Ruby's Palace

by KERRY BARNES

  “She’s just showing off!” grumbled Olivia, still hateful towards Kizzy, but she hadn’t noticed who was standing behind her.

  Mary Anne tapped Olivia on the shoulder. As soon as she turned around, her face went pale. She hated to get on the wrong side of the older gypsies, especially those who had a lot of clout, and Mary Anne was one of them.

  “You wanna shut your mouth, woman!”

  The attention turned away from Kizzy and on the two women who were about to fight.

  “See that gal up there on her horse? Well, let me tell you, she has got more guts than anyone on this site, and it won’t surprise me if, one day, she don’t pogger you!”

  Olivia bowed her head, as she knew that Mary Anne was right. After all, there was no way anyone would normally get on a wild horse bare back.

  “And another thing, don’t push her too far. Mark my words, that young Kizzy will only take so much, and the day she turns will be the day you wished you had never been born. I know what I’m talking about. The girl is just as I was at her age,” said Mary Anne.

  Olivia felt humiliated and silently sneaked away.

  The crowd soon realised that there was no accident waiting to happen, as Kizzy had the horse completely under control. A few stayed to watch brave Kizzy but most went back about their business.

  “Fearless, that malt!” said Jimmy before he walked off.

  Mary nodded.

  The horse finally came to a stop down by the bank. Kizzy was exhilarated. Her face glowed pink and she breathed hard to catch her breath. Bailey drank from the stream and Kizzy slid down to join him. She scooped the water and slurped before she washed her face.

  He contentedly grazed the buttercup field while she lay contemplating her future. The bees buzzed around and the tiny gnats gathered above Bailey’s head. The sun beating down, the smell of the meadow grass, the sound of the water trickling down, the stream so perfect – Kizzy sighed heavily. She wished she had never let Ocean back into her life – her new life, free of greed, insincerity and skulduggery. Maybe she was more like her mother, the gorger, rather than her father, the gypsy. She didn’t want to live a life filled with lies. She knew it didn’t have to be that way.

  She decided there and then that she would do what was right. The O’Connells meant nothing to her, except Uncle Johnnie. Billy, Farley and Levi, on the other hand, gave her nothing but grief. If what she was about to do affected them, well, then tough.

  Chapter Twenty

  Ruby was nervous to say the least. She was to introduce Ocean to her family as her husband and it was anyone’s guess how they would react. Her thoughts flowed from imagining a smooth introduction, whereby her father and brother would shake Ocean’s hand and wish them good luck in their marriage, to the other extreme, where they’d go unduly mad and make life unbearable.

  She paced the living room floor, very uneasy.

  “Ruby, it will be all right. Stand your ground. You’re a grown woman! And, for Christ’s sake, I saved your life don’t forget!”

  Ocean was irritated her family had so much control over her. He just wanted to march into the club and throw his weight around.

  He and the O’Connells had decided to wait until he had his feet well and truly under the table before they made their move. They had planned their scam down to a tee. Ocean was to take it easy, play the dutiful husband, help out in the bar and on the door, and gradually take over, letting Ruby believe all the changes were her ideas. They had come too far to blow it now.

  “Ruby, go and get ready, or we will be late!”

  She did as she was told, after she had made a quick call to her brother to let him know she was on her way.

  Finally she emerged from the bedroom, dressed in a black satin dress with her hair curled and wearing red shoes to match her glamorous clutch bag. Ocean smiled. She actually looked attractive. She had obviously listened to his suggestions not to wear too much makeup or any fake tan. But she’d never compete with his Kizzy in that department. He sighed at the thought.

  “What’s up?” she asked.

  “You look lovely, Kiz…” He stumbled over his words, realising he had nearly called her Kizzy.

  Ruby frowned. Ocean quickly jumped in. “Give us a kiss!” He giggled, to which she responded by throwing her arms around his neck and whispering, “I love you.”

  *

  Jack was in the bathroom getting ready for work, and Sam was still moving his food around on the plate, when the doorbell rang. Sam rushed to answer it, hoping that it was Ruby.

