Kev watched as Darcie got out of bed, ready for her shift that day. He felt guilty not having a job so he could help to provide for their flat. He’d been earning money, good money, before he’d gone to prison, but it wasn’t exactly legit. Working with the Firm, with Cammy and the rest of them, it felt like home. Those boys were his life. They were his family. And after everything they did for him while he was inside, how they made sure Darcie was okay, he couldn’t turn his back on them. And Darcie didn’t want him to either, but she did want him to go legit.
‘What’s up with you?’ Darcie asked as she pulled on her dressing gown. ‘You’ve got a right face on you.’
‘Thanks.’ Kev smiled.
‘Seriously, I thought you’d be smiling ear to ear now that you’re out of that shithole.’
Kev sighed, threw the duvet off and got out of bed. Pulling on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, he picked up his mobile and moved out of the bedroom towards the kitchen.
‘I just don’t want you thinking that I’m taking the piss, living here rent free and unable to contribute to the bills.’
‘Kev, it’s not like you’re just being lazy. You’re just out of jail. You’ll get a job as soon as you can, I know you will.’ Darcie followed him to the kitchen, stood behind him and massaged his shoulders.
‘Aye, but it’ll be some shitty job that pays the bare minimum.’
He felt Darcie’s grip loosen and he turned to see her face.
‘Have you told Cammy and the boys that you’re not going back?’ Darcie asked, waiting for his response. When he didn’t answer straight away, she sighed. ‘Aw, Kev. You’re not seriously considering going back to the Firm, are you? Kev, it’s what got you into trouble in the first place.’ Her face contorted as she spoke.
‘No, of course not. Donnie Black set me up, Darcie. He’s a dodgy bastard, the kind that would stab you in the back as quick as pay you a few quid. He fucking screwed me and the rest of the boys over because he wanted the Firm to fail before it even took off. We’re not going to let that happen. We’re going to end the bastard.’ He laughed.
‘That’s not funny, Kev.’
‘I know it’s not funny. It’s far from funny. Aside from the fact that I had to serve a jail sentence for a crime I didn’t commit, I watched Donnie smile as the polis took me away, Darcie. He got away with setting me up.’ Kev gritted his teeth so hard he could barely get the words out. ‘Well, he thought he did.’
Darcie stepped back and filled the kettle. The atmosphere in the room was heavy and Kev instantly regretted pushing his bad mood onto her. It wasn’t her fault that he was stupid enough to get involved with a gangster.
‘Kev, it wasn’t easy for me either. Everyone we know questioning me. Did Kev really do that? How can you stay with him? The shitty press constantly hanging around me when it happened. Did you think I wanted to work in a shitty fucking sunbed shop?’
Kev sighed loudly. ‘I know. I’m sorry.’
He looked down at his hands, remembered the police cuffing him and being huckled into the back of the van while Donnie and Steff Black looked on with smiles on their faces.
‘I don’t think going back to the Firm is a good idea, Kev. What if Donnie sends more trouble your way? I mean, he started a war with you guys.’
Darcie made herself a coffee and stood with her back to the counter, staring at Kev.
‘Of course I’m going back, Darcie. The Firm isn’t a choice. I know you think me stepping away from that life would be the best thing for us, but it wouldn’t. Cammy and that, they’re family. And they looked after you when I was inside. We’re not bad like the Blacks. They’re dirty, venomous bastards.’
Darcie frowned, took a sip of coffee. ‘There’s no changing your mind, is there?’
Kev shook his head. ‘I know you think it’s mad, but just trust me. We’ll be better off if I stick with the Firm.’
Darcie sighed loudly and shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you’re probably right. Just, whatever you do, Kev, don’t bring trouble to our door. I can’t be bothered with it. Like you said, they’re dirty bastards and I know for a fact that they’d do anything to hurt you lot.’
‘You won’t have to worry about him for long, Darcie. We’ll sort it.’
Darcie shook her head and went into the bathroom. When Kev heard the shower running, he took out his phone and looked up Donnie Black. Images of him and his wife appeared, images of Donnie and his stupid brother, Steff Black came up too. Dressed in their best suits, shaking hands with politicians and bigwig business people, giving the Black empire the best reputation they could. They took after their old man all right. Donald Black, the man who had every finger in every fucking pie back in the day. The Black empire was untouchable because of him, as were his sons. Kev knew that first hand after what he’d witnessed at that rave back when they were just teenagers. As things stood, it looked as though Donnie and Steff Black had stepped right into his shoes.
As he continued to scroll, he discovered an image of himself. Of him going into court on the day he was sentenced. The last image was of the guy who’d testified against Kev, saying he saw Kev load the van. The whole situation had made him sick to his stomach. Shutting off the screen and shoving the phone into his pocket, Kev gritted his teeth. He couldn’t look at the images, and the smug, powerful smiles on their faces.
Just an hour later, Kev was in the car, driving Darcie to the salon. He chose not to tell her that he was going to visit the guy that had stood up in court to testify against him. She’d only plead with him not to do it, to move on with his life for the sake of their relationship. But he’d only be able to move on when he’d dealt with what had happened.
Darcie got out of the car and crossed the road at the precinct before heading for the salon. Kev waited until she was inside before he pulled away, guilt already weighing heavy on his chest for lying to her about going to the job centre.
Kev’s blood boiled as he headed to meet the guy who’d been forced to say that Kev was the one who attacked him. He’d had no choice. It was either lie in court, or the guy’s family would suffer.
There was no way Kev could let Donnie Black get away with what he did to him or anyone else for that matter. Gangster or not.