Chapter 16

Billy sat on his balcony overlooking the marina. When he'd bought the place, he'd been a young man about town. He'd thought he'd really made it.

He had his feet up on the rail and his laptop balanced precariously on his legs. The architects had sent over some project outlines that they were currently working on. It all looked very standard stuff. They appeared to make most of their money from redesigning shops. Not the most exciting thing in the world but it certainly beat trying to flog trinket boxes and postcards.

When he'd been for a chat, they'd mentioned their intention to take over the residential market too. That was where he would eventually come in. They wanted to create net zero homes. Something that Billy had been passionate about since his university days.

Billy found it quite exciting to have the flat to himself. He'd packed Eddie off to work that morning. Crystal and Harry wouldn't be home from Manchester until later in the afternoon. It all felt very easy and domesticated.

The shop was closed until the fitters had done their thing. He couldn't understand why Eddie appeared to be stalling on the contract. If it was anyone else, Billy would suspect they were going to pull a fast one and raise the cut for Pleasure Seekers.

Surely, he wouldn't. Not now.

The doorbell rang.

Billy frowned. It couldn't be Harry. Besides, Crystal had a key.

He doubted very much it would be Eddie. He'd mentioned an important meeting first thing.

With a nagging sensation of dread, he made his way to the door. Billy opened it and for a second thought the world had turned upside down.

"Hello, William. Long time no see."

"What the fuck?"

"Is that anyway to welcome your stepfather? Should I come in?"

"No."

"Fine. We can do this on the doorstep. I'll warn you, I've got a really loud voice since I've been inside. You have to be noisy to get anything, you see."

Billy's whole body trembled. He allowed Brian to come in.

"That's better," he said.

Brian strolled into the apartment as if he owned the place. Billy closed the door and followed him in.

"You look well," he said, guardedly.

It was a lie. Brian looked pasty white with black rings around his eyes. Not that he'd been attractive, even when Billy's mother married him.

"So do you," Brian replied. "Done well for yourself I see. Or did my money pay for this?"

Billy scowled. "I bought this before Mum died. Don't worry."

Brian wandered around, taking note of everything.

"What do you want, Brian?"

"After nine years, that's all you can say to me?"

Billy wanted him out of the flat as quickly as possible.

"There's a reason you're in my home. Let's get to it."

Brian walked closer to Billy. Billy calculated whether he would be able to defend himself if Brian launched at him. When he'd been married to Billy's mother, Brian had been a slob. It appeared that he had been spending time in the prison gym over the last decade. Billy certainly didn't want to chance it.

"Not one visit. From any of you," Brian snarled.

"Mum visited you."

"Useless bitch."

That was too much. Regardless of Brian's newfound muscles, Billy grabbed hold of him by the T-shirt and slammed him against the wall.

"Don't you ever speak about her like that."

Brian nodded. "Oh, I see. She's a saint now she's carked it."

Billy slammed him against the wall once more.

"I'm not shitting you."

Roughly, Brian shoved Billy away. He was strong.

"Don't threaten me, you fucking homo."

"Get out or I'm calling the police. I presume you're out on probation. Do you fancy going straight back inside?"

This seemed to pacify Brian a little. He moved out of Billy's reach.

"You've grown up to be a real smart arse," he said. "Fine, I'll tell you what prompted my little visit. You ripped me off. You sold my house and most of my fucking business."

Billy sighed. "It's not yours. You signed everything over to Mum, remember?"

"I didn't know she'd die, did I?"

Billy swallowed hard. "I will repeat myself one more time. What do you want?"

"What's owed to me. I bet you and your pathetic brother have the money nicely hidden away."

"Actually, it's in a trust for Crystal. Remember her? she's your daughter."

Brian waved him away. "Yeah and I can imagine how you've poisoned her mind against me."

"You killed a young man and tried to do a runner. We didn't need to do anything. She has no illusion what kind of an arsehole her father is."

"I want to see her."

"Not in a million years," Billy replied. "I have sole custody. If you even try to make contact, I'll be straight onto the probation service. Trust me."

"If I don't get what's owed to me, you might find that changes."

He was bluffing. No court in the land who would give him any rights over Crystal.

"No Christmas cards, no birthday cards, nothing," Billy said. "I'm sure you'd come across as the model father. You don't give a shit about her. It's typical of you to use her as a pawn in your stupid little games."

"I'll use whatever I have to," Brian sneered. "I'll contest your mother's will. I had a cellmate who used to be a solicitor. He reckons I've got a decent chance."

Billy stared at him in disbelief. "A crim solicitor told you that you can swindle us and you believed him? This gets better. Out. Now."

Brian strode over to the door. "I'm staying at the Pavilion Guest House."

That figures. One of the biggest dumps in Brighton.

"Poor you," Billy replied. "How does that affect me?"

"I won't wait forever. I'll give you a week to make me an offer."

"Don't hold your breath."