  “’Ello, mate.” Sam gestured for Fred to come in. “What’s up, ain’t you supposed to be at the club?”

  Fred walked indignantly into the living room. Sam sensed something was wrong.

  “Our Ruby’s only gone and got herself married to that dirty fucking pikey, Ocean!” announced Fred.

  Sam stopped in his tracks. “She can’t have!”

  Fred flopped on to the sofa and loosened his jacket. “I’m afraid so.”

  There was silence whilst Sam poured them both a drink. He tried to comprehend what had just been said but he found it too hard to believe.

  “One of the boys down the gym told me.”

  He gulped his drink and quickly tightened his lips, showing his back teeth. The brandy had a bitter taste.

  “Yeah, but you know what that lot are like, a fucking bunch of gossiping girls. They’ve got it wrong.”

  “Well, that’s what I thought, but then I asked Dan’s cleaners, those two old pikeys who clean Dan’s Palace.”

  Sam nodded. He guessed they were from the site.

  “They confirmed it, so I hate to tell ya, mate, but she has married that little shit.” Fred loosened his tie and ran his hands through his hair. He took a deep breath. “Does anyone know where she is?”

  “Nope, it’s like she’s disappeared from the face of the earth, and you know those fucking pikeys. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” replied Sam.

  Jack descended the stairs, with nothing but a towel round his waist.

  “I thought I heard you, Uncle Fred.”

  He smiled at his nephew, admiring how he kept himself trim and tight.

  “What was that about Ruby?” Jack asked.

  Sam looked at his bright-eyed son. “I might as well tell ya… Our Ruby has gone off and married that Ocean fella.”

  Jack screwed his face up. “You’re kidding!”

  Both men shook their heads.

  “Worst of it is, we have no clue where she is!” exclaimed Sam.

  “Well, you will tonight. She has just phoned to say she is coming to work and bringing someone she wants us to meet!”

  Sam jumped to his feet. “Oh yeah, I wanna meet the bastard all right. I’m gonna fucking kill him!”

  “No, you won’t, leave him to us. “I’ll get rid of him, the proper way,” suggested Fred, with a sadistic smirk across his mouth.

  Jack abruptly interrupted. “Stop it, you two, just listen to yourselves. This is Ruby we’re talking about, not a stranger. If you do that we will lose our Rubes for good.”

  Sam was raging. His face took on a spiteful expression and his knuckles turned white from gripping the glass.

  “Shut your mouth, Jack! I ain’t having no daughter of mine married to a dirty pikey. All I’ve done for that girl, and she goes and shits on me…” He paused to catch his breath. “She shits on all of us. Only known the boy for a few weeks, and puts him before her own family.”

  Jack went up the stairs and Sam sat back onto the sofa. “I adored that kid, she was so sweet, but now all I see is her fucking mother.” He turned to face his brother. “I’ve tried hard to raise her the right way, with proper values, and respect, but she is a selfish cow and sly with it, just like Jesse. I mean, whatever possessed her to up and leave, marry a gypo, and only fucking contact us through a text message every so often to Jack?”

  Fred would normally have jumped to Ruby’s defence, her being the baby, but this time he couldn’t. Sh
e had overstepped the mark.

  “I have given her everything she has ever wanted. When she is in trouble, the only people to help are her family, and what does she do? She marries a fucking no-good Irish tinker.”

  Fred hated to see his brother hurting and he tried to change the subject.

  “Celia turned up.”

  “What?” snapped Sam.

  “Yeah, I forgot to tell you. She went away for a short break. We think she has hit it off with Johnnie’s brother – good luck to her – well, anyway, she is safe and sound. I told her to manage Ruby’s Palace until Ruby gets back.”

  Sam flashed a glance at Fred.

  “I ain’t fucking having Ruby back in her club until she is rid of that pikey, and that’s not up for negotiation. I just can’t get me head around it, her married to a pikey!”

  “Love does funny things to ya, mate. Look at our Dolly, she loved her husband and he tried to kill her. She never really knew him, did she? But she married the cunt!” said Fred.

