Page 40 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

The banging in his head eventually beat his need for sleep and he stumbled to the bathroom cabinet for painkillers, glugging water straight from the tap.

What a night. Free-flowing drinks, old and new friends.

Karaoke, and Isabella’s body. He splashed water on his face and patted it dry, thinking of the way her head fell back on his shoulder as she came.

This ‘not having sex’ pact was fun after all.

Back in his bedroom, he flicked to his messages before he started his day.

Fox : Thank fuck you only have a birthday once a year.

Walker : Someone on the way to work just told me I’m a good waltzer?

Mile End Mickey : You’ve double locked the door, you plonker. We can’t get in.

He staggered down the stairs in his boxers and opened the restaurant door to a grey, foggy square. Mickey sauntered in with a chuckle.

‘That’s a fine state to start your year in,’ he said as he held the door open for Katie and then headed to the kitchen. She in turn looked Etienne up and down, before sighing.

‘I’ll set up. You go and sort yourself out.’

He tried to nod but it hurt too much. Halfway up the stairs, she called after him, ‘Oh, I don’t think I told you before, but my cousin works in the cloakroom at The Bolthole.’

He ignored her and carried on up to the flat, her laughter echoing behind him. ‘She says it’s amazing the things people leave in there!’

An hour later he was showered, shaved, and back to life. His phone pinged as he was about to go downstairs for first serving.

Alex : Can you talk?

Etienne immediately went to call him. Alex answered before he heard it ring.

‘You okay?’ Etienne said quickly, only relaxing when Alex replied, ‘I’m fine.’

‘Heard anything?’

‘I got a message from the pub landlord. The Dougalls were happy to hear from me.’

‘That’s good, isn’t it?’ Etienne said.

‘Apparently they said that there were lessons to be learned.’

Etienne sank back onto the sofa.

‘You need to be careful, Al,’ he urged.

‘I know. But what if they want to make an example of me? I’m the one that got away– for years. . .’ Etienne could picture Alex’s face. The furrow of worry between his eyebrows. The clenched set of his jaw.

‘Don’t think about that,’ Etienne said. ‘Focus on doing the next right thing.’

‘Which is?’ Alex sounded panicked.

‘You find out how they want the money.’ Etienne spoke calmly, keeping his own fear tucked away. He was still ￡10K short. ‘Then I get it to you.’

‘What if they find me first?’ Alex’s voice was just above a whisper.

Etienne stood up again, made his voice strong, authoritative.

‘Nobody knows where you are,’ he said. ‘It will be fine.’

Silence.

‘Al, trust me. Keep your nerve. How will they contact you?’

‘The landlord gave them my number. That was two days ago apparently. Nothing yet.’

‘They’re playing with you, Al. Trying to make you sweat.’

Alex gave a shaky laugh. ‘It’s working,’ he said.

‘Let me know when you hear from them,’ Etienne said. ‘Day or night, I’ll be here.’ He closed his eyes as he said the words, conscious of the irony. If he’d been there day and night for him in the past, Alex wouldn’t be in this predicament now.

‘I will, bro,’ Alex said. ‘Thanks.’

As Etienne was about to hang up, Alex spoke again.

‘You have got the money for me, though, Et?’

Etienne rubbed his face roughly.

‘Nearly there, mate. Nearly there.’