Face in the Frame

by Heather Atkinson

“Do you think we can get away with not telling Brodie about this?” said Ross hopefully.

  “Unfortunately no, I don’t,” replied a dismayed Christian.

  Brodie sat before his brother, pouring his heart out to him even though he knew he wasn’t listening. His doctor had been forced to up his meds after he’d attempted to jam a spoon up the nose of a fellow patient. He’d got it halfway up before he’d been pulled off by the staff. He didn’t look much of a danger now, slumped in a chair, staring off into space, drool trailing from one corner of his mouth, amber eyes dull and empty. The first time he’d seen Ricky like this Brodie had torn the staff into strips. Now he realised there was simply nothing else that could be done for him when he got into one of his rages, short of tying him down. He was fucking enormous. Ricky worked out religiously, it was the main way he rid himself of his often uncontrollable anger, which stemmed from the time he’d sawn their abusive dad’s head off. When Ricky was in a temper everyone was at risk. In a day or two he’d be taken off the strong meds and he’d be back to his usual self. Sometimes he could be quite jolly, they shared the same sense of humour. Ricky knew all about his feelings for Cass and often acted as a soundboard, sometimes unconsciously, like now.

  “So she’s moving to London with Lucas and I’ll never see her again,” said Brodie. He looked to Ricky, who just stared vacantly into the air. “I wish you’d bloody say something, I may as well talk to the wall.” He sighed and folded his arms across his chest. “What would you do? Probably stick a spoon up Lucas Thorne’s nose. Fat lot of use you are.”

  Brodie felt bad for saying that, Ricky had given up his freedom and his sanity to free both him and Natalie from more abuse. Plus he was never sure just how much Ricky took in when he was in this state.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean that. You know me and my runaway gob. Anyway, how are things with you? Fascinating,” he added when Ricky continued to drool and stare. He sighed again when his phone rang, relieved to see the number wasn’t Shelley’s, she was still being persistent. “Yes Christian? What do you mean you drew the short straw?” He shot to his feet. “You fucking fannies, you let her run off? Stop stammering and meet me at Big Malc’s club. That’s where she’s headed.”

  Cass glared up at the massive scowling slab guarding the door of the nightclub. It wasn’t even open but it went to show how cautious Malc was being by having someone on the door during the day.

  “I want to see Big Malc,” she said.

  “So do a lot of people. He’s not seeing anyone,” replied the slab.

  “He’ll see me. Tell him I’m here.”

  “Bugger off.”

  “If you don’t go and tell him then I’ll have to hurt you.”

  “Ha ha ha, I’d like to see you…”

  He released a squeal when she grabbed his crotch and squeezed.

  She thrust her face into his. “Big Malc. Now.”

  “Okay,” he squeaked, getting on his radio.

  Two minutes later she was standing before Big Malc’s desk in his office, the huge man glowering up at her from his chair.

  “So you’re the one who put my wee brother in the hospital?” he opened.

  “I am,” she replied.

  “It took me ages to get it out of him. He tried to make out it was a gang of three men, which became four, then five. I knew he was bullshitting so I kept on at him until he told me. He couldn’t bear the shame of a woman getting the better of him.”

  “Well here I am. I didn’t know he was your brother when I did it and it’s certainly nothing to do with Brodie.”

  Big Malc’s gaze was cold. “Brodie is Toni’s plaything but you sweetheart are mine. Kev’s a bit of a div but he’s still blood and no one hurts my blood. As yet I’m still trying to decide what to do with you,” he said, eyes sliding up and down her body.

  “Just so you know, whatever you try I will come back at you ten times harder.”

  “Then I’ll just have to make sure you can’t come back at me.”

  “You’re in a precarious position right now with Toni. I think you’ve got better things to do than go after me.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. I could do with some fun. Watch your back sweetheart because I’m coming for you.”

  “Why wait? Just get it over with. Come on Malc, me and you, let’s go right now.”

