Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4) (13 page)

Just after he’d started his training, she’d found out she was pregnant. It wasn’t an ideal time, as they were both such a young age as well as the fact that Amy would have to cope on her own, but they’d decided to go ahead with the pregnancy and Daniel had come along. Amy had done a great job of bringing him up almost single-handedly. Lewis was so proud of his son, and of Amy too.

When he’d come back home for good, he’d thought everything would settle and routine would take over, but it was the routine that he missed from the army that made him so antsy.

What had he got to show for all those years in service now? Would he have been better being here with Amy and Daniel and working on their lives together rather than being away for long stretches?

‘Lewis Prophett!’

Lewis got up, keeping hold of his clipboard, and went over to a desk. A bored looking man, who looked like he should have retired by now, pointed to a seat in front of him. He sat down on the hard plastic chair.

‘Name,’ the man said.

‘You’ve just shouted it out,’ said Lewis.

‘Address,’ the man sighed, as if Lewis was an intrusion into his day.

Lewis folded his arms. Well, at least he didn’t have to be stuck in an office with this jerk all the time.

Keera thought she was lucky to be working at The Candy Club. It wasn’t like some of the massage parlours around the city. She was paid per client, so it was worth her while to get repeat business from likeable clients such as Derek. All the men were vetted, albeit as discreetly as possible. And after their recent scare in Ibiza, Keera was glad of this.

She could always tell what kind of a day men had had by their stance as they came into the room. Even if they came in with a mopey face, she tried to make them leave with a smile. She was here to do a job, provide a service, so she might as well enjoy it. And as she’d got to know which clients were talkative and which were non-responsive, she’d learned to play music when the silence became too intense. Keera had chosen a tune for each client and played it as they came into the room. Just her silly little game, but it didn’t do any harm to anyone.

Around half past ten that evening, she found herself with a bit of time for a break. Reaching for her mug, she decided to grab a coffee and a chat with Ramona.

Keera smiled to herself as she went down the stairs. She couldn’t stop thinking about Derek who had been in again earlier, and what it would be like if they fancied each other. She had often fantasised about having a sugar daddy – someone giving her money when she wanted it, not having to go out and earn a living, although she reckoned it would be hard to live with the constant criticism. Everyone would talk about them if it were to happen because of the age gap.

Derek also brought to mind her father, Joe. She often wished he’d been around more as she was growing up. She knew her mum and dad hadn’t been happy but there was never any violence, nor many arguments she could remember. They just seemed to drift apart.

She could hardly recall doing anything as a family when she was younger. It had always been Mum who had taken them out. Dad apparently had been working – she obviously knew better now – and it saddened her that he’d gone off and created a new family, as if she and Sam weren’t good enough.

As she was about to go down into the reception, she heard loud voices. A male voice she didn’t recognise shouted out.

‘Get me my fucking money.’

‘I don’t have it.’

It was Ramona. Keera could hear the tremble in her tone. Then she heard what sounded like a slap. Without hesitation, she put down the mug and barged into the room.

A man had gone behind the reception counter and pushed Ramona up against the back wall. One of his hands was around her throat.

Keera ran at him and jumped on his back. ‘Leave her a-fucking-lone!’ she yelled. In her haste, she lost a shoe as she clung to him.

‘Get off me, you mad bitch,’ the man cried.

As he dropped his hands to try and shake off Keera, Ramona grabbed a wooden bat from underneath the desk.

‘Get out,’ she told him, ‘or I swear on my life, Steve, I will call the police.’

‘You know him?’ said Keera.

No one answered her.

Steve sneered. ‘I’ll go when I get my fucking money.’

Ramona fumbled in the till and passed him a few notes. ‘Take it. It’s all I have.’

Keera shook her head. ‘Ramona, you can’t—’

Steve snatched the money. ‘Not enough here.’ He glared at Ramona.

‘That’s all you’re getting,’ said Keera. ‘Now piss off.’

Steve’s eyes fell upon Keera and he looked her up and down with interest. She stared back at him before purposely doing the same. He had long hair, straggly and thinning on top, beady eyes and a large nose. His dirty denim jacket looked like it was from a charity shop, two sizes too small, with rips that hadn’t been made purely for fashion. His jeans were skinny, leading down to cowboy boots that made the look a bit trendier, although that probably wasn’t his notion.

‘You need to mind your own fucking business.’ He pointed at her. ‘Don’t push your luck by doing that again.’

‘Then don’t come threatening Ramona.’ Keera wasn’t intimidated by his stare. ‘I know people too.’

Steve laughed. ‘I know who you are, Keera Harvey.’

Keera swallowed. If he knew her name, then he must know her brother. If he said anything to Sam, she would be in big trouble.

‘Oh!’ Steve grinned as he clocked her expression. ‘He doesn’t know you work here, does he?’

‘He doesn’t need to know,’ said Ramona. ‘This is between you and me.’

‘How is he, by the way?’ Steve’s grin was nasty. ‘I hear he’s had an accident.’

‘He’s fine,’ said Keera.

‘Maybe so, but I don’t think he’ll be fit to pull his weight for a while, not with an injured hand.’

‘He’s—’

‘I’ll be back by the end of next week,’ Steve interrupted. ‘I want the rest of my money by then.’ He turned to face them again just as he got to the front door. ‘And if you don’t have the money, then I’m going to ask her darling brother for it.’ He pointed at Keera.

As soon as he was gone, both women’s shoulders dropped with relief.

‘Ramona, are you okay?’ Estelle came barging into the room. ‘I was erm, a bit tied up so couldn’t get down here straight away.’

