I waved a flat palm, cut the air with it. ‘He’s wrong… well and fucking truly wrong.’
‘Have you told him?’
The brace was pinching again. I loosened the Velcro a notch, stretched my jaw. ‘Look, Hod knew from the off this was a one-shot deal. I got him off the ropes with Shaky, he’s in the clear… now he can leave me be.’
Amy flared, ‘He won’t be pleased.’
‘I’m popping more Harry Hills than Pete Doherty here… I have the shakes, nightmares, and a craving for drink that takes twenty-four-seven concentration to ignore. You think I give a shit if he’s pleased or not? He’s a big lad, he’ll get over it!’
Amy came over to the settee, sat down beside me, placed a hand on my arm. ‘Okay. Okay… let’s just get you well, and take it from there.’
She put those heartmelter eyes on me. Despite everything, she made me feel a little gladness in my heart… even if I didn’t deserve her.
I took her hand. Couldn’t help grinning. ‘Rasher’s right about one thing… I’ve some neck.’
Tony Black