  He shot to his feet with surprising speed. Because of his bulk Cass had thought he’d be slow but she’d underestimated him and now she was starting to regret her hastiness. But she would not let Brodie pay for what she had done.

  “Alright, why wait?” he grinned. “I am a busy man after all.”

  Cass backed up towards the door as he walked round his desk towards her. When the door burst open she only just managed to avoid getting hit.

  “Back off Malc,” said Brodie, placing himself before her, Christian and Ross following suit. “You touch her and I’ll rip your fat fucking lips off.”

  “Hey, she’s the one who burst in here challenging me,” he retorted. “I didn’t ask her to come here.”

  “She was trying to set things right.”

  “Set things right? She put my little brother in hospital, he can’t even chew his food.”

  “Your brother’s a wife-beating scumbag and you know it,” countered Brodie. “He didn’t get anything he didn’t deserve. His missus begged us to sort him out, she was terrified of him. Not only had he beat her for years but he’d started hitting the kids too.”

  “She’s a lying slag,” he bellowed in Brodie’s face.

  “No she’s not, you should see the state she’s in. He’s been battering the living hell out of her for years. When he finally gets what he deserves what do you do? Threaten to beat up a woman.”

  “Come on Brodie, we both know she’s no ordinary woman,” said Malc, nodding in Cass’s direction. “She’s capable of giving me a good run for my money.”

  “Will you both please stop talking about me as though I’m not here?” interjected Cass. “Brodie, I really appreciate you coming here but I can sort this one out myself.”

  Brodie ignored her. “Let it go Malc. You’re only going to make a tit of yourself if you push this.”

  “She’s been a naughty girl and naughty girls deserve to get their arses spanked,” he said, bristling with rage.

  “You are walking a fucking tightrope right now,” said Brodie, jabbing him in his flabby chest with the tip of his index finger. “One wrong move and you’ll fall off straight into the lion’s mouth. Toni hates violence against women, unless she’s the one causing the violence. You hurt Cass and she’ll cut your cock off.”

  “Do you think I’m scared of that bitch?”

  “Yes I do and if you’re not then you’re a fucking moron.”

  “You’re bloody lucky you saved my life because if you hadn’t I would have rammed your head into the filing cabinet for that.”

  “No you wouldn’t because there’s four of us and one of you. Your bodyguard is curled up on the floor in tears holding onto his tiny balls. You’d end up in a bed next to your abusive shite of a brother.”

  Malc’s face turned purple with rage, the tip of his bulbous nose practically glowing. “You are making a big fucking mistake Brodie.”

  “You are if you think you can punish Cass for this. Your brother got what was coming to him, end of. I like you Malc but if you don’t let it go then me and you are going to seriously fall out and right now I’m the only friend you’ve got.”

  “What the bloody hell are you talking about?”

  “Toni is very pissed off with you and she’s rapidly losing patience. Do you really want a fight on two fronts?”

  “You’re a thick bastard Brodie.”

  “Not wise words Malc. I saw you with Tam, you nearly wet yourself when he pulled the machete.”

  “You think I’m alone, isolated. But I’m not. I’ve got…”

  “You’ve got what?” pressed Brodie when Malc clammed up.

  “Nothing.” />
  “What were you going to say?”

  “Nothing. I’d finished.”

  “Bollocks. You’ve got someone backing you, haven’t you? That’s why Toni’s reluctant to take you out. Who is it?”

  “No one. Bugger off the lot of you,” he said, wilting.

  “Intriguing,” said Cass, still stuck at the back of the room.

  “And you can shut your hole,” Malc barked at her.

  “So go on then,” Brodie said to him.

  “Go on what?”

  “Who’s in on it with you?”

  “No one. I don’t need anyone, I can handle it myself.”

  “Let’s go Bossman, we’re getting nowhere,” said Christian.

  “You’re right,” replied Brodie, surprising everyone.

  “You’ve never said that before,” said a delighted Christian.

  “Don’t get used to it,” he muttered, steady gaze on Malc. “Leave Cass alone and we won’t fall out. You got that?”

