Leroy was a Hackney boy through and through. He was well liked, had numerous friends and was well respected. He also knew that if the geezer he'd knifed took a turn for the worse and he needed an alibi, that Hackney was the place to be. Today's events had been an eye-opener for Danny. It had been his first taste of aggro in his newly found career and truth be known, he'd absolutely loved it. The adrenalin was something else: he was a face now, mixing with the big boys and loving every bloody minute of it.
Jimmy the Fish had turned up in the boozer in Hackney early evening and made a proper fuss of him and Leroy. He was absolutely overjoyed that they'd managed to snatch the tablets back on their way out. Jimmy could suffer most things, but being turned over and losing gear wasn't one of them.
'You're two top fucking boys, you are,' he said, whilst cracking open a bottle of bubbly. 'I knew you wouldn't let me down.'
Six pubs and a lap-dancing club later, Danny was wasted. Jimmy had insisted on footing the bill and had supplied endless top-quality champagne. How Danny had ended up with a bird as ugly as Sandra Shepherd was beyond belief. He'd shagged some mingers in his time, but the monster he'd woken up with this morning had to be the worst one ever. He just hoped to God he hadn't caught anything off her. Billie would chop his bollocks off if he passed anything on to her.
Letting himself into his flat, he was prepared for an ear-bashing. He had worked out a story on the way home to get himself out of the shit and was ready to spill his lies. Calling out for Billie and getting no answer was a shock to him. Seeing the note she'd left him on the table was an even bigger one.
'Dan, I've gone into labour, called an ambulance, please come quickly. Love you. Billie,' was the brief message.
'Fuck,' Danny said out loud. 'Fuck, fuck, fuck.' Sprinting out of the flat, he jumped into his motor and headed towards the hospital at top speed. After having a go at the backward girl on reception, Danny legged it down the corridor to the side room that Billie was in. He was all ready to run in full of excuses and apologies, but the sight of Billie lying there, holding their son, took his breath away. All he could manage was, 'I'm so sorry, Billie. I'll make it up to you, I promise. It was a work thing, you know how it is.'
Billie smiled. She couldn't be angry with him, not after giving birth to the most beautiful little boy in the whole wide world. Whatever anger she'd felt earlier had vanished. 'Don't worry, Danny. Come over here and hold your son. Danny Junior, meet your daddy.'
Jade watched the scene of happy families unfolding in front of her eyes and felt physically sick. She could smell booze seeping out of Danny's pores. Work, my arse, she thought to herself. 'I'm going to get a coffee, Bill,' she said, unable to be in the same room as Danny a minute longer.
'What the fuck's she doing here?' Danny asked arrogantly, the moment the door was closed.
For once, Billie was annoyed with him. 'Look, Danny, I couldn't get hold of you. I was frightened and I panicked. I just didn't know what to do for the best. Jade was the only person that I could call on to help and she's driven all the way from Somerset to be here for me. So please be nice to her, even if it's only for my sake.'
Holding his son, Danny looked at him adoringly. He'd prayed for a boy and was so happy his prayers had been answered. Not wanting to upset the apple cart, he decided to be diplomatic. 'All right, you win. I'll be nice to her. I'll have a little chat with her and sort things out.'
'Thanks, Danny,' Billie said gratefully.
Jade had a sandwich and a coffee and decided to bid farewell to Billie and drive back home. She would have stayed longer if need be, but now Danny had turned up she knew she'd only be in the way. 'I'd better be going now, Bill. I've got such a long drive,' she said, kissing her friend on the cheek.
'Oh, stay a bit longer, Jade. I haven't seen you for ages and I've missed you. Please stay a while. We haven't even had a proper chat yet, plus I need all the tips on newborn babies that I can get.'
'I'd love to, Bill, but I promised my mum that I'd be back today to pick up Terry Junior. She's got a hospital appointment tomorrow morning and my dad can't look after him on his own,' Jade lied.
'I'll walk you to your car,' Danny said, with a cocky looking smirk.
Jade put on the best false smile she could muster. 'Honestly, there's no need, Danny. My car's nearby. I'll be fine. You stay here with Billie Jo.'
