Trying Not to Love You - Part Twenty Seven

Chapter Twenty Seven

Scott Oldbury finally walked in, that was what Sonny had waited for. Trying not to show that he’d registered the other man, he made for the bar, abandoning Jade on the dance floor, though there were plenty of men ready to step into his shoes. He could feel Scott’s eyes on him across the room, but he wouldn’t bite, he couldn’t. The important thing here was to be nonchalant. He ordered another whisky, not that he needed another one, he’d been guzzling vodka since he’d arrived in the pub, if nothing else he needed his wits about him.

He had to wind up Johnny, start a fight, in the hope that one of Scott’s cronies would step in and intervene. The rest was up to Johnny, he had to worm his way into the circle of trust then drop the hints about the upcoming sitting duck of a van full of money. He knew that Scott would want a piece of that action, but he wasn’t sure how he’d guarantee that Scott himself would be involved, he had enough lackeys working for him, he wasn’t one to get his own hands dirty. But getting Johnny into the loop was the first stage, and an enemy of his would be an instant ally to Oldbury, he knew that. So they had to fight...convincingly.

It was dark; people were in and out visiting the smoking area, for Sonny that was a convenient excuse. Marching out to the small covered area a few feet from the door to the pub, he lit up a cigarette and took a deep breath, this was crucial. At that moment Gripper followed him outside, Sonny wondered whether that was deliberate. He didn’t care, either way it was playing into his hands. He eyeballed Johnny who’d been stood just outside the door all evening. He gave a discreet nod back and then looked away. Sonny finished his smoke then turned back towards the pub door, as he moved forward he deliberately elbowed Gripper in the back.

By the time he turned to snarl Sonny was at the entry to the building, and Johnny restrained him with an extended arm.

                “You causing trouble? Just barged that bloke, you asking for something?”

Sonny loved that Johnny sounded so convincing, scowling he tossed his head back to glare at him, “what if I am?”

Johnny laughed, “don’t go causing no trouble here, right?”

                “Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“The man who can stop you going back inside!” He poked Sonny in the chest as he spoke and as predicted and planned, he exploded.

                “DON’T TOUCH ME!” He shoved Johnny into the wall, then towered over him for a minute fist poised to punch him. As Johnny lashed out and regained his position, two arms encircled Sonny from behind, dragging him away from the tussle, from the smell and the dirty dark jacket covering those arms, he knew it was Gripper and he had to fight to stop the laughter at his predictability. This was so much easier than it should be.

                “You ok mate?” Gripper asked Johnny who nodded back.

                “Who’s your mate? He’s a fucking lunatic.” Johnny nodded at Sonny, who writhed in ‘anger’ Gripper’s arms still restraining him, “he’s been pushing my buttons all night, prick!”

Gripper laughed releasing Sonny then shoving him towards the pub door, slap bang into Oldbury himself. “No friend of mine! You’re right though, a prick.”

Oldbury sidestepped Sonny, who with a scowl for the pretence re-entered the building, the organ grinder being present was a bonus, he’d not been able to factor Oldbury into the evening, but there he was, right time right place for Sonny. It was up to Johnny now.

“James said he’ll drive you and Lucy home Dad, I know you want to stay, but you look shattered.” Martha placed a hand on her father’s arm; he was a proud man and would fight common sense to not look weak.

“I can walk.”

She nodded, “Lucy can’t though. Do it for her?”

As he agreed she heard a kafuffle near the door, looking up she saw Sonny burst angrily in from outside, and laughing watching his retreat were Scott and Gripper. When would he learn? She’d begged him to leave them alone, the last thing they all needed was Scott starting on them again. Since the threats earlier at the restaurant and the fact that they’d been witnessed by the CCTV, he’d been quiet, things had been calmer. There was no trauma, no damage, and that serenity made things so much easier.

Now he was back in the middle of a war with Scott? Looking at Sonny she gave a scowl then retreated back to the party, she’d promised Helen she’d sit with her, keep her company. She’d been dumped by the love of her life just before Martha had come back to town, and a night like this, where everyone was coupled up, dancing, Helen was feeling really left out and sad. So as the other singleton there, she’d called on Martha to be her company. And right now a date with a bottle of champagne seemed like simplicity, and heaven. So grabbing a bottle from the entry table and two glasses she left in search of her friend.

