CHAPTER FIVE

      Michael Butler leaned over Katy and grabbed the phone. ‘Keep schtum,’ he ordered. It wasn’t even seven a.m. yet and whoever was ringing him at such an unearthly hour better have a damn good reason.

      ‘Michael, it’s Mary. You really need to keep those sons of yours on a tighter rein you know. Daniel is out of control and you’re lucky Donald and I never called the police.’

      Feeling dazed and slightly hungover, Michael sat upright. ‘What you going on about, Mary?’

      While Mary explained what had gone on at the café the previous day, Katy thought it would be a good idea to suck Michael’s penis.

      Instantly erect, Michael lay back on the pillow and allowed Katy to cheer him up while his one-time mother-in-law continued ranting. For one so young, Katy certainly knew how to give good head. He would have to jog her on soon though. The constant turning up at the club without being invited was borderline stalking.

      Vinny Butler put on his black Armani suit and studied himself in the mirror. He looked mighty fine for forty and he knew it. Training regularly had bulked him up and the extra muscle suited his six-foot-two frame.

      Touching his hair up with a bit more Brylcreem, Vinny thought about the phone call. She’d given nothing away, had just asked to meet up. ‘We need to talk, in person,’ had been her exact words.

      Vinny wasn’t stupid. He guessed this meet would be about Michael, yet that didn’t stop his groin twitching as he thought back to that night he’d spent with her. The sex had been out of this world. She was a right raver, had made him come like a steam train. And truth be told, that was where the problem lay.

      Bella D’Angelo was a dedicated follower of fashion. She had a luxury walk-in wardrobe filled with designer clothes, but today she’d decided to dress down. The thought of Vinny staring at her cleavage or buttocks made Bella nauseous, which was why she’d opted to wear a long baggy jumper, leggings and boots.

      She’d tried to kill time by wandering around the local market, but had given up, unable to concentrate with the prospect of a meet with Vinny hanging over her. So Bella arrived at the bar forty-five minutes early and ordered herself a glass of wine. She’d chosen Covent Garden as it was often packed with tourists and there was less chance of anybody recognizing her or Vinny.

      ‘Well, well, well. If it isn’t the lovely Izzy. Can I get you a drink?’

      Continuing to coolly flick through her Vogue magazine, Bella took her time looking up and replying. She was determined to have the upper hand. ‘Get yourself a drink; I’ve already got one, thanks. And my name is Bella, so I would appreciate it if you’d address me as such.’

      Slightly taken aback by Bella’s cool demeanour, Vinny ordered himself a large Scotch. He discreetly watched her from the bar. He’d put money on it she was only pretending to read that magazine. He also noted she’d purposely dressed down. Not that it mattered. She was that stunning; she’d look fuckable wearing a bin bag.

      Vinny smirked as he sat opposite Bella. ‘This is cosy, isn’t it?’

      ‘No, Vinny. It isn’t. I do appreciate you agreeing to meet me though. We need to talk about Michael.’

      ‘Whaddya wanna know?’

      ‘How is he?’

      ‘Yeah, Michael’s good. Gets on with life, don’t he?’

      ‘What do you mean by that exactly?’ Bella asked.

      ‘That birds come and go, you included. Handsome man like Michael ain’t ever gonna be short of female admirers.’

      Bella’s heart lurched. She hadn’t officially ended her relationship with Michael, had just told him she needed some space. No way would he be unfaithful to her, Bella was sure of that. ‘Don’t fucking play games with me, Vinny. You’re out your depth.’

      Vinny chuckled. ‘You didn’t mind me playing games with you when we were holed up in that hotel. Begged me to tie you up, if I remember rightly. What’s changed, Izzy? Sorry, I mean, Bella.’

      Hating Vinny more than ever, Bella fleetingly worried if she should come clean to her father and let him sort the situation out. She quickly decided against it though. She could never risk anybody finding out Antonio was Vinny’s child. That was her secret and hers alone.

      ‘Want another drink?’ Vinny asked cockily.

      ‘No. I want you to listen to me carefully. I love your brother very much and I will not allow you to spoil our happiness. What happened between us was a stupid drunken one-night stand. Nothing more, nothing less. I was hoping you would’ve realized that by now, but you obviously haven’t. So tomorrow, I am going to visit Michael and tell him everything. And believe me, Vinny, I will not leave one detail out. Michael needs to know the truth.’

      Vivian Harris felt like a lost sheep. It was all right for Queenie when they had a row as she had all her kids and grandkids around her, but now that Lenny was dead, Viv had nobody.

      ‘Where’s your shadow?’ Terry on the fruit-and-veg stall shouted out.

      ‘We ain’t joined at the bleedin’ hip, you know,’ Viv yelled back. Neither her nor Queenie ever discussed family business with outsiders. The nosy neighbours would have a field day if they even got a sniff of an argument.

      ‘Hello, Viv. I thought you were gonna just walk past me then.’

      ‘Sorry, Albie. In a world of me own today.’

      ‘Where’s Queenie?’

      ‘Don’t ask. We’ve fallen out good and proper this time.’

      ‘Not over you telling Michael I was welcome to come for dinner, surely?’

      Having had a rubbish day where she’d missed her poor dead son more than ever, Vivian couldn’t help her eyes welling up. ‘Take no notice of me, Albie. I’m going soft in me old age.’

      ‘How about you let me buy you a drink or two? We can have a proper chat in the pub.’

      Starved of company, Vivian smiled. ‘Sod it. Why not?’

      Vinny Butler was back-pedalling for all he was worth: ‘Look, I’m sorry for calling you Izzy and mentioning the past. I was only winding you up. If you wanna be with Michael, then be with him. But don’t be telling him anything about me and you. It’ll crucify him and he’ll hate the pair of us.’

      Enjoying the sight of the colour draining from Vinny’s face, Bella shook her head. ‘I have to get everything out in the open; I’ve always been totally honest with Michael. If I don’t come clean with him about you and he finds out in the future, he will never forgive me. But if I tell him I recognized you at the party, which explains me fleeing to Italy and my behaviour since, we might have a chance to make it work. It isn’t as though I’ve cheated on him, is it? I was single