Tainted Love: A gripping thriller with a shocking twist from the No 1 bestseller. Kimberley Chambers

‘I ain’t got time to cook, need to get back to the club by eight. I thought we might have fish and chips. Wanna shoot out and get it?’

      ‘Nah. Don’t fancy it. Me and Lee bumped into Katy today and we told her how much we missed her cooking, didn’t we, Lee?’ Daniel replied, studying his father’s face.

      Michael immediately felt edgy, but tried not to show or sound it. ‘How’s Katy doing? She got another job yet?’

      ‘Nah. She can’t work no more. She’s up the duff. About four or five months gone, we reckon, eh, Lee? Weird, ’cause she never had a boyfriend when she worked ’ere. Do you reckon she’s a slag, Dad?’

      The colour immediately drained from Michael’s face. ‘How would I know? Listen, I need to ring your nan. She’s still refusing to come to Little Vinny’s wedding,’ he said, jumping out of his chair. ‘I won’t be a tick.’

      ‘But what about the fish and chips?’ Daniel taunted, as his father bolted out the lounge.

      Michael Butler’s breathing felt laboured as the fresh air of the back garden hit him. He’d only ever shagged Katy once without a condom. Surely he couldn’t be that unlucky? Or could he? Over his dead body was Katy giving birth to his baby.

      Vinny Butler never invited birds back to his flat. Brothels or hotels were his usual choice for a bit of sordid entertainment. However after storming out of the club earlier, thanks to the effect that whore Bella seemed to have on him, he’d forgotten to take a lump of dosh out the safe.

      Real men didn’t carry credit cards, they walked around with a wad of paper money, and when Nadia had told him her gaff was a no-go, Vinny had suggested they go to his. Jay Boy had now officially moved out, was living with his bird Jilly. And no way could he go back to the club to pick up some wonga as he was totally off his face.

      ‘So, what do you do for a living?’ Nadia asked.

      Vinny didn’t indulge in small talk, especially with strangers. ‘I’m a monk,’ he replied, ramming his member back inside Nadia’s mouth. He was reasonably well endowed, and had learned over the years that a mouthful of cock was the best way to shut a bird up.

      Positioning himself so Nadia could not move, Vinny became extremely excited as her face reddened and she began spluttering and choking. This was what he got off on: power.

      Katy Spencer was in a terrible state. She’d truly believed Michael had loved her, and still did to some extent. ‘Once he knows about the baby, Luce, I know he will tell that Bella to jog on. How can he not when I’m carrying his child?’ Katy wept.

      Lucy Tompkins was no expert on men, especially men like Michael Butler, but she thought it was about time she was honest with her best friend. ‘You have to face the fact that he might have been using you, Katy. I know he probably wasn’t, but he did tell you he’d been in love with Bella before she’d gone to Italy.’

      Mascara running and resembling a panda, Katy sat bolt upright on her pal’s bed. ‘Well in that case, let’s go to his club and confront him.’

      ‘No, Katy. Let’s see if Michael contacts you first. Ring your mum and dad again to see if you’ve had any phone calls. Michael might not have spoken to Daniel or Lee yet. Play it cool.’

      ‘But what if he doesn’t contact me tomorrow?’

      Lucy cuddled her friend. ‘Then we’ll both go to his club together and give him what for.’

      Daniel Butler was furious. So much so, he’d already raided the fridge and necked two cans of his father’s lager. ‘He’s a fucking pervert, Lee. Katy ain’t that much older than us. I told you Dad fancied her, didn’t I?’

      ‘We don’t know for definite that it’s Dad’s baby. Perhaps we should just ask him? Katy never stayed here, did she?’

      Daniel looked at his half-brother in despair. He was so clued up for his age, so why wasn’t Lee? ‘As if Dad would shag her here while we were about! I’m telling you now, we’ve got a half-brother or -sister on the way. Didn’t you clock how guilty he looked earlier? Then he ran out the room. I bet Dad was boning her at the club. Gonna be well funny when Bella finds out, eh?’

      Lee was alarmed. ‘You’re not gonna tell Bella, are you?’

      Daniel Butler smirked. ‘Yeah, probably. At the wedding.’

      Vinny Butler only ever enjoyed shagging birds up the rear. Not only was the hole tighter, it saved him from having to look at their stupid faces.

      Feeling himself nearing that crucial moment, Vinny put his hands around Nadia’s neck. ‘You’re a whore, Bella. Deserve all that’s coming your way, you do,’ he spat, tightening his grasp.

      Nadia’s arms and legs flapping reminded Vinny of a bird desperately trying to fly with an injured wing, and that only heightened the intensity of his orgasm.

      ‘Jesus wept! I needed that. You can get dressed now,’ Vinny ordered, rolling onto his back.

      When Nadia did not reply, Vinny shook her. ‘Wake up. Don’t mess about.’

      Panic setting in when there was still no reply, Vinny rolled Nadia onto her front. She felt like a dead weight, looked lifeless. He manically pumped at her chest. ‘Wake up, girl. Don’t do this to me. Fucking open your eyes, will ya?’

       CHAPTER ELEVEN

      Sweating profusely as he managed to rip out another of Nadia’s teeth, Vinny handed the pliers to Carl. ‘Your turn to play dentist. I need a glass of water.’

      Vinny still felt a bit high, but had sobered up now. He couldn’t believe what he’d done, but he’d told Jay Boy and Carl it was a sex game that had gone wrong, and thankfully both seemed to believe him. No way could he have told them the truth: that Nadia was choking and flapping around while he throttled her to death. He honestly hadn’t meant to kill her though. Imagining she was Bella was where it had all gone wrong.

      Jay Boy had been ordered to go out and steal a motor. Not a flash car, van, or old banger because they were always liable to get a tug off the Old Bill in the middle of the night. A sensible motor. The plan then was to shove Nadia in the boot, drive her miles away and burn her and the car to cinders. Hopefully, with her gnashers removed, the Old Bill wouldn’t have a clue who she was. She’d be nothing more than a pile of ashes.

      ‘I’ve sorted the motor. It’s perfect. A Ford Cortina, and I managed to nick a mini-cab aerial an’ all, so I’ve shoved that on the back. Plates have already been changed. We set to go?’ Jay Boy asked.

      ‘Not yet. Still trying to get her teeth out.’

      Jay Boy sighed. He loved working for Vinny, but seriously didn’t need all this other shit that went with his job at the club. He had Jilly and her kid to consider now. ‘Well we’d better get a move on. Fuck burning her when it’s light.’

      The Enemy had become impatient. He’d stalked Vivian a few times now, and whenever he’d been about to strike, something had occurred to stop him from doing so. It was as though God was warning him it wasn’t meant to be.

      He’d also followed Vinny and Michael on a couple of occasions. They usually had their henchmen with them and the Enemy wasn’t stupid. No way did he want to go back inside, which was why he’d now turned his attention to Brenda.

      It was common knowledge that Queenie wasn’t as close to Brenda as her sons, but she was still her only daughter. He’d also heard through the grapevine that Little Vinny was getting married this weekend, so to spoil the wedding would be an added bonus.

      After a bloody long wait, the Enemy finally saw Brenda and her drunken friend stagger from the Eastbrook pub. He crossed the road and glanced around. The pub was situated near traffic lights and he needed to wait for a lull in the passing cars.