Johnny hoped the car would get them back to London without breaking down again. He’d never really understood how engines worked so if the car failed them now, they’d be stuck on the dark country lanes. It was unlikely that anyone would pass them at this time of night. He’d been lucky on his way to Kent. When the engine had spluttered and lost power, he’d been stranded at the side of the road for nearly two hours. An old boy in a tractor had stopped and towed him back to his farm. An hour later, the car was fixed. Johnny had been grateful but he knew that sort of luck didn’t come around twice in one day.
As they eventually neared London, it was clear to see that the city had been badly hit by the German bombers. They could see an orange hue in the night sky. London was on fire again.
‘I hope Charlotte’s all right,’ Georgina mumbled.
‘I’m sure she will be,’ Johnny answered but his mind wasn’t on Charlotte. He was more worried about what the Zammits were going to do and concerned that Georgina was out of her depth. ‘What are we going to do about Temi Zammit?’ he asked anxiously.
‘I don’t know yet. I’m thinking.’
Johnny took her answer as his cue to keep quiet. They drove the rest of the way in silence but he noticed she was rubbing her finger, a sure sign that Georgina was deep in thought.
As they came into Battersea, Johnny sighed with relief. There was no sign of more bomb damage and the fires looked to be on the other side of the Thames. Westminster probably hadn’t fared well, he thought, feeling sorry for the poor folk who’d been hit.
He pulled up outside Fleur’s house. Georgina went in but came back minutes later without Charlotte.
‘Where is she?’ Johnny asked.
‘Fleur said she hasn’t seen her since the Jerries flew over. They were up the Junction. The café has been torched.’
‘Fuck. The Zammits?’
‘Yeah, probably. But at least no one was inside.’
‘Where to now?’
‘Home. Charlotte will be there.’
Johnny hadn’t turned the engine off in case the car didn’t start again. He set off for Alexandra Avenue, his mind turning. Burning down the café was a clear message that the Zammits meant business and he feared it was only a matter of time before they caught up with him and Georgina.
‘Wait here,’ Georgina said when they arrived at her house.
‘No. I’m not leaving your side,’ Johnny answered and got out of the car before she could protest.
Inside, Dina came running down the stairs. Her hands were still thickly bandaged. Johnny wondered how she managed to dress or feed herself but Dina wouldn’t thank him for prying into her business so he kept his mouth shut.
‘Miss Garrett, I have a message for you,’ Dina said calmly but with urgency. ‘Four men come here and tell me you are to meet them at West One Club. At dawn.’
‘Do you know who the men were?’ Georgina asked.
‘No. Gangsters. I think they want to kill you, yes?’
‘Yes, probably. Did they say anything else?’
‘No.’
‘Have you seen Charlotte?’
‘She is indoors. I hear her cry like a baby,’ Dina answered with contempt.
Georgina exchanged a worried look with Johnny. She quickly fished a key from her bag and opened the door but it wouldn’t open fully.
‘Charlotte… Charlotte…’ Georgina called through the gap and peeked inside. ‘Johnny, she’s on the floor!’
Johnny rushed over. He looked through the small gap to see Charlotte rising to her feet. ‘Charlotte, it’s me and Miss Garrett.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Charlotte muttered. ‘I must have fallen asleep down there,’ she said as she let them in.
Johnny could see her eyes were swollen from crying. ‘What’s happened?’ he asked.
‘Eh? Oh, the café got burned down.’
They went into the front room and it was Georgina who challenged Charlotte now. ‘I know about the café but what happened to you? You’ve been upset.’
‘Nothing. Nothing happened to me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. I just got scared when the planes flew over.’
‘You’re supposed to be at Fleur’s,’ Johnny snapped.
‘Yeah, I know but she ain’t got room to swing a cat and I felt safer here.’
‘Did you know the Zammits have been here and spoken to Dina?’ Georgina asked.
‘No,’ Charlotte replied, her eyes wide.
‘See, you ain’t safe here,’ Johnny said. ‘I’m taking you back to Fleur’s and this time, stay bloody put!’
