Page 3 of My Best Friend Is Broken

“They were coming to pick me up after my shift,” she said through hiccupping sobs.

I had a strange desire to run back upstairs. To hide under the covers in my bedroom, where everything was safe and normal. I didn’t want to hear what she was going to say. At the same time, I also wanted to shake her and yell at her to get on with it.

“Sam is in hospital.”

And?

“Olivia is dead.”

Oh fuck, that’s awful, but what about Liam? He is still alive, isn’t he? He has to be. Liam is indestructible. Liam is forever. Nothing could ever dim Liam’s light.

“Liam has been arrested.”

Chapter two

Nicky

Now

Iam so excited I’m going to puke. Today is the day Liam is finally getting out of prison.

Five long years. Death by Dangerous Driving. Driving without a licence. Driving without insurance. Driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Awful crimes, but people usually get less. Sometimes just a driving ban and a slap on the wrist. I still swear he only got that long because Olivia’s dad was a cop. And I swear that man is the reason all the Young Offender Units and wings were full and Liam had to go to Gen Pop.

But whatever the reason, it is finally done now. The long years are over. In a few hours Liam will be strolling out of the prison gates, and not long after that I will be showing him around our apartment.

He can stay as long as he likes, and I hope that will be forever. He’ll get back on his feet quickly, I’m sure, but London is expensive, and what is more fun than living with your best friend?

A wave of doubt washes over me. Sudden but not unexpected. A familiar cold and unsettling uncertainty. It makes me shiver, but then I shrug it off.

He will want to see me. Liam is still my friend, it will be fine. He didn’t write to anyone or allow anyone to visit. It is not just me he cut off.

I’ve asked plenty of people who have been in prison, and they said ignoring everyone from the outside and just putting their head down was how they got through doing their time.

Besides, even if Liam isn’t that thrilled to see me, my place is a hell of a lot nicer than some crappy hostel. And his dad is still adamant that Liam is a piece of shit, so it’s not like that’s an option. So Liam will come back with me, out of practicality, if nothing else.

But Liam will be happy to see me. I know he will. He’ll love the apartment, and he will be so proud that I followed his advice and joined the mafia. There is so much to tell him. I can’t wait.

I glance nervously at my Rolex. Two hours until the prison gates open. Not long enough to do anything else, but a long time to wait and fixate.

With perfect timing, my phone buzzes in the pocket of my suit jacket. I scowl as I pick it up. A distraction may be exactly what I need, but it is still annoying.

“Can you help with a cleanup?” asks Carlo.

My heart thumps. “What? Who? There was nothing scheduled.”

Carlo sighs down the phone. “It was a personal matter.”

“Carlo,” I admonish.

Killing is an unpleasant, but necessary part of the job. Committing it for personal reasons is seriously straying into darker territory.

“Don’t lecture me, Nicolo. The bastard tried to rape someone.”

My shoulders relax, and the tight feeling in my stomach drains away. I like Carlo. I don’t want him to turn into someone who kills for fun.

“I can’t,” I say. “My friend is getting out of prison today. Dario gave me the week off.”