by Ruby Moone
As he handed out the drinks, the doorbell rang again. He went to answer it. Finn Masters stood there, looking supremely uncomfortable, as he often did, with Aaron Baker, and his son Travis. Aaron looked as though he’d stepped out of a magazine, as did his son. Travis Baker was a stunner. He could have been a model with those cheekbones and strawberry blond hair. The shadows in his eyes told their own story of the crap year he’d been through, as did his painfully thin body.
He led them to the lounge, and they exchanged pleasantries with Daniel while Christian sorted out more drinks. He left them to talk while he went and checked on the food. It was bizarre having Daniel sat in his home, chatting to his colleagues and friends as though it were perfectly normal. Bizarre knowing that only a few days ago, they’d been upstairs fucking the living daylights out of each other as if the past twelve years hadn’t happened.
He shook his head and hefted the lasagnes and garlic bread from the oven and took them through and put them on the table alongside the big bowl of salad.
“Grub up,” he said as he poked his head around the lounge door. The assembled men stood and filed neatly into the dining room, Daniel bringing up the rear. He stood back and gestured for Travis to go first. The boy smiled up at him and earned a smile in response. Christian ignored the twist in his gut.
They passed around the food amid light-hearted chatter, Daniel remaining largely silent, but when they were all served, they got stuck in.
“What’s this business with Bryce all about?” Finn asked. Finn spent fifteen years in the military, so usually went straight to the point.
Daniel finished chewing, put his fork down, and dabbed at his mouth with the napkin. “I don’t know how much you know about my family, but my father was…” He hesitated. “Big.” He thought for a moment, and Christian could see that this was hard for him. “His death has left a gap, and people are rushing to fill the void. Geoff Bryce is someone I know, and someone who at various points has been involved with you all.” He looked at Michael and Jack. “He tried to scam Jack into believing that he owed me thousands of pounds at a time when Jack was vulnerable. I abhor that kind of behaviour.” He turned and looked at Travis. “He was hooking young men into a sex and drugs scene that is potentially fatal. I abhor that kind of behaviour too.” He looked at Christian. “On both occasions, Christian asked me if I could use my contacts to back Bryce off. I’ve done that. But with my father dead, Bryce is feeling, shall we say, lucky.
“I may be completely wrong, and Bryce will simply remain the little shit that he is. However, if, as someone recently pointed out to me, he has a problem with me, the easiest way to get to me is to target people close to me. He no doubt sees Christian as someone close to me. So, my advice to Christian, and to you, is, be vigilant.”
“Us as well?” Jack asked.
“Christian pointed out that he might be interested in, shall we say, reparation. If that is true, he might be interested in you too. Personally, I doubt it. I doubt he will target Christian; I doubt he will target you. He’s not that intelligent, but I couldn’t keep this information to myself without at least mentioning it.”
Aaron Baker rubbed a finger by his eye. “Thank you. We appreciate it.”
Finn put his fork down. “Is being vigilant enough?”
Daniel didn’t reply immediately. He frowned. “I’ll keep him under surveillance. I imagine if he does try anything, he wouldn’t do it personally.”
Travis looked up and let his gaze roam over the men in the room. “Aren’t you all security experts?”
Christian nodded. He knew what was coming and it made him smile.
“Well, can’t you investigate and find out what he’s up to?”
“We can, but the reason I sought Daniel’s help in the first place is he has much better contacts in that world than we do.”
Travis nodded. His face was pale, but his eyes seemed to have more life than last time he’d seen him. “So, what is it you do?” he said to Daniel. “Are you a gangland boss or something?”
Christian watched Daniel with interest.
Daniel’s lips twitched. “My father is, was, one of the more feared men in the local area. He was brutal, and ruthless. When I was younger, I took a decision to follow in his footsteps because I was too terrified not to. It took a long number of years, and a good amount of alcohol, to make a move away from him and strike out on my own, but I did it.” He paused and looked at Christian. “However, I still have the contacts, and some of the clout that came with being Kenneth McCafferty’s son, and on occasion, I use it.”
Christian’s heart was banging in his ears. Too terrified not to join? He got out of it? What the fuck was he talking about? He recalled Daniel had been shocked at Christian’s notion that he was caught up in a turf war. Recalled he’d mentioned he ran his own business. What did all that mean?
“Wow.” Travis was looking at Daniel with admiration. “How did you find the motivation to do that? Did you give up the booze?”
Daniel appeared to think for a moment. “Yes. It was that or die. Stark choice, but I managed to make it. I gave up the booze and the drugs.”
“How?” Travis was looking at him intently. Given his recent stint in rehab, he’d most likely be interested in what Daniel had to say. It took the focus off Christian who sat, stunned at the news, just listening. Daniel said he had given up drink and drugs, which suggested that he had a problem with them. He thought about the fact that Daniel had asked for a soft drink. And what was all that about breaking away from Kenneth? Christian waited for his reply, realising just how little he actually knew about Daniel’s life. He’d made a point of not looking. Not caring. But now…
He watched Daniel as a frown pulled his eyebrows down. “Hard graft. Support from a lot of professionals and being determined to change my life.”