Danny stood up and opened the door. 'I'm not taking no for an answer. I insist on seeing you safely to your car. Who knows what can happen to a pretty woman walking about on her own in this neck of the woods?'
Jade felt unnerved by his comments and the sarcastic way he'd said them, but tried to stay calm. Once out of the building, Danny grabbed her tightly by the arm.
'Right, me and you need to have a little chat I think, don't you?' Without giving her time to answer, he carried on ranting. 'Billie wants us all to be best buddies and live happily ever after, but me and you know that ain't gonna happen, don't we?'
Jade suddenly found an inner strength. 'Let me say something to you, Danny. I don't know where you were last night and I don't really care. You smell like a brewery, so I don't believe you were working, not unless you've got a new job in a pub. But I'll tell you something, and I really mean this. If you hurt that girl or that baby, I swear you'll have me to deal with.'
Danny went into a fit of laughter that lasted only seconds. Furious, he grabbed Jade's head and smashed it against the nearest wall. Putting his hands tightly around her throat, Danny moved his face an inch away from hers. 'Now let me tell you something, bitch. If you try and come between me and Billie, I swear I'll have ya. I'm no fucking mug, you know, and I know a lot of handy people. I swear if you ever try to cross me and turn Billie and my baby against me, you might just find some nasty person at your door one night. I can easily send someone down to your quiet Somerset village. It takes seconds to light a fire. You and your brat of a kid will be burnt to cinders within no time. Do you understand what I'm saying to you, Jade?'
Jade stood rooted to the spot, nodding dumbly. Danny had frightened the life out of her. She could smell the stench of beer on his breath and his eyes were like those of a madman. 'I understand,' she managed to mutter. 'Just let me go and I promise you I won't contact Billie any more.'
'Good,' Danny said, loosening his grip on her neck. 'I'm glad we understand one another.'
Once back in the ward, Danny sat there holding Billie's hand. 'Did you have a chat with Jade?' Billie asked him affectionately.
'Yep,' Danny smiled. 'All sorted, babes. She said she'll ring you soon.'
Jade was still shaking as she hit the motorway. Her head was throbbing where nutty boy had rammed it against the wall and she now had a migraine from hell. The threat of being burnt alive with her baby was the final straw. She wasn't going to contact Billie any more. She couldn't. She had to put her own safety and that of her family first. She would have given anything for Terry to still be alive, to sort this mess out. She even toyed with the idea of ringing Davey Mullins and asking for his help, but decided against it. She couldn't risk it going pear-shaped, just in case it infuriated Danny even more. Pulling onto the hard shoulder, Jade broke down and cried. Her neck felt really sore. Adjusting the front mirror, she could see the redness around it, where he'd nearly strangled her. She'd thought Danny O'Leary was just a cocky little wide-boy when she'd first met him, but she'd seen another side of him tonight that made her skin crawl. Jade feared for the safety of Billie Jo and the poor baby that had the misfortune of sharing his name.
He wasn't just a flash little sod. The bloke was dangerous. A complete fucking lunatic of the very worst kind.
TWENTY-ONE
Davey Mullins checked the departure times and headed for the bar.
He hated Gatwick Airport. He'd tried to get a flight from Stansted, but had been unable to book the date and time he wanted.
Sipping his beer, he smiled to himself. He'd had enough of cold, poxy England and was flying off to start his new life.
; Honey dumping him had been the final straw. Thousands he'd spent on that two-timing bitch.
Hearing a call for his flight, he picked up his hand luggage.
'Goodbye, England, and good fucking riddance,' he muttered to himself.
Two hours later, Dave sat thousands of feet in the air sipping a large Scotch.
Looking out of the window, he stared at the view. Holding his glass up, he toasted his future.
'Costa del Sol, here I fucking come.'
Looking upwards, he gazed into the clouds.
'Cheers, Tel. I owe you one.'
* * *
Many miles away in Hornchurch, Michelle waved to Danny as he pulled off the drive. Disappointed, she shut the front door. Half an hour he'd stayed and had made no arrangements to return in the near future.
'I'm so busy now, Chelle, with work. What with the baby as well, I don't get a lot of spare time,' he'd told her guiltily.
