Page 27 of All Mine
He’d seen her at the bar and the well-concealed roll of her eyes as Andy started to talk to her. He’d strolled over there fully expecting to go in as the hero, the protector. But she hadn’t needed anyone to save her. She’d been direct but not rude, plain speaking but helpful, and he hadn’t needed to say a word. He only chipped in at the end because he wanted her to see him there.
He wondered when she might text. She didn’t seem like one of those game players who left it a certain number of days before messaging, to show they’re in control or not that bothered. From last night’s performance, she seemed like the kind of woman that could handle herself and would message when she wanted to.
A flicker of doubt went through him, which was unusual when it came to women. What if she didn’t text? She’d already turned away from his mouth on her skin. What if she simply wasn’t interested?
‘You all right, mate?’ Mile End Mickey said. ‘You’ve gone a bit pale.’
Etienne shook his head, clearing it. Of course she’d be interested.
‘Fine,’ he insisted. ‘Absolutely fine.’
At that exact moment, his phone buzzed with a text.
‘Even better now, in fact.’ He grinned, picking it up and waving cockily over his shoulder as he went through to the empty restaurant.
He flicked to messages. But it wasn’t Isabella.
Alex: I want to come home. But it might be dangerous.
Etienne sank down at a nearby empty table. His fingers trembled and he was glad of autocorrect as he quickly typed a reply, desperate to keep the conversation going.
Etienne: I can help. Tell me what you need me to do.
He would do anything to put this right. It was his fault that he hadn’t been able to see his brother for all this time. It was down to him that his twin had had to run because Etienne had let him down when he needed him most.
Alex: I don’t want to bring trouble back to you.
The reply felt like a kick in the gut to Etienne. He’d take all the trouble. He’d face it for Alex, like he should have done all those years ago.
Etienne: I’m in. What kind of trouble are we looking at?
Alex: The Dougalls still need paying back.
Etienne inhaled sharply. So, the rumours were right.
When their parents died five years before, Alex and Etienne were in very different places in their lives. Etienne was set on a path of owning a restaurant and immediately decided to use his inheritance to buy The Bistro. Alex was following his own path of playing the online slots, picking a horse or two at the weekend and finally moving on to local poker games. Not the ones for fun and sharing a bottle of whisky with the boys. The ones in back rooms of the local pubs, where the doors were locked and the stakes were high. Too high. When Alex got his share of the inheritance– a small fortune, enough to set him up in the business of his choice for the rest of his life– he instead decided to bet it on a full house which he thought was a sure thing, only to have Mason Dougall turn over a straight flush. Which would have been fine if he’d stopped then. But Alex was a gambler.
Etienne: How much do you owe them?
The wait was excruciating, longer than between the last messages. How much over the inheritance had Alex gone? He knew it must be a significant amount to have to run. The rumours said it was worth a chopped-off hand or a kneecapping unless it got paid back. Etienne had also heard that the Dougalls made you choose which hand you wanted them to cut off, and then always took the one you wanted to keep. Etienne felt his eyeballs drying out as he stared at his phone. Finally, another message.
Alex: 50k.
His stomach dropped. He didn’t have enough to cover that. He was sure of it. He shook his head. He’d have to find a way.
Etienne: Leave it with me.
Alex: It might have to be cash. Or a transfer. They haven’t said yet.
Suddenly Etienne felt like he was in some kind of gangster movie. This was way outside his normal life of cook, serve, sex, sleep. But he’d do anything for Alex and the chance to bring him home. It was his fault he’d had to leave in the first place.
Etienne: Are you still gambling, Al?
Etienne stared intently at the screen. He had to ask.
Alex: Haven’t even played bingo since I left.
Etienne breathed out slowly, but the next message jolted him to standing.