  Malc just sneered as the four of them backed out of the room.

  “What did you do that for? I could handle him,” said Cass once they were outside Malc’s office, stepping over the doorman, who was still curled up on the floor cradling his crotch.

  “I didn’t hear a thank you in that,” retorted Brodie.

  “I was handling it and you had to charge in like Bruce Willis. I’m not a bloody damsel in distress, I can take care of myself.”

  Brodie looked round at a sheepish Christian and Ross, aghast. “You hear that boys? We come here to help and this is the thanks we get.”

  “I resent being treated like the helpless little woman. I was confronting him to get it over and done with and now you’ve only prolonged it.”

  “Why did you bother? You’re trolling off down to London, remember?” When she didn’t reply he added, “you’re still going, aren’t you?”

  “I’ve no sodding choice now.”

  He stopped her just before she stepped outside. “Do you want to go?”

  She hesitated before saying, “yes.”

  Hope swelled inside him. “You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.”

  “I do now you’ve messed things up for me with Big Malc. I have to get away.”

  “He would have killed you in there if I hadn’t stepped in.”

  “No he wouldn’t. I would have got a pasting at worst and you wouldn’t have to see Toni.”

  He was touched. “So that’s why you did it?”

  “It was part of the reason. She’s pissed off enough with you as it is. This could tip the scales against you.”

  “I appreciate that very much hen but you don’t put yourself at risk for me again.”

  “I didn’t. I reckon I could take him.”

  “Perhaps, but he’s an animal. If you’d lost he would have ended up torturing you and doing God knows what else to you. He’s a savage bastard. So…are you still going to London?”

  “I suppose I have to,” she sighed.

  Brodie looked to Christian and Ross. “Give us a minute lads. Wait in the car.”

  “But it’s hot,” complained Ross. “We’ll wait in the car,” he added when Brodie glared at him.

  Brodie waited until they’d gone before speaking. “Do you really love Lucas?” he asked her.

  “Yes.”

  The lack of hesitation wounded him but he ploughed on regardless. “Do you want to move to London with him?”

  “I want to be with him but I don’t want to go to London.”

  “Then don’t go.”

  “I thought you wanted me to.”

  “Of course I don’t.”

  Cass’s smile was radiant. “Really?”

  Brodie was on the verge of confessing how he truly felt but how could he when she’d just said she loved the Elf? She wasn’t interested in an old bastard like him, so he lost his bottle. “Of course not. Where would I find a second as good as you?”

  Her smile dropped. “Yes you will. I’m sure you’ll have me replaced within the week.”

  “Course I won’t. What’s got into you?”

  “Nothing. I’ve got to go home and finish packing before someone breaks my door down.”

  “Instead of running off to London why don’t you lay low for a few days until I’ve smoothed things over?”

  “I daren’t in case I come back to find you’ve replaced me.”

  “That won’t happen. You’re irreplaceable.”

  Cass looked into the face of this man she had loved ever since she’d first clapped eyes on him in that bar three years ago and - except for the one night they’d slept together - he’d shown absolutely no interest in her and her stupid crush was becoming a burden. Maybe it was time to move on? “I’m going,” she replied, still not sure.

  Brodie looked down at the ground, struggling to accept the fact that he was going to lose her and she’d never know how he felt. Perhaps that was for the best. If he told her he’d only make a tit of himself. “At least you’ll be out of the way of Malc and the McVays,” he said, desperately clinging onto that to give himself some solace.

  They both swallowed hard and looked away.

  Ross peered out of the car window curiously, watching Brodie and Cass talking on the pavement.

  “Do you reckon they’ve shagged?” he asked Christian. They were sat in the back of Brodie’s car together, trying not to inhale the manky smell.

  “I’ve no idea and if you’re smart you won’t ask.”

  “Maybe they haven’t and they want to but they daren’t admit it?” continued Ross, ignoring his friend’s advice. “There’s loads of sexual tension between them.” He lapsed into thoughtful silence before adding, “do you think she’ll really go?”