  Sam was silent, gripped by a mixture of emotions. They never talked about Francesca’s past. It was too painful for any of them. “Fred, our Ruby is nothing like our sister. I wish she was. She might have fallen in love and all that soppy bollocks, but for fuck’s sake, she should have used her brains. It ain’t like she’s a silly slip of a kid. She’s a grown woman!”

  Fred didn’t even attempt to argue. Sam, as his older brother, was once the quieter one, but lately he had more to say, and harsh words too. Rarely did he put his foot down. Dan usually called the shots and the others followed, unless, of course, Francesca was present. Then all ears would be listening to her. Like a pack, they all comfortably fulfilled a role. Yet, lately, Ruby didn’t seem part of it. She was the lone wolf wandering off to start her own pack. Maybe they expected too much from her, secretly wishing she was another Francesca. Fred snapped out of his contemplation when Jack returned dressed in his suit but red-faced. “Dad, I heard that. You can’t stop her, it’s her club as well.”

  “Jack, don’t stick up for her now, I’ve had enough of your damn whining. If I say she is not allowed in the place while she is with him, then she ain’t stepping foot over the fucking door… got it?” He poked a rude finger in Jack’s chest, causing Jack to back away.

  “You’re gonna push her away for good if you start that shit!” shouted Jack, who was annoyed. He detested being pushed or poked. He had always protected Ruby, but even he wondered why he should. After all, she had betrayed them. He also wished his sister was more like them and had to admit she was different. Rebelling was one thing, and they had laughed in the past at her antics, but going against the family was wrong on every level.

  Fred was ready to leave when Sam jumped up. “’Ere, Fred, before you go, make me right.” said Sam, with his arms open wide.

  Fred hugged Sam and then looked at his nephew, “You’re a good boy, and we know you love to look out for your sister, always have and probably always will, but your dad is right. We can’t have pikeys in the clubs. It’s a strict policy.” Fred gave his nephew a sympathetic smile before he left.

  “Sit, son, I want to talk to you.” Sam’s voice was calm so Jack did as he was told.

  “Your sister has made her choice. She knew full well we’d never accept a gypsy into the family or the business. They cannot be trusted. If I don’t stand my ground now, she will take us all down…” Sam took another gulp of brandy and swirled the ice cubes around the glass. “We have trusted her to run the club, but she is not the only Vincent. There’s your future, but not only you, there’s little Alfie and Sophie.”

  Jack frowned. He thought his father was being dramatic. Ruby had only married a gypsy; it wasn’t the end of the earth. It didn’t surprise him much – Ruby had always had a wild streak in her.

  “You don’t get it, do you?”

  Jack shook his head and replied confidently, “Nope!”

  “If your sister gets wrapped up with those muppets then, trust me, they will be in that club and taking over and we won’t have a bloody business. The same happened to the Nappers’ clubs. And Jack, your uncles and me ain’t getting any fucking younger. Ruby, mixed up with those London pikeys, is just stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

  Jack realised his father obviously knew more than he did and decided to take the situation more seriously.

  “So, what do we do now then?”

  Sam smiled with relief.

  “Call your sister and tell her to meet us at the club alone.”

  He rushed to the phone and dialled her mobile – to no avail.

  “She’s not answering.”

  “Bitch!” spat Sam.

  Jack bit his bottom lip. He still found it hard not to bite back at a comment like that, even if it came from their father.

  “You get yourself off to work and keep your wits about you. I have no idea what will happen tonight.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Dad, she is only bringing him over to meet us, not the complete posse.”

  “Pikeys are never on their fucking own!”

  Jack gave a heavy sigh and left.

  Sam called his brother. “Do us a favour, Dan, send a couple of your guys over to the kids’ Palace to watch the door.”

  “Calm yourself, mate, you sound wound up. I have already done it. Celia tells me that the travellers tried to get into Little Palace a few weeks ago, pushing cocaine, just before it burned to the ground. She is on her way as we speak. She can sniff out a traveller a mile away.”

