Wicked Girls, page 12
‘Well,’ said Janet as they all reclined in their chairs after enjoying chicken casserole followed by apple pie and custard, ‘you both certainly have it all worked out. You have our blessing.’
‘Really?’ beamed Valerie. ‘You don’t think we’re rushing into it?’
‘I do think this engagement has happened quickly, but you’re being sensible and not rushing into marriage. I also think the future you’ve mapped out is a very nice one.’
‘Thanks,’ she smiled gratefully. ‘Da?’
‘I agree with your maw,’ said Charlie. ‘Seb, you seem a very nice man with a bright future. You have my blessing too.’
Valerie leapt to her feet to hug her father and then her mother, while Seb stood to shake their hands.
‘Now we need to go and tell Seb’s family,’ said Valerie. ‘I haven’t told them I’m a McVay. I know that was wrong, but I didn’t want anything coming between us.’
‘We understand,’ said Janet. ‘I did the same thing myself when me and Charlie got engaged, but you know what – his family realised who I really was, so it didn’t matter to them and I’m sure it won’t matter to Seb’s family either.’
‘That’s very true,’ said Seb. He turned to gaze at his fiancée. ‘They’ll be fine because it’s impossible not to love you.’
Seb and Valerie left to break the news to his parents.
‘That went far better than I thought it would,’ said Valerie as he drove. ‘I thought they’d say we’re moving too fast.’
‘So did I, but they came round to the idea and so will my family.’
‘We have to tell them I’m a McVay.’
‘Not yet. We’ll let them get used to the idea of our engagement first and then, when they’re in love with you as much as I am, your surname won’t matter to them. It’ll all work out,’ he said, patting her hand.
Seb’s parents weren’t quite as enthusiastic as Valerie’s had been, casting each other sideways glances when they revealed their big news, but they politely congratulated them. Like Valerie’s parents, Seb’s were relieved they weren’t rushing into a wedding, so they seemed content to let the relationship take its course.
Valerie had already decided that the only people she was going to tell about her engagement were her parents, so she wore the ring only when she was at home. The rest of the time, she carried it in her pocket. She didn’t want the pressure of the family knowing because she was so afraid of them trying to drag Seb into their world. Frankie might see him as someone else he could rope into working for him. It would be much better if she could keep him apart from her family until he could get his parish and they could leave. But a year was a long time to keep him safe, and she prayed she had it in her.
12
Valerie’s happy bubble was burst the following day when Liam Thompson walked into the petrol station and did a double take when he saw who was serving him.
‘Oh, interesting,’ he said, a smile spreading across his face. ‘I didn’t know you worked here.’
‘I don’t work here,’ replied Valerie flatly. ‘I couldn’t afford to pay for my petrol, so I’m working off my debt.’
‘I’ve been meaning to pay you back for pepper spraying my friends.’
‘And kicking one in the baws. Don’t forget that.’
‘I haven’t and I don’t think he will either.’ His brow creased with interest and he studied her thoughtfully. ‘You’re not afraid of me, are you?’
‘It’s amusing that you think I would be.’
‘Most people are.’
‘I’m not most people.’
‘I’m starting to realise that.’ The hostility vanished from his eyes. ‘Do you want to come out for a drink with me?’
‘Are you actually asking me out on a date?’
‘Aye, I am.’
‘But… that’s crazy.’
‘Why? You’re really pretty and you’re fucking fearless. I like that.’
‘Because our families are enemies.’
‘I don’t know about you, but that only makes it more exciting.’
‘Sorry, I can’t. I’m seeing someone.’
‘So am I, but I don’t care.’
‘And that’s another reason why I wouldn’t go out with you. So, if you could please pay for your petrol, there’s a queue building.’
‘They’ll wait,’ he said, leaning on the counter.
Valerie was very grateful for the Perspex screen dividing them.
The manager bustled up to her. ‘Valerie, is something wrong?’