“So, what do you do now?”
“I’m a financier. I run my own businesses. I finance other businesses…” He shrugged. “I dabble in what interests me.”
Aaron cleared his throat. “We are all grateful for your interventions on our behalf. However, if there is any question of lingering debt, perhaps now would be a good time to discuss it.”
Christian made a noise but couldn’t make his mouth work.
“I appreciate what you say. Christian did feel…beholden to me for helping him out, but as of this week, all debts have been settled. Christian’s…support for me during this difficult time has cancelled out any question of debt.”
Well, that silenced everyone. They all resumed eating, and conversation drifted to more mundane topics, leaving Christian reeling. What the hell was he talking about? Surely Daniel was as invested in his father’s world now as when they were kids. He’d chosen that life, chosen it over the chance they might have had at a relationship and the chance to break away. He pushed his food around his plate.
When they had finished the meal, Christian cleared away, with help from Jack and Travis, who seemed to get along well.
“Cheers guys.” Christian shut the dishwasher door and set it going. He picked up the wine and took it through into the lounge where the others were still chatting.
“Can I get anyone a drink?”
Daniel stood. “I’ll leave you to your evening.”
“You’re welcome to stay.” Christian refused to acknowledge the bolt of naked disappointment that shot through him at the notion that Daniel was leaving.
Daniel held his gaze. “Thank you, but no.”
Amid the murmured farewells from the rest of the room, Christian followed Daniel to the door.
“What was all that about?” he asked in a low voice, once they were out of earshot.
“What do you mean?”
“Breaking away from Kenneth, running your own businesses? Having to stop with the drink and drugs?”
Daniel paused by the door and looked at Christian. His eyes were dark. Hard. “You’ve settled your debts. I’ve arranged for Bryce to be watched, and I’ll keep an eye on thin
gs until it all clears. Then you can go back to your life and I can get on with mine.”
Christian’s heart was like a jackhammer in his chest. This was it? This was the end of the connection between them?
“As you wish.”
Daniel pulled the door open.
“So what about the sex?” The words came out of Christian’s mouth unfiltered.
Daniel looked at the ground. “What about it?”
“Is that done with too?” Christian couldn’t let him go. Fucking couldn’t.
Daniel looked up. His eyes were cold and hard. “Grow up, Christian.” He walked away, and Christian watched each step.
9
Christian closed the door. He stood with his forehead pressed against it and absorbed what Daniel had said. After a moment, he straightened, took a couple of deep breaths, and walked back into the room full of people and tried to look unmoved.
“Fucking hell, Christian. Where’ve you been hiding him?” Finn was grinning from ear to ear and dodged a smack round the head from Aaron.
Christian shook his head. “Black sheep of the family.”
“Hot sheep of the family,” murmured Travis with a rare smile.
“Yeah, yeah.” Christian rubbed the back of his neck, forced to admit just how hot Daniel was. Not only hot, but how reassuring it had been to simply have him there in the background. Have him to turn to. But that was done. Finished. He felt frighteningly bereft. Cold.
He turned away. “Drinks anyone?”
He headed for the kitchen, threw a load of ice into a glass, and topped it with gin. A splash of tonic, and necked it standing by the sink.
Michael appeared by his side. “You okay?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry. I was surprised he came.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“Will you see him again?”
Christian shook his head, jaw clenched to the point of pain as he stared into his glass.
“I’m sorry.”
“Apparently all debts are discharged, and I’m on my own.”
“How did you discharge the debts?”
Christian gave him a look.
“What?”
Christian tried again. Michael wasn’t always the quickest on the uptake, particularly when one was trying to be subtle.
Michael shook his head. Blank.
Christian sighed and rolled his eyes. “After the funeral we came back here. We fucked.”
“Hell. I wasn’t expecting that.” Michael looked shocked.
“Neither was I.”
“So, it’s not the start of something for you both?”
Christian’s heart hurt. He did his best to hide it. “No. It was an ending.”
Daniel put the lights on as he made his way through the house. The hallway was always lit, but he needed the rest of it illuminated tonight. He headed for the kitchen and poured a tall glass of orange juice. Threw in some ice and wished it was vodka. His whole body ached for vodka. He drank it and put the glass in the sink, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He’d discharged all duties. He’d warned Christian and his friends, he’d let Christian off the hook for any imagined debts, Kenneth was dead and couldn’t hurt him any more…he just needed to get on with his life. It would take a while to wind up Kenneth’s estate and interests, legal and otherwise, but once that was done, he was free of the McCafferty taint forever.
A soft meow made him jump. He looked down, and Mavis came trotting over to him. She fussed about his legs, so he picked her up and she nuzzled under his chin. She’d settled in well, and his housekeeper was totally besotted with her. It was easy to see why.
“Hello.” He tickled her and she purred and settled against him.
“What do you think, Mavis?” He peered down at her. “Should we get rid of the house?”
She butted against him. “I’ll take that as a yes. The Manchester flat too? Hmm?”
That was first on his list. Get rid of the mausoleum and the flat which was as sterile as the house. Get out of Manchester, away from any reminders of Christian, and get his head together before he unravelled completely.
