He knew that Billy still hated him, but he also knew that Billy was trying to do his upmost to please his sister; Jay had been given the job for Kate’s benefit only. Jay knew that he had not been accepted by Billy, or Billy’s cronies, he was barely tolerated by them. He could see that by the way they looked at him, like they all had no ounce of respect for him. Billy made sure that Jay was kept busy running around doing jobs like an errand boy, and it was starting to grate. He had a few ideas of his own as to how to change that, though.
Jay pulled up outside a block of flats; he had just dropped off a package for Billy round the corner, about the fiftieth package this week and while he was in the area, he figured that he may as well make a bit of wedge for himself on the side. Stepping out of his beamer, he locked the doors and did a quick scan of the road. If there were any little hoodies hanging around he would make sure that they wouldn’t dream of touching his car, but it was a quiet day. The car was alarmed up to the bollocks anyhow so he thought it would be fine.
One of the guys on the top floor of the flats, Robbie Challis, had created a mini-Kew Gardens: except the only bit of greenery on display was of the ganja variety. Jay knew that he would be able to shift a bit of his own gear through him; Challis knew most of the junkies in the area. Before, he had been reluctant to do any sort of business with Jay; he didn’t like the idea of the pills and the harder stuff, he just liked to deal in weed and on several occasions it had got a bit heated when Jay had tried to muscle in on his little money making machine. Jay had tried to persuade Challis, and had cut him a good deal, but he had proved to be a stubborn one; Jay had finally offered a deal so good that he thought even Challis couldn’t refuse, but the fucking cheek of him: he did refuse it. It was like he was making a point, the fucking mug. What sort of bloke doesn’t want to make a few quid, huh? Oh well, today would be different: today Jay wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Word had got around that Jay was working for Billy, and Jay was going to use that to his advantage. He wouldn’t be offering any sort of deal today; Challis has been given a chance and he had blown it. Today he would be told. Jay wanted some serious money, and this little fucker would help him to make it.
No one need know that Jay and Billy’s relationship wasn’t as cosy as Jay pretended. Because he worked for Billy, no-one in their right mind would fuck with him.
An hour later, Jay opened the door of his car a grand richer and a lot happier. He had his blade in his pocket, and was pleased on this occasion he hadn’t needed to use it. In fact, he had seen by Challis’s face when he had opened his door that he wasn’t going to have any problem getting him on side, fear and defeat had been written all over the other man’s face.
This was going to be a lot easier than Jay had thought: as far as Challis was concerned, if he didn’t shift a couple of grand’s worth of gear each week, Jay would be back, this time with Billy and some of the other boys. Jay liked the power Billy’s name had given him; he guessed that there were a few more little arrangements with people he could set up. Before long he would be sitting around, living the high life; everyone around him would be busting their arses to make money for him. Starting the engine, Jay smiled; he was chuffed, this was going to be too easy.
Jay thought that a little surprise visit would be right up Tanya’s street, would relieve the boredom she must feel just sitting at home looking pretty. He liked Tanya, she was a stunner, a bit feisty, she wouldn’t take any shit, but there was something a little unhinged about her, and he couldn’t wait to see what she was like in the sack; he imagined that she could be a very dirty girl. He expected that she would be pleased to see him, as the other night she had made it clear that she was up for it, and shagging Billy’s missus would be a giant notch on his bed post.
26
Kate stretched out her long legs in the bed; reaching for the alarm clock, she was amazed to see that it had gone ten, not only because she never slept in this late, but because she was surprised that Jay was actually out of bed before her. Normally on a Sunday, she would have to creep out of the bedroom once awake, trying not to disturb him, as he would only be angry with her for waking him, especially as most nights he wasn’t back until gone three or four in the morning.
She heard the water in the shower running and the sound of his whistling filling the hallway. He sounded like he was in a good mood, which pleased Kate; maybe today they could spend time together. She had hardly seen him over the past few weeks, between Jay working with her brother and her new job at Goldie’s it was almost like they were living separate lives.
Kate knew that things were strained between her and Jay, but she was convinced that if they just spent some time together and talked, they could be okay. Jay sounded like he was in a good mood, and Kate decided to keep it that way. Throwing off the bedcovers, she stood and wrapped her dressing gown around her and put on her slippers; then, she went to the kitchen to make him a fry-up.
Jay scrubbed himself clean under the hot shower; good mood was an understatement, he was flying. Yesterday, with Tanya, had been unbelievable. He had got up early to see her and was hoping that if he planned things right today, he might be in for round two. Tanya had been insatiable, X-rated, he guessed it was true what they said about those bored and ignored housewife types; he smiled to himself; they went all out to please. When he had arrived at her flat, they hadn’t even bothered to talk: they didn’t need to, they had both known what he was there for, and it wasn’t a cup of PG Tips. Tanya had known that Billy wouldn’t be home until late, as always, and that at some point Jay would be paying her a little visit, she knew he wouldn’t have been able to resist the play she had made for him on the night of the meal. Tanya wasn’t quite sure why she had done it, if she was honest with herself he wasn’t her usual type, but she was drawn to the danger of him; it excited her, and she needed that excitement.
The sex had been amazing: hard and rough and most of all vengeful for both of them. She had half-hoped that Billy would come home early and catch them at it, and that thought had turned her on even more. They hadn’t even made it up the stairs; Tanya had made him take her in the lounge. It had been as quick as it was intense and Tanya had been left wanting more. She knew that she would be seeing Jay again and that pleased her. She was sick of waiting for Billy to notice her; she wanted some fun, and Jay could give it to her.
Jay knew that he sometimes got infatuated with his conquests; he lived for the chase: the games and, of course, the sex. The hardest case that he had ever cracked was Kate, but he could admit to himself now that she bored him. She was just Little Miss Average in the grand scheme of things, she was always blabbering on about useless gossip that he couldn’t give a shit about, and lately she didn’t stop talking about her poxy job at the club. Jay had less and less time for her and no interest in her in bed. It was only the fact that he was still using Billy’s name as a tool to help him move up the ladder, so to speak, that he hadn’t told her he wanted out of the relationship. For now, he would keep the feeling to himself, he was playing a waiting game.
Following the smell of bacon into the kitchen, he found Kate cooking a mountain of food for him, and she had a nice hot cup of tea waiting.
“Cheers, babe.” He smiled at her, sitting at the table and noting that she did have some uses: he loved a fry up and loved being waited on hand and foot even more. Jay had always prided himself on his acting skills; he had had to blag his way out of so many situations in the past that he was sure he could handle keeping Kate sweet for a bit longer, just to give him more time to get a real in with Billy. It pained him to even think it, but Billy had it sorted, he was running a very smooth and very profitable operation and had a great front, with the backup he needed and the right contacts.