‘Nothing’s wrong. I’m just waiting for this gentleman to pay for his petrol.’
‘Then please allow me,’ said Liam, producing his wallet with a flourish, counting out the money and placing it on the counter. ‘Want my phone number with that too?’
‘No, thank you,’ said Valerie. ‘The money will do just fine.’
She snatched it up before he could take it back and continue toying with her. She gave Liam his change and he said he’d see her around before finally leaving.
‘Is something wrong with him?’ the manager asked Valerie.
‘Plenty of things, I should think,’ she replied before turning to serve the next customer.
She glanced out of the window onto the forecourt and saw Liam standing by his car, watching her, an odd smile on his face. She was alarmed when he took out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. Quickly she got onto the microphone beside the till.
‘Please don’t light a cigarette, sir,’ she said into it, voice echoing out onto the forecourt, causing everyone except Liam to jump. ‘Petrol is highly flammable.’
Realising all eyes had turned his way, Liam merely smiled, replaced the packet of cigarettes and lighter into his pocket and gave her a sardonic bow before getting into his car and driving off.
‘That man’s a prick,’ commented the woman Valerie was serving.
‘Aye,’ Valerie murmured to herself. ‘An extremely dangerous one.’
Valerie decided not to mention Liam’s antics at the petrol station to Toni and Frankie, it would only rile them. She wanted to keep the peace as much as she could, just until she and Seb could leave the area. There was no reason why they had to wait until he found a parish, they could leave Glasgow once he’d finished his exams, and the thought of being away from the city and all the violence lifted a weight off her shoulders.
Toni turned up at Valerie’s house that evening to get all the gossip on how her weekend had gone with Seb. Janet and Charlie had already been instructed not to mention the engagement to anyone, so they were being careful to keep it to themselves.
Valerie led Toni up to her bedroom.
‘So how did it go?’ said Toni, kicking off her shoes and reclining on the bed, leaving Valerie to take the stool at the dressing table.
‘It was lovely,’ beamed Valerie. ‘We had a wonderful time.’
‘And lots of sex, I hope?’
‘Aye, loads. Here’s the key for the cottage, by the way,’ she said, fishing it out of her jacket pocket and handing it to Toni, who took it from her and slipped it into her handbag.
‘I’m glad to hear Seb’s a stallion and not a wet fish,’ said Toni.
‘Most definitely a stallion,’ replied Valerie.
‘Good, because judging by my own experience, there are far too many wet fish about.’
‘Like Warren Campbell, yet still you beat up Cassie Cathcart over him. I’m still waiting for her brother to kick off again about it.’
‘That prick knows when to toe the line. He won’t do anything.’
‘Let’s hope, because, if he does, it’ll be me he goes after.’
‘Stop worrying, will you? Frankie’s reputation is only on the up and up, especially after he got away with the whole scalping thing. And Duncan’s put it about that he works for him, so no one dare touch a member of our family now.’
‘There’s always someone mental enough not to give a shite about things like that and Duncan won’t matter to the Thompsons.’
‘If they try anything, we’ll make them regret it. What is it?’ she said when Valerie sighed.
‘I’m sick of all the violence.’
‘Why? It’s fun and you’re so good at it.’
‘I used to feel like that but not any more.’
Toni’s black eyes turned even blacker. ‘This is because of Seb, isn’t it?’
‘Well, aye, it is, in a way. He’s made me see there’s a different life open to me, one that doesn’t involve so much violence. We battered the hell out of Sandra Jones on Frankie’s order. Kicking the shite out of people on my cousin’s say-so is not how I imagine my future.’
‘Sandra’s a nasty old slag who hits her kids. Still think she deserves your sympathy?’
‘That’s not the point. I don’t want to be beholden to Frankie my entire life, having to do horrible things to other people just because he orders it. It’s only a matter of time before he’s telling us to kill people.’