‘Do as he tells you,’ Georgina urged. ‘It’s for your own good.’
Charlotte rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. ‘What did they do? Is Dina all right?’
‘Yes, she’s fine. I’ve been summoned to meet them at one of their clubs.’
‘Are you going to go?’
‘I don’t have much choice.’
‘You can’t! Please, Georgina, don’t go. It’ll be suicide.’
‘I’m damned if I go and damned if I don’t. I’ll work it out. But I want you at Fleur’s for now. Johnny will run you there.’
‘I’ll be straight back,’ Johnny said to Georgina before walking out the door and gently pushing Charlotte out with him.
He waited for Fleur to let Charlotte in before rushing back to Georgina. When he got there, he found she’d changed into a smart pair of trousers and a fitted jumper and was counting out her bullets.
‘We haven’t got nearly enough ammunition, guns or men,’ she said gravely.
‘I know.’
‘I’ll have to outsmart them but I’m at a loss, Johnny. I don’t know how to get us out of this.’
Johnny sucked in a deep lungful of air and, bracing for an explosion, offered an option, ‘You could ask David Maynard for help?’
‘No! Absolutely not. There’s nothing between me and David anymore. I won’t be beholden to him for anything.’
‘If we want to get out of this alive, it’s our only choice. The Zammits ain’t mucking about. They will kill both of us.’
‘Maybe. But let’s see what they’ve got to say for themselves first.’
‘What, you mean meet them at the club?’
‘Yes. Perhaps I can talk to Temi and strike a deal. It’ll cost me but Temi loves money. I’m sure I can come to some sort of arrangement with him.’
‘I’m sorry, Miss Garrett, but I think this has gone past the talking stage. Yeah, Temi loves money but he ain’t averse to slaughtering those who’ve wronged him. And as far as he’s concerned, you’ve done just that.’
Georgina huffed and ran a hand through her hair in agitation. ‘Who am I trying to kid? You’re right. He wants me there to kill me. But this ain’t just about his father’s shop. He’s pissed off that I didn’t finish off David.’
‘Whatever his reasons, he won’t stop at you. We’ll all cop it.’
‘Not if I can help it,’ Georgina said, sounding more assured. ‘Get the men ready. I’ll meet Temi at dawn, but I’ll make sure I have a little surprise for him. Something to make him sit up and listen.’
Johnny had no idea what Georgina meant but had a feeling that she had a plan. He looked at his watch. They had about five hours before sunrise. Maybe just five hours left to live.
*
‘You know what to do?’ Georgina asked Nobby Barker.
‘Yeah. Don’t worry, me and Eric have got this,’ he answered in his low voice.
‘Good. Time’s ticking on, you’d better hurry. Take the car. Don’t fuck this up. Everything is riding on it.’
‘We won’t,’ Nobby replied.
The Barker twins left to carry out Georgina’s instructions. She had every faith in them. She looked to Ned. He was stubbing out a roll-up in the ashtray, the fifth one he’d smoked in quick succession.
‘Do you think you can do it, Ned?’ she asked him.
‘Yeah, course I can. I won’t let you down, Miss Garrett.’
‘All right. Off you go with the twins. I’ll see you soon.’
Ned lit another roll-up as he left. Georgina thought he was more nervous than he was letting on, but Ned’s part in her plan was small with little risk. She felt sure he’d pull it off.
‘I need another coffee. Do you want one?’ Georgina asked Johnny.
‘I’d rather have a stiff drink,’ he answered with a tense laugh. ‘But there’s no chance of getting one at The Penthouse now, more’s the pity.’
‘That’s two of my businesses gone up in smoke, thanks to Temi Zammit. Ned said the building next door is destroyed too. It must have been one hell of a fire.’
‘Good job the club was closed.’
‘Yes, it was,’ Georgina said as she pushed herself from the armchair and went into the kitchen to boil the kettle again. She held onto the sink and arched her aching back. Things weren’t looking good for her unless she could persuade Temi to have a discussion. That was going to be a challenge in itself but she was hoping that the Barker twins would be returning soon with her bargaining tool. Something that would make Temi listen.
