British Bad Boys: A Bad Boy Romance Boxed Set

by Marissa Farrar

  “I told you at Dad’s funeral, and I’ve been telling you ever since, I don’t want to be involved anymore, Archie. I want to sing. It’s what mum wanted me to do, and I’ve got a job in a club. I start tonight. You said it yourself, you don’t want or need me involved in the day to day running and I’m bored.”

  Archie ran his fingers through his hair, the mention of his beloved mum taking the wind out of his sails for a moment.

  “For crying out loud, Raine, it’s a bit bloody short notice. I need you here tonight. We’ve got a load of top guys coming in, they expect a little class and attention.”

  “Well I’m sure Tanya can handle it, if you can bear to share your little pet. Let her take over, please. I’m done being the little woman in your seedy world. It disgusts me, those awful men with their hands all over me like I’m their property. What would mum think, eh? It’s disrespectful, Archie and I’m sick of it.”

  Archie frowned. Raine could see that he was thinking about what she had said. She knew that deep down he knew she was right, that their mum wouldn’t have liked the new wave of gangster that had arrived with the drugs. She just hoped he agreed that she would be better off out of it.

  “Where’s this gig then?” he asked, pouring himself a whiskey.

  “The White Room.”

  There was a brief moment of absolute silence and then Archie exploded.

  “The fucking White Room?” he spat, grabbing hold of her arm. “The fucking White Room? Are you bloody insane? That bastard murdered dad! And you’re singing for him? What the hell is wrong with you Raine?”

  Dave opened the door of the office.

  “You alright boss?” he asked, looking at Raine. Archie let go of her, shoving her aside so that she fell backwards, knocking her head on the desk.

  “Get that treacherous snake out of here, before I do something I’ll regret.”

  Raine got up, rubbing her head, refusing Dave’s helping hand.

  She looked back at Archie, his face red with rage, grabbed her bag and left his office.

  It was raining outside, a damp drizzle that masked the tears running down her face and she walked quickly towards the bus stop. Her family might be a bunch of arseholes but that didn’t mean that losing the last one of them didn’t hurt like hell. She had known he would be angry but she hadn’t realised just how angry. Her own warped view of Tommy had clouded her judgement. But even now, even with Archie’s pure rage and hatred, just thinking about seeing Tommy again made her shiver.

  She didn’t notice the car until he wound the window down.

  “You look a little bit wet, Raine. Can I give you a lift?”

  She stopped and looked at him in surprise. He smiled at her. Jeez he was so damn handsome. His crooked smile was heartbreakingly sexy, his blue eyes were devastating; but was he really any better than what she’d just walked away from?

  He held the door open. It started to rain harder.

  “Come on, babe, get in, you’re soaked. I’ll just drop you home, I promise. I don’t bite. Well, not unless you want me to.” He winked as he said it, and Raine melted.

  She got in and the car slipped back into the busy London traffic.

  “I take it your brother wasn’t impressed with your new boss?”

  She shook her head, rubbing her arm where bruises were already blooming on her pale skin.

  “How do you know where I’ve been, and how did you happen to be outside just as I was leaving?”

  Tommy ignored the question.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  Raine shrugged. “No more than usual,” she said, “not physically anyway.” She felt her head and winced. “Just a little lump this time. I’ve had worse off of him.”

  Tommy frowned.

  “You deserve a lot better,” he said. Especially from family.” He paused, studying her until she dropped her eyes, his intense stare giving her butterflies.

  “I’d like to take you out, Raine,” he said, “tonight after the show. Would you like that?”

  She looked back up at him. Would she like it? She thought about it. She had nothing left. No family, no money and nothing left to lose. She only had her dreams and he was handing them to her on a plate. A potentially poisoned plate, but Raine was willing to take the risk.

  “I think I would, Tommy,” she said. “That would be very nice, thank you.”

  “A celebration,” he said, “to a new life. A little freedom. I’ll show you my world. I think you’ll like it a lot more than Archie’s.”

  The car pulled up outside her flat.

  “I won’t ask how you know where I live.”

  “Always best Raine. Don’t ask no questions and I’ll tell you no lies.”

  She leaned over and kissed his cheek, her lips lingering a little longer than necessary against his skin. His hand grazed her thigh, his fingers warm against the bare flesh.

  “Thank you for the lift, Tommy. I’ll see you later.” With that she got out of the car, closing the door, leaving him with a hard on and nothing but her perfume clinging to his suit.

  Chapter Eight

  The First Night

  Raine pushed open the door to the changing rooms and looked for a space to get ready. She was used to the hustle and bustle of the backstage room of a club but she knew how competitive the girls could be and she didn’t know any of these ones. It was a lot nicer than Fantasia, the carpets clean, the mirrors shiny and well-lit and the girls outfits were classy not slutty. She could see why The White Room had such a good reputation.

  “Hey, girl, come on in. I heard you sing earlier babe, you were amazing!”

  Raine smiled over at the pretty girl who had called out to her.

  “Thanks,” she said, “I’m kind of nervous, this is my first proper gig.”

