Broke (16 page)

‘Can you go now, please?’ she said, struggling to contain her emotions. ‘I’ve got things to do.’

‘Babe, don’t push me out,’ Marnie said quietly. ‘I’m only telling you what Gemma told me.’

‘You should know better than to listen to her gossip,’ Amy snapped. ‘Mark wouldn’t do that to me – not with a skank like
her
.’

‘So, where is he?’ Marnie raised an eyebrow. ‘And who
is
he with if he’s not at his mum’s or with any of his mates? He can’t have just disappeared into thin air.’

Amy couldn’t answer that, but right now she’d have preferred it if Mark
had
just disappeared. In all the agonising she’d been doing, it hadn’t even crossed her mind that he might be with another woman. Dead, yes, but
cheating
. . .?

‘You haven’t half gone pale,’ said Marnie. ‘I hope you’re not thinking of doing anything stupid.’

‘Just go.’

‘Not till you talk to me. I’m your friend – I want to help.’

‘Well, you can’t.’

‘Not if you won’t let me, no. But you can’t keep on like this. You’re a mess, and the kids are suffering. It’s not fair.’

Amy’s nostrils flared and she glared at the floor.

Marnie sat forward and looped her hands together on the tabletop. ‘Look, I know you’re probably going to tell me to mind my own business, because you would have told me if you wanted me to know. But why don’t you just forget about Mark and concentrate on your new boyfriend?’

‘
What?
’ Amy gaped at her.

‘I’ve seen him letting himself in of a night,’ Marnie admitted. ‘And before you say anything, I wasn’t being nosy, and I haven’t told no one. Mark’s gone, so you can do what you want. And if the new fella makes you happy, I’m pleased for you.’

‘You haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about,’ said Amy. ‘But you’re right, it’s none of your business. Now get out.’

‘Okay, have it your way.’ Marnie flapped her hands in a gesture of helplessness and stood up. ‘You know where I am if you need me.’

When she’d gone, Amy sank to the floor and sobbed her heart out. But as the raw aching pain began to subside, an icy anger crept in to take its place. She couldn’t believe that Mark would cheat on her with an ugly bitch like Ginger Jenny. But there was only one way to find out: she would have to go round there and see for herself.

She refused to give Gemma more gossip to spread by asking her for the bitch’s address, so she rang Steve instead. His phone had gone straight to answerphone every time she’d tried to call him recently, and when it did it again now she figured that he must be screening his calls in order to avoid talking to her. Which could only mean one thing: that he knew where Mark was.

Plan formulating in her mind, Amy called her mother.

‘Well, blow me down,’ Sonia said sarcastically when she heard her voice. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’

‘Sorry, I know it’s been a while,’ Amy apologised. ‘I’ve been meaning to call for ages, but things have been a bit difficult.’

‘When are they ever not with you?’

Amy closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. ‘I didn’t call for an argument, Mum. I need to ask a favour.’

‘Straight to the point, as ever. Come on, then, out with it. How much?’

‘I don’t want money,’ Amy said quietly. ‘I just need you to have the kids for the night.’

She bit her lip and waited for the inevitable earbashing. But her mum just went quiet for several long moments, then sighed, and said, ‘Bring them round in time for their tea. I’ll get some fish fingers. Your dad’ll be chuffed,’ she added, as if she herself couldn’t care less either way. But Amy could tell that she must have been dying to see them.

‘Thanks,’ Amy murmured gratefully. ‘They’ve really missed you. And . . . I’m sorry.’

Fresh tears stinging her eyes, she hung up. There was time enough for emotional reunions later, but right now she needed to get her head straight or she wouldn’t stand a chance of putting her life back in order.

Steve hadn’t long got home from work that evening when someone knocked on his door. Assuming that it was Layla, he answered it with a grin on his lips, all set to tell her that it was her own fault if he smelled bad, because she was early and he hadn’t had a chance to shower yet.

Surprised to see Amy standing there, and then concerned, because she looked terrible, he said, ‘Has something happened? Mark’s not had an accident, has he?’

Amy’s heart sank. She’d hoped that it would turn out that Gemma’s source was lying and Mark had been staying here all along. But obviously not.

‘Can I come in for a minute?’ she asked.