Before long, there was the sound of a light tap on the window. Georgina looked out, glad to see Nobby.
‘They’re back, let them in,’ she told Johnny.
Nobby came into the room as Georgina picked up her bag. ‘Ready?’ she asked him.
‘Yep, ready,’ he answered.
They followed Nobby to the car. Eric climbed out from the driver’s seat. Johnny handed him the keys to his own car and said, ‘Look after my girl.’
‘I’m a better driver than you, mate. Your car is in safe hands,’ Eric replied and shook Johnny’s hand. ‘Me and Nobby will see you later. Good luck.’
Georgina opened the back door and eased herself in. She pulled her gun from her bag and told Ned, ‘Good job. You can go with Nobby and Eric now.’
‘Right you are. She’s been as good as gold,’ Ned said, referring to their captive passenger. Ned climbed out and dashed off with the Barkers to get Johnny’s car.
‘Let’s go,’ Georgina said to Johnny.
He turned the engine and they set off as Georgina pushed the barrel of her gun into Lora Zammit’s chest. She didn’t like to hear the sound of a woman crying and snapped at Lora, ‘Shut up.’
‘Please don’t do this, Georgina. You know I tried to help you. I tried to warn you.’
‘Yes, I know. Thanks for that. But, unfortunately, your husband hasn’t left me with any other options.’
‘But my children… please promise me that you won’t hurt them.’
‘That’s down to your husband. You’ll need to persuade him that I’m not to be harmed. If I don’t return safely, then the people who are holding them will know what to do.’
Lora cried harder. ‘Please, Georgina, they’re just babies. You’re a mother. You must understand how desperate I am.’
‘I said shut up! I’ve already told you, your children’s wellbeing will be down to the choices your husband makes,’ Georgina growled. She hated using Lora’s kids as a threat but in reality, she’d never harm them. They were safe with Charlotte and Fleur for now. Though she couldn’t let Lora know the truth. The woman had to be convinced that her children’s lives were at risk so that she in turn could convince her husband.
The sun began to rise over the buildings. They were just minutes away from the West One Club. It was one of Temi’s smarter premises, often frequented by influential guests from parliament and the councils. Sometimes top ranking police officers too. The club sat a few minutes away from Piccadilly in a small tree-lined street. Georgina had never been inside but she knew that a dead-end alley ran alongside the club from which a back door could be accessed. But the alley would have two of Temi’s men guarding it and there would likely be at least another two on the front door. The Zammits had ensured the club was impenetrable to uninvited customers.
Johnny pulled the car up right outside the club. Temi’s men would be expecting them, but not with Temi’s wife.
‘Don’t fight me and if you do as you’re told, you and your children will be fine. Do you understand me?’ Georgina hissed.
Lora swallowed hard and nodded.
‘Right, let’s do this,’ Georgina said to Johnny.
He got out of the car first and opened the back door for Georgina. She pushed Lora out and climbed out next, all the time holding the gun into the small of Lora’s back. ‘Take her,’ she said to Johnny.
Johnny stood behind Lora and wrapped his arm loosely around her neck while holding his gun to her head. ‘You heard Miss Garrett. Just do as you’re told,’ he said and eased her forward.
Georgina walked a step or two in front. ‘Let us pass or Mrs Zammit dies,’ she said clearly to the three men on the door.
She could see the looks of confusion on their faces as they weighed up the situation and stepped aside. Georgina walked into the club. The corridor was much brighter than she’d expected. She heard Johnny tell Lora to keep walking.
A set of double doors in front of them was guarded by another two of Temi’s men. When they saw Lora Zammit with a gun to her head, they quickly lowered their weapons and one of the men pulled open the door.
‘Mr Zammit will fucking kill you for this,’ he snarled as Georgina walked past him.
Through the doors led to the main club area. Georgina’s nose wrinkled at the musty smell of stale alcohol and tobacco. The club was mostly in darkness but she saw Temi sat at a table near the stage area. His face was illuminated by a crystal lamp on the table. He sneered at his wife. Georgina strode slowly past another four men and towards Temi. She stopped several feet away from him. Johnny stood beside her with Lora.
