Deep Water by Mark Ayre (best big ereader TXT) 📕

have taught you not to chum up to family enemies. You know what this bitch did to Ariana?"

"From what I heard, Ana had it coming."

Angel closed her eyes, shook her head. "You and mum, you make me sick. Ariana was trying to avenge our precious Aurora. Even if she wasn't, family must always come first. You've no idea what lengths I'd go to to protect my own. I thought mum was the same, but it turns out I was wrong. I think you've both forgotten what family means. I hope Alexandria is not going the same way."

"Or what?" said Abbie. "You'll send someone to knock her around? Because I'm in trouble for assaulting Ariana, but it's perfectly acceptable for you to have your siblings attacked to teach them a lesson."

"I'll do whatever it takes to protect my family," Angel reiterated. "Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind."

Abbie didn't know what to say to that. This woman was a different breed to Alice, Alex and Tony. Different even to Ariana, whose actions seemed to be driven purely by rage and grief. For Angel, it was about power and status. She wasn’t angry at whoever had killed Aurora because they had murdered Aurora, but because they had acted against Angel’s family. An insult that could not go unpunished.

"What happened to my boys, by the way?" said Angel. "Ariana told me you were an incredible fighter, but I assumed you only took out her and her friends after taking them by surprise. It looks as though I underestimated you."

"People often do," said Abbie.

"Clearly," said Angel. "Well, what about my boys?"

Abbie might have left the question unanswered but could feel Tony shifting beside her. Given a few more seconds of silence, his guilt would give him away, even if he didn't speak.

As Angel twisted her head towards her brother, Abbie spoke up.

"You don't know who I am, but let me make this clear. I've dealt with more crooks, thugs, and murderers than your mother has sold guns, and let me tell you a couple of things the vast majority of them had in common. They thought they could get the better of me, and once I was done with them, they went on to hurt no one else. Which is to say, next time you need some muscle, don't expect Baldie and Blondie to pick up the phone."

Angel stared at Abbie, not breaking eye contact, as though drinking in everything she was saying. Eventually, she smiled and looked at Tony.

"It's hot when she talks all dangerous and threatening like that, hey little bro? It's no wonder you want to get between her legs." She looked back at Abbie. "Tell you what, I quite fancy you right now. Maybe next time, I won't send any muscle. I'll come after you myself.."

"Please do," said Abbie. "They'll never find your body."

The comment was quick, quiet, throwaway. Abbie expected Angel to laugh it off, and, indeed, the older woman was in the process of tipping back her head to laugh when her son, Ollie, lunged.

Abbie saw him coming. Started to raise her arms, but the move had taken her by surprise. The boy crashed into her, she tripped over her own feet, and they went to the ground.

Ollie was on top. With a roar, he thrashed and smacked and kicked and head-butted. The moves were wild. None of them particularly damaging, but they came fast. Allowed to continue, it wouldn't be long before he got a lucky hit and knocked Abbie unconscious.

Tony was shouting. Angel was stunned. All around them, people were stopping, gasping. Was that someone calling security?

Ollie's attacks kept coming. Abbie turned her head, took the blows and shifted her arm. Angel's hands landed on the boy. She took his shoulder and tried to pull. He turned to knock her away. When he came back, Abbie raised her elbow fast and smashed the boy's jaw.

With a cry, he flew off, rolling to the ground.

Immediately, he was twisting, rising, holding his mouth, tears streaming down his face. Angel was with him, crouching beside him, trying to hold him up. At the same time, Tony was with Abbie, pulling her to her feet.

When both Ollie and Abbie were standing, Abbie sighed, felt her head and neck for bruises, smoothed her clothes and pointed to them.

"These are new, and no chance these floors are clean. I'm not happy."

Now Angels' eyes were openly blazing. All composure was gone.

"You attacked my son."

"That cannot be how you read what happened there."

"You could have broken his jaw. Here, baby." Angel went to touch the boy's face, but Ollie jerked away and stepped forward with his finger out.

"You stupid bitch, you won't stop us. He killed Aurora, and I will—"

"Ollie, that's enough." Angel came to him. Put a hand around his mouth. He fought her off immediately, but she grabbed him again, pulling him to her. All around, people were watching. Angel directed her son's attention to the spectators and hissed in his face. "I said, enough."

"It's okay," said Abbie. “The boy’s upset, and who can blame him. After all, his auntie’s dead. Or is it his sister?”

Angel’s eyes blazed. “Excuse me?”

“That’s what you said to Ollie, isn’t it? You’ll get revenge on Louis for his sister. That’s what you’ve raised him on, isn’t it? Alice went to prison, and you took in Aurora, started to pretend she was your daughter, got Ollie to see her as a sister. Isn’t that it?”

“And what if it is?” said Angel. “I was the only mother that girl had most of her life.”

"Don't kid yourself," said Tony, anger flaring. "From what I remember, it was Ariana, Alex and me who looked out for Aurora. You were too busy with the business. Ollie loved Aurora. That I believe. But he’s the only child that meant anything to you."

This outburst shocked Angel. That much was plain to see. Abbie stepped forward.

“I know what you’ve got planned, so listen up. Consider Jacob and Kyle protected. If you try to