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Lenny was shocked at her words. Lil could have a row, he knew, but she had never brought up anything like that before. She'd never once alluded to how her husband's assets had been divvied up. He wondered now if she had ever mentioned any of those things to her sons. They were big men now and he knew they were at an age when they wanted to prove themselves. Lance was safe enough but now that Pat was home, he was getting fucking ambitious and so was this woman here, by all accounts. He would have to watch her, she was under the mistaken impression that she had something of value to say. Always a bad move where women were concerned.

'You talking to me, Lil?' He was, as always, on his dignity when he felt he was being undermined and insulted.

Lil grinned then, remembering just how awkward a bastard he could be. 'Don't you want to know how the kids are, Lenny?'

Lenny loved the question in her voice, the utter disbelief that he didn't care about her wonderful kids. He had made sure she had her work cut out; two of them at close quarters but, like all his paramours, once they had produced, he had no more interest in them.

Lenny smiled and she saw the lines on his face and the way his hair was thinning and she actually felt sorry for him. He had taken her at her lowest ebb, taken everything she had. Not just from her, but from her kids as well. Then he had given her a job in this place, the place she helped set up, and now he was loath to hand over a few quid for the kids she had given him.

'You're a piece of work, Lenny. You have two gorgeous kids and you ain't got a fucking ounce of compassion for either of them, have you?'

Lenny shook his head and laughed again, the false laugh that he really believed made him seem sophisticated, a man of the world. 'I couldn't give a flying fuck, Lil. They mean nothing to me, love. None of my kids do; the fact they arrived through a cunt speaks volumes, if you'll excuse the pun.'

He was laughing again and Lil felt the hurt once more; when he dismissed the kids like that, she knew she was capable of really harming him. She could feel her hands clenching into fists. If some of his so-called mates heard him at times she knew they would not believe their ears. He could be so hateful and so vicious and the worst thing was, he enjoyed it.

'Well, assuming your mother gave birth to you, then it stands to reason that you travelled into the world through a cunt yourself so at least your kids have got one thing in common with you, eh?'

He was finally silent and she knew that just for once she had got the better of him. Her toughness had attracted him but it was always brought to the fore when anyone or anything threatened her children. She was like a wild animal in that respect and as she was now, proud and angry, he remembered her attraction. He had used her, he knew, but it had not been a hardship. She was faceable if you didn't crave youth.

There was a tap on the door then and Lil opened it quickly, her anger already subsiding because she knew it was pointless.

Ivana stood there with a smile that said she was expected.

Lenny peered at her. She really was a good-looking girl, full-breasted for all her skinniness, with thick blond hair that made her seem healthier than she probably was and she knew how to look at a man; to make him feel desired and wanted. But it was too professional for his liking, even though he had already given her a whirl and he knew she was worth keeping as a back-up bird. Brasses were good like that, they didn't expect anything from you; a few quid and a good time would suffice.

Lenny saw the look in Lil's eyes and enjoyed her discomfort; the reminder that she was not a spring chicken any more. That youth was all around her and he had access to it any time he wanted. He knew the best way to place his foot firmly on her neck was to make her feel old and unwanted.

'What do you want?' Lil's voice was dismissive and Ivana waited for Lenny to invite her in, to show Lil that she was someone to reckoned with, someone of note.

Lenny watched it all with his usual closed expression and, being the contrary man he was, looked at Ivana with a puzzled frown and asked, 'Well, you heard the woman, what do you want?'

Lil felt sorrow at the girl's flushed face and knew the humiliation she was feeling. She didn't enjoy it because she had been on the receiving end of it so many times herself.

Lenny walked to where she stood and went to shut the door in her face. 'You want to sort those girls out, Lil. They are getting above their stations, if you ask me. What a fucking liberty, brasses thinking they are welcome in polite company.'

'Oh why don't you fuck off, Lenny.' Lil's voice was so loud and so protective that as Ivana walked away, she felt the first stirrings of gratitude and respect for the woman she had despised up until a few minutes ago.

'Why do you do it? Why do you have to destroy everyone you come in contact with?'

Lenny didn't answer her. She was asking him a genuine question and, for once in his life, he was considering giving her a genuine answer. He could see the disgust in her eyes, the dislike in her face and the anger in her body language. He observed it without feeling.

'That girl earns a fortune and, if she had half a brain, she'd go on the trot from here and get herself into a real club, the New Rockingham or the Pink Pussycat. Somewhere they would treat her with a bit of respect.'

Lenny sighed. He was bored with it all now. 'Who gives a fucking toss, Lil. Like I give a flying fuck about her. Now, tell me, how is young Patrick and when can I expect a visit from him? I have a bit of work to put his way.'

Lil knew she had him then, knew that her boy was finally at an age when Lenny expected some kind of comeback for his behaviour.

'You leave him alone; he don't need to be involved in your old crap. He's already sorting himself out a wage.'

Lenny bit on his bottom lip, a sure sign he was aggravated. 'I don't think you have quite grasped the concept of worker and boss, Lil. You don't have an opinion, do you? I tell you what you to think and you bow down to my superior knowledge. Tell the boy to come and see me.'

Lil shrugged, enjoying his discomfort. 'What did you come here for, anyway, Lenny? You must have heard my Patrick was home. A phone call would have sufficed to ask how he was.'

Lenny didn't answer her, amazed at the way she spoke to him and knowing the hold he had over her was loosening by the day. Now Pat was home he would take over as the man of her house and Lil no longer needed anything from anyone. He watched her as she lit a cigarette. Pulling on it heavily, she licked her lips slowly and blew the smoke into his face, making him want to cough.

Lenny flapped his hands to disperse it, reassuring himself that her son was on borrowed time; that he would open the fucker's head and then listen to her crying as her son followed his father into the great beyond. So Patrick had made a good impression in stir, had looked after himself and shown the world that he could take care of himself. Well, he wasn't going to let the little fucker get a foot in his front door. He was being heralded as his father's son; well, they all knew what had happened to him, didn't they? He had sat it out for years waiting until the time was right to take what he saw as rightfully his. He now possessed all that Brodie had owned, including his wife and his kids, and he was certainly not going to stand back and wait for the boy wonder to reclaim his father's inheritance.

He had also heard the whisper of the pavement, that people were waiting to see if Pat Junior had inherited his father's taste for revenge. He had used Lil and fucked her over as if she was nothing and he was reaping the benefits of Brodie's hard graft. People were remarking on that a lot, lately, knowing the boy was due home. So he needed the boy to be close to him for a while until he knew the score for himself. He had to show willing, at least until he decided how he was going to deal with the situation.