‘I see you’ve brought company,’ Temi said. His gun was in his hand, which hung at his side.
‘I thought we could have a chat,’ Georgina said casually, hiding her fear.
‘You want to talk. Why is it that all women want to talk? What if I don’t want to talk? What if I would rather shut you up forever?’
‘No, Temi,’ Lora cried, ‘you have to listen to her. She has our children.’
Temi’s eyes narrowed. ‘An effective threat, Georgina, I applaud you.’
‘You should have put protection on your family. But I’m glad you didn’t. So are you ready to talk now?’
‘What is there to say? You are going to plead for your life. So go on then, beg.’
‘That wasn’t what I had in mind.’
‘If you want to live, woman, let me see you beg on your knees.’
Lora cried out again, frantically this time. ‘Please, Temi, think about our children. My babies,’ she sobbed.
Temi raised his arm and fired his gun. The booming sound echoed off the walls. Georgina recoiled but quickly realised that she hadn’t been shot. Lora groaned.
Georgina looked to her side to see Johnny was holding Lora’s head in his arms. She was laid on the floor, gripping her stomach. Blood seeped through her pretty pale blue dress and spread across the material.
‘My babies… please don’t kill my babies,’ Lora whispered.
Johnny took her blood covered hand in his own and leaned his face closer to hers. ‘Your children won’t be hurt,’ he said quietly.
Georgina wasn’t sure if Lora had heard Johnny’s reassurance before she’d slipped into unconsciousness. The thought of the woman possibly dying in fear of her children’s lives made Georgina feel physically sick. Bile rose in her throat.
She swallowed down the vomit and glared at Temi. ‘You bastard. How could you shoot your wife down like that?’
‘She got on my nerves,’ he answered flippantly. ‘Was there still something you wanted to discuss?’
‘If I don’t walk out of here alive with Johnny, your children will be joining their mother in death,’ she warned and waited for his response. Georgina had known Temi was merciless with his enemies but she’d underestimated his callousness. Surely a threat to the lives of his children would resonate with him. After all, she’d assumed he was a family man.
‘I’ve already agreed to have a discussion with you so go ahead, talk, but you and your boyfriend can put your guns down first.’
Georgina crouched down and placed hers on the floor. It left her feeling naked and vulnerable. She looked at Johnny. His beige wool coat was covered in Lora’s blood. She could see he had a tight grip on his gun and made no move to give it up.
‘It’s all right, Johnny,’ Georgina said quietly.
Johnny looked back at her. She recognised that expression in his eyes.
‘No, Johnny, don’t do it,’ she said, but it was too late.
Johnny aimed his gun at Temi. Another almighty boom sounded and Johnny fell to the floor alongside Lora. Georgina dropped to her knees beside him, relieved to see he was breathing and his eyes were open.
Johnny grimaced in pain. ‘It’s just a flesh wound,’ he said, holding his hand over his wounded shoulder.
‘I warned you,’ Georgina screamed at Temi. ‘Your children!’
‘He was going to shoot me. I haven’t killed him,’ Temi said in his defence.
Georgina helped Johnny from the floor and onto a seat at a table. Then she turned back to Temi. ‘We need to resolve this before anyone else gets hurt.’
‘I’d love to hear your suggestions. I mean, you must know the reasons why I want you dead?’
‘I’m guessing it has something to do with Elsie Flowers lying about me stealing from your father’s shop?’
‘Yes, but I know you didn’t do it. It was that bastard, and he gunned down one of my most loyal coppers,’ Temi said, pointing at Johnny slumped at the table. ‘But you knew he’d done it. You should have come to me, Georgina, and owned up. Instead, you covered for him. Then you tortured and killed my artist who, incidentally, died owing me money. But do you know what really pissed me off?’
‘I didn’t kill The Top?’