  “I’m Nancy,” the girl said, clearing a space in front of the bank of mirrors that lined the walls. “You’ll be fine, the guys in here are smart and respectful and security makes sure they keep their hands to themselves. Besides I think Tommy has his eye on you, you’ll be more than safe.”

  Raine blushed at her comment, wondering what the other girls would think about that. She set her make-up out and hung up the dress that Roxy had found for her in wardrobe. It was a deep red, figure hugging with a plunge neckline, and revealing a hint of thigh when she moved, contrasting nicely with her dark hair. She applied a little foundation and powdered her nose.

  “Is it true you’re Frankie Madden’s daughter?”

  A tall, skinny redhead perched her tiny bum on the table where Raine was about to apply her lipstick. A couple of the others turned to look, distracted by this piece of gossip.

  “It is,” Raine said, turning to look at them all. “But he’s dead and things move on. I wanted out of the family business, but I don’t want any trouble. I know there’s bad blood between my brother and Mr White, but it’s nothing to do with me, I can promise you.”

  “Rumour has it that Tommy had your dad … taken care of … Aren’t you mad at him?”

  “Since my mum died, things have been sort of difficult for me. If I’m honest Mr White did me a favour. I know, I know,” Raine looked around the room at the gaping mouths and horrified faces, “that sounds like a terrible thing to say. But you had to live it to understand. I know none of us is ever really free from this life, but I couldn’t take another minute of looking after his disgusting friends. That’s not what my mum wanted for me. She wanted me to be happy and now, well now I have a chance. And I have Mr White to thank for all of that.”

  “I thought I told you to call me Tommy, Raine?”

  The girls all squealed, hurrying back to getting themselves ready and Raine blushed.

  “Sorry, Tommy, I wasn’t sure if that was just when we were alone.” She smiled up at him.

  “It’s not,” he said looking at her appreciatively. “Now, as stunning as you look in that underwear my sweet, I need you dressed and front of house. I want to show you off to the punters. Don’t worry,” he clocked the
look of panic on her face, “I’m not expecting anything like your dirty minded older brother. I just want them to see what a class new act we have. And,” he smiled at her, “I thought you might like to join me for a drink before you go on?”

  “Well in that case, I’ll be ready in just a couple of minutes.”

  She stood up, the proximity of his body to hers making her shake a little.

  “I’ll go and get the champagne on ice,” he said, looking round the room. “Come on my lovely ladies, chop chop, let’s get our knickers on and get out there to keep my customers happy and remind them why The White Room is the best club in town!”

  With that he turned and left the room.

  Raine tried to avoid the looks from the other girls, feeling singled out and a little vulnerable. She slipped into her dress and sat down to put on her heels.

  Nancy turned to speak to her again.

  “Don’t worry about any of the girls, we look after each other here. Just be careful, honey. He’s a good looking boy but don’t let that gentlemanly exterior fool you. He’s a violent gangster just like your dad was. He just hides it more carefully when he’s in company. Most of us here have had a crush on him at one time or another, he gets you like that. But you need to stay strong if you want to keep that hard won independence.”

  “Thank you. You know I could really use some new friends now that I pissed my entire family off. I’ll watch your backs if you watch mine?”

  “It’s a deal, sweetheart. Now hurry up, because one thing Tommy don’t like is to be kept waiting.”

  Raine grinned and slipped out of the dressing room, heading towards the main club room.

  *****

  “I can’t believe she’s here and drinking with him. It’s not right,” one of the older girls started to say.

  Nancy cut her off. “Elise, you don’t judge a girl until you’ve walked in her shoes. We’ve all heard the stories about the Madden boys and you don’t know what hell she’s seen. We’re going to make her welcome, just like we always do, until she gives us cause to think otherwise.”

  “Well I just hope she don’t bring no trouble to the club,” the red head said. “The last thing we need is those thugs coming round causing chaos.”

  “Well if they do show up, Mr White’s boys will sort them out, Mandy. Now come on, let’s get this show on the road before Tommy comes back in here and gives us hell.”

  Chapter Nine

  Meet the Boys

  “Ah, here she is,” Tommy said, introducing Raine with a wave of his arm to welcome her into the group. He handed her a chilled glass of champagne and proceeded to tell the men about her “magical voice”, which would “give them chills”.

  “I swear she nearly brought me to tears the first time I heard her.”

  “Shut up, Tommy, nothing makes you cry,” a youngish looking lad said, looking at him with an awestruck gaze, “you’re the ultimate tough guy.”

  “That I am, Daniel, you’re not wrong there, but you wait til you hear this little lady’s voice. I promise you mate, it’ll make your nips hard.” He winked and they all laughed.

  All the while he was talking, Tommy’s hand was resting gently on her waist. It felt almost territorial, and she found that she liked it. This was exactly the sort of situation she had wanted to avoid, but with Tommy’s hand just above her bum she felt protected.

  Their banter and business talk went over her head as she watched the girls dance, loving the old school feel of the club, the emphasis on the beautiful women and the show of it all, so different from Fantasia. She thought for a moment about Archie and his rage at her being here and wondered if there would be any backlash. She might be his sister but Archie didn’t take disloyalty well, and he would take this as the ultimate betrayal.

