Betrayal Read online

  Sitting with her in her bedroom, Aiden held her until her crying stopped. Aiden was sorry for his sister − something like this was a big shock to the system. No one could deny that. It was outrageous! Who could ever have thought it possible? But, as he would explain to her when the opportunity presented itself, Colin had not been as trustworthy as they had all thought − even Colin’s own brother could tell her that. After all, it was his own brother who had been forced to take him out, that was how out of control the fucker had become. Colin had murdered Eric Palmer, a man they had all loved and who had been like their own flesh and blood. Colin Clark had already been given a good earn, a serious amount of scratch, but he had wanted more. The man was a fucking disgrace; all he had needed to do was to wait and he would have been given everything he had ever dreamed of. Why would anyone want to hurt Eric Palmer? That was what Aiden would never understand, as he told anyone who came within two feet of him, especially Agnes, who could not disagree with him. She had loved Eric too.

  As Agnes finally calmed down, Aiden helped her into her bed gently and he sat beside her as she tried to bring her breathing under control. She could feel her baby inside her, and she cradled her belly in her arms, wondering what the future held for them both.

  ‘Look, Aggs, this is a very unfortunate situation, darling. I mean, who would ever have believed that Colin could have been so fucking unpredictable? But, from what Timmy says, Colin didn’t seem to think that Eric was giving him his due. You can see all of the paperwork, sweetheart. That was why they had gone to Eric’s in the first place. I had discussed with Eric about giving him a really lucrative business, you know, to welcome him to the family. I don’t know what possessed him, darling. You would have to ask Timmy about that. He was there. At the moment, all we can do is to try and minimise the damage, you know?’

  Agnes looked up at her brother; he saw the hurt and the pain in her eyes, and he wondered why that didn’t really bother him. He knew it should, but he genuinely believed that he had done her a big favour, saved her from future heartache, because Colin Clark would never have been a faithful husband to her. And she wasn’t like his Jade; his sister would have been destroyed by Colin’s outside interests. Colin Clark could never have been good enough for his sister; he was a fucking nothing, a no one, a piece of fucking shit. He was supposed to have been his mate. Aiden had genuinely liked the man, and how had he repaid him? He had fucked his sister. Colin Clark had honestly believed that he could further himself by aligning himself with his wife’s family? He had been determined to make sure that it would never happen.

  At the same time, Aiden felt that Eric Palmer had outlived his usefulness so it was just good business practice, really. He had killed two birds with one stone, getting rid of Colin Clark and Eric Palmer. Eric, bless him, was nothing more than collateral damage, but he would have a send-off that would be talked about for years; Aiden knew that he owed him that much. No expense would be spared.

  Now Aiden didn’t have to answer to anyone, and that was exactly what he had wanted and what he had been working towards for a long time.

  Agnes watched her brother for several minutes. As upset as he was with Colin, she believed he had always had her best interests at heart. But she had loved Colin so much, and she knew that he had loved her. What she couldn’t understand was why he would have wanted to hurt Eric Palmer.

  ‘Look, Agnes. We are all here for you and your baby. Your baby will be the most loved child on the planet. Don’t ever forget that, darling.’

  She began to cry once more and he held her tenderly and told her everything that she wanted to hear. Everything that she needed to hear.

  Chapter One Hundred and Seven

  Reeva and Jade were in the kitchen drinking tea laced with whisky and smoking cigarettes. The boys were standing around silently wondering what they were supposed to be doing. Patsy motioned to Eugene to come with him. Eugene followed his elder brother out of the house and together they walked slowly down the road. Anyone watching them would have thought they were just taking a short stroll, trying to clear their heads.

  Both were quiet until they were well away from their mum’s house. Then Eugene said to his older brother, ‘That bastard planned this, didn’t he? I felt there was something wrong on the streets all day. There was a fucking atmosphere but I just couldn’t work out what it meant. They must have thought it was all over for Aiden.’

