Life of Crime: The gripping, epic new thriller from the No 1 bestseller. Kimberley Chambers

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      Johnny had told Jason earlier that if Mel thought it was too soon for them to get married but still wanted to live with him, then the offer to find them a property still stood. That option suited Jason down to the ground. No commitment, a nice gaff, and he’d be free to swan off round Darlene’s whenever it took his fancy. ‘I know it’s a bit soon, so I don’t mind if you say no,’ Jason mumbled, looking into Mel’s eyes, willing her to do so.

      ‘I’ve already given Jason my blessing, love,’ Johnny butted in. ‘Be lovely for your mum to see you get hitched, wouldn’t it? It’s always been her dream to see you happy and settled.’

      ‘Shut up, Johnny,’ Carol ordered. ‘Don’t you be worrying about me, Mel. You decide for yourself, love. It’s a big step is marriage.’

      Not one to be easily shut up, Johnny added, ‘I’ve told Jason I’ll buy you a nice house as a wedding present.’

      ‘Leave ’em to it, for goodness’ sake,’ Carol snapped.

      The doorbell brought an end to Jason kneeling in front of Mel like an absolute lemon. He gratefully leapt up. ‘I’ll get it.’

      A tall bloke with dark hair stood on the doorstep. He looked vaguely familiar and Jason wondered where he’d seen him before. ‘How can I help you, mate?’

      ‘I’m here to see Johnny. It’s urgent.’

      ‘What’s your name?’

      ‘What’s yours? You Melissa’s new bloke?’ the man asked, his gold tooth glinting in the dark of the night.

      ‘Why d’ya wanna know who I am? Got nothing to do with you.’

      ‘Just go and get Johnny will ya, mouth almighty. I ain’t got all fucking night.’

      Jason opened the lounge door. ‘’Ere a minute, Johnny,’ he said, not wanting to alert the women that anything was amiss. The bloke at the door certainly wasn’t paying some friendly social call.

      ‘Who is it?’ Carol asked.

      ‘Watch your DVD, love,’ Johnny replied, releasing the pause button. That had been his surprise present to his wife. The old videos he’d taken of them and the kids over the years he’d had transferred on to a DVD.

      Johnny flung open the front door and locked eyes with Craig Thurston. ‘Fuck off, else I’m calling the police,’ he hissed.

      ‘Nah, you won’t. I know too much about ya for you to be involving the Old Bill. I want my money, and I want it sharpish. You’ve got a week to weigh me out, or I’m telling Carol you’ve been knobbing Shirley Stone for years. I’m sure she’d also be keen to hear how you got the money to start your business up in the first fucking place an’ all,’ Craig said quietly.

      Jason’s ears pricked up. This was an interesting conversation.

      Mel poked her head around the door. ‘Mum wants to know who it is, Dad.’

      ‘Business,’ Johnny barked. ‘Make sure the girls stay inside. I won’t be a tick,’ he told Jason before bundling Craig out the door and down the pathway.

      ‘I mean it, Brooksy. One week you’ve got – or Carol gets to know what you’re really like.’

      ‘Look, it ain’t my fault Robbo had you over. I didn’t know he was planning a moonlight flit, did I?’

      ‘You roped me in on the job. So it is your fucking problem,’ Craig argued. ‘Got your cut OK, didn’t ya?’

      Desperate for Carol not to have her heart broken, Johnny decided to make Thurston an offer. ‘I’ll give you half of my cut, OK? Twenty-five grand.’

      ‘Fuck off! I want the full fifty I’m owed. Plus interest.’

      ‘I haven’t got fifty-plus grand lying around.’

      ‘Don’t fucking lie. You’re minted now,’ Craig spat.

      Johnny sighed. He really didn’t need this crap. ‘Thirty. That’s all I can get my hands on. Take it or leave it.’

      Craig smirked. ‘I’ll take it.’

      ‘Was that that bleedin’ Craig Thurston?’ Carol shouted as the front door slammed.

      ‘No, love. It was a bloke I did a bit of business with recently,’ Johnny lied.

      Carol eyed her husband suspiciously. She hadn’t heard the man’s voice, but had looked out the window and seen him walking up the path. ‘What business? Only it looked like Craig Thurston to me.’

      ‘OK, it was Craig. But there’s no problem. He’s got a load of timber he wants to flog me on the cheap, that’s all. You got a minute, Jason?’ Johnny said, gesturing for the lad to follow him into the kitchen.

      ‘Everything OK?’ Jason asked.

      ‘Anything you heard, take no notice. Trying to wangle a few bob out of me, the bastard is. Don’t be saying nothing to the girls though. I don’t want ’em worrying. Word of advice, lad: never let them indoors know about your business.’

      ‘I didn’t hear anything he said to you, Johnny,’ Jason lied. He would make some enquiries tomorrow to find out who Shirley Stone was.

      Johnny slapped Jason on the back. ‘Good lad. Has my daughter given you her answer yet?’

      ‘Erm, no. I think we should leave that for tonight. She didn’t look too keen.’

      ‘Nonsense,’ Johnny replied, dragging Jason back into the lounge. ‘This man’s having kittens, Mel, awaiting your answer. You going to keep him waiting all night?’

      Melissa grinned at Jason. ‘Yes.’

      ‘Yes, what?’ Jason mumbled.

      ‘Yes. I will marry you.’

      Carol’s eyes filled with tears of joy. ‘Aww, Johnny. Open a bottle of bubbly. Congratulations to you both. I can’t wait to help you look for the perfect dress, Mel.’

      Johnny shook Jason’s limp hand. ‘You got a good ’un there, girl,’ he told his daughter.

      ‘Do you want a church wedding?’ Carol asked. Even if she died before the actual wedding, it would be lovely to be involved in all the arrangements.

      ‘No need for all that bleedin’ church lark, especially when they’ve both got kids by different partners,’ Johnny stated. ‘I had a feeling Mel would say yes, so had already set the ball rolling. Luckily there was a cancellation, so I got in there sharpish.’

      Jason looked at Johnny in bewilderment. ‘Whaddya mean?’

      Johnny smiled broadly. ‘I mean the wedding’s booked. You’re getting married three weeks today!’

      Unable to stop himself, Jason Rampling dropped his champagne flute in horror.

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