“Come on then.”
He carried the cat upstairs. He’d tried to get her to sleep in the kitchen, but the pathetic yowling had been awful. The only time she didn’t cry was when she was with him.
He settled her into her basket on the floor and tucked a blanket around her.
When he climbed between the sheets and let the soft linen fall over his naked body, he pulled a pillow close and held it to him trying not to think about Christian, but inevitably, that was all he could think of. The thought of never seeing him again was like a burning coal in his guts. But that was how it had to be. Too much had happened. Too much water under the bridge. Too much, too much, too much. If he even attempted to get to know him again, he’d have to tell him the truth. And it would be all over anyway.
He buried his face in the pillow and took a deep breath. Not long now. Not long, and he could go back to London. Maybe spend some time in Greece with his mother. He smiled to himself. With Kenneth gone, he could bring his mother home. Not that she’d come, but at least he didn’t have to keep her hidden any more. He wondered how the family would react to the fact that she’d disappeared off the face of the earth to get away from Kenneth because it was that or go under. He settled his head more comfortably. Kenneth had been a vile father, but an even worse husband. The emotional damage to his mother was immense. His father hadn’t been afraid to lash at either of them. Both knew, however, that any attempt to leave him, to forge a life of her own, would have only one conclusion.
There was a soft scratching at the side of the bed, and a rumble of purring. He peered over the edge and picked up the small cat with one hand.
“I’m sure this isn’t a great idea,” he muttered as she turned around several times and settled on top of the duvet close by him, but the soft purr, and the warmth beneath his hand was oddly comforting as he ran through a checklist in his head of what he needed to do the next day.
10
Despite Daniel’s warnings to be vigilant, Christian didn’t see it coming. Barely registered the fact. Three weeks after the dinner with Daniel, three weeks since he’d seen him or heard from him, he’d taken to nipping out of the office for half an hour at lunchtime on Fridays to clear his head. Sometimes he went for something to eat, other times he just walked. It helped him get the week into perspective, plan for the next week, and put a little distance between him and the rest of the world because frankly, his head was all over the place. He’d tried to put Daniel out of his mind, but he couldn’t. He craved answers. He wanted to know why he’d walked out on him. Why he’d helped him, why, on the day of Kenneth’s funeral, he’d needed him. It played like an everlasting loop in his head and he couldn’t get rid of it. Couldn’t get rid of the ache.
He snapped shut the lid of his laptop and forced himself to stop thinking. He headed out of his office. Finn was joining him today because he’d caved and asked him. He needed someone to talk to or he’d go mad. It was a warm, sunny day so he left his jacket behind. As he walked through the door, Finn answered a call on his mobile. Christian hung on for a moment, but it seemed to be rambling on, and eventually, Finn put his hand over the mouthpiece.
“See you in Tam’s?”
Christian nodded. Tam’s was the place many of them went for coffee, lunch, and escape. A gorgeous, independently run coffee shop that did the most divine sandwiches, cakes, and drinks. He headed for the street and undid his top button and loosened his tie. He wore a short-sleeved shirt so there were no sleeves to roll. He walked outside and inhaled the warm, summer air. There was a hot dog seller just up the road and the smell of fried onions made his stomach rumble.
He walked down Piccadilly at a brisk pace, hands in pockets, breathing deeply and trying to get his head to settle down. He crossed the road near the tram station, and was walking down the shopping area, when a kid in a baseball cap slammed into him.
>
It shocked him.
He stumbled and made a grab for the guy to keep upright.
“Sorry, are you okay?”
The kid shouldered him, and Christian stumbled back as he lashed out. Before Christian could get his bearings, another kid crashed into him and he felt a sharp, stabbing sensation in his stomach. He reached out to grab him, but again the kid lashed out. He thrust them both off with a shout and grabbed the arm of nearest one.
A crowd was gathering, and as Christian scrabbled to get any kind of foothold or grip, the guy twisted away, leaving Christian shaken and oddly disorientated. He set off after them, but his legs felt like lead. Someone shouted something to him. Something about his arm. He looked down.
Blood was dripping from his fingers. No, not dripping, pouring, streaming, gushing…. He tried to lift it, blinking stupidly and feeling a faint flutter of panic in his belly. There was a tear in his shirt. It was bloodstained too.
Someone was shouting.
People stood around, looking at him, talking, someone filmed with a phone. A woman was talking to him, but there was a roaring in his ears so he couldn’t fathom what she said. His head was buzzing, and the sun was too bright. He felt dizzy. Sick. Breathless. He grabbed his arm. Tried to squeeze it but his hand was shaky. The blood was everywhere and the more it gushed the more the panic gripped him.
More shouting.
Someone shouldered through the crowd.
Finlay. Thank God. He tried to speak, tried to tell him, but his words wouldn’t work so he showed him the arm that was now a sea of red. He felt weak. Faint. Stupid. Panicked.
His legs buckled and Finlay caught him and laid him on the pavement, then yanked his arm in the air. He was pushing hard with his thumb and yelling at people. He yanked the tie from around his neck and wrapped it around Christian’s arm above his elbow, pulling it so tight it hurt. Twisting and twisting.