  Patsy sighed heavily. He really could do without this. But he understood where his brother was coming from. The fact that Aiden had used outside people to set this up was going to rankle. But it was a clever move − there was no disputing that. It made his brother look innocent, because they genuinely didn’t have any idea what he was planning. The masterstroke was that Aiden had used Colin Clark’s own brother against him. Timmy Clark had been forced to use the people that Aiden had recommended to him and, because of that, everyone in their world was now convinced that the O’Haras had nothing to do with any of it. Certain people had known that something big was going down, except, of course, they were not aware that the gun they had supplied so readily would be used against someone like Eric Palmer. They had assumed the firearm was to be used on Aiden O’Hara. After all, the situation with Agnes and Aiden’s opinion about it wasn’t exactly a secret.

  They had been well and truly fucking had over. The people who had supplied the gun were in Aiden’s firing line because they would all be aware that he would already know everything he needed to about the latest events. The way they had treated his brothers this day would now be a big fucking worry. Patsy had to give it to his brother, Aiden had played them all − his own brothers included. In one fell swoop Aiden had taken out the two people he had really wanted gone, and he had also found out who in his circle would be willing to work against him if the need ever arose. Patsy didn’t hold out much hope for any of those fuckers in the next few weeks. It was a brilliant strategy. Even though Aiden could fuck up quickly, when he really put his mind to something the clever bastard could outsmart anyone. This just proved it.

  Patsy started to laugh, he couldn’t help himself. He looked at Eugene and he could see the complete wonderment on his face and that just made him laugh more.

  ‘You really don’t get it, do you, Eugene?’

  Eugene shook his head and, as expected, he was getting angry because he felt that he was being left out of the loop.

  ‘No, Patsy, I don’t fucking get it.’

  Patsy explained everything to him and he could see the shock and awe on his brother’s face as it finally dawned on him just what Aiden had done. Eugene lit a joint and, after he had pulled in a few deep tokes, he passed it to Patsy.

  ‘Fucking hell, Patsy, that’s fucking cold, man.’

  Patsy shrugged. ‘That’s Aiden, Eugene. Never underestimate him. And never let him think that he can’t trust you. He deliberately kept us out of this drama today. Remember that, always. He kept us all as safe as houses.’

  Eugene nodded. He understood exactly what had gone down. If they didn’t know, then they couldn’t ever discuss it. It was brilliant.

  ‘But he fucking killed Colin and Eric.’

  Patsy held up his hand as if he was stopping traffic. ‘And you want to call him on that, do you, Eugene? He took out not just the father of our sister’s child, a man he was best friends with, but also arranged the murder of the man who treated him as a fucking son. Fucking hell, use your loaf, Eugene. You better do what I’m going to be doing − acting as fucking shocked as the next man. For all his lunacy, remember that he kept us out of the frame. He’s going to want to know who you think might have been in on it, and my advice to you is to tell him. He knows anyway, believe me.’

  Eugene nodded in agreement. ‘Of course I will. I get it, Patsy.’

  Patsy smiled and hugged his brother tightly to him. ‘Listen, mate. Aiden is a law unto himself. But never forget that he loves us. He has always been there for us. Especially for our mum. He has been looking out for us all our live
s.’

  Patsy knew that bringing Reeva into the equation would help Eugene to, if not understand, then at least accept the latest developments. The one thing they had in common was that they loved Reeva, no matter what she might do, say or cause. He only hoped that he could convince himself of Aiden’s good intentions, because, lately, Patsy was finding it harder and harder to justify his actions.

  Back in the house Aiden had already started on his spiel about looking after Agnes’s child, and how they all needed to be there for her. He was walking away without anyone looking in his direction, and that was exactly what Aiden was so good at. He had achieved everything he wanted, and come out as the hero of the hour.

  Chapter One Hundred and Eight

  ‘Push, darling. Honestly, it’s as easy as pie, I promise you!’