‘That’s right, you didn’t. I found out why… because The Top is David Maynard. You see, that’s put me in a very difficult predicament. You know I backed you killing him because I felt he could have been a threat to me. Well, the threat has become a whole lot bigger. See, me and Mr Maynard, we’re probably on par – but if you team up with him, where does that leave me?’
‘God, you are just as fucking pathetic as him,’ Georgina said in disgust.
Temi looked taken aback.
‘It’s all about the egos with you men. My gun is bigger than your gun. I’ve got more power than you’ve got. You should listen to yourselves. You and David sound like schoolboys arguing in the playground. I’ll never work with either of you!’
Temi placed his gun on the table and began to slowly applaud her. ‘Nice speech,’ he grinned sardonically.
It wasn’t lost on Georgina that although Temi had disarmed himself, the rest of his men were pointing their guns at her. Now would be the opportune moment for Ned and the Barker twins to act, but something must have delayed them. Ned, by now, should have innocently walked past her car and stuffed a lit rag into the petrol tank. She was expecting an explosion right outside the club. It would be a distraction to the bouncers guarding the alley. Nobby and Eric would use it to their advantage to slip in through the back door. But nothing had happened. She feared they may have been caught by Temi’s men – but if that was the case, why hadn’t they been dragged through here to be held at gunpoint with her? ‘Come on,’ she urged under her breath. But instead of an explosion, she heard the unmistakable sound of the air raid sirens.
‘It seems we have some more unwanted visitors,’ Temi said, pointing up towards the ceiling.
‘Ironic really. There are brave men out there fighting for our freedom yet we’re using that freedom to kill one another.’
‘And there lies the problem, Georgina. You’re quite right, I want you dead but I have a dilemma as you have my children. How do you suggest we overcome this?’
‘Call a truce?’
‘We both know that will never work. The trust has been broken between us. If I let you walk out of here, you know that as soon as I have my children back, I’ll come for you again. And you’ll be gunning for me too… No, a truce will never work. It’s your life or my children’s lives. But here’s the thing, I don’t believe you’ll harm my children. You’re tough but you’re not a child murderer.’
Georgina folded her arms across her chest and cocked her head to one side. ‘You don’t know me, Temi,’ she drawled.
‘I think I do,’ he replied as he picked his gun up from the table.
The sirens were still wailing outside as Temi pointed his gun at her. Georgina turned her head to look at Johnny and held his gaze. She wanted a loving face to be the last thing that she saw, not Temi’s smug face.
‘Sorry,’ Johnny mouthed helplessly.
She smiled warmly at him. ‘It’s all right, Johnny,’ she whispered and braced herself.
Images of Alfie and Selina flashed through her mind. They’d never know their mother but she would always look over them. Was it her imagination or could she feel Lash breathing softly on her cheek?
Georgina closed her eyes and waited for the bullet to rip through her flesh. She was ready to face death but had one last thought – please, make it quick.
*
‘Oh, no, not again,’ Fleur moaned as she woke to the sound of the air raid warning sirens blaring.
Charlotte hadn’t been to sleep. She’d sat up all night worrying about Georgina. The two young children in the bed with Fleur woke up and began crying.
‘I want my mummy,’ the little girl of four years old sobbed.
‘Mummy,’ the six-year-old boy cried.
‘What are we going to do?’ Fleur asked, her voice high pitched with panic.
Charlotte’s heart pounded hard. She gulped. ‘Let’s get the kids in the Morrison.’
‘But what about us?’ Fleur screeched.
‘I dunno, we can shelter under the bed.’
‘Why can’t they get under the bed?’
‘They’re just kids, Fleur. Come on, help me get them in the cage.’
Charlotte and Fleur each gathered a child in their arms and tried to encourage them into the shelter. Both children were screaming and hysterically crying.
‘I don’t want to go in there,’ the girl shouted.
‘This ain’t going to work,’ Charlotte said. ‘Come on, I’ve got an idea.’
‘What? Where are we going? It ain’t safe out there!’
‘Fleur, calm down, will you? You’re not helping. We can go to the public shelter in the next street. It’ll be safer. This house is so bleedin’ rickety, I reckon if a bomb landed ten streets away, this place would shake and fall down. Come on, hurry.’