  Dan didn’t mention Ruby. He decided it best to keep his thoughts to himself. “I wish our Dolly was here. She’d have the answers.”

  Sam laughed. “I dread to think what she’d make of it. One thing’s for sure. She would stop this fiasco in its tracks, one way or another.”

  “Best not tell her, we’ll sort it ourselves. No point in her worrying across the pond.”

  Jack arrived at the club and was surprised to see so many members of staff. He bit his lip in temper when he saw the two bouncers, the size of Mike Tyson, standing like typical doormen, feet apart with their hands crossed in front of them. They had the radios on – the works. The queuing guests would think they were likely to see a celebrity. Jack nodded at them and they in turn both nodded respectfully back.

  Inside the club, Celia was busy checking the bottles and the tills, usually done by Ruby. Jack didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This was his and Ruby’s business. They had always managed to keep any little issue under control. Now, it was as if he and Ruby didn’t exist.

  “’Ello, babe, look at you, you get more handsome every day.” Celia had a soft spot for him; he was very much a Vincent, but with a softer nature.

  “Hi, Celia, good to see you too. So glad you weren’t caught up in the fire.” Celia reddened. Jack was so charming and polite. It always got to her.

  “Have you seen Ruby? Has she arrived yet?” He looked over Celia’s shoulder towards the office.

  Celia was uncomfortable. She had been given strict instructions not to let Ruby behind the bar if she turned up with the gypsy.

  She shook her head and continued counting the soft drinks.

  Jack returned to the door, where the bouncers stepped aside, allowing him to stand in front of them. The queues seemed endless.

  *

  Sam wandered around Ruby’s room. His heart had been ripped out. He thought about his little girl, with the enchanting lisp and beaming smiles, and tears filled his eyes. Why she had to go and marry a man she barely knew, who would never be accepted into the family, was beyond him. He closed her door, left the house, and headed for the club.

  *

  Jack, now standing in his rightful position, decided to switch off from the situation and just go about his job as if nothing had changed.

  A taxi pulled up and Jack’s eyes crept over to the woman who stepped out. Too far away for him to see who she was, he half expected his sister. He continued to stare. A gust of warm air blew her thick, dark curls and ruffled her white
, flowy dress. She had a grace like Aunt Francesca. The girl joined the queue, looking at the floor, and Jack was surprised to see she was alone. It was rare for women to come to a nightclub without friends or a boyfriend.

  At nine o’clock on the dot, Jack nodded to the doormen. “Open her up!”

  The crowd became excited. Like Noah’s ark, they entered two by two and were searched and released to drink and dance the night away.

  A group of girls flirted outrageously with Jack – nothing new there! He laughed it off and sent them in. Jack’s interest was with the dark-haired woman who slowly approached.

  “Boys, let me check her over.”

  The doormen grinned.

  As she reached the gold rope, which acted as a gate, Jack allowed her through and asked her to step aside.

  He could clearly see she was very nervous. “Hey, it’s all right. I don’t bite, I only want to peek into your bag.”

  She looked up and smiled. He was so much like his uncles, but not so hard-looking. He was a smoother version, if there was such a thing. Her legs wobbled and for a second she thought she was making a huge mistake.

  There was something familiar about her, but he couldn’t place her. “Do I know you?” he smiled.

  “Maybe.” She hoped he wouldn’t turf her out as his uncles had done before.

  Jack, quite taken by her coyness, stared at her smoky eyes, admiring the complexion of her soft, tanned skin.

  Her traveller’s accent had gone. She had listened very carefully to her aunt when she’d told her, ‘Keep your ways, but don’t be loose with your gypsy tongue. It doesn’t always do us any favours.’

  Kizzy could talk as a gorger more easily than most. Her transformation from child to woman had added a simple charm of sophistication.

  She opened her little white and gold clutch bag. Instead of peeking in, he gazed at her and nodded approval.

  “It’s fine, you may enter.” He bowed.

  The two doormen nudged each other. It was rare for Jack to flirt with his customers.