‘Yeah, course.’ Steve stepped aside. ‘Sorry, it’s a bit messy.’ He rushed into the living room and scooped a heap of newspapers, plates and cups into the corner. ‘My girlfriend’s always telling me off for being scruffy, but you know how it is.’ He shrugged and gave Amy a sheepish smile. ‘Can I get you a drink?’

‘No, I’m not staying.’ Amy stood by the door and shoved her hands into her pockets. ‘Do you know where Mark is?’

Steve frowned and folded his arms. ‘I haven’t seen him for a few weeks. Why? Has he gone awol again?’

Amy bit her lip and nodded. Then, swallowing deeply, absolutely dreading his answer to her next question, she said, ‘Did you know about him and Ginger Jenny?’

Just as she’d known would happen, Steve’s face gave him away. His cheeks flared a bright shade of crimson, and his eyes were everywhere but on her.

‘Oh, my God,’ she croaked. ‘It’s true.’

‘I never said that,’ Steve blurted out guiltily.

‘You didn’t have to,’ she cried. ‘Is that where he’s staying? If you know, just tell me.
Please
.’

‘Amy, I swear I haven’t seen him, and that’s God’s honest truth.’

‘But you did know he’d been seeing
her
?’

‘No, I honestly didn’t. I just . . .’ Steve ran his hands through his hair and exhaled wearily. ‘Look, I didn’t think it was serious. I told him to steer well clear.’

Amy couldn’t bear it. If it had been anybody else telling her this she wouldn’t have believed them. But, unlike Mark and all the other dickheads they’d hung around with at school, Steve had always been a gentleman, and she
knew
that he was telling the truth. Once, a long time ago, he had asked her out but, fool that she was, she’d chosen Mark. And, right now, she’d never regretted anything more in her life, because Steve would never have put her through the hell that Mark was putting her through. And he would never have left her to fight off Len Yates on her own.

‘I’m so sorry.’ Steve walked over and pulled her into his arms. ‘I could kill him for hurting you, I really could.’

Amy closed her eyes and laid her face against his chest. Her heart was absolutely breaking and she wanted so desperately to pour everything out. But then Steve might get hurt, and she had no right to do that to him.

She pulled herself free after a moment and raised her chin. ‘Do you know where she lives?’

‘No idea,’ Steve replied truthfully, his eyes gleaming with guilt and pity.

‘Can you find out?’ Amy asked. ‘I’ve been told that’s where he’s been staying, and I have to see him. He’s left me in a mess, Steve. A really bad mess.’

Steve nodded. ‘I’ll try. No promises, but if I hear anything I’ll ring you.’

Amy thanked him and wandered home in a daze, unable to come to terms with the fact that Mark had been seeing Ginger Jenny behind her back. If it had been any other girl, she might have understood. But
her
? What could he possibly see in
her
? And what could she possibly be giving him that he would choose her over Amy?

Amy knew that she hadn’t been looking her best since having Bobby, but even on her worst day she was a million times better than Ginger Jenny. But Mark obviously felt something for the bitch, or he wouldn’t have run to her after Yates had beaten him up. It hurt to think that he’d been eating her food, watching her TV, sleeping in her bed, while Amy and the kids had been suffering because of him. But it was the push that she needed to put an end to this situation once and for all.

13

Yates was surprised to find Amy sitting at the kitchen table when he let himself into the house that night – and even more surprised that she had the light on, because she was usually huddled on the couch in the darkened living room.

He narrowed his eyes and looked around the room for signs that her husband had finally found his balls and come home. Not that it made any odds, because Amy was part of the deal now whether the cunt liked it or not.

‘Where is he, then?’

‘No idea.’ Amy forced herself to meet Yates’s piggy gaze. ‘But he won’t be coming back, so if you want your money you’ll have to find him. It’s not my problem any more.’

‘Is that right?’ Yates walked slowly around the table. ‘Think you’re calling the shots now, do you?’

Amy winced when he stopped behind her chair, but she was determined to stand her ground.

‘I mean it,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s his debt, not mine, and if you touch me again I’m going to call the police and tell them everything.’

‘Brave words,’ Yates said nastily. ‘But we both know it ain’t gonna happen, ’cos the debt passed on to you when hubby decided to do a runner. I handed the money over in this house, so this is where I’m getting it back from.’

‘It’s . . .
not
. . .
my
. . .
debt
,’ Amy repeated slowly. ‘I didn’t ask for any money, and I don’t see why I should have to pay for it. You’ve had all you’re getting from me. This ends
now
.’