They’d slept in their coats, but Charlotte’s had been over her lap. She plonked the sobbing girl on the floor and quickly threw it on, before grabbing the child again and rushing out the door.
‘Hurry up, Fleur,’ she called as she ran down the street.
‘I’m trying but he’s heavy.’
Charlotte stopped to wait for Fleur to catch up. ‘Quick, swap kids,’ she said. ‘The girl is lighter.’
They exchanged children and resumed running. As they turned into the next street, Charlotte saw an old couple going into the brick built shelter which ran along the middle of the road with rows of terraced houses on each side.
The old couple saw Charlotte and Fleur running towards them.
‘In you come,’ the old lady said and ushered them through.
It was dark inside and didn’t smell very pleasant. The screams and cries from the children filled the shelter.
‘It’s frightening for the little ’uns,’ said a middle-aged woman. She had a scarf over her head but was still wearing her night clothes. ‘’Ere you go, this will quieten ’em down.’ The woman pulled a couple of sweets from her dressing gown pocket and offered one to each of the children.
‘I want my mummy!’ the girl screeched again.
‘Ain’t she yours?’ the woman asked.
‘No. We’re babysitting for a friend,’ Charlotte lied.
‘Blimey, I should think their mother must be worried sick about them.’ The woman tried again to persuade the children to take the sweets and they did, finally quietening down.
‘I know that bloke over there,’ Fleur whispered in Charlotte’s ear, ‘he used to be a customer of mine.’
Charlotte glanced across to the man who looked uneasy stood alongside his wife. ‘Just ignore him,’ she told Fleur.
There must have been at least twenty or thirty people in the shelter. Charlotte’s eyes roamed over their faces. Some looked pale with fright, others appeared annoyed and a couple looked as if they were still half-asleep.
‘Anyone bring a flask?’ a voice said from the back.
‘Yeah, we did,’ the old man said.
‘Us an’ all,’ another called.
‘I’ve brought some biscuits.’
‘There’s some sandwiches here if anyone is hungry?’
‘Right, let’s have some breakfast and a sing-song, eh? Mrs Jones, you pour the tea. Mrs Higgins, pass the biscuits. I’ll start the music.’ The man was stood just a few feet from Charlotte in the cramped space. He pulled a harmonica from his pocket and began playing a tune that she recognised. Run rabbit, run rabbit, run, run, run. But much to Charlotte’s amusement, when people started singing the lyrics, they sang, Run Adolf, run Adolf, run, run, run.
Charlotte found herself joining in and bobbing the young boy up and down on her hip in time to the music. Mrs Jones handed her half a cup of black tea. Mrs Higgins offered her a plain broken biscuit. Even the young boy was smiling now. Charlotte placed him on the ground and watched with delight as he began to dance with his little sister. And then something occurred to her. She wasn’t terrified. She wasn’t plagued by the images of the mutilated bodies she’d seen during the earlier Blitz. In fact, she’d been calm and had taken control of the situation and had got Fleur and the children to safety. Tim would be proud of her, she thought with a soft smile.
Charlotte looked down at the young boy and ruffled his hair as she realised that she’d put her own fears aside to look after others. She’d protected the child as best she could, just like a mother would have done. She thought of Tim again. Maybe one day, once this blasted war was over, she would bear Tim’s children. The thought had always horrified her but now it gave her a warm feeling. Charlotte knew that she had grown up and was ready to be a wife and mother.
*
Georgina’s eyes were squeezed shut as she waited for Temi to put a bullet in her. Then over the noise of the air raid sirens, she heard a huge explosion which sent a whoosh of air blasting through the club. The chandeliers rattled and bottles chinked. The whole building had shook. Had the Jerries bombed the street or had Ned finally managed to explode her car?
She opened her eyes to the sound of gunfire. Bullets tore past her head.
‘Get down,’ Johnny shouted from under the table.
Georgina looked around for her men. She couldn’t see Ned or the Barker twins but several other blokes were firing at Temi’s gang and she was caught in the crossfire.
