouble they’ve had trying to get Georgie in from the playground, that her form teacher, Mrs Lawson, thinks we’re bad parents as it is.’

Jed started the engine. ‘Bollocks to Mrs Lawson. If she don’t like my family, tell her to go fuck her grandmother!’

Eddie Mitchell grinned as Gina ran towards him and threw herself into his arms. He kissed her passionately and immediately felt an erection.

‘I want you so badly. Let’s go home,’ he said, his voice gruff with passion.

Gina’s hands shook as she restarted the ignition. She had felt his erection rubbing against her and the thought of seeing it in the flesh sent shivers down her spine.

‘What do you think of my new car?’ she asked.

Eddie laughed. The sporty BMW definitely suited her image. ‘How you gonna tail people in this? You’ll stand out like a sore thumb,’ he joked.

Gina laughed. He knew full well that this car was for pleasure. She owned two other insignificant-looking motors that she used for business purposes. ‘I was up at the crack of dawn. I went to Tesco’s and I’ve prepared us a lovely salad for when we get home. You’re going to love the cottage, Ed, it really is adorable.’

Unable to stop himself, Eddie put his hand on her leg and teasingly moved it up to her crotch. As her breathing deepened, he smiled.

‘Fuck the salad. The only thing I want to eat is you.’

Frankie waited in the Shogun while Jed queued up in the chip shop. Remembering that her dad was due to be released today, she rang her brother, Gary.

‘Is Dad out yet, Gal? Have you heard from him?’

‘No, I ain’t heard a word,’ Gary said, glancing at Ricky.

‘Is he gonna be staying at yours? I did ask him, but he said he weren’t sure.’

Unable to tell Frankie the truth, Gary said as little as possible. ‘He said he’s gonna stay at some mate’s house. I think he wants time to clear his head.’

‘Where does his mate live, then?’

‘I ain’t sure, Frankie, but don’t forget Saturday night. You’re still coming, ain’t ya?’

‘Yeah, Jed’s got to work, so his mum and dad are having the kids for the night. What restaurant are we going to? You will pick me up, won’t ya?’

‘I’ll pick you up at half-six. We’ve booked the steak house in Canning Town – the guvnor is an old pal of grandad’s. We’re going back to the Flag after. Ronny and Paulie have organised a bit of a welcome-home do in there. Trouble is, Dad didn’t want any fuss and I dunno if he’s gonna like it.’

Frankie laughed. ‘Well, I could certainly do with a good night out and I’m sure once Dad gets a few drinks down his neck, he’ll have a great time. Don’t tell him I’m coming, Gal. Tell him I can’t make it, so I can surprise him.’

‘I’ve already told him you ain’t coming. Listen, I’ve gotta go now, Frankie. Me and Ricky have just spotted some geezer that owes us some money. I’ll see you on Saturday at half-six, and make sure you’re ready.’

Ending the call, Frankie glanced inside the chip shop. There were still a couple of people in front of Jed in the queue, which gave her just enough time to ring Kerry.

‘All right, mate? How are you?’

‘Yeah, not bad. What did Sammy say when he realised the rest of my stuff was gone? Did you tell him what we planned?’

‘Yep. I told him I went out for the afternoon, so you must have come back and took it while I wasn’t there. He was well pissed-off, but I think he believed me. He keeps asking if I’ve heard from you and stuff and I keep telling him I ain’t heard a word. I dunno if he believes you’ve moved up north, though. I heard him telling Jed that he thinks that’s a load of bullshit.’

‘He went round my mum’s again yesterday and she told him to politely fuck off. Where are you now?’

‘Sitting outside a chip shop waiting for Jed to get served. The bastard’s on his phone in there. I bet he’s talking to that slag, Sally.’

‘Probably. How did you get on with Georgie’s teacher?’