Billy had stalked around the flat like a caged tiger for hours. Finally, Harry and Crystal came home. Crystal burst through the door, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"How did it go?" Billy asked, pulling her into a hug.

"Amazing," she replied.

He looked over her shoulder at Harry who was beaming.

"She did brilliantly," Harry confirmed. "I reckon they'll be in touch soon."

Crystal moved away. "There's a summer camp. They said if I'm accepted, I'll be expected to go. That's okay, isn't it?"

"Wait. What?"

Billy had planned on having a summer of fun with Crystal before she knuckled down to do A levels. With the shop as it was, they couldn't stretch to a holiday. He had planned on squeezing some days out in.

"Can I go?" Crystal asked.

"Let Billy have a second," Harry said. "Why don't you go and unpack?"

Crystal huffed. "I only asked."

As she went to leave, Billy took her hand. "Whatever makes you happy. You know that."

She kissed him on the cheek and ran off to her room, grabbing her bag on the way. Harry walked over to the window where Billy had remained rooted to the spot.

"What's up?"

Harry always seemed to know when Billy was upset.

"We've got a problem."

Unsurprisingly, they found the Pavilion guest house on a very scruffy street. Billy took in the litter that seemed to have replaced shrubs in most front gardens. There were at least two cars missing wheels and sitting on bricks.

"I can see why he needs cash," Harry said.

They approached the building in question. A sign saying Vacancies hung in the window. Somehow that didn't surprise Billy.

He rang the doorbell.

A man answered.

"What?"

"We're here to see Brian Brookes," Billy said.

The door was closed in their faces.

"A warm welcome for all," Harry muttered.

"Let me do the talking. You try and be intimidating"

Billy hoped that Brian would clock the size of Harry these days and abandon his stupid idea. When Brian had gone into prison, Harry had been training to compete. There'd been quite the metamorphosis since.

Once again, the door opened. This time the man himself stood there.

"You didn't take long," he said.

His gaze was drawn to Harry.

"Who the fuck is this?"

"Don't you remember me, Brian?" Harry asked. "Your other stepson."

Brian's eyes widened. That was a good start.

"So, you've brought some muscle, have you?" Brian said, directing his words towards Billy.

"From what I heard, Billy doesn't need muscle," Harry replied. "I would have thought you'd have learnt to protect yourself inside. Seems to me like you're still the slimy fuckwit you always were."

Brian chuckled. "You're both very brave now. It might be a different story when we're in court. In fact, I should probably tell you now. I'll be taking Crystal to Spain once all that's done. You won't be welcome."

Billy shook his head. "You're living in a dream world, Brian. This is your last chance to do one."

Brian took a step forward. "And I told you, I have a good case. Who would refuse a father over a queer uncle?"

It only took seconds for Harry to shove Brian away from Billy. He went flying back into the building, losing his footing in the process.

Brian grinned victoriously from the floor. "A queer uncle and another violent one. I think my case just got strengthened."

"You haven't got a case," Billy said. "We'll be back tomorrow. I want to hear you've checked out."

Getting to his feet, Brian glared at them. "There's no chance of that. I'm not leaving until I get what's owed to me. Obviously, I'll deduct whatever your useless mother frittered away."

Billy sensed that Harry was going to launch at Brian again. He quickly moved in between them.

"Let's go," he said to Harry, who looked ready to explode.

Billy gently but firmly pushed his brother down the garden path.

"That's it," Brian shouted. "Heel. Dog."

"Ignore him. I mean it," Billy urged.

They walked to the car in silence. Once they got in, Harry let out a scream of anguish.

"That fucking cunt," he raged. "How fucking dare he?"

"Getting physical with him won't help anyone," Billy fired back.

"You can hardly talk. You shoved him at your flat."

He had him there. Brian's tone brought out the worst in both of them apparently.

Harry started the car and screeched away from the shitty guest house.

"What are we going to do?" Harry asked.

"I guess I'll have to get some legal advice," Billy said. "I don't think he's got a chance. We should probably check. If he succeeds in getting the business frozen, it might fuck up the Pleasure Seekers deal."

"And your little romance."

Billy slammed his hand against the dashboard, making Harry jump.

"Don't you fucking dare," Billy roared. "I've given up my life for four years. Do you really think I would let Eddie factor into any decision I made about Crystal? Fuck you, Harry."

They drove in silence. Billy didn't dare speak. When he was this angry, all sorts of truths came tumbling out.

Billy's phone rang out.

"That better not be him," Harry snarled. "Or I'm turning this car around."

"Chill out. As if he has my number," Billy replied. He got his phone out of his pocket. "It's Crystal. We're keeping this from her for now. There's no need for her to be upset. Understood?"

"Fine."

Billy connected the call. "Hi, love. We're on our way home now. What's up?"

"They've called," she said. "I got a conditional offer."

"A what?"

"If I do well at the summer school, I'm in. Can you believe it?"