Chelle had nodded, keeping her true feelings to herself. She'd always looked forward to their weekly chats and booze sessions and was pissed off at being discarded like an old bit of rag. Hazel was on holiday and she was beginning to wish she'd kept Nathan dangling, just for a bit of company and someone to go out with. She'd been overjoyed when Danny had turned up earlier. Apart from a short phone call, informing her that Billie had given birth to a boy, she'd seen neither hide nor hair of him in weeks.
'I'll open some champagne. We can wet the baby's head,' Chelle had insisted.
'I'll just have a lager, Chelle. I can't stop, girl. Gotta bit of business to attend to.'
Feeling dejected, Chelle had handed him his beer and thanked him for the photo of her grandson. 'Gorgeous he is, Dan. Looks more like you than he does Billie,' she lied. The child resembled neither. It looked more like a cross between her late husband and E.T.
Chelle picked up her phone and rang both Suzie and Julie. There was no answer from either, so, feeling pissed off, she headed to the fridge. Lately, she was drinking more and starting earlier than ever before. She wasn't exactly an alkie, just extremely bored. Drink was her friend and would keep her company. She knocked back the first bottle like there was no tomorrow and immediately opened a second.
Chelle debated whether to give Nathan a bell, but decided against it. What was the point? The geezer was an out-and-out penis and even she wasn't that desperate.
Singing along to Dolly Parton, she quickly polished off bottle number two. Bored beyond belief, she picked up the baby picture that Danny had left. Seconds later she was sobbing.
Unlike her mother, Billie Jo was having the time of her life. Instead of suffering from any postnatal depression, she felt a happiness within and was walking around with a permanent smile on her face. Giving birth to her precious son had made Billie's life complete, and the only sadness she felt was that her father wasn't alive to share her joy. She knew he would have adored his first grandson and would have spoilt him rotten.
As she heard the front door open, Billie turned her thoughts from the past to the present and was surprised to see Danny home, armed with a big bouquet of flowers and a couple of bottles of wine. 'What are you doing back, Danny?' she asked, looking at her watch. It was only eight o'clock and the earliest Danny ever came home was usually midnight. In fact Billie only ever really saw him during the daytime, as he was out seven nights a week, working.
Danny handed her the flowers and pecked her on the lips. 'I thought I'd surprise my son and beautiful girlfriend,' he said, putting the wine in the fridge and handing her a takeaway menu. 'We ain't had a quiet night in for ages, so I thought tonight we'd get a Chinese. I've bought you a couple of bottles of wine and myself a box of lagers and we'll have a nice romantic night, just me and you, what do you think, eh, girl?'
'Ah, you're so lovely, Danny, so thoughtful. The flowers are gorgeous, but don't wake DJ as I've only just got him to sleep.'
Walking down the stairs to get the lagers out the back of his Shogun, Danny smiled to himself. Although Billie didn't know it yet, there was a method in his madness. He'd come home early because he fancied getting his leg over. Debbie the barmaid had been giving him a hard time lately, and since his baby had been born had been playing hard to get. In all truthfulness, his relationship with her had become quite serious. Playing hard to get had made him like her more, but not enough to leave Billie and his baby, which is what Debbie was hoping for. Partly it was his own fault, as he'd given her all the old spiel, especially around the time DJ was born. He knew she'd been jealous and upset and he'd had to keep her sweet. He'd given all the old blarney, telling her how much he loved her and that one day he'd leave Billie Jo. Now she'd started playing him, which was why he'd given her a taste of her own medicine tonight.
He'd gone in the pub earlier, and been really nice to Debs. 'When you finish your shift tonight, I'll take you for a nice meal,' he told her.
'I can't tonight. I've already made other arrangements,' she replied, cockily.
Now one thing Danny O'Leary had never experienced, and didn't take kindly to, was rejection. Believing that he was the next up-and-coming Al Capone, the last thing he needed was to be mugged off in front of his mates, on his own stamping ground, by some fucking bird. A few little words in Jimmy the Fish's earhole and half an hour later, the biggest bouquet you ever saw was delivered.
