Disobey (12 page)

She’d properly pulled through for him when she’d told Franny he’d had nothing to do with the casino and nothing had been going on. The only worry now was the possibility that she thought he owed her a favour. Alfie had thought about giving her a job in the club like she’d asked, but knowing women like he did, there was a strong possibility she’d end up reporting all the comings and goings to Franny. And that was the last thing he wanted.

Franny had been cool, verging on the cold, with him, which Alfie didn’t mind admitting pissed him off. There really wasn’t much sympathy from her, even now he’d exonerated himself. He wasn’t going to forget this in a hurry. How she’d been suspicious, non-trusting and downright cold. Yes, he was certainly seeing Franny through fresh eyes, and perhaps she wasn’t wife material after all.

He was about to begin to feel sorry for himself again when a voice cut through his self-pity.

‘Hello, Alfie.’

Alfie looked up, surprised.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Well that’s a nice welcome. I hope you don’t greet all your clients like that? What did you do to your finger?’

‘It’s a long story. Let’s just say, the NHS ain’t what it used to be.’

Casey Edwards stared at Alfie. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been with Alfie on her own. Everything that had happened with him in the past had always made her keep her distance, especially as the animosity between Vaughn and Alfie had been progressively getting worse over the years. So the only time she’d been in the same room as Alfie was when there’d been a large social gathering. As if reading her thoughts, Alfie spoke.

‘How long’s it been, Cass? You and me like this.’

Casey cut her eye at Alfie. ‘We’ve never been a
you and me.
’

‘Oh come on, stop being an uptight ass. Anyone would think you had a thing for me.’

Casey stared at Alfie incredulously. ‘Tell me you’re kidding.’

Alfie’s handsome face lit up. He burst into laughter. ‘Do me a favour. What’s happened to your sense of humour? I’m with Franny now; you know that. You missed the boat, babe.’

Once again Casey looked horrified and once again Alfie burst into raucous laughter. ‘Got you again!’

‘Has anyone told you that you’re a prick?’

Alfie smirked but warmth shone from him. He’d liked Casey at one point; she was a bit of a sort, and in truth he’d been riddled with jealousy and disbelief when she’d picked Vaughn instead of him. But that was then. That was before he was with Franny, and no one could shine a light anywhere near her. ‘Yeah they have, in fact, Franny asked me the same old question the other day. I suppose that’s why you’re here? Because of Franny? I know she’s pissed with me but just tell her I really didn’t have anything to do with it.’

‘I’m not here because of Franny.’

Alfie frowned. ‘So why you here then … oh don’t tell me. Vaughn. Vaughn sent you to do his dirty work. Well you can tell him from …’

‘He didn’t send me … Vaughn didn’t send me.’

Alfie was puzzled. ‘If Franny didn’t send you and you ain’t doing your old man’s dirty work, why are you here?’

‘Do I have to have a reason?’

‘Come on Cass, it’s not like we ain’t got a lot of water under the bridge. What’s going on? I’m surprised Vaughn let you come here … he does know you’re here doesn’t he?’

Casey said nothing.

‘He doesn’t know does he?’

Casey went to leave turning quickly away. ‘I better go.’

‘No!… No, Cass, stay. Listen, it’s none of my business what you do. Let me get you a drink. What’s your poison?’

‘Whiskey.’

Alfie grinned. ‘No come on, what do you want?’

‘I told you; whiskey.’

‘Seriously Cass, what do you want?’

Casey stared at Alfie. She noticed her hand was shaking slightly. ‘I’m being serious, Alf. Pour me a whiskey.’

Alfie spread his arms wide, a sympathetic look on his face. ‘Come on Casey, you know I can’t do that.’

Casey pushed her humiliation to the side. ‘This is a bar isn’t it?’

‘You know it is.’

‘So pour me a drink, Alfie. If you don’t, I can always go elsewhere.’

Alfie was in a quandary. Once upon a time he’d be like the cat who got the cream to see Casey diving head first off the rocks. But he’d changed. Or maybe it was a question of Franny had changed him. Either way he wasn’t going to be a part of it.

For all his gripes with Casey and Vaughn they’d been good to his daughter, Emmie. Letting her stay and be part of their family. As much as it hurt that Emmie didn’t want anything to do with him, it was good there were people looking out for her, so Alfie certainly couldn’t risk blowing her stability apart by being complicit in Casey going back on the booze.

‘No, Casey; I’m sorry.’

