Gentleman Sinner(77)

‘And your fetching hairdo this morning,’ I say with a smile as Jess pats down her wild locks. ‘I’m heading out with Theo.’

‘How are things?’

I shrug. ‘Well, I won’t be arrested, by all accounts, and my job is still mine if I want it. But I need to think about what I do next. I can’t stroll back in there like nothing happened.’

‘And Theo?’

I back away from the bed. ‘The man has me dancing on the edge of frustration and complete heaven.’ Reaching the door, I take the handle, mirroring Jess’s soft smile. ‘Catch you later.’

I make my way to my room, and once I’m dressed and ready, I find Theo still looking out of place in the floral chintz chair, his phone to his ear. I pull on my leather jacket as he looks me up and down, clearly approving of the baggy shirt and ripped jeans I’ve thrown on. ‘Half-hour?’ he says into the phone and nods before hanging up and gazing at me thoughtfully.

‘What?’ I ask, beginning to fidget under his concentrated stare.

He gets up from the chair and comes over to collect me, leading me out of my apartment. ‘I was just trying to comprehend how much I adore you.’

Good Lord, he’s sure making up for his stupidity. Does adore equal love? I quickly bat those thoughts away. ‘Where are we going?’

‘Somewhere.’ He helps me into the car, leaving me in a high state of curiosity. Where’s somewhere?

*

Somewhere is a back street in Soho. Theo pulls his Bentley up to the kerb, and I get out, looking around for any clue as to where we’re heading. There’s nothing obvious – no shops, restaurants or bars. I throw my bag on to my shoulder and eye Theo as he pulls off his shades. His silence is beginning to get under my skin. A few long easy strides have him by my side, collecting me and pushing on down the street. I let him direct me until we arrive at some steps that lead down to a glossy black door, and I look for a sign that might tell me where we are. Nothing.

‘This way,’ Theo says, taking the steps before me and reaching back for my hand. I accept and descend with him, constantly searching for clues as to where we are and what we might be doing. He presses a silver buzzer, and the door opens a few seconds later, revealing a man. Jesus! I recoil, alarmed. He’s huge, and the whole left side of his face is covered in tribal art that creeps down his neck and disappears past the collar of his white T-shirt. Holy Lord, he looks frightening.

‘Stan,’ Theo says, letting him move back before coaxing me inside. I don’t realize that my grip of Theo’s hand has tightened until he flexes his fingers, looking down at me with reassuring eyes. I smile a small smile, moving into his side, and he catches me and tucks me in.

‘Kane.’ The tattooed giant presents his hand and waits for Theo to accept. ‘Good to see you, my friend.’ He smiles, wide and toothy, shaving off ninety percent of his scariness with the friendly gesture.

‘This is Izzy, my girlfriend.’

Stan turns that friendly smile on me. ‘Theo Kane’s girlfriend, huh?’ He waits for Theo to release his hand before offering it to me. ‘Now that’s a title one should respect.’

‘ “One” as in you, or “one” as in me?’ I ask, shaking his hand.

He laughs and makes off down the corridor, gesturing for us to follow. ‘Both, darling.’

We cross the threshold into an open-plan space with bifold doors spanning the entire back wall, leading on to a small but well-kept garden. The huge area is sparsely furnished and divided into a kitchen, dining space, and lounge area. Theo pulls a chair out for me at a large white table, and I take a seat.

‘Coffee?’ Stan asks, bringing a coffee pot over to the table and settling with us. ‘Or something hard?’ He flips Theo a grin.

‘Coffee’s fine,’ Theo replies, seeming to ignore Stan’s vague joke.

‘Maybe I need something harder.’ He holds up the coffee pot to me and I nod. Who is this guy and why are we here? And, more worryingly, why would either of them need the hard stuff? It’s eleven in the morning, for goodness’ sake.

Theo levels an almost impatient expression on Stan as he pours my coffee, and I wrap my palm around the mug when it’s handed to me. Then I wait for either man to shed some light on what’s going on.

‘So.’ Stan sits back in his chair, his eyes crossing from me to Theo constantly. ‘How’s life treating you?’

‘You’ve not been at the Playground for a few months,’ Theo says, ignoring his question. ‘Is winning becoming boring?’

Stan laughs lightly. ‘There’s only one man left to take on, and he won’t fight me.’

‘You don’t want him to,’ Theo retorts seriously, slight menace in his words. ‘You have talented hands. We wouldn’t want to fuck them up.’

Stan looks down at his hands with a smile. ‘Very true.’

My head goes from side to side, trying to keep up with the conversation. ‘You’re a fighter?’ I ask Stan, seeing a perfect image in my mind’s eye of him in the cage at the Playground.

‘It’s my other talent.’ He winks, and then nods towards Theo. ‘Your man here refuses to take me on.’

‘I don’t want to tarnish your perfect record,’ Theo says, stroking the side of his mug.