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It was my favourite of them all, the one of Raven. She looked just like when I’d met her, eyes so twinkly and skin so alive. I’d painted her with a black cigarette, the hint of a smile as she breathed out smoke into a night sky. I wasn’t expecting the crush of her arms around my neck, the warmth of her lips on my cheek. She felt good against me, with her strange hair and her strange clothes and her strange smell. Not clingy like when Vick did it, just nice.
“I love it,” she breathed. “I really fucking love it, kid. Thank you.”
I shrugged as she let go of me. “Weren’t nothing much.”
“Whatever you say, baby.” A taxi pulled up outside, stopping right in front of the garage. “That’s my ride, straight to dealer HQ. Sure you don’t want to come?”
I shook my head. “Nah, you’re alright.”
“Don’t you go slacking off on me now. We’ll be needing more pieces for the exhibition.”
My heart notched up another gear. “What exhibition?”
She smiled so fucking bright. “Only the biggest fucking London exhibition this side of Christmas, baby. Gallery’s got a display, right up with the big boys, finest on the market. Current stuff too, a lot of urban, some modern. You’ll be there, Cal, you mark my words. Jack’s gonna shit a brick when he sees this stuff.”
“Don’t joke,” I said. “Ain’t fucking funny.”
Her red mouth narrowed into a vicious flash. “I never fucking joke about art, kid, and I’d never fucking joke with you.”
“Sorry.” I put my hands in my hair, pacing about the place. “Just dunno what to think.”
“It’s a lot to take in.”
“Aye. Lot on my mind.”
I’d been waiting for it for weeks, but it still landed hard when it arrived. “You did tell Sophie, didn’t you? About the Stoneys?” I didn’t answer, just stared at my feet so I wouldn’t see her face. “Pissing hell, kid. I told you I’d keep my mouth shut, but you have to fucking tell her. She can help, it’s no money to her, Cal, not with parents like hers.”
“I don’t want her money.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t want you fucking dead. She’ll flip her fucking lid when she finds out you didn’t tell her, and I’ll be next in the firing line.”
“I’ll sort it.”
“You’d better, baby, or I’ll fucking tell her for you.”
I guessed she weren’t joking about that, neither.
***
Sophie
I’d been in crappy meetings all morning, itching to get away and make sure the great art collection had gone down without incident. Cal had been brooding to shit over the past few days, nerves kicking in. He wouldn’t say that, of course, just shrugged it off as nothing.
My phone beeped as I stepped off the tube, and I fumbled in my bag for the handset, expecting a berating text from Bex. The reality was worse. So much fucking worse.
I have my sister stored in my phone under her full name.Alexandra Juliette Allison Harding. What the fuck did she want?
The text made it crystal clear.
Four missed Sundays and a complaint letter with your name on it. Tut, tut. Dad going ballistic. Be home at seven, I’m coming over.
I text back instantly.
Complaint letter?? Not convenient tonight. Busy, sorry.
We were having steak, Callum’s favourite. Steak and sex, and probably more sex on the side. My phone pinged again before I could even switch the thing off.
Non negotiable. Call it an official landlord visit. Rather me than Dad, trust me.