Sonny rolled his eyes at Martha’s reaction, though he knew she’d be angry, that was the exact reason he’d told her nothing about his plan, well one of the reasons. This was his swansong, this was his final dabble into the dodgy circles he’d found himself in since coming out of care at sixteen. He’d been so full of it then, years of defending himself; years of being unloved had made him a cynical and angry teen. He wasn’t particularly tall, but he’d boxed as a teen and kept that going once he was out on his own. It meant that he was strong, confident, and that was a bad combination in someone so filled with anger and resentment. He won a few fights, his name got known in certain circles, and then he was sucked into the loan shark world, collecting monies in any way he could, delivering packages. His quick thinking and hard fist coupled with his baby face meant that he always got a result. And people heard about that.

He sighed, he’d done some dreadful things, it was amazing he’d only had the one trip to jail really. Until now that life had been all he knew, but the time inside taught him one thing, he never wanted to go back, never wanted to lose his freedom again. That meant breaking free, and that meant doing this last thing for Marcus. He didn’t think he’d ever be in this place, but Martha, Carl...even the cantankerous Lucy, they made him believe that it was possible. But if they knew the truth, if they knew the things he was planning, knew the things he’d done, they’d throw him to the kerb, and who could blame them?

Moving to the bar he ordered another drink then spotted Carl and Lucy with James heading for the door.

                “You leaving Carl?”

The older man nodded, “past our bedtimes, hey Luce?”

Lucy rolled her eyes, she was obviously still wanting more fun, but it was James who attracted his real attention, he was scowling at Sonny. Giving his most dazzling smile, Sonny turned and re-entered the hubbub.

James was wise enough not to act in front of Carl, but he obviously had an opinion on Sonny, as usual, maybe he’d witnessed the fake fight at the door, James throwing him out would give Sonny reason to go back and have another fight with his friend, he felt ready for that. His anger was only ever just under control, and despite everything going to plan earlier in the evening, James glaring at him, Martha angry with him, dragged him back down, and it all meant he was struggling to keep on top of things. Punching his mate might make things feel better.

                “Dance with me?” It was Jade again, and her whining was starting to wind him up. She was a nice girl, but she was so full on. Then again sex was another way of fuelling that anger. the only problem was, since his encounter with Martha weeks earlier, he’d lost all appetite for other women, she’d ruined him for others then cast him aside, wasn’t karma a bitch?

Turning towards her he sighed, “not really feeling it Jade.”

                “Oh come on!” She grabbed his hand, at that moment he noticed James walk in to the room, the scowl was still there and he had no intention of having a strip torn off him by that man, and dancing with his sister...Sonny was never one to take the quiet option, so with a resigned sigh he allowed the girl to lead him onto the busy dance floor.

                “You ok Martha?”

Martha looked up to see James stood beside her and gave a shrug. In truth she was feeling dreadful. Helen had begged her to stay, to sit with her, and now she was dancing with Dan, someone they both knew from school, but Helen seemed keen to know better. Dumped she was sat alone watching everyone else have fun. She had drunk enough alcohol to become morose, she missed Ethan SO much, then there was Sonny, once again draped with Jade on the dance floor. And it did hurt her, though it was her choice, she knew that, and she’d have to get used to it, she knew he wasn’t one for relationships, she could be the first in a long list of women that he brought into their lives. Didn’t mean she wanted to see it though. She had to get away and soon. There was no plan B.

                “I’m fine James, you?”

He lowered himself opposite her and shrugged, “do you want to dance? Don’t want to see you sat alone.”

She shook her head, “me and Mr Moet are fine here.” She waved the champagne bottle then refilled her glass.

His eyes returned to the dance floor and he huffed under his breath. Martha followed his eyes and realised his anger was directed at Sonny, and his sister obviously.

                “Being protective big brother?”

James scowled, “the man is a bastard, what the hell does she see in him? And why the hell is she throwing herself at him like that?”

Martha laughed, “he’s not a bastard, but he likes women, and they like him, can’t beat that old chemistry. Hey? He’s a bad boy and women love nothing more than that.”

                “How can you defend him?”

She laughed again, “I’m not. You asked a question, I’m just answering. Don’t ask a question if you don’t want to hear the answer James.”

He stared at her; it wasn’t like her to be sharp, “aren’t I allowed to worry?”

                “Of course you are, but you didn’t say you were worried, you said you didn’t understand why your baby sister is so desperate to get into Sonny’s bed.”

