A Daughter’s Courage: A powerful, gritty new saga from the Sunday Times bestseller. Kitty Neale

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СКАЧАТЬ long time before she’s walked up the aisle? No, I suspect not. Another one who’s had the wool pulled over her eyes. Why do you do it, Rob? What are you getting out of her? Because I know it can’t be money.’

      There was a silent pause but the lascivious look on Robbie’s face told Adrian all he needed to know. ‘You can be such a ruthless bastard.’

      Robbie just laughed. ‘So are you going to lend me the money or not?’ he asked.

      ‘Not,’ said Adrian.

      Robbie approached Adrian and leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk. ‘Honestly, I’ll never ask you again if you just do this one thing for me.’

      ‘The subject is not open for debate. I won’t be any part of this. If you want to mislead that girl, then you will have to do it without my help. For goodness’ sake, Rob, our mother would be so ashamed of you.’

      Adrian saw a black look come over his brother’s face, the same expression he had seen when Robbie was a teenager and would fly into an uncontrollable rage. Myra had always been able to calm him and he seemed to have grown out of his outbursts, but, seeing that same look now, Adrian braced himself. He was right to do so because without hesitation Robbie swept his arm across Adrian’s desk, sending paperwork and pens flying.

      ‘How dare you bring our mum into this!’ he screeched as he brought his fist down heavily on the wooden desk.

      Adrian sat transfixed in his chair, waiting for his brother’s next move. He knew he’d gone too far with his last remark and instantly regretted it, but it was too late to retract it now. He watched as Robbie kicked a wastepaper bin, sending it soaring into the air, and then pushed over a shelving unit with such force that it skidded across the wooden floor. Then without a glance back his brother stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him. Adrian was left shaken – but glad that Robbie had gone.

      As he surveyed the mess around him, the door opened again, filling him with dread. Much to his relief it was only Joe, one of his drivers, though it was customary for his employees to knock before entering.

      Joe was a burly looking chap yet even he looked shocked at the state of the office. ‘Are you all right, guv? Only I saw that bloke just leave and he didn’t ’alf bang that door.’

      ‘Yes, everything’s fine, Joe. He’s my brother, nothing to worry about,’ Adrian said hurriedly as he scanned the paperwork on the floor, picked up a piece and handed it to Joe. ‘Here you go, this is the ticket for your next collection. You’ll have to get a move on if you’re going to be at the drop-off on time.’

      Joe looked at him for a moment with narrowed eyes, but said nothing. He took the ticket, stepped over the scattered furniture and strewn papers, then left quietly. Adrian sat down at his desk again, still shaken, and struggled to pull himself together.

      It had unsettled him to see Rob’s anger. He’d thought his brother had learned to control his temper, but now he found himself anxious about living with a grown man who could be prone to such violent eruptions.

      After leaving Adrian’s office in a rage, Robbie decided that, though he didn’t have the money for a ring, he had enough in his pocket to call in to the Union Arms on Battersea Bridge Road to have a pint or two and calm down. Adrian had always been a pompous git, but he shouldn’t have brought their mother into the conversation. Though, if he was honest, his anger was mainly at his brother’s refusal to lend him any money.

      Robbie supped on his ale, savouring the smooth liquid. Two scruffy-looking men stood further along the bar and, as Robbie caught some of their conversation, all thoughts of Adrian and his condescending manner went out of his mind. The men were huddled quite close together, obviously hoping that no one could hear what they were saying, but as they swayed on their feet it appeared the pair were pretty full of beer and didn’t realise how loudly they were talking.

      Robbie listened intently as he heard the smaller man in a flat cap say, ‘I’m telling you, George, it’ll be a piece of cake. My cousin said that it’s all about the timing. As long as we get it right we’ll be home and dry, and we’ll be at least a couple of hundred quid or more better off.’

      ‘Run it by me again,’ George slurred, ‘and slowly this time.’

      The man in the flat cap leaned against the bar. ‘It’s easy. You know my cousin works in Leonardo’s, that posh jeweller’s over in Knightsbridge? Yeah, well, she’s gone and got herself up the duff so she’ll be out of a job soon, but in need of some quick bucks. She said she watched old Leonardo put money in the safe and clocked the combination. We had a right laugh when she told me. The old boy must be losing the plot ’cos you’ll never guess what it is.’

      George scratched his head, ‘I ain’t got a clue. Go on, tell me …’

      ‘It’s only left four, right three, left two, right one. He must have set it up like that so he doesn’t forget it, but neither will we,’ the man in the flat cap said and laughed. ‘She reckons he puts the day’s takings in the safe on Saturday when they close, and it just sits there ’til Monday when he banks it. So all we’ve got to do is break in on a Sunday and Bob’s your uncle.’

      George nodded but then asked, ‘What about alarms and all that? He must have a place like that belled up so how are we gonna break in? If we smash a window, or jemmy the door, the Old Bill will be straight on to us.’

      ‘Don’t you worry about that, I’ve got it all covered. My cousin said there’s a small attic skylight on the roof. It’s not alarmed so we just need to lever it open, drop down inside and then head for the safe. We’ll grab the cash and then leave the same way. No one will know we’ve been in there until Monday morning when Leonardo goes to his safe and finds it empty.’

      ‘Bloody hell, it’s genius! When we gonna do it? This Sunday?’ asked George.

      ‘Well, we could, but I’ve already promised my mum that I’ll bring Ginny and the kids over this weekend, and you know my life won’t be worth living if I let either of the battle-axes down.’

      George groaned. ‘Yeah, I know what you mean. Next weekend it is then.’

      The two men shook hands as Robbie inwardly smiled. This was the answer to his worries. Lady Luck must be smiling on him because it had been handed to him on a plate. All he had to do was get in there this weekend to beat the two old drunks to the stash of cash. It sounded fail-safe and he would never have to go to his brother again for money. He’d be able to pay back all that he had borrowed and that would get Adrian, along with others, off his back.

      Grinning, Robbie ordered another pint, well chuffed that all his money problems would soon be over.

       Chapter 4

      Dorothy gave her mother a quick peck on the cheek before she dashed out of the door to meet Robbie. He was taking her to the cinema and she was really hoping that tonight would be the night when he would present her with the engagement ring she was so eagerly anticipating. After all, it had been over a week since he’d asked her to marry him.

      As she walked along the street of small terraced houses, she caught sight of her reflection in the window of the newsagent shop on the corner. Her dress was homemade, as were most of her clothes, but she was pleased with her creations and was always up to date with the latest trends. СКАЧАТЬ