  She checked her phone but there were no messages. It was nearly time for her to go on and she put her glass down on the table turning back to Tommy and the group as she did.

  “I have to go and sing, Tommy. Thank you for the drink and it was lovely to meet you all. I hope you enjoy the set.”

  “Break a leg, darlin’,” Tommy said, squeezing her arse as she got up. He stood up with her and pulled her towards him. “I’m looking forward to our date later, Raine. You have class and I like that. It reminds me of …” He swallowed. “It reminds me of another time. A time when I was happier.”

  “I’m looking forward to it too. You intrigue me. You’re a gangster with a heart and I haven’t come across one of those before.”

  Tommy laughed. “I don’t know about that sweetheart but I definitely got a raging hard on for you.”

  With that he dropped a kiss on her cheek and turned back to his meeting.

  Raine took the steps up to the podium and let the music wash over her. This was her chance to shine and she was going to give it her all.

  ***

  The end of the set was a blur of applause, cheers and a standing ovation from Tommy and the boys he was with. Raine had never been happier as she made her way back to his table where he was waiting with another drink.

  “That was incredible my lovely. Now, if you’ll excuse me boys, I have a date with the beautiful Ms Madden.”

  Chapter Ten

  First Date

  Tommy nodded to the security on the door as they left, his hand resting lightly on Raine’s waist as he guided her towards where his driver, Albert, was already waiting with the door of the Bentley open. Tommy helped her inside before muttering something to Albert and getting in next to her.

  “I know a nice little late night restaurant in the West End that I think you’ll like, darlin’.”

  She smiled at him.

  “Thank you for giving me a chance tonight, Tommy. I haven’t had that much fun since my mum was still alive. I feel like you’ve given me my life back, like I’ve come out of the darkness that was hanging over me.”

  Tommy looked at her, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I know what you mean; and you deserve to smile, Raine, it lights up your beautiful face. But I should thank you really, you’re voice brightened my club this evening. The drinks were flowing, the girls were busy and I looked like the King of the World. I’m glad I took a chance on you.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.”

  “Oh I definitely liked it. In fact I was hoping you might give me a private show after dinner.” Tommy grinned at her, giving her a cheeky wink.

  Raine blushed, embarrassed by the almost instant gush of liquid between her legs at the thought of doing anything in private with Tommy.

  “Tommy White,” she said, trying to look indignant, “you don’t ask a lady for a private show on a first date!”

  Tommy laughed. “So this is a date, is it?”

  “I don’t know Tommy, you tell me? Is it?”

  “Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard anything about me over the years, but I don’t ordinarily do dates.”

  “I had heard about your… interest in women, Mr White, but I’m not what you would call ordinary.”

  “Did you just call me Mr White?”

  Raine bit her lip as he leaned closer to her, his hand warm on her thigh, wondering what he was going to do. She could see his eyes glitter with desire.

  She could smell the heavy scent of his aftershave and she breathed it in, filling her senses with him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “I should put you over my knee and remind you that I’m your boss and you do as I say. I told you, call me Tommy.”

  Raine gasped softly, closing her eyes to better imagine the picture that his words conjured up in her head. Right at this moment there was nothing she would like more than to be bare assed over Tommy’s knee, his big hand pinking the skin of her bottom before he slid a thick finger into her creamy cunt. She shook slightly with a mixture of fear that he might do it right here in the back of his car and disappointment that he might not. His eyes were shining as he watched her reaction.

  “I promise I won’t disobey you again
,” she whispered against his ear. “Unless you want me to …?”

  The car pulled to a halt outside the restaurant, and Tommy grinned.

  “We’ll have to wait and see won’t we, Ms Madden. I don’t think you can behave yourself for too long. And then we can have some fun.”

  Albert opened the door and the night air helped to cool the heat on Raine’s face a little. Tommy took her hand as she stepped out of the car then with a firm hand on her arse, propelled her to the door of the restaurant where he was greeted like family, and they were ushered through to the best table in the house.

  Once the owner had finished talking to Tommy and the waiter had poured the champagne they were alone again.

  “I know you’ve been treated badly by your family, Raine, but I can promise you, life with me won’t be the same. I like to show my woman a good time, in and out of the bedroom. I’m a bad boy, but not like the types your dad had you mixing with.”

  Raine smiled across the table at him.

  “Your reputation precedes you, Tommy. I’ve heard the stories, I just didn’t think that they could all be true.”

  He laughed. “I didn’t realise my sex life was such a hot topic of gossip. I must admit I like things a little more interesting than most might be able to handle. I have to warn you that if you agree to a second date with me, I will introduce you to things you could only ever dream of.”

  He held her hand across the table, his thumb stroking her palm.

  “But let’s not talk about that tonight, beautiful, because tonight I am going to romance you and show you my gentlemanly side. You fascinate me, Raine. You’ve gotten under my skin; with your voice, your body and your beautiful face. I want you and I always get what I want. I think you want me too but you look like the type of girl that prefers a gentle touch to begin with.”

  “You are very presumptuous Tommy White and I like that in a man. I like someone to take charge of a situation and you strike me as someone who relishes control. I think I would relish relinquishing mine to you.”