Maura's Game by Martina Cole Read Free Book Online Page A

come to his defence against Marvellous Maura.
    He had never before seen her in this mode and now, as far as he was concerned, everything he had heard about her was true. He felt proud to be a part of this family and to know deep inside that he was just like them. It made him feel he belonged. Made him feel good about himself.
    Benny smiled, one of his big heart-warming smiles that drew men and women alike to him. And as Maura looked at her nephew she saw her brother Michael, the first man she had loved, smiling back at her.
    Benny grinned around the room and said roguishly, “That put me in me fucking place, didn’t it?”
    Maura couldn’t resist him then. Hugging him tight, she said seriously, “You are one cocky little fucker.”
    Garry yawned noisily and remarked to no one in particular, “You can say that again, Maws. Now then, let’s get this show on the road. We’re going to have Smithy seeing sense before it’s dark.”
    Roy watched his son as he blinded Maura with that smile of his. Inside he was worried. Benny was a loose cannon and Roy knew he was going to have to keep a steely eye on him so he didn’t balls everything up with his temper and youthful arrogance.
    He didn’t want to admit that his own son scared him, but he did. Benny frightened the life out of him. Like his uncle before him he was as mad as a hatter, and like his uncle he would not be controlled for long.
    Kenny Smith looked at his baby daughter sleeping in her cot and swallowed down the ball of tears bunched in the back of his throat. His scarred face twisted with grief, making him look even uglier. His mother Eileen, an East End harridan with permed hair and a cigarette permanently dangling from her lip, patted his arm.
    “Unbelievable, son. Bloody unbelievable.”
    He clutched her hand tightly.
    “Fucking Ryans! They’re putting themselves about all over the place and now my little Lana’s gone.”
    “Hardly little, son, she was the size of a house since she had the kid.”
    Kenny rolled his eyes.
    “Don’t start, Mum. Whatever you thought of her she was my old woman and little Alicia’s mother.”
    “She was an old sort, that’s what she was. But whatever. I’ll sort out the baby, you get this all done and dusted, son.”
    “Oh, don’t you worry about that. I intend to cause the Third World fucking War.”
    Eileen nodded, not at all fazed by her son’s determination.
    “Listen, I’ll take the baby home with me, OK? You work from here. But get it sorted soon, I’m feeling nervous. If they’re after the birds, then life is dangerous for everyone, ain’t it?”
    Kenny nodded.
    “I’m seeing a few faces roundabout. Very soon the Ryans might just find themselves in more shit than Basildon dump. What with Vic’s old woman and all, people aren’t too happy.”
    Eileen lit a Benson & Hedges from the endless supply in her apron pocket.
    “Not round the baby, Mum,” he said reprovingly.
    She snorted.
    “Never done you no harm, did it?”
    Kenny sighed and left the room. He had to get all this sorted as soon as possible. First the Ryans, then a nanny for the baby. It did occur to him then to wonder briefly if the Ryans had put his face in the frame for the bombing of Maura’s boyfriend the filth, and this was quid pro quo but he dismissed the idea. Whoever had killed his Lana had done it for pure wickedness and he would make sure they paid for it in full.
    He poured himself a large brandy and drank it straight back, needing the alcohol. As the tears welled up once again he swallowed them down. There would be plenty of time for grieving after tonight. And he wouldn’t be the only one grieving, he was determined on that.

Chapter Three
    Radon Chatmore was a Rastafarian with long dreads and a public school accent. He was actually baptised a Catholic but took on the mantle of Rastaman just after his seventeenth birthday, more as a fashion statement than a religious belief. He had his father’s business acumen, though he