‘Do you think they’ll be alright?’ asked Tiffany.
‘I hope so. If owt happened to them I’d never forgive myself. But I don’t wanna think about that right now. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed and hoping they can scare Kyle’s gang off.’
‘Try not to worry, Rubes. After all, it’s not as if you had a choice in the matter, is it? And it beats sitting around doing nothing while we wait to see what Kyle’s going to do to us next.’
Ruby shuddered. ‘Yes, you’re right.’
54
July 2011
The following night arrived too quickly and Kyle was soon standing at the reception desk ready for his pre-arranged meeting with Ruby. As she looked at him, she felt a tug of repulsion. There was no way she could go through with this, and the meeting with her cousins had given her the courage to put him off even though she was still fearful of his reaction.
‘I’m not doing it,’ said Ruby.
‘You what?’ he asked, glaring at her.
‘I can’t. I thought I could, but I can’t.’
‘What the fuck’s wrong with you? You’re not some innocent fuckin’ virgin, y’know. I know for a fact you’ve had plenty of customers in the past; I’ve been asking around. And now, just cos you’re the fuckin’ madam, you think you’re too good for the customers.’
Ruby could feel her heart racing and her hands were sweating as she saw the look of fury on his face, but she tried to keep her voice even as she said, ‘It’s up to me whether I take customers or not, so if I say I don’t want to do it then I won’t do it.’
Kyle swiped angrily at her, catching the attention of two of her girls and a customer who were in the waiting area, but she dodged away quickly. He then leaned over the reception counter, his head poking forward.
‘If it wasn’t for the fact that that lot might call the cops, I’d drag you into one of those fuckin’ rooms now!’ he threatened. ‘I’m having no fuckin’ tart thinking she’s too good for me. You’re lucky to get a decent looking bloke after some of the fuckin’ weirdos you’re used to shaggin’ so you’d better have a rethink and fuckin’ quick if you know what’s good for you. I’ll be in touch.’
Then he was gone and Ruby felt her shoulders slump in relief. She saw one of the girls in the waiting area look across at her but she quickly raised her hand palm outwards to stop her from coming over. ‘It’s OK,’ she said. ‘Just a troublesome customer, nothing to worry about.’
Ruby looked down at her computer screen, refusing to maintain eye contact with the girl. She’d tried her best to play it down but was worried that if her staff saw the fearful expression on her face, they would realise the threat that Kyle really posed.
*
While Kyle was busy terrorising Ruby, her cousins were waiting for one of Kyle’s gang, Ash, to make his way back home from the pub. It hadn’t taken long to find his address; their scary reputation ensured that people were anxious to give them information.
They had hidden behind some bushes near to the house where he lived, their car parked further away and out of view. The house was only accessible by public footpath and they knew he’d have to pass them on foot once he’d completed the journey by car or taxi. They’d had a tip-off telling them the time he usually arrived home from the pub, and had got there early so they wouldn’t miss him. Apparently he didn’t usually stay late, often going back early with his girlfriend once he had met with the rest of the gang. But after almost half an hour of waiting they were becoming restless.
As Josh began to wonder whether Ash would arrive home at all that night, his initial adrenalin rush was abating. But when he spotted a man getting out of a car then walking arm in arm with a girl, the rush of adrenalin quickly returned. Ash fit the description they had of him: below average height, slight and only in his early twenties. He must have got a lift home from the pub and was now making his way unsteadily towards them. Although it was still only ten-thirty, he seemed drunk.
‘He’s there,’ he whispered to Calvin. ‘But he’s not on his own.’
Calvin peered through the bushes. ‘You get the girl and I’ll take him. It should be a doddle; he’s half pissed.’
Josh nodded and pulled the knife from his pocket as they watched Ash stagger up the footpath. As soon as he and the girl passed by, they jumped from the bushes and pounced on them from behind. The girl began to scream but Josh quickly put his hand over her mouth, pulling her close to him and jabbing her in the back with the knife.
‘Keep your fuckin’ mouth shut, and nowt will happen to you,’ he hissed, dragging her into the bushes.
Josh watched as Calvin jumped Ash, wrapping his left arm around Ash’s middle and dragging him towards him while he prodded the knife at his throat. But Ash was surprisingly quick. He aimed a sharp backwards kick at Calvin’s calf, his heel painfully connecting with the shin bone. Calvin let out a yell and slackened his hold. It gave Ash chance to pull away. Then he spun round and pulled out his own knife.
Josh felt helpless as he watched what was taking place, his heart pumping fiercely and his hand sweaty against the girl’s face. The need to help his brother fought with worry about letting go of the girl. He couldn’t let her raise the alarm.
Before he could do anything, Ash charged at Calvin, his drunkenness making him fearless. But it also made him clumsy and, as Calvin sidestepped him, his blade caught the edge of Calvin’s arm, grazing his jacket
