The Locksmith by Linda Calvey (reading in the dark .TXT) 📕

on the main deck with sun loungers and drinks tables, and a bar entirely decorated with mirrors that bounced light around the space.

‘Enchanted. Please join me in my infinity pool. I don’t usually invite guests into my private domain, but, for you,’ and here Vladimir stared straight at Ruby, ‘I make an exception.’

Chilled champagne awaited them. Vladimir was the first to disrobe and slip into the cool blue water. Ruby glanced at Archie, unsure whether to join him, but etiquette meant they could not leave their host alone in the pool.

Ruby slipped off her coral pink kaftan. Underneath she wore a simple emerald green bikini that complemented her pale skin.

She stepped into the water, accepting a glass of bubbly as she sank down, the cold clear water making her gasp.

‘To us,’ Vladimir said, holding his glass in a toast.

‘To business,’ said Archie firmly in response, making Ruby smile.

‘We don’t usually work with people outside of our networks, so this partnership is a new idea for us. I hope it’s somethin’ we can all agree on. It’s a win-win for us all. What d’ya say, Vladimir?’ Ruby’s eyes glinted as she spoke. The thrill of making a deal was intoxicating. The fizz from the bubbles, the warm sunshine against the blue sky, the refreshing water and Vladimir’s powerful charisma was a heady combination. It was easy to flirt with him, knowing it was just business and her husband was right there. None of it was real – except the money they’d make. It was a deal worth making.

‘To our partnership,’ said Vladimir.

‘That’s settled then.’ Ruby raised her glass. ‘To the future,’ she said, knowing that today’s meeting had been a mere formality. She’d pulled off the partnership she’d discussed with Lloyd earlier. He’d said that securing Vladimir as a partner could make them millions, and shore up their supply chain. No one would be able to squeeze them.

‘To the future. Our deal is done. Now let’s drink and eat,’ Vladimir replied.

They clinked glasses.

Later, after the afternoon spent eating the finest caviar and blinis, and sipping champagne, they returned to the villa.

‘You did it, Ruby.’ Archie smiled, kissing her. ‘Though I’m officially a jealous man.’

Ruby leaned in to kiss her husband. ‘There’s only ever been one man for me,’ she said as her lips curled in a smile.

‘You’ll ’ave a yacht of your own for this, darlin’. One twice the size of Vladimir’s,’ Lloyd said behind them, making them break off their embrace.

Ruby laughed out loud. It wasn’t the yachts, the money, even the properties and clothes, which elated her, it was the sheer excitement of the deal that kept her coming back for more.

CHAPTER 44

‘To The Locksmith Wine Bar!’ giggled Ruby.

‘The Locksmith!’ cheered back the people all standing around her and Bobby as they toasted the opening of their upmarket wine bar in Chigwell.

Bobby turned to his sister. ‘Rube, are ya sure you want me to run this place? It’s so . . . so . . .’

‘Posh!’ laughed Ruby in response. ‘Look, Bobby.’ She hushed her voice, and nudged him back to a quieter corner of the bar, which they had taken great delight in naming after their humble beginnings. ‘This place is yours now. You’re a natural. You love people and I’ve sent one of our associates from Spain to help with the business and accounts side. You’re movin’ up in the world, brother. I would’ve run it myself, but I just can’t now . . . after everythin’. I can’t bear to be here, but I couldn’t miss this night . . . your night,’ she added.

‘Rube, I appreciate everythin’ you’ve done for me and for Belle, but we both know this isn’t just a legit bar.’ Bobby kept his voice low. So, he’d guessed. She wasn’t surprised. They’d grown up surrounded by crime at all levels.

Ruby shrugged. ‘It’s what we do. It’s who we are, Bobby. You must know that by now? Look, I know you’re worried about Belle. She’s straight, she doesn’t understand our world.’

‘It wasn’t always our world,’ Bobby snapped.

‘No it wasn’t,’ Ruby replied calmly. She could see her brother was rattled, but she also sensed that the prospect of owning a bar excited him. ‘Belle doesn’t ’ave to know anythin’ about that side of it – and neither do you. All that is bein’ taken care of. All you ’ave to do is enjoy it. It’s yours to do whatever you want with.’

Bobby looked conflicted. It was obvious to Ruby that he hated keeping anything from his wife, yet it enabled him to create something of his own, something that wasn’t lock-breaking or burglary.

‘I’ll do it, but you must never tell Belle,’ Bobby said hesitantly, unable to meet Ruby’s eyes.

‘Of course not,’ she said softly. So many secrets, she added in her mind as the siblings parted ways, him to check in with the bartender, her to circulate amongst their guests.

They’d named the bar for the set of skills that had given them their first break, though it was a long while since they’d needed to break any safes. Money was pouring into the family from their drug trade, but more and more they were finding that what they needed was to launder their money. Hence the need for the bar.

As Bobby suspected, The Locksmith was a front. Even though Ruby couldn’t bear to spend much time in Chigwell she’d decided to keep to the contacts they knew – including the dodgy accountant given to her by Charlie. They would clean their money via London, and the bar would now be an integral part of the process, siphoning money and creating legit funds as a result.

Reluctantly, Ruby had flown back for the opening to support Bobby, but being here for more than a few hours, days at most, was all she could manage. No, it was better if Bobby managed the bar. It gave him a ‘respectable’ job and kept him in the family business, where she could look after him. She’d kept the mansion, one of her last links