  “It’s looking like it. She’s really keen on Lucas.”

  “Brodie thinks he’s a prick.”

  “Brodie thinks everyone’s a prick.”

  “Things won’t be the same if she goes. It’s always been the four of us. He’ll get someone new in and it’ll be different.”

  “Things change, people move on.”

  “Don’t sound so casual, I know you’ve got a thing for Cass.”

  “It’s not a thing. She’s just been a good friend to me, as well as a buffer between us and Brodie. No one can handle him like she can. If she goes he’s going to be a nightmare.”

  “Oh Christ, I didn’t think of that. We have to convince her to stay.”

  “I don’t think it’ll work. She seems pretty set on going.”

  “They’re coming back,” said Ross, sitting up straighter in his seat.

  Brodie climbed into the driver’s seat and Cass into the front passenger seat, both in sullen silence.

  “So, where to?” said Christian.

  “Cass’s flat. She needs to finish packing,” said Brodie flatly, gritting his teeth when the car refused to start. He tried again then again, the others deciding it would be best not to make any witty comments as they all felt his anger build.

  “Start you bastard,” he bellowed.

  Finally the car spluttered into life and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

  Brodie glanced in the rear-view mirror at Christian and Ross then whipped round in his seat. “Put your seatbelts on you silly sods, do you think I want to get a ticket? Do you?”

  They both sighed and pulled on their belts.

  CHAPTER 21

  Brodie, Ross and Christian sat on the couch in Cass’s flat in silence as they waited for her to finish packing her bags.

  “Is that it?” said Brodie, regarding the two holdalls and one suitcase.

  “That’ll do for now,” she replied. “I’ll come back up in a few months to empty it out. I own the flat so it’s not a problem.”

  Brodie just folded his arms across his chest and nodded, looking down at the floor.

  “Where do you want us to take you?” said Christian.

  “Lucas’s flat. The address is anonymous so Malc shouldn’t find me there.”

/>   “Okay. Let’s go,” said Brodie tightly, getting to his feet and striding for the door, needing to get away before he dropped to his knees and begged her to stay.

  “I’ll give you a hand with your bags,” said Christian, taking the suitcase for her.

  “Thanks love,” she replied with a fond smile.

  “Here we are,” said Brodie quietly when they pulled up outside Lucas’s apartment building.

  Cass just sat there, staring up at it.

  “Aren’t you going in?” said Brodie when she made no move to get out of the car.

  “Sorry, I expect you’ve got a lot to do,” she said before climbing out, leaving Brodie to kick himself for making her think she wasn’t wanted. He leapt out of the car after her. “I didn’t mean to rush you.”

  “You’re not, it’s fine,” she said, avoiding his eyes as she opened the boot.

  “I’ll take that,” he said, removing the suitcase for her.

  Christian and Ross took one of the holdalls each and the four of them made their way up to the front of the building, having to wait while Cass buzzed. Lucas was waiting to let them in so they didn’t have long to wait.

  “You’re coming back to Glasgow, aren’t you?” said Christian as the four of them slowly made their way inside.

  “This is supposed to be a permanent move,” she mumbled as she pressed the button for the lift.

  “So you’re not?”

  She glanced at Brodie, who was staring at the ground. “Probably not.”

  “Things aren’t going to be the same,” said Christian, looking distraught.

  She gave his arm a squeeze. “You can come and visit.”

  “You’re on. Don’t think you can get out of it now you’ve made the offer.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. I want you to visit.”

  “We will, won’t we Ross?”

  “Aye, course we will.”

  Cass glanced at Brodie but he was still staring at the floor, seemingly lost in a world of his own and her heart sank. Still, she couldn’t be too hard on him, he had a lot on his plate what with the McVays, Big Malc and now finding a replacement for her.

  The lift doors opened and they rode up to the penthouse in silence. Lucas was waiting for them when they stepped out of the lift. The sight of him lifted Cass’s spirits. Perhaps this sudden move wouldn’t be so bad after all.