Queens of Crime: 3-Book Thriller Collection. Kimberley Chambers
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but last night was the first time he had ever really had a conversation with Vinny, or Michael.
On reaching the pathway that led to the front door, Dean felt physically sick. He had sort of liked Brenda, but not enough to bloody well marry her.
When the bell rang, Queenie ordered Lenny to answer the door for her. Vinny hadn’t arrived yet, but the rest of the family were all present.
Brenda couldn’t remember ever feeling more nervous. The palms of her hands were sweaty, her heart was beating rapidly, she hated the outfit that her mother had forced her to wear, and she couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with Dean.
Neither Queenie and Vivian had ever been one to suffer soppy, childish behaviour. ‘Don’t sit there like a bleedin’ lemon then, Bren. Say hello to the boy,’ Queenie barked.
‘She obviously weren’t that shy with him before,’ Vivian mumbled.
‘Hello, Dean. How are you? Thanks for coming round,’ Brenda gabbled, staring at her hands.
‘Jesus Christ! Do excuse my daughter for acting like silly-girl-got-none. Now, what would you like to drink? Cup of tea? Or a beer?’ Queenie asked, smiling at Dean. She and Vivian had had a little chat about the boy’s arrival this morning, and both had agreed if Vinny and Michael thought Dean was good enough to marry Brenda and become part of the Butler clan, then they should make an effort to be nice to him.
‘Er, is it OK if I have a beer, please?’ Dean asked. He had noticed Roy drinking one, and hoped it might calm his nerves a bit.
‘Have what you like, mate. You’ve already had me sister,’ Roy said, glaring at Dean.
‘Now, don’t start performing, Roy. I want this to be a pleasant get-together. Where’s Colleen by the way? I haven’t seen her since you got engaged.’
‘At work. I don’t like bringing her here anyway. Vinny obviously doesn’t like her, and we all know what Vinny says goes, don’t we, Mum?’ Roy spat. He was furious that Vinny and Michael had paid Dean a visit and decided his sister’s fate without involving him. It had made him feel like an outcast yet again. He’d felt like that a lot lately, especially when Ahmed was at the club.
When his aunt handed Dean a beer, Lenny grinned at him. ‘So, when you shagged my cousin, did you plan to get her pregnant?’
Vivian wanted to laugh and congratulate her son on asking such an awkward question, but instead she pretended to be annoyed. ‘You’ll be going upstairs to wash your mouth out in a minute, young man. Now leave poor Dean alone.’
Queenie and Vivian then began asking him question after question, and Dean was almost relieved when Vinny turned up with his little boy in tow.
‘So, have you told your family about the baby yet, Dean? Bet your nan weren’t too pleased,’ Queenie chuckled.
‘Bet his old man weren’t either,’ Vinny said, smirking at his brothers. Terry Smart was a trappy nobody who had got a bit too lippy a year or so back. He had been spouting his mouth off in the Grave Maurice about how the Butlers were no match for some of the other London firms, so Vinny had decided to teach him a lesson with a hammer. Vinny had concentrated just on Terry’s mouth in a bid to teach him to keep it shut in future. It seemed to have worked. Terry couldn’t eat and drank only through a straw for a month after the attack, and had never bad-mouthed the Butlers since.
‘To be honest, I haven’t had a chance yet,’ Dean admitted, sheepishly.
‘Why don’t you let me tell them for you? I can see you’re dreading it, boy,’ Vinny offered. It wouldn’t just make his day breaking the news of the baby and the forthcoming marriage to Dean’s dad and grandma. It would make his fucking year.
Remembering the state of his father’s face after his altercation with Vinny Butler, Dean immediately shook his head. ‘No. If I’m gonna be a father, then I should tell them myself. I’m a man now, not a boy.’
‘Well, in that case, best you ask my sister to marry you properly then. I take it you haven’t done so yet?’ Vinny asked.
Debating whether to leg it out of the front door and jump on the first train to a different part of the country, Dean just ended up shaking his head instead.
Thoroughly enjoying watching Dean squirm, Michael joined in with the fun. ‘Chop, chop then. What you waiting for, Deano?’
Knowing he had no choice but to propose properly, Dean got down on one knee in front of Brenda and held her trembling hands. ‘Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife, Bren?’
Brenda looked into Dean’s eyes and could see quite clearly by his horrified expression that he was only asking her to marry him because he was too frightened to stand up to her brothers. Still, she didn’t care. Dean was her first real love and once they had their own house and a baby, he would be tied to her forever. ‘What about your new girlfriend?’ Brenda asked. She was determined to play a bit hard to get even though she was gagging to say yes.
‘She’s history. I never wanted to split up with you in the first place, Bren, you know that. I only ended it because I thought it would cause murders if our families found out,’ Dean lied.
‘So, what did she say when you finished with her, then?’ Brenda asked, suspiciously.
‘For Christ’s sake, Bren. The boy will have cramp kneeling down like that if you don’t bloody well answer his question soon,’ Queenie said.
With all eyes on her, Brenda grinned broadly. ‘Yes, Dean. I will be your wife.’
An hour later, Dean Smart stood outside the house he shared with his grandma and father. His mum had died while giving birth to him, and so Dean had been raised an only child.
He let himself into his home with a heavy heart. His nan despised the Butlers so Christ knows what she would make of him impregnating Brenda.
‘That you, boy? Do you want a corned beef sandwich? I’m just making your dad one,’ Freda said.
Thankful that his nan and dad were both at home so he could kill two birds with one stone, Dean asked her to sit down in the lounge.
‘You ain’t got yourself bleedin’ nicked, have you?’ Freda asked accusingly.
‘Spit it out, then. What you done?’ Terry Smart asked.
Freda sat on the armchair. She knew neither her son nor grandson were what could be described as life’s role models, but they both had a good heart, and weren’t bloody thugs or murderers like members of a certain family she could mention.
Dean clasped his quivering hands together, then took a deep breath. ‘Please don’t hate me, but I’ve got a girl pregnant and I’ve agreed to marry her.’
Freda felt her heart leap with joy. Dean might only be young, but getting hitched and being responsible for a child of his own was exactly what he needed in her opinion. If that didn’t keep him on the straight and narrow, then nothing would.
Terry Smart grinned. His pal had just become a granddad for the very first time, and Terry couldn’t wait to brag about the soon-to-be newcomer to his family too. ‘You’ll be a great dad, Deano. Don’t be asking me to change any nappies though, will ya? I’ve got my street cred to consider.’
‘So, what did Sandra’s parents say, boy? I hope you asked her dad for permission to take her hand in marriage before you proposed?’ Freda asked. She had met Sandra a couple of times now, and even though Freda was a little disappointed she had given herself to her grandson so early in their relationship, she still liked the girl immensely.
‘It’s not Sandra that I’ve got pregnant. It’s Brenda Butler,’ Dean mumbled, staring at his shoes.
Freda burst out laughing and nudged her son. ‘He’s a wind-up, ain’t he, Tel?’
Terry Smart chuckled, but then clocking the shameful look in his son’s eyes, his laughter dried