‘Allahu Akbar,’ Mehmet mumbled. He was a big believer, and knew Allah would be on their side.
‘I’ve got something to tell you, Nan. Dad said I wasn’t to say anything until after the funeral, but I’ve finally got myself a job. I’m manageress of Dad’s Holborn club, and will take care of the business for him when he opens the casino,’ Ava informed her grandmother.
Queenie Butler looked at her granddaughter in astonishment. Ava was twenty now and Queenie had virtually brought the child up after her mother died. She was a stunner, with long black hair, and piercing green eyes like her father. Unfortunately, she also took after her father in being a law unto herself and full of surprises. ‘You can’t work there. It’s a knocking shop! No way is that a place for a young lady like yourself to work. It’s absurd! Disgusted with your father, I am!’
Ava hadn’t been herself lately. She’d been very close to her cousin Daniel and had formed a bond with Roxanne, so it had knocked her for six to find out they were related. She’d also been upset that neither had contacted her since their doomed wedding. On top of that, Auntie Viv’s death had been terribly upsetting. But now the funeral was over, Ava was determined to move on with her life and enjoy every second. ‘We’re not in the sixties now, Nan. It’s the twentieth century, and I assure you I can handle a few strippers. It’s the family business, remember? Puts food on all of our tables, yours especially.’
When his father started to sing, Vinny stormed out the back rather than take his anger out on his brother. Eddie Mitchell followed his new business partner. ‘What’s up, pal?’
‘Just this fucking song. It’s the old man’s party piece. He was singing this to Viv when she croaked it, so the nurses reckon. Bound to upset my mum. I don’t wanna kick off, though, as it’s obvious Michael’s given Ted the nod for the old bastard to ruin Al Martino’s street cred.’
Eddie chuckled. ‘Families, eh? Can’t live with ’em or without ’em. So, how’s it going with Fliss? Gina thought she was top drawer,’ Eddie said. Vinny had apologized profusely after they’d had words in the restaurant. He’d said he was drunk and sent Gina a beautiful bouquet. Eddie wasn’t one to hold grudges over something so trivial, so their flare-up was now forgotten. Unless Vinny stepped out of line in the future, of course.
Vinny smiled. Though no one would have suspected, he’d been celibate for years until Felicity had come on the scene. The reason being, he was a brutal bastard in the sack and had a habit of terrorizing women, especially prostitutes. He’d accidentally killed one bird and ended up having to set the body on fire to dispose of it. ‘It’s going quite well, Ed. She’s a cracker. Never thought a bird would reel me in again, but she seems to be doing just that. She’s ballsy, but not demanding. Very intelligent too.’
Eddie Mitchell was glad Vinny had finally found love. Rumours were rife in the underworld, and Eddie was not impressed by the way Vinny had treated prostitutes back in the day. In his eyes, those poor girls were only trying to earn a crust and did not deserve to be violated and treated brutally. ‘You told your family about her yet?’
‘Little Vinny met her briefly when he popped round unexpectedly yesterday. Other than that, the only one I’ve told is Michael. Too embarrassed to tell my mum or Ava, to be honest. It’s the age gap, ain’t it? Neither will be impressed. Ava had an inkling a while back and called me a nonce-case.’ Felicity was half Vinny’s age.
About to ask Vinny if he was going to move in with Felicity, Eddie was interrupted by his sidekick, Stuart. ‘I don’t know how long you’re planning on staying, Ed. But I’m gonna have to leave soon. Just had a phone call from Frankie – Harry is playing her up big time.’
‘Today isn’t about Harry or Frankie, Stu. We are here to remember and pay our respects to the lovely Vivian Harris. For once in her life, my daughter is going to have to cope without our help. Serves her right for stabbing me in the back and getting involved with the O’Haras in the first place, eh, lad?’
Stuart sighed. Eddie had been on the Scotch today and it had a tendency to make him argumentative and arrogant. Harry had apparently smashed to pieces the new computer he had paid a lot of money for only yesterday, and Frankie was incredibly upset about it. ‘OK. I’ll give it another hour or so. Tired, I am, to be honest though, Ed.’
‘Always remember, I call the shots, Stu. It ain’t the other way round, kiddo,’ Eddie cockily reminded his employee.
Aware of Vinny smirking, Stuart said no more and stormed back inside the restaurant.
Still reeling that her granddaughter would soon be running a club that was no more than a knocking shop, Queenie Butler had just received some more shocking news. ‘Abroad! What do you mean, they’re not coming home?’
‘I got a letter from Lee, but didn’t want to tell you until after the funeral,’ Michael explained. ‘It was only a short note, he just said that he was going abroad to start afresh with Daniel. Dan must have jumped on a plane soon after the wedding fiasco, I imagine.’
‘But what about Beth? Lee’s got responsibilities, and a mortgage. He can’t leave that poor girl in the lurch.’
‘Well, he has, Mum. Between me and you, since they found out Beth couldn’t have kids, the marriage was on the rocks anyway. Drove him up the wall, she did.’
‘So where the bloody hell are they living?’
Michael shrugged. ‘The letter didn’t say, but my guess would be Spain. They’re bound to be in touch again soon. Once the dust has settled.’
‘That’s not good enough, Michael. I love my grandsons and I’m certainly not getting any younger. I want you to find them and bring them back home where they belong. You can find Roxanne as well, while you’re at it. You might have chosen to forget that poor girl is your daughter, but I bloody well haven’t. She’s fifteen years old and all alone in this world. Poor little cow must be petrified, and for all we know she might still be carrying Daniel’s baby. Doesn’t bear thinking about, does it? So best you get your head from up your arse and do something about it.’
Michael nodded dumbly. He’d been planning on dropping the Bella bombshell today as well, but the mood his mother was in, that would just have to wait.
Mehmet handed Hassan the rubber Bill Clinton face mask. His own was that of Colonel Gaddafi. Both men were broad, tall, dressed in black tracksuits and trainers, and looked terrifying enough without the masks on, let alone with them.
Mehmet and Hassan’s sister, Asli, was a professional make-up artist and she’d done a wonderful job of disguising Deniz, who was driving. She’d reinvented his face in such a way that he still looked human, but like a completely different man.
‘How far away are we?’ Hassan enquired.
‘Five minutes, if the traffic would move. We’re at a standstill. I hope there has not been an accident,’ Deniz replied.
Feeling beads of sweat forming on his forehead, Hassan rubbed frantically at his mask. This was all going wrong. He could feel it in his bones.
Ava Butler tapped her father on the shoulder. ‘Nan’s got the right hump. She was none too happy when I told her about my job at the club, then Michael said something to upset her even more. They looked like they were arguing, Dad.’
Excusing himself to Eddie Mitchell, Vinny walked over to the food area. His mother was standing alone, eating a bowl of jellied eels. ‘This was one of Auntie Viv’s