                “She’s not desperate.” He defended her, but as they both looked up they could see clearly Sonny’s disinterest and that she was clinging to him.

                “Hmm.”

                “I’ll be glad when he’s gone.”

Martha stared up at him, her focus was fading as the champagne hit home, “he’s not going anywhere, he’s happy here.”

James rolled his eyes, “people like him don’t stay still for long. He’ll burn his bridges and when there’s no one left to piss off and no woman that he hasn’t screwed he’ll have to move on. He’s like that.”

She hated James’ pomp and cockiness, he knew nothing about Sonny, “God James, you don’t half spout some bullshit! This is REALLY starting to annoy me. You know nothing about him, you’ve never wanted to know anything about him, so don’t presume ok?” He looked a little stunned, quiet Martha bites she thought with a smile. “You’re just jealous that despite everything, you running your parents pub, being well known around here,” she deliberately played down anything he might see as a success, because frankly he had very little to show for his life that his parents hadn’t gifted him. “You’re jealous that he’s more popular with the ladies. He has charm, and a cute smile...it goes a VERY long way!”

James leaned forward, “Martha, where did you get off on being such a bitch?”

Standing she laughed, she was a little unsteady, but regardless turned to him, “the truth always hurts!”

Sonny and Jade had been leaving the dance floor when the exchange between Martha and James happened, and they witnessed the last few words, and whilst neither knew what they were arguing about, Sonny loved that she’d but him in his place. Then he realised as she made her very obvious storm off that she was drunk. Dropping his arm from Jade’s back he glared at James for a moment. Then muttered the word “bastard” in his direction before catching up with the unsteady Martha.

                “I don’t need your help.”

Martha had her nose in the air and was trying desperately to not appear drunk and Sonny wanted to laugh out loud, she was so hilarious.

                “You are as pissed as a fart young lady, and I’m not letting you negotiate that bloody dark path in your state and in those heels. Ok?”

She shook her head as she stepped out into the cool night, “I don’t want to cramp your style. Go back to ‘her’!”

Sonny groaned, there were those mixed messages again, he just wished she’d get over things and admit her feelings. She’d told him she didn’t feel the way he did, but he knew she was lying...to him and herself.

Suddenly he realised that the fresh air had hit her hard and she was struggling. Putting an arm around her he led her forcibly in the direction of the farm.

She started to mumble, drunken rubbish, and her legs were becoming less effective. Once he could see the house in the distance he scooped her up into his arms and strode purposefully towards home, it’d take hours to let her stagger in that direction.

Almost with relief she let her head fall against his shoulder and sighed, before closing her eyes. Torture. That was how it felt to him as he smelled her, felt her nuzzle against him, and her breath on his neck.

He managed to open the door without dropping her, and get through the kitchen, but the stairs were narrow and he had to turn sideways to scale them. She wasn’t heavy, but he’d had easier manoeuvres in the past. As he lowered her to her bed, he shook her, “come on sleepy, you can’t sleep in this dress and I’m not undressing you.”

That caused her to flash her eyes open and he laughed, finding a t-shirt he knew she slept in, he helped her pull it over her head, then unzipped her dress so that it fell to the floor.

She looked so vulnerable, half dressed, eyes confused, and feet unsteady. His heart surged, he loved this woman more than he’d ever loved anyone else.

With a rather dramatic sigh he watched as she threw her arms around his neck and pushed her body up against his. “Thank you...”

Sonny sighed, there was no way he was taking advantage of a drunk woman, no matter what people thought of him he was never going to do that.

                “Martha, don’t...”

                “Sonny, it’s all such a mess...isn’t it?” She leaned back to look up at him, “I mean there’s you...and they all want you...and angry...and sad...” She wasn’t making much sense but he knew she was fighting her inner demons.

                “Martha, just get into bed.”

              “With you?” She giggled, “naughty! Can’t...” Then she started to cry. He’d dealt with drunk women before and he knew that tears often accompanied alcohol.

                “Come on, you’re just tired.” He took her hands and tried to peel her from him but she fought him for a moment. Then with a groan she went completely limp and he lowered her to the bed, “ok?” He pulled the duvet over her.

                “Sorry...drunk...miss him Sonny, miss him so much.”

That confused him, “who? Who do you miss?”

                “Ethan.” With that she started to snore. Leaving Sonny stood in shock, who the hell was Ethan and why hadn’t he heard about him before?