Page 81 of Corrupt

I froze. Looked up. The fear on her face was real.

Darren’s case. Yeah. That one wasn’t going away.

I wanted him inside. If the judge hammered him for possession, he’d be out of my hair. Out of everyone’s. And it would show loyalty. A good soldier keeps his mouth shut, does the time, gets rewarded later.

Did I trust Darren to do that?

No.

Darren would crack. He’d cry in interview. He’d get a suspended sentence, a spot in witness protection, a new name, and a list of every fucking detail he’d given the police.

Then who’d be facing time?

I gathered up the filthy sheets still smelling of Tristan, which made everything worse, and shoved them in the washing machine. Set it going. Tried to smother the panic in my chest. Then I went to Keeley, lifted Maisie, and sat beside her with Maisie on my lap, shoving her chew toy into my mouth, giggling.

“I know you think you need a man ‘cause you want Maisie to have what we didn’t.” I bounced the baby on my knee. “A dad around. But trust me, Kee, she’s better off with just you. No Darren. No Toby. No other scumbag trying to play father of the year.”

Maisie squealed. Keeley watched us.

“You don’t need anyone else.” I settled Maisie back beside her mum. “You got me. Money. Help. A break. Whatever you need. Just don’t be our mum. Be better.”

Keeley tucked her legs under her and studied me quietly. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Don’t you want someone?”

Yeah.

Yeah, I fucking did.

I’d always thought I didn’t. That I was coping fine with random fucks here and there. But after last night…

I didn’t deserve someone clean, though. Someone smart. Someone who’d kissed me like I mattered and then seen me sweeping drugs off a sofa ten minutes later.

I looked away.

And as if summoned by the universe, my burner lit up, vibrating hard on the table and cutting straight through my ribcage.

Keeley raised an eyebrow. So I handed Maisie back to her and snatched up the phone.

“Go.”

“Nice night off, yeah?” Tyler. Pissed off. No hello. “All relaxed, are ya?”

I closed my eyes. “From the sound of you, that’s about to get ruined.”

“Bang on, bruv. You better get a wriggle on.”

“Why?”

“Cormac wants you.” Fuck, he sounded stressed. “He and Doyle want you on a drive about. So be ready.”

My stomach turned. “A drive about?” No wonder the geezer was flustered. Everyone knew what a drive about meant. “What for?”

“You know what for, bruv. It’s the next step up, innit.”

Yeah. And it didn’t mean a corner office and an extra five days holiday. It meant physical presence and more expectation to step in and do whatever Cormac wanted.