Casey glared at Alfie. She didn’t appreciate what he was saying but she continued to listen as a slight suspicion came into his voice. ‘What’s going on, Cass, why did you come here? Of all the places you could’ve gone for a drink? Why choose here?’

‘Why not?’

Alfie scratched his head. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. Back in the day when he and Vaughn were on friendly terms he would’ve called him to let him know what was happening, but obviously now that was impossible.

‘Listen Casey, why don’t you get off home and try to get some shut-eye?’

‘Don’t treat me like a child, Alf. I don’t need a nursemaid.’

‘Then if you don’t need a nursemaid, grow up and see what you’re doing. You’ve got a life now, things are going well for you. Why bleedin’ sabotage it hey? You were a right mess when I first met you; a lush. But that’s well and truly behind you now. So do us all a favour and don’t go back there.’

‘Have you finished lecturing me yet? When I want the guide to life according to Alfie Jennings, I’ll look in the nearest charity shop … And seeing as you won’t serve me, I’ll serve myself.’ Casey pushed past Alfie and went to the end of the bar where she knew the whiskey was stored. Apart from Lola’s café, Whispers bar and club was one of the first places she’d worked when she’d come down to London, so she knew the place well.

Alfie glowered. ‘You’re really looking to press that self-destruct button aren’t you? Well fine. Fucking fine. Have it your way. Do your worst, darlin’.’ He stood back, staring as Casey screwed open the bottle of Jack Daniels and poured it into one of the glasses sitting on the side.

As she put the glass to her lips, Alfie shouted, ‘Cass! Are you sure girl? Do you really want to go down that road?’

Casey held the glass to her lips. She didn’t say anything, and for a moment held eyes with Alfie, before knocking back the whiskey.

An hour and a half later, Alfie had decided not to open the club. Instead he sat at the bar silently watching as Casey became loud and brash. Her beautiful eyes were glazed and her speech was slurred as she recounted a hotchpotch account of her life for the second time.

Never a particularly patient man and having never really approved of a woman being drunk, Alfie was beginning to lose patience.

‘So that’s when I met Vaughn … do you remember, it was in here, or I think it was. Or was it in Lola’s café? Can you remember, Alf? Oh no, it was …’

Alfie interrupted abruptly. ‘Enough Cass! Fuck me, you’ve been chewing me ears off for a couple of hours, and to tell you the truth, darlin’, I’ve never liked women’s chatter. I certainly don’t like it when they’ve got a drink inside them. So do us a favour and keep it shut. Better still, go and clean yourself up.’

Casey’s eyes filled with tears, giving cause for Alfie to roll his. A drunk emotional bird was not what he needed.

‘Alfie … Please, you don’t understand, me and Vaughn, well I … I … oh Christ, I think I’m going to be sick.’

Alfie ran round to Casey, dragging her up from the chair. ‘Not in here you’re not. Swallow it down until I get you into the ladies for fuck’s sake.’

Casey draped her arms around Alfie’s neck. He turned his head, pulling a face as she spoke, the stench of alcohol overpowering. ‘I love you, Alfred Jennings.’

‘You don’t and it’s Alfie not Alfred and you stink.’

The drunken howl from Casey blasted into Alfie’s ear. ‘I don’t stink! I don’t.’

‘Alright darlin’, keep it down. Let’s get you into the bathroom.’

Alfie had only managed to get halfway across the dance floor when he heard a voice behind him. One that he knew, and one that he could certainly do without hearing.

‘What the fuck is going on here?’

Slowly, with Casey still draped around him, Alfie turned round. Standing by the bar was Vaughn.

Always one to try to play things down, Alfie chirpily greeted Vaughn. ‘Alright, mate.’ He paused as Del Williams and Frankie Taylor walked into the club. Shit.

‘Well, what have I done to deserve this pleasure?’

Del piped up. ‘Oh, plenty.’

Panic began to rise in Alfie but he was long experienced not to show it. ‘Listen guys, why don’t we all sit down and have a drink.’ He held his smile but it didn’t go unnoticed that Vaughn hadn’t said anything, instead continuing to stare on in horror.

Alfie decided that ignoring the fact he had Casey clinging onto his neck in a semi-conscious stupor was maybe the best ploy. ‘So gentlemen, like I say, just help yourself. It’s all on me. I haven’t bothered to open up tonight, what with everything going on. I thought it was best because of the way things were.’

‘Have you heard about Frankie’s club?’ Del spoke, also feeling uncomfortable at the sight of Casey in front of him. It was embarrassing, but seeing as everyone else was choosing to ignore the fact that Vaughn’s missus was sprawled across Alfie, he didn’t think it was his place to say anything either.