‘Oh, it was awful. The woman looked at me like a piece of shit and warned me about her future obedience. Georgie ain’t gone in today. She had belly ache this morning, so I kept her off. Alice and Jimmy dashed over when Jed told ’em, so I’m stuck with them for the day as well. Jed told Georgie to swear at the teacher and they were laughing about it as though it was great. Scum of the earth, they are. I hate ’em, Kerry. Listen, Jed has just been served, so I’ll ring you again tomorrow.’

Jed smiled as he handed Frankie the big bag of food. ‘Who you been on the phone to?’ he asked.

‘Me brother. I wanted to know if me dad was out yet. What about you? I saw you on the phone in the chip shop. Ringing Sally on the quiet, was ya?’

Jed’s smile turned into a scowl as he did a U-turn and very nearly killed a cyclist. ‘You’re doing my head in lately, Frankie. I’m getting sick of you accusing me of stuff, so why don’t you shut the fuck up before I properly lose me temper.’

Eddie Mitchell grinned as Gina pulled up outside the cottage. Her description of it was spot-on – it was romantic, secluded and beautiful. As Gina unlocked the front door, Eddie grabbed her by the hand.

‘I wanna carry you over the threshold,’ he said.

Gina giggled as he picked her up. ‘We’re not bloody newlyweds, Eddie.’

‘Where’s the bedroom?’ he asked.

‘Put me down and I’ll show you.’

Eddie followed her, threw himself on the bed and urged her to lie down next to him. He sat up and took off his shirt and trousers. He was already as hard as a rock and gagging for it after five years in clink.

Gina was nervous, he could sense that, so he tried to ease her fears. ‘Relax, it’ll be fine. Let me undress you.’

He lifted her T-shirt over her head and unclipped her bra. Her breasts were firm and buxom.

‘Stand up, let me look at ya,’ Eddie whispered, as he urged her to step out of her jeans and knickers.

Eddie stared at her in awe. He’d known Gina was fit, but naked, she had the body of a model. She reminded him of that Page Three bird, Linda Lusardi – she was just as bloody gorgeous. Desperate for his years of celibacy to come to an end, Eddie ripped off his pants, grabbed hold of Gina and threw her onto the bed.

Gina gasped as Eddie’s tongue sidled down her body and made contact with her clitoris. ‘Oh, my God. I want you so much,’ she panted.

As she screamed out his name, Eddie grinned and moved his way up the bed. ‘I am gonna fuck you better than you’ve ever been fucked before,’ he whispered.

Unaware that her dad was currently bouncing up and down on top of his new girlfriend, Frankie’s day was going from bad to worse.

Jed, Jimmy and Sammy had all gone off to the local pub hours ago and had just returned home very drunk. Alice had done Frankie’s head in all afternoon, talking a load of old crap, and Georgie had been hyper all day.

Frankie smiled at Harry who was fast asleep on her lap. Sometimes her kids were the only thing that made her life worth living. ‘I’m just going to put Harry to bed and then it’s bath and bed for you, Georgie girl.’

‘Not tired,’ Georgie said, clambering off her nan’s lap and onto her dad’s.

Frankie tucked Harry in, kissed him on the forehead and then walked over to Georgie. ‘Come on, you’ve gotta get up for school tomorrow.’

‘Don’t wanna go a bed, Mummy.’

Jed opened another can of lager. He was drunk now, really drunk. Tickling Georgie, they both giggled. ‘She ain’t tired. Let her stay up for a bit. She can go to bed when me mum and dad go home,’ he slurred.

Sick of being overruled, Frankie stood her ground. ‘It’s gone eight o’clock, Jed. How is she meant to concentrate at school if she’s had a late night?’

Alice burst out laughing. ‘If that Mrs Lawson tells you off again Georgie, you tell her that your nan’ll come up the school and give her a right-hander.’

As Jimmy, Jed and Sammy all burst out laughing, Frankie looked at her so-called family in horror.

‘What is wrong with you mob? Do you want to see her get expelled, or what? Now, I’m telling you Georgie, get off Daddy’s lap and let’s get you bathed.’

Georgie screamed blue murder as Frankie made a grab for her.

Jed clasped his hand around Frankie’s wrist. ‘You wallop her and I’ll wallop you.’