Yates leaned down and put his lips to her ear. ‘Let’s go and see what little Cassie thinks about that, shall we?’

Amy shuddered at the feel of his breath on her skin, and said, ‘She’s not here.’

Yates ignored her and ran upstairs to check the bedrooms for himself. Thundering back down a few seconds later, he grabbed Amy by the throat and slammed her up against the fridge.

‘Think you’re fuckin’ clever, do you? You’d better tell me where she is before I rip your fuckin’ heart out.’

‘She’s somewhere where
you
can’t get your hands on her,’ hissed Amy, adrenalin making her fight back for a change. ‘And I don’t care what you do to me, ’cos I’d rather die than let you hurt my daughter, you dirty bastard!’

Yates tightened his grip and brought his face close to hers. Eyes glinting with malice, he said, ‘I thought you had more sense. I thought you and me were starting to get somewhere.’

‘
Never!
I hate you. You
disgust
me.’

Yates’s breathing sounded harsh in his chest as he stared into Amy’s eyes for several long moments. Then, seizing her by the hair, he dragged her across the room, demanding, ‘Where’s your phone? Give me your fuckin’ phone!’

‘You’re hurting me,’ she squealed, slapping at his hand as he hauled her into the living room.

‘So fuckin’
what
?’ barked Yates, renewing his grip when she fell over and pulling her along the floor. ‘You had your chance to play nice and you blew it, so now we play it my way!’

All the time he was talking, he was looking around for her phone. But when he spotted the address book on the window ledge he hurled her onto the couch and snatched it up.

‘Bingo!’ he said when he’d flipped through the pages and found what he was looking for. ‘Mum and Dad . . .’

Amy jumped up and tried to wrestle the book away from him, but Yates put his hand flat over her face and shoved her, sending her sprawling across the floor.

‘Thirteen Coniston Avenue, Stretford,’ he read out. ‘Not far, that. Think I’ll go round and see if Granny and Grandad are taking good care of my little girl. That
is
where you’ve sent her, isn’t it?’

‘Don’t you dare!’ Amy screeched, scrambling to her feet and flying at him again. ‘Don’t you dare!’

Easily dodging her punches, Yates grabbed her, threw her down on the couch and sat astride her.

‘My dad will rip you to pieces,’ Amy warned him breathlessly. ‘He was in the TA – he’s trained to kill!’

‘You reckon?’ Yates laughed and reached into his pocket. ‘Got one of these, has he?’

Amy’s eyes widened when she saw the gun, and her mouth went bone dry when he stroked the tip of the barrel over her lips.

‘I’ve been good to you,’ he said quietly. ‘I could have killed you, but I let you live. And this is how you repay me? Talking down to me like I’m a piece of shit.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Amy whimpered. ‘I didn’t mean it.’

‘Oh, I think you did,’ said Yates. ‘See, that’s the trouble with nice-looking birds, they think they can get away with anything. But you’ve picked the wrong one to fuck around with this time, darlin’.’

‘I’m not trying to,’ Amy sobbed, tears spilling down her cheeks and wetting the cushion beneath her head. ‘I–I’m just trying to protect my ch-children. I’ll do anything you want, but please don’t hurt them. I’m begging you.’

‘Too right you’ll do what I want,’ said Yates, grinning as he unzipped his fly.

Amy gagged when he rammed his cock into her mouth, but he wrapped her hair around his hand so that she couldn’t move her head.

‘Oh, yeah, you like that, don’t you?’ he said as he thrust in and out. ‘Look at me . . . I said fuckin’
look
at me!’

Tears still streaming down her face, Amy opened her eyes. Yates stared into them, his ugly face contorting with pleasure.

‘You’re gonna earn me some good money with that tongue,’ he gasped as he picked up speed. ‘Punters’ll be queuing round the block for a bit of this.’

Amy’s eyes bulged with shock.

Punters?

The word screamed in her head. Surely he didn’t intend to make her have sex with men for money?

Yates groaned and held her face tight up against his crotch. Amy choked as his semen spurted down her throat and she tried to push him off, but he didn’t move until he was good and finished. Then, climbing off her, he zipped himself back up as if nothing had happened.

‘What you looking at me like that for?’ He smirked as Amy covered herself up. ‘Hope you ain’t expecting a kiss and a cuddle, ’cos them days are over. You could have been my woman if you’d played your cards right, but now you’re gonna pay your debt in full.’