  The midwife, Miss Maudell, was clearly getting more and more exasperated at the bleached-blonde, megaphone-voiced woman who had insisted on being present to help her daughter give birth. Miss Maudell was a large woman, a spinster of the parish, as Reeva had so rudely called her, and quite unable to control Reeva in any way.

  Agnes was watching the interplay between her mother and the poor midwife – she would have smiled if she had had one in her. As another wave of pain washed over her, she took a deep breath and tried to roll with it. She wished so much that Colin was here with her; it was a daunting prospect to be bringing up this child on her own. Oh, she knew she had her mum and her brothers – especially Aiden, who had been amazing since Colin had passed. Timmy too had promised her that he would look out for his brother’s child as if it was his own, but it was Aiden, who had really stepped up to support her; he could not do enough. She knew that he was outside even now, waiting for this to be over so he could come in and meet the latest addition to the family.

  After the trouble at the wedding he had apologised, which had meant the world to her at the time. He had once more treated Colin like his best friend, and she had really believed he had come to terms with their relationship. Afterwards she had heard whispers that her husband had not exactly died in the best of circumstances so, all in all, she felt now that Aiden was being very magnanimous in his generosity towards her and her unborn child.

  ‘Right, I’m going for a fag, darling. You keep pushing away! And don’t have it till I get back, OK?’

  Like Miss Maudell, Agnes was relieved when Reeva finally left the room. Even the air seemed clearer without her mother’s overwhelming perfume wafting in her face constantly.

  Miss Maudell was pleased with how things were progressing. ‘I can see the head, Mrs Clark, not long now. When I tell you, I want you to give a nice big push!’

  Chapter One Hundred and Nine

  Aiden was waiting outside the delivery suite, practically in more of a state of anticipation than he had been for the birth of his own child. Everything was playing out just as he wanted. He knew that he had hurt his sister in taking out her husband but he had faith she would get over it. He intended to make sure she would never want for anything and neither would her child. He hoped it was a girl; that would make life much easier for him.

  He had seen his mother off for her fag gratefully; there was nothing more annoying than Reeva when she was excited. Her voice went up by twenty decibels and she insisted on airing every thought that popped into her head. Even in the lift she had been regaling everyone and anyone about her new grandchild’s imminent arrival. He smiled. She was a card, really, was his mum. She meant well, but when God was handing out brains Reeva must have been having a day off.

  Aiden looked at his watch and wondered why his brothers weren’t here already. He had told them that Agnes was in labour. Where the fuck were they? Come to that, where the fuck was Jade?

  He heard his sister scream and, without thinking, he burst into the room, just as his nephew pushed his way into the world in all his bloodied glory. Aiden stood there open-mouthed as the midwife laid the child across its mother’s belly and, when he gave out an almighty wail, Aiden said, laughing, ‘Fucking right pair of lungs on him, girl!’ Agnes looked tired, but when she was handed her son it was as if she had suddenly been lit up from inside. Still her voice was tinged with sadness as she kissed her boy’s head and said, ‘Oh, I wish your daddy could see you, son. He would have been so proud.’

  Even the midwife felt choked at the emotion in Agnes’s words. The moment was ruined, though, when Reeva burst into the room shouting, ‘About bleeding time! I’m fucking starving!’

  Without a second thought, Agnes handed the child to Aiden and, taking him into his arms expertly, he sat on the chair provided and looked down in wonderment at this brand-new human being. No doubt about it, each one was a miracle. The child’s eyes were looking into his and, when he grabbed at his finger, Aiden was amazed at the strength in the little bugger. He was going to make sure that he was a good father figure to his nephew. It would be like Colin Clark had never existed.

  ‘Well, give me a fucking hold then, Ade!’

  He passed the child reluctantly to his mother and then, reaching over, he hugged his sister tightly, saying honestly, ‘He’s beautiful, Aggs. And I swear to you now that I will look after him like my own. I will look after both of you, darling.’

