split lip, said airily, ‘I take it Caroline’s found out?’
As they laughed together at the absurdity of it all, Cain felt the pressure leaving his body. The word was out, and now he could look to the future. His future with Jenny.
Chapter Forty-Two
Jenny Riley could not believe what had happened. She was standing in her mum’s front room staring at Cain Moran, wondering if she was imagining the whole scenario. She had dreamed of this moment, never believing for a second that it would actually come true.
Eileen grinned. ‘She didn’t take the news well then?’
Cain gingerly touched his swollen face. ‘I’ve had worse.’ He tried to make light of his condition, of the whole situation. Jenny was white-faced as it was − no need to go into the gory details.
Eileen surveyed him shrewdly. Against her will, she had a sudden respect for him; she had been convinced he was bullshitting her daughter about being with her one day. Fuck knows she had heard it all before, but it seemed her Jenny had the magic touch. She only hoped he was worth it in the long run − most men weren’t. Once the sex dwindled, it was like going to work; men were a job you had to do every day of your life. Still, that was for Jenny to find out for herself.
She went out into the hallway and shrugged on her coat, calling out, ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.’
Cain looked at Jenny, his lovely Jenny, and, as she slipped into his arms, he felt the happiest he had in years. He still couldn’t believe that Caroline had let him go – he would make sure he did right by her and his boy. He felt the baby kick and laughed delightedly. ‘Seems little Junior here is fed up of his cave already.’
Jenny laughed with him. ‘He takes after you, Cain, keeps nightclub hours.’
‘Come on, pack a bag, you’re moving into the flat with me.’
Jenny Riley didn’t need to be told twice.
Chapter Forty-Three
Peter Parkes was an ambitious man, and he understood the business instinctively. He knew who to trust, who to avoid and, most important of all when you ran a nightclub, he knew who had the real money to spend.
He always treated the high-rollers well, even putting in a VIP bar on the top floor. It was a good money-maker, but it was also perfect for private meetings, for separating people who held grudges against each other, and for impressing the constant array of little birds he was knocking off.
Tonight, being a Sunday, it was being used for a very important meeting and Peter Parkes was thrilled to be the person arranging it. A big Face from Liverpool had requested a meeting with Cain through Peter, and he had brokered it, feeling like a million dollars to be approached by such a name as Lenny McAvoy. The man was a living legend whose name could inspire fear in the most valiant of hearts. He had the reputation as a torturer of his enemies, and he was also known as a man who dealt with friction personally − a lot like Cain Moran.
Peter Parkes assumed that was why they were in the position they were. He wanted to be a part of the upper echelons of villainy just like them. After tonight, he was already on his way, and that excited him.
Cain and Johnny Mac were the first to arrive. Peter stood behind the pristine bar and got ready to make them drinks; he already had a good bottle of Scotch on the counter, anticipating Cain’s choice of beverage. Peter Parkes now drank Scotch himself in homage to his idol. He knew he had to create a persona − it was the main requisite for a Face. He had taken up smoking too, for the same reason.
He poured Cain and Johnny their whiskies and watched as they settled themselves at a table by the doorway. Peter noticed that both the men were packing guns, which surprised him. This was supposed to be a friendly meet. He had liked the sound of Lenny McAvoy in their phone conversations; he had come across as all right. But, as he had to remind himself, this was nothing to do with him and, until Cain or
As they laughed together at the absurdity of it all, Cain felt the pressure leaving his body. The word was out, and now he could look to the future. His future with Jenny.
Chapter Forty-Two
Jenny Riley could not believe what had happened. She was standing in her mum’s front room staring at Cain Moran, wondering if she was imagining the whole scenario. She had dreamed of this moment, never believing for a second that it would actually come true.
Eileen grinned. ‘She didn’t take the news well then?’
Cain gingerly touched his swollen face. ‘I’ve had worse.’ He tried to make light of his condition, of the whole situation. Jenny was white-faced as it was − no need to go into the gory details.
Eileen surveyed him shrewdly. Against her will, she had a sudden respect for him; she had been convinced he was bullshitting her daughter about being with her one day. Fuck knows she had heard it all before, but it seemed her Jenny had the magic touch. She only hoped he was worth it in the long run − most men weren’t. Once the sex dwindled, it was like going to work; men were a job you had to do every day of your life. Still, that was for Jenny to find out for herself.
She went out into the hallway and shrugged on her coat, calling out, ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.’
Cain looked at Jenny, his lovely Jenny, and, as she slipped into his arms, he felt the happiest he had in years. He still couldn’t believe that Caroline had let him go – he would make sure he did right by her and his boy. He felt the baby kick and laughed delightedly. ‘Seems little Junior here is fed up of his cave already.’
Jenny laughed with him. ‘He takes after you, Cain, keeps nightclub hours.’
‘Come on, pack a bag, you’re moving into the flat with me.’
Jenny Riley didn’t need to be told twice.
Chapter Forty-Three
Peter Parkes was an ambitious man, and he understood the business instinctively. He knew who to trust, who to avoid and, most important of all when you ran a nightclub, he knew who had the real money to spend.
He always treated the high-rollers well, even putting in a VIP bar on the top floor. It was a good money-maker, but it was also perfect for private meetings, for separating people who held grudges against each other, and for impressing the constant array of little birds he was knocking off.
Tonight, being a Sunday, it was being used for a very important meeting and Peter Parkes was thrilled to be the person arranging it. A big Face from Liverpool had requested a meeting with Cain through Peter, and he had brokered it, feeling like a million dollars to be approached by such a name as Lenny McAvoy. The man was a living legend whose name could inspire fear in the most valiant of hearts. He had the reputation as a torturer of his enemies, and he was also known as a man who dealt with friction personally − a lot like Cain Moran.
Peter Parkes assumed that was why they were in the position they were. He wanted to be a part of the upper echelons of villainy just like them. After tonight, he was already on his way, and that excited him.
Cain and Johnny Mac were the first to arrive. Peter stood behind the pristine bar and got ready to make them drinks; he already had a good bottle of Scotch on the counter, anticipating Cain’s choice of beverage. Peter Parkes now drank Scotch himself in homage to his idol. He knew he had to create a persona − it was the main requisite for a Face. He had taken up smoking too, for the same reason.
He poured Cain and Johnny their whiskies and watched as they settled themselves at a table by the doorway. Peter noticed that both the men were packing guns, which surprised him. This was supposed to be a friendly meet. He had liked the sound of Lenny McAvoy in their phone conversations; he had come across as all right. But, as he had to remind himself, this was nothing to do with him and, until Cain or
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