'Right, lads,' Danny said, picking the flowers up off of the bar. 'I'm going home to have a nice early night with my beautiful other half, so I'll see you lads tomorrow.'
The look on Debbie's face was a picture. She'd thought the flowers were for her and Danny had pissed himself laughing all the way home. She needed to be taught a lesson and he'd bet a pound to a piece of shit that she'd think twice about fucking him around again.
Billie took the dirty plates out into the kitchen and checked up on the baby, who was sleeping peacefully. Wandering back into the living room, she noticed that Danny had once again topped up her wine glass. 'I told you not to pour me no more, Danny. I've already had four glasses and I can't have any more or I won't wake up for the baby if he needs me.'
Danny let out a bored sigh. 'Oh, come on, Bill, let's enjoy tonight, just the two of us. We never get a night on our own. Little Danny Boy will be fine. I'll get up if he cries in the night.'
Billie sipped her drink out of politeness. She didn't fancy a wild drunken night. She had responsibilities now and getting pissed wasn't one of them. She'd never forgive herself if her son cried out for her and she didn't hear him. She certainly didn't need to be hungover in the morning. Looking after a baby was hard work and she needed a clear head at all times.
'I'll finish my drink, Danny, and then I'm going to bed. I've been up since six this morning with the baby. I've really enjoyed tonight, it's been great just me and you. The takeaway and flowers were a lovely thought. I'm just knackered. You do understand, don't you?'
'Go on, you go to bed and I'll be in soon meself,' Danny said dejectedly, whilst cracking open another can of lager. Waiting until Billie Jo was safely tucked up in bed, Danny picked up his leather jacket and took out the bag of cocaine he kept stashed away in the inside pocket. Three lines and three cans of lager later, Danny sat on the sofa feeling proper sorry for himself. Two birds, who I treat like queens, and what do I get in return? he thought wistfully. Nothing. I can't even get fucking laid. Well, I ain't putting up with it no more. I'm generous to a fault, always chucking money their way. From now on, things are going to change and be done my way. If Billie or Debbie don't like it, let 'em both fuck off. There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Deciding there was no time like the present to start stamping his authority, Danny went into the bedroom, quietly stripped naked and got into bed next to Billie Jo.
Billie had been sound asleep and had only woken when Danny started rubbing himself up against her. 'What you doing, Danny? What time is it?'
'It's only early, babe, it's not even midnight yet and what do you think I'm doing? I'm doing what people normally do when they live together, mak
ing love. Remember that, Bill? It's been that long since we've done it, you probably don't!'
Billie noticed the sarcasm in his voice and wondered how to handle the situation. Truth be known, she'd been totally off sex since she'd fallen pregnant. Once the baby was born, she'd expected to feel differently. Unfortunately, she hadn't. The thought of getting jiggy made her feel ill. Sitting up, Billie turned to Danny.
'Oh, Dan, you know how much I love you. It's just that since DJ's been born, I haven't felt right down below and I keep getting pains in my stomach.'
'So fucking what?' Danny said, angrily. Losing his patience, he sat on top of her and pinned her arms against the bed.
Billie felt scared and tried to talk him off her.
'Ssh, Danny, be quiet, you'll wake the baby. Get off me, don't mess about.'
Seeing the fear in her eyes, Danny could feel his cock getting harder by the second. He knew what he was about to do was wrong, but was unable to stop himself. As he inserted himself into her, Billie wanted to scream, but sensibly kept quiet. NO meant NO, so why was he behaving like this? He was meant to love her, for Christ's sake, not get pleasure out of abusing her. Glancing at his face, she barely recognised him. He looked like a madman, a complete fucking stranger. Petrified, she sensed the excitement and enjoyment seeping from his pores. Unable to look at him, she turned her head away and prayed that her ordeal would soon be over.
'Now turn over, you fucking bitch!'
Danny's voice sounded different to normal, almost high-pitched. Billie sobbed uncontrollably, but did as he asked. Part of her wanted to fight him off, but she knew he was far too strong for her. If she struggled with him, there was no telling what he might do. The pain she felt as he entered her backside was indescribable; she felt like screaming, but winced and bit the pillow instead.
Billie Jo Page 18