  Agnes nodded happily because she believed him. In this moment, she trusted that he meant every word he said.

  Book Five

  And his unkindness may defeat my life,

  But never taint my love.

  Othello, William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

  Chapter One Hundred and Ten

  2010

  ‘Are you trying to fucking annoy me, Porrick?’

  Everyone was laughing at Agnes and her pretend anger. Porrick was laughing harder than any of them; he knew that his sister was just joking with him. But, if he was honest, he could do without it. He hated being the centre of attention − he always had. But he loved his sister and liked to see her like this, relaxed and having fun. She was so serious most of the time.

  ‘Why would I bother to annoy you, Aggs? Tell me. I’m interested.’

  Agnes hugged her brother quickly. ‘All I asked you to do was to pick up my friend Juliet, who I think you like!’

  Porrick wasn’t laughing now but he wasn’t about to cause any kind of upset − her friend Juliet was as embarrassed as he was. Agnes was of the opinion that Porrick needed a kick-start, and she was determined to see that he got it.

  Reeva was laughing with pleasure; she liked the girl, and she had been wondering for a long time when her youngest son was going to finally bag himself a decent bird. Eugene and Patsy were both smirking good-naturedly; they were both aware that Porrick was not going to be taking Juliet out on a regular basis.

  As they walked out into the garden they both began to laugh loudly. Aiden came up behind them and, sticking his head between them, he said jovially, ‘If Juliet was called John, I could see the fucking attraction! I just can’t believe that our mum and Agnes still haven’t cottoned on!’

  ‘Come on, Ade, you know our Aggs. Religious Lil from Harold Hill! She doesn’t want to believe he’s gay. Nor does Mum, and that really shocks me. I mean, I thought she would be all over that one!’

  They laughed together. Agnes had been given this house by Aiden as a birthday present a few years earlier, and it was a really fabulous property. A beautiful detached house, early Georgian, set within an acre of landscaped gardens. Agnes loved it, and she was so grateful to her brother because he was so very good to her and her son. He was like a surrogate father to her boy, and he had made sure that they had never wanted for anything.

  The night her son had been brought into the world her brother had been there for both of them and he had been there ever since. Now it was her boy’s eighth birthday, and they were having a huge party to celebrate. Her son looked nothing like his father which had always saddened her − he was her double. As Porrick said, he looked like her in drag. He was dark haired, and dark skinned − he looked more Mediterranean than she did. It was ironi
c, really, considering all her mum could tell her about her father was that he was a Turk. And, as Jade had once pointed out to her, knowing Reeva like they did, that might not even be the truth. Men had always bullshitted poor Reeva and most of them had never stayed around long enough for her to actually get any kind of address or plausible story from them, so it was all a bit sketchy, to say the least. Jade had always believed that Agnes looked far more Kuwaiti than Turkish, and she had to admit herself that she was very dark, although Reeva had always insisted that her father was a handsome Turkish guy − with a great body and not much else going for him. That had always caused a big laugh but didn’t give her any kind of information that could help her to find him. But, as Aiden had once pointed out, none of them could ever point a finger at a father so what did it matter? They had each other and that should be enough.

  She walked through to her kitchen and saw her mum and Jade in deep conversation. As the years had gone on they had just seemed to get closer and closer. Eugene said they were like a witches’ convention and sometimes Agnes could see his point. They were definitely in league somehow and, like her brothers, she had never been invited into their little world. Reeva held her arms out and said drunkenly, ‘Come and give me a fucking hug, Agnes. My only daughter!’

  Agnes knew better than to refuse so she hugged her mum tightly, and she waited until Reeva let her go. When Reeva had a few drinks, it was much better to give her whatever she wanted. If she hugged you, then you made sure you waited till she pushed you away, otherwise it could cause upsets. Reeva was still as unpredictable as ever. And she still took offence easily when the drink was on her. Jade winked at Agnes, knowing exactly what was going down.