Alfie looked puzzled. ‘No. What happened? I’ve been here most of the time.’

Del narrowed his eyes. ‘What? You didn’t see or hear anything?’

‘Nope.’

‘Well it’s been scorched. Blew up like a fucking petrol can.’

Alfie paled, feeling the weight of Casey on his neck. Before he managed to say anything, Vaughn broke from his trance, yelling loudly.

‘Are you all taking the fucking piss? Ain’t your eyes working?’

The men put their heads down and said nothing as Vaughn continued to rant, walking forward to confront Alf. ‘What’s your game, Alfie? What have you done to her? What is it, hey? You can’t have her in the normal way so you have to drug her up?’

‘Hey Vaughnie, you’ve got it all wrong.’

‘Don’t fucking Vaughnie me. What have you given her? Come on …’

Alfie encouraged Casey to sit down on the nearest chair which she did unsteadily, enabling him to square up to Vaughn.

‘I’d stop right there if I were you, mate. I’ve done fuck all to Cass.’

Vaughn’s face reddened with anger. ‘No? Then tell me why she looks like a crack head on a bad day?’

‘Maybe it’s because she came looking for a drink like she was a camel in a desert. Begging me, fucking begging me she was, to give her some booze. What didn’t she tell you? Seems strange that she couldn’t come to you; says something when your missus has to come to me.’

‘Shut up Alf, what yer doing, mate? You looking for an early grave, son? ’Cos spiking me missus with fuck knows what is sure going to get you there.’

Alfie’s face was scornful. ‘Look at yer, Vaughn; you’re embarrassing yourself in front of everyone. You look a right mug. Think about it. Why would Casey be here if she didn’t come on her own accord? Are you saying I kidnapped her and brought her here? Do me a favour. Face it, your missus would rather come and booze with me than be with you.’

The words were like a shockwave going through Vaughn’s body. He leapt forward, grabbing hold of Alfie’s collar. With a swift flick of his head, he headbutted Alfie, splitting open his skin just above his eyes. Blood spurted out, covering Vaughn with a splash of red before he began to grapple Alfie.

Adrenaline rushed round Alfie’s veins; he pushed Vaughn hard, giving him no chance to attack back. Expertly he brought down his elbow; grinding it down. Ignoring the blood dripping down his forehead which blurred his vision, Alfie smashed the glass sitting on the table.

With the jagged edge of the glass, Alfie prepared to slam it into Vaughn’s mouth but he felt his arm being pulled back.

‘Give it up Alf!’ Del bellowed as he yanked Alfie off Vaughn.

‘Get the fuck off me!… Get off me!’

Del snarled as Vaughn stood back up, wiping his face. ‘This is going to be the last of your worries when we’ve finished with you.’

Alfie spat his words at Del. ‘Ain’t that nice, Vaughn’s got his Flower Pot Men to fight his battles.’

The blow to Alfie’s stomach winded him, and for a minute he couldn’t get his breath as the sharp splintering pain gripped hold of his body. Eventually he managed to stand up and faced the three men.

‘What is this, guys?’

‘It would be easier all round if you stopped the games, Alf. We know what you’ve been up to.’

Alfie feigned innocence. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. It might be okay in your book for you lot to come round here talking shit, but it ain’t okay in my book.’

Vaughn stood nose to nose with Alfie. ‘Give it up. I’ve known you for too long not to know when you’re spewing bullshit. Ain’t worth lying to us.’

‘Fuck me, it ain’t the Flower Pot Men, it’s the Three Stooges. Whatever you guys have got blown up your ass, you’re barking up the wrong tree.’

Del spoke again. ‘Alf! Alf! Give it up. We know, pal. We know what you’ve been up to with the casino and breaking the rules between the triads and us.’

‘Well then you know more than me.’

The backhand from Del drew hard across Alfie’s face, busting both top and bottom lip. His expression was hard and steely as he glared at Alfie, his tone low. ‘This isn’t a joke, Alf. You’ve fucked up here; big time. You’ve brought more shit to Soho than an elephant in a circus.’

‘Fuck you!’ Alfie, defiant as ever, stood firm as Del continued.

‘You must know why we’re here. Alf, you know you can’t disobey the rules and get away with it. You’ve brought carnage into Soho, and for what? A few shillings. You also know what happens when you betray those close to you.’

For the first time, Alfie genuinely felt uneasy. His voice gave away his anxiety as it wavered. ‘What … what are you going to do?’