‘Now you listen to me, Val – Frankie is the new head of this family and, if we toe the line and do as he says, he’ll make us very rich and comfortable. He’s already raking in the cash working for Duncan Blackwood and one day soon, Duncan will be out and Frankie will be the big man.’
‘You mean he’s already plotting to take out his mentor? Charming.’
‘Duncan’s a prick who deserves it.’
‘What I’m trying to say,’ sighed Valerie, ‘is that I don’t want this future, I want something more.’
‘Like what? A boring little house with Seb, slogging your guts out in that petrol station and breathing in those manky fumes all day?’
‘No, not that. I don’t know exactly what. All I know is that I want a future free of all this brutality. How many people leave work and end up being chased down the road by three men because you were in on battering someone they care about? How many women have to go around nightclubs searching for violent creeps and then end up pepper spraying two men in the face? Not many, I can tell you.’
‘And that’s a good thing. Who wants to be like all those dull farts out there, desperately working every hour God sends just to pay the bills? That will not be me. My future will be filled with luxury and comfort.’
‘Maybe I don’t care about luxury and comfort,’ muttered Valerie, folding her arms across her chest.
Toni’s eyes sharpened. ‘Perhaps I made a mistake introducing you to Seb? Perhaps it’s time your relationship ended?’
‘Our relationship is not ending.’
Toni tilted back her head in a challenge but didn’t speak.
‘I mean it, Toni,’ said Valerie. ‘You’re my best friend and I love you, but we will seriously fall out if you interfere in the best thing that ever happened to me.’
The two women stared at each other. Most people couldn’t tolerate Toni’s ferocious stare for long, but it had never bothered Valerie, who returned her gaze steadily.
Finally, Toni smiled and shrugged. ‘Fine, I won’t interfere, but you’ll be the one missing out. I might throw a few quid your way when you come to my mansion, begging for some cash to put some credit on the electricity meter.’
‘I’ll take my chances.’
‘Good for you,’ she said sarcastically. Toni lithely got to her feet, leaving the bed creased and rumpled. ‘Well, as pleasant as this is, I must be going,’ she said, voice dripping ice.
‘Thanks for coming.’
Toni just arched an eyebrow before stalking out. Valerie listened to the sound of her high heels descending the stairs before she swept out without saying goodbye to her aunt and uncle, slamming the front door shut behind her.
Valerie sighed and shook her head. Toni would sulk for a couple of days before they picked back up where they’d left off. At least, Valerie hoped that was how it would go. She should have just kept her big mouth shut. Toni could be incredibly vindictive when she wanted to be. She was a clever manipulator and didn’t like to lose. Valerie knew how much Toni relied on her and if she thought she might lose her then the consequences didn’t bear thinking about.
If she could just ride it out for another year, then everything would be okay.
But McVays didn’t get happy endings.
The inevitable call from Frankie came four days later. Valerie had just been starting to relax and think that maybe he’d decided not to use her again. She was to be rudely disabused of that notion.
After receiving the summons, Valerie arrived at Frankie’s house an hour later to find Toni, who said hello cordially but coolly. Frankie greeted her like a king talking to his subject. She half-expected him to hold out his hand so she could kiss it. Valerie was disturbed to see Uncle Tam, Moira’s older brother, was there too. Tam was a short, tubby man with an egg-shaped head on which sat thin, badly dyed black hair. He had a square jaw that jutted out to one side, and Valerie had never liked him. Like Frankie, he was a psychopath. Most of the McVay family were psychopaths, but Tam was one of the worst. Valerie supposed it was inevitable Tam was brought in on Frankie’s burgeoning business – after all, they were two peas in a pod, but she didn’t think he would help Frankie’s violent streak. On the contrary, he would only encourage it.
‘All right, Tam?’ she said with a nod his way.
Tam nodded his egg-shaped head, his beady eyes cold.
‘So, what’s this about?’ said Valerie, turning her attention to Frankie.
