Pouring myself a drink, I offered one to Humphrey. He shook his head. “What’s the matter, Dean? You look shaken or something.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m fine.”
I really did need to get a fucking grip. If Humphrey knew there was something wrong, so will Carmichael. I couldn’t let whatever shit was going on in my head affect my business here. This was my priority now, not her.
“Fine,” Humphrey said as the doorbell rang. “I’ll go answer that, shall I?”
I nodded with a smile and took a swig of my drink. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Carmichael got in here, but I sure had an inkling.
“Dean,” Carmichael boomed as he came into the lounge.
“Aidan, how are you? Care for a drink?”
I saw his hesitation but, in the end, he shook his head. “No. I assume you know why I’m here.”
I smiled wickedly at him. “Hmm, I had a little visit from a couple of your men today. Nice chaps.”
Carmichael sat down and placed his hat on the sofa. “Did you have anything to do with this, Dean? Did you use me that night?”
I put on my best offended look and frowned. “Of course not. Listen.” Walking over to the drinks cabinet, I poured him a large bourbon and sat down opposite him. Despite him denying the drink initially, I knew he really wanted it. “How long have we been friends now, Aidan? Five years?” Carmichael nodded and took a sip of his drink. “We have always been there for one another when we’ve had parties and such. Saturday night was just like any other night. Well, apart from the ladies, of course.” I smirked, but Carmichael remained aloof.
“I’m not stupid, Dean. Although you’ve never told me, I know there must be things you’re dealing in that are not legal. Those girls were a prime example. They were prostitutes, weren’t they?”
I gasped and got out of my chair. “Of course not,” I said, dumbfounded. “Samantha and Katie are two very good, very fuckable friends. Sure, they hang around me for my money and parties, and they take advantage of that every chance they get, but that doesn’t mean I pay to sleep with them, Carmichael. Women don’t see me. They see wealth. When they see the fucking pound signs shining in their eyes, they’d sleep with just about anybody.”
I could see Carmichael visibly relaxing, but he was still a bit on edge. “I don’t know, Dean. Everyone believes that Pinzano killed your parents, then he ends up in the river on the night of your party?”
I shook my head. “Pinzano had a lot of enemies, Carmichael. You must realise that. There must be countless people out there that he’s screwed over. It wouldn’t have been just me. Besides, why would I wait so long?” When I saw him deep in thought, I took my seat opposite him again. “I grew up in that kind of lifestyle and look what happened to my parents. I vowed I would never follow in their footsteps. I don’t want that kind of life for me or any children I may have later. You can understand that, right?”
Carmichael looked up and hesitated for a moment before smiling. “Of course. Sorry I doubted you, Dean. I should never have thought you’d use me like that. I apologise.”
Silly fuck!
“Don’t worry about it.” I smiled. “Apology accepted and all forgotten. Cheers,” I said, raising my glass. Carmichael smiled and clinked his glass with mine.
“I guess you’re wondering what I said to them? I, of course, corroborated your story as it was the truth. I obviously left out the part about Samantha and Katie, and I trust you did the same.”
I nodded. “Of course. That goes without saying. You are a married man, after all. The more we hide this, the better. For your family’s sake, as well as yours.” I said it in the most caring tone, but I was anything but. Carmichael was lowlife scum, plain and simple.
“I appreciate that, Dean. I love my wife and children. I can’t let them get hurt through something like this.”
Well, if you love them so much, why are you screwing around, you dumb fuck?
“What happened in this lounge that evening and upstairs in those rooms stays there. You have no worries about that, Carmichael.”
He gave me an appreciative smile and gulped down his drink. “How are Samantha and Katie, by the way?”
Chapter 31
Tyler
Buckinghamshire, 2000
Walking through the park on the way to meet Dean and Ian, I was thinking about the fact that I turned sixteen soon. The prospect filled me with hope and desire for my future. Well, mine and Dean’s future. In the last few weeks, he had been looking at me funny. It was almost like a knowing look. Every time he did it, my knees went weak. He always knew how to do that but, lately, the stares he gave me were more intense. He was looking at me in a way that meant more than just a boy who simply liked a girl. It was potent, powerful, passionate, and damn fucking sexy.