Kimberley Chambers 3-Book Collection: The Schemer, The Trap, Payback. Kimberley Chambers

people tend to keep themselves to themselves more in Chigwell.’

      ‘You ain’t talking about kids and bloody houses again, are you? Tonight’s your hen night, Steph, we’re meant to be having a laugh, so let’s all talk about sex,’ Lin shouted out.

      ‘Stop it, Lin. Behave yourself,’ Pam said, embarrassed.

      Linda chuckled. Behaving herself wasn’t in her nature and she had no intention of changing a habit of a lifetime. ‘Me and Keith sometimes do it six times a day,’ she said, proudly.

      Cathy burst out laughing. ‘Lucky you. My old man could barely manage it once a week and even then he did it with the local barmaid.’

      As the unrefined conversation continued, Angela turned to Stephanie. ‘What about you and my ex-boyfriend, sis? How many times do you shag per week?’ she asked, sarcastically.

      ‘Who’s your ex-boyfriend?’ Tina asked Angela.

      ‘Wayne, of course! Oh sorry, has Steph forgotten to tell you that the man she’s getting married to next week took my virginity from me when I was thirteen years old. Didn’t you know he was a paedophile?’

      Stephanie had never told any of her neighbours or friends about Angela’s fling with Wayne. Not only was it old news, but it was also extremely embarrassing. Apart from Tammy, she had never really discussed it with anybody. Wishing that the floor would miraculously open and swallow her up, Stephanie burst into tears.

      ‘You are one evil fucking bitch, Angie,’ Linda screamed at her niece.

      ‘And you’re one foul-mouthed, drunken little dwarf,’ Angela screamed back.

      Furious with Angela, Pam stood up. Her face was red with rage as she pointed her finger at her youngest daughter. ‘How dare you spoil Stephanie’s hen night and insult your Auntie Lin. You are one nasty piece of work, even though I’ve spent years trying to convince myself otherwise. You’ll never change your ways. You’re a horrible sister to poor Steph and an even worse fucking mother to your own son. Now get out of my sight, and don’t even think of turning up at the wedding because you’re uninvited as a bridesmaid and a guest.’

      Stunned by her mother’s cutting speech, Angela ran from the restaurant in tears.

      Barry Franklin had never been so bored in his entire life. For the past two hours all Wayne had been rambling on about was his lack of funds and it was becoming extremely tedious. Did Wayne actually think that he was going to offer to bail him out after stealing his girlfriend from him? Because if he did, he had a hell of a long wait. Barry was no man’s fool, and he had only agreed to attend the wedding because he knew how awkward it would make Stephanie feel. He still wanted her to pay for what she had done to him, but it would be Wayne that copped the bulk of his revenge, because in Barry’s eyes it was he who deserved it the most. Faking a yawn, Barry stood up. ‘I’m gonna shoot off and leave you to it now, lads. I was up early this morning and I’m cream crackered.’

      ‘Don’t go yet. I’ve just opened another bottle of bubbly. I wanna hear all about Jake’s funeral and stuff. How did it go?’

      Barry sat back down and allowed Wayne to top his glass up again. ‘It kicked off at the wake, as it always does when my mother’s involved, but other than that it was OK. I’ve got to attend the reading of the will next week. Same day as the stag, it is, but it’s in the morning.’

      ‘What was Jake worth, Bal? Do you reckon he’s left you anything?’ Danno asked, bluntly.

      ‘I dunno what he was worth, but he certainly weren’t short of a few bob. I got on pretty well with him, but not well enough for him to leave me his worldy goods. Having said that, he owns an old Jaguar classic car out in Spain. I always loved it, and he always told me that when he popped his clogs, it was mine. The rest of his estate, including the bar, is bound to be left to his beloved partner, who just happens to be my wonderful gold-digging fucking mother,’ Barry chuckled.

      ‘Perhaps a bit of inheritance dosh might just help her with her grief,’ Wayne said, laughing. He stood up. ‘I’m gonna have a piss and check on the kids, boys. Who’s hungry? We ain’t ordered sod all to eat yet.’

      ‘I could murder an Indian, could you?’ Danno asked Barry.

      ‘I ain’t that hungry, to be honest, and I’m gonna shoot off in a bit anyway.’

      ‘Is that yours?’ Danno asked, as the mobile phone that was perched on the edge of the sofa sprang into life.

      ‘No, it must be Jacko’s,’ Barry replied.

      ‘Was that my phone ringing? Who was it?’ Wayne asked, bursting back into the room.

      ‘Dunno, mate. I didn’t like to answer it,’ Barry said, handing the phone to his so-called friend.

      Wayne stared at the phone then put it to his ear. ‘What’s up?’

      When Wayne walked out of the lounge, Barry stood up and stretched. ‘Right, I’m off.’

      Danno stood up and shook Barry’s hand. ‘You take care, mate.’

      Wayne walked back into the room and slung his phone onto the sofa. ‘That was fucking Angela. It all went off in the restaurant, apparently. Steph’s in tears and all sorts. She’s on her way home, I think.’

      ‘That’s women for you,’ Danno joked.

      When Wayne started to spout off about what a bitch Angela was, Barry couldn’t help but smirk. He had been seconds away from sodding off home, but now it had all kicked off and Steph was on her way home, he’d decided to stay instead.

      ‘I feel like one of them poor Ethopians that Bob Geldolf’s always banging on about, Jacko. Can we order something to eat now or what?’ Danno asked, bluntly.

      ‘Yeah, of course we can. Order a selection of stuff for the three of us,’ Wayne said, chucking Danno three menus out of a drawer.

      ‘I fancy an Indian and Barry’s shooting off,’ Danno replied.

      Barry grinned at Wayne. ‘Do you know what? All of a sudden I feel ravenous, so think I’ll stay and eat with yous after all.’

      CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

      On the morning of his stag do, Wayne was awake at the crack of dawn. He turned onto his side and stared at Stephanie, who was still asleep. She had calmed down over the past few days over the hen-night fiasco, but had vowed never to speak to Angela ever again. ‘For as long as I can remember, all I have ever done is given love and support to Angela, but received nothing in return. In my heart, I will always love her and I shall miss her not being part of my life, but by cutting her out completely, at least she can’t hurt me any more,’ Steph had tearfully decided.

      ‘You’re up early,’ Steph whispered, as she heard Wayne get out of bed. She always slept lightly in case the children were ill or needed her.

      ‘I’ve got shitloads to do today, babe, so I thought I’d make an early start.’

      ‘Come back to bed and give me a cuddle first. I’ve barely seen you this week. You’ve been running around like a blue-arsed fly, and seeing as you’ve got your stag do tonight, I probably won’t see you again until tomorrow evening.’

      Wayne got back into bed and put his arms around Stephanie. Feeling himself becoming aroused, he immediately pulled away from her and lay on his back.

      ‘Somebody’s very excited this morning,’ Stephanie said, tenderly stroking Wayne’s penis.

      Wayne sighed as Stephanie kissed his chest, then moved her mouth further down his body. As her lips locked around the tip of his manhood, he let out a huge groan of pleasure. ‘Kneel on all fours,’ he ordered, huskily.

      Stephanie did as Wayne asked, then gasped as he entered her doggy style. Their sex life had been crap just recently, but as Wayne shafted her