‘I’ve got a wee job for you and my sister,’ he replied.
‘What is it this time?’ she said flatly, hoping it would be something minor.
‘Stevie’s still in my cellar. I want you two to take him home.’
Valerie frowned. ‘But neither of us have a car.’
‘You don’t need a car, you can walk. He doesnae live far.’
‘Then why ask us? Why not ask Paul and Jamesie?’
Annoyance flickered through Frankie’s eyes. ‘Because they’re fucking busy. I need someone to do the job and you two are the only ones available, so just do it, eh, sweetheart?’ he glowered.
Valerie looked to Toni, whose expression gave nothing away. Toni had an excellent poker face. ‘Have you found that he’s innocent, then?’
‘Maybe,’ he said enigmatically.
‘Okay, Frankie,’ said Valerie reluctantly when it appeared that was going to be his only answer. ‘If you insist.’
‘Oh, I fucking insist,’ he snapped. ‘Well, don’t look so down about it. It’s not a big imposition is it, asking you to escort a total prick back to his hoose?’
‘I suppose not, as long as there aren’t any complications.’
‘Like what? He might want to stop at the shop for some sweeties?’ retorted Frankie with a bark of laughter.
Tam released his odd, creepy giggle. ‘That’s pure funny, Frankie.’
‘Aye, I fucking know. On you go then, Val. Stevie will be getting impatient. I think he’s had his fill of my hospitality.’ He rummaged around in the pocket of his suit jacket, retrieved another roll of notes and tossed it to Valerie, who caught it with one hand. ‘There’s a couple of hundred quid to stop you whining.’
‘I have to go down to the cellar for him?’ said Valerie, pocketing the money. Every spare pound she could get would go towards her escape from Glasgow.
‘Aye, ya dae. He’ll need a wee hand.’
Valerie looked at Toni, wondering if she was going down the cellar with her, but she made no move to get up. Unease rippled up and down Valerie’s spine as the three of them watched her leave the room in silence.
‘Well, that was weird,’ she whispered to herself once she was outside the room.
She stared at the door to the cellar, which was set into the side of the staircase. This entire situation felt wrong. Could she end up being locked up down there too? Had Toni told Frankie about her plans to leave and he didn’t want her going anywhere knowing his secrets? The weight of her mobile phone in one pocket and her pepper spray in the other was reassuring.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to the cellar to reveal a black void. Her hand frantically groped for the light switch and she breathed a sigh of relief when it burst into life, lighting up the staircase.
Leaving the door at the top of the stairs open and keeping her hand on the pepper spray in her pocket, she began to descend the stairs. The sound of movement below caused her to hesitate. Was it just Stevie down there or some of Frankie’s men waiting to ambush her, perhaps Paul and Jamesie themselves, which would explain why they weren’t upstairs with Frankie? They were rarely absent from his side.
As she reached the bottom step, she yanked the pepper spray entirely from her pocket and held it out ready, but the only person there was poor Stevie, perched on the edge of the bed, face white with fear.
‘It’s you,’ he breathed with relief. ‘I thought it might be Frankie. He said he was thinking of hacking my legs off with an axe because he could hear my snoring all the way upstairs in his bedroom.’
‘That’s some snore you’ve got.’
‘Aye, it is. It’s cost me plenty of girlfriends.’ He frowned at her sceptically raised eyebrow. ‘I’ve had girlfriends.’
‘I’m not in the least bit concerned. I’ve to take you home.’
‘Really?’ he said, hope lighting up his eyes. ‘Thank god, I’m starting to get prison pallor because of the lack of daylight.’
Now she knew she wasn’t about to be attacked, Valerie could take in his prison in more detail. The floor was carpeted. There was a toilet and sink at one end of the room beside the bed. At the foot of the bed was a television and a set of shelves holding books, magazines and videos. Everything was spotlessly clean. As prisons went, it wasn’t too bad.