‘I’m fine.’ Ramona waved a hand. ‘It’s nothing to worry about.’

‘You sure?’

Ramona nodded.

Once Estelle had gone back to her client, Keera turned to Ramona. ‘You’re not okay, are you?’

Ramona shook her head as she rubbed at her neck, red blotches already appearing under her skin.

‘Who the hell was he?’

‘He’s my brother.’ Ramona dropped her eyes with embarrassment.

‘Oh!’ Keera stood wide-eyed. ‘I thought he was after protection money or something.’

Ramona shook her head. ‘The Mitchell estate might be a shit place to live, but it isn’t the East End of London.’

 ‘What did he want money for?’

 ‘I owe him five hundred quid. I should have given it to him ages ago. I suppose he thinks he’s waited long enough. But thanks for helping out.’

‘I could lend you some, if it gets him off your back?’

‘No, thanks. I won’t let him have all his own way. He comes round here too often, trying to push his luck. I know when I’m not here some of the girls can’t cope with him and give in to his demands. I must owe them a fortune, too.’

‘The cheeky bastard!’

Keera sat with Ramona for a while until she felt it was safe enough to return to her room. But it left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and she cancelled her last client to sit with Ramona until the end of the evening. She wasn’t certain that Steve wouldn’t come back.

If things were different, she would have called on Sam. He would help to sort Steve out. But Sam was still in hospital and his fighting days were clearly over for some time. More to the point, no one knew she was working here – and she didn’t want anyone to find out, let alone her family. What would Sam think? Worse, what would her mum think?

So if Steve Wilson needed money, then she might have to get it for him. She couldn’t risk him opening his mouth to Sam.

Chapter Seventeen

At work on Friday morning, Donna spent a depressing hour stacking the shelves with baked beans and packets of noodles, all the time worrying about her mum and Sam. This had been one of the longest weeks of her entire life. Sam would be out of hospital soon, and how would he cope with one working hand? He wouldn’t be able to do anything but the basic of tasks. She’d have to do his washing and ironing, as well as help to keep his flat in good order. After visiting Sam’s place and finding it a tip, Donna knew she couldn’t trust his flatmate Brendan. Honestly, she could clean and tidy for hours and it would hardly make a dent.

Her phone beeped the arrival of a text message. It was from Owen.

I can’t stop thinking about you. Can’t wait to see you when you get chance.

Thank goodness she had their date to look forward to. She replied quickly.

Me too.

Really?

Really.

Then come outside the back way.

Donna nearly dropped her phone. Owen was here? How the hell had he got into the yard behind the shop? He must have jumped over the wall.

‘I’m just going out the back for a break,’ she shouted through to Sarah, trying to look nonchalant even though she could feel her skin burning. ‘Darren can man the tills if they get busy. It’s stifling in here.’

Donna opened the back door, squinting as her eyes grew accustomed to the light. Once outside, she breathed in the hot air. The weather was still treating them to bright blue skies, bringing thoughts of cocktails and barbecues at the weekend. Knowing her luck lately, it would invite fights from the neighbours, drunken layabouts, loud music or a thunderstorm.

Owen stepped from behind an industrial bin.

‘Oh, very romantic,’ Donna grinned, her stomach flipping over at the sight of him in cut-off denims and a pale blue polo T-shirt. Sunglasses hid his eyes but he removed them as she drew closer, throwing her a smouldering glance before pushing them into the neck of his shirt. He stepped forward, reached for her hand and took her round the corner of the building out of sight of anyone.

‘I’m sorry, but I can’t wait any longer.’

He bent his head down and kissed her, his touch so light and feathery that it felt as if it were a breeze across her lips. She gazed into his eyes, saw the lust reflected in her own as he moved in to kiss her again. This time he stayed where he was, moulding his body to hers.

Donna held him tightly, hand at the back of his neck. Desire rushed through her as he pressed her into the wall hard enough for her to feel every inch of his body next to hers, and not be mistaken by how much she was turning him on.

A moan escaped her. In seconds, the man had woken up feelings she had put to bed a long time ago.

‘Well, that was worth waiting for,’ he grinned when they finally broke for air.

Donna couldn’t speak. Already, she missed the heat of his body, the strong sense of it being pressed against hers.

‘Say something?’ said Owen.

‘I don’t want to,’ she replied.

He frowned but as she brought his face towards hers again, she knew he understood her meaning. She kissed him this time, her tongue probing, darting, but tentative. When it touched the tip of his, she moaned again. If this was what he did to her with his kiss, she could only imagine what else he would do to her, once they had the chance.

They broke free again, each breathless, just staring at the other. Owen remained close to her, as if he didn’t want to move.

‘I know it isn’t the most romantic of places,’ he nodded in the direction of the yard, ‘but I was driving past and I – well, I had to see you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you since we met. You do something to me that I’ve never experienced before.’

‘You’re full of shit, do you know that?’ Donna regretted the words as soon as they had left her mouth. She shouldn’t think every man was out to hurt her. It was just scars from the past coming back to haunt her.

‘Oh, God, I’m sorry,’ she added as Owen looked at her, his eyes questioning. ‘I didn’t mean to say that out loud,’ she tried to explain. ‘Let’s just say that life hasn’t exactly been good to me in the love stakes, and sometimes I’m scared to let go in case I get hurt.’

‘I won’t hurt you, Donna,’ he whispered, moving his lips close again. He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes never leaving hers for a second. ‘I need you to believe that.’ 

She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.

‘You do believe me?’ he asked.

She lowered her gaze from his. ‘I have to get back to work. If not, Sarah will come looking for me soon.’

Owen nodded and dropped his hands. ‘See you later,’ he grinned.