‘Get down,’ Johnny yelled again.
Georgina looked at the empty seat where Temi had been. She hadn’t seen him leave. Everything had happened so fast but seemed to play out around her in slow motion.
The firing ceased. Three of Temi’s men stood with their hands in the air. The rest were shot dead.
Georgina quickly took stock of the scene. She saw one of Temi’s blokes spread-eagled across a table with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. The man’s gun had fallen to the floor and sat just feet away from her. Georgina ducked and scurried over to the gun. She picked it up and held it close to her face as she hid behind a seat. Who were these men?
The club doors opened and a dark figure strode in. She couldn’t make out who he was but could see he was flanked by at least six other men. She was sure Ned was one of them.
The dark figure spoke. He called her name and when she heard his voice, she instantly recognised it and rose to her feet.
‘David. I should have guessed. Was all this for my benefit?’ she asked, gesticulating to Temi’s dead men.
‘Of course.’
Georgina knew she should be grateful but couldn’t bring herself to thank him. Instead, she dashed to Johnny’s side and knelt beside him. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked tenderly.
‘I’ll live,’ he answered weakly. ‘Lora, she’s breathing,’ he added.
Georgina glanced over her shoulder and urgently called to David, ‘They need a doctor.’
A few of David’s men rushed across and swooped Johnny and Lora up.
‘They’ll take them to the hospital,’ David said as he approached her.
‘Where’s Temi?’ she asked, remembering he’d escaped.
‘With Nobby and Eric. Your men caught him trying to do a runner out of the back door. By the way, that was a nice touch with the car blowing up outside.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Saving your bacon.’
‘How did you know?’
‘Anyone can be bought, Georgina. After you came to see me, I questioned how you’d managed to get past my bodyguards with a gun. It didn’t take much to work out that one of the blokes was working for Temi. And for the right price, he jumped ship and tipped me off.’
Georgina gazed up at David. In the dim light, his scars were hardly noticeable and his eyes still held their mischievous twinkle. Stop it, she told herself. ‘I suppose you’re expecting me to be grateful now?’ she snapped.
‘Well, it wouldn’t hurt to say thank you. Especially as two of my men have been shot.’
‘Thank you,’ she said begrudgingly. ‘But nothing has changed,’ she added and stamped off towards the back door to deal with Temi Zammit.
‘Wait,’ David called.
Georgina stopped walking and stood still but kept her back to David. She could feel him coming closer. Part of her wanted to turn around and run into his arms. He’d saved her life but could she ever forgive him for making her believe that he was dead?
David was standing so closely behind her now, she could smell the scent of his cologne. He still wore the same one he always had. The smell of him rekindled exciting memories. And when he touched her arm and stroked his hand down, over her wrist and to her little finger, her body tingled. Georgina gasped, thrilled at his touch.
‘Marry me?’ David husked in her ear.
His proposal came as a shock and though she tried to fight her feelings, she knew she was losing. Georgina slowly turned around to face him. She searched his eyes and saw the love she’d craved from him for years. She’d lost him once and knew she didn’t want to lose him again.
‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘I’ll marry you. But I’m still really bloody angry with you!’
David threw his arms around her and kissed her with fervent ardour. As she melted into his firm embrace, her anger ebbed away.
David’s men began clapping and cheering.
‘Congratulations, miss,’ Ned shouted joyfully.
Georgina reluctantly pulled away from David’s arms. ‘There’s still some business to sort out. I need to see to Temi,’ she whispered, somewhat breathless from David’s passionate kiss.
‘There’s no need for you to deal with men like him anymore. You can leave all that to me.’
‘Oh no, David, that’s not how things are going to be. If you think I’m going to be that sort of wife, then you can think again.’
‘All right, that’s fine with me, Mrs Maynard. Whatever you say. You are the boss.’
Georgina had never believed in fairy tales. She thought they were unrealistic and life wasn’t like that. But once this damn war was over and her children were back at home, she hoped that maybe, just maybe, her story would end with ‘and they all lived happily ever after.’