For Your Own Protection(41)

‘This is where the games are played,’ Harvey explained. ‘Poker mostly.’

Matt moved over to the large window that spanned the length of the room. He leaned against the windowsill, and gazed down at the peeling white paint that came off on his fingers as he tried to steady himself. Just a few short hours ago, he had been dining in one of the most exclusive restaurants in London, and now here he was, drugs in his pocket and a victim of assault.

What the hell am I doing here?

‘You wanna drink?’

Matt was still lost in thought.

Harvey moved across to him. ‘Hey, Matt, you okay?’

Matt clawed at his neck as he flashed back to the cold, razor-sharp blade tracing along his skin. ‘Just a bit shaken. What would he have done if you hadn’t come along?’

‘I think he was just tryin’ to scare you.’

‘He succeeded.’

‘Tyrone is an idiot. Still can’t believe he’s datin’ my sister. But Rochelle has always liked bad boys.’

Matt couldn’t help but see the irony. ‘Have you fought with him before?’

‘Loads of times. I can’t see us makin’ peace anytime soon, if he goes round threatenin’ my friends.’

That word. Friends. Did Harvey really see Matt and him as friends?

‘Rochelle seems like a nice girl.’

‘She’s nice, but she’s sometimes her own worst enemy. See, tonight, like, I know what happened. Rochelle came on to you, started flirtin’, usin’ those hips, gettin’ in close on the dance floor. Am I right?’

Matt flushed. ‘I didn’t do anything.’

‘I know that. Don’t worry, Matt, I’m not accusin’ you of nothin’. I know what happened, ’cos it’s happened before. Rochelle and Tyrone. They have one hot relationship, man. They fight a lot. He tries to control her, and she rebels.’

‘So she was trying to make Tyrone jealous?’

‘Her way of makin’ a point.’ Harvey set down two tumblers and filled them about three fingers deep with whisky. ‘Get that down you. Help you get over the shock, bruv. I promise it’ll do the trick.’

Matt took a sip. It was good stuff, warming the length of his throat like honeyed molten lava.

‘So, what d’you think of the club?’ Harvey asked, pulling out a chair and sliding into the seat. Matt joined him at the table.

‘It’s a great place.’

‘My uncle owns it.’

That explained how Harvey had been able to commandeer the upstairs room without any question.

‘Yeah, my Uncle Robert, he’s one cool guy. He’s actually more like a dad to me. When my real dad ran out, he did a lot for us. And he’s always supported me. I’ll have to introduce you to him some day. He’s on holiday right now. I can introduce you to his daughter though, my cousin. She works here, and she’s on tonight.’

‘Harmony?’

‘You already met? I did text her to look out for you. She gave you a friendly welcome, yeah?’

‘She did. To be honest, if it wasn’t for her, I might have turned around and walked back out the door.’

Harvey smiled, circling the top of his glass with his index finger. ‘That’s how I felt on that first night at college – right out of place. I was about to go when Amy talked to me. Don’t tell her this, but Harmony, she’s one of the reasons why I went for the college programme. I saw what she’s done with her life. She’s only young, man – nineteen – but, like, she’s runnin’ her own business.’

‘It made you want to succeed in other ways?’

‘Yeah, it did.’

Matt thought of something that had been troubling him. ‘You warned Rochelle not to leave the club on her own. Said it was dangerous.’

Harvey just watched him.

‘You said something similar to me – that it was safer inside the club than outside. What did you mean?’

‘These streets can be dangerous, man.’

‘But it felt like there was something specific.’

Harvey slugged back a finger or so of whisky.

‘Is it Tyrone, or his friends?’

Harvey laughed at the suggestion.

‘Or that group of men who were eyeballing us from across the road?’

Harvey bristled ever so slightly. ‘Why you bothered?’

Matt gulped back his nerves. ‘You realise what you did out there – to Tyrone – it could ruin everything for you.’

Harvey smiled ruefully.

Matt ploughed on. ‘I know what it says in the good behaviour contract you signed with the college.’

Harvey glanced at the window, then fixed Matt with a hard stare. ‘You won’t tell Amy, will you? I did that to protect you. D’you think Amy would’ve wanted her brother cut up in a dark alley?’

Matt admired the way Harvey had tried to reframe the discussion. ‘What did you do, when you told me to go into the club?’

‘No comment, Your Honour. Look, Matt, what’s this all about?’

And now for the real thing that had been pricking at him for the past few days. ‘The other night, at college. What was in your bag?’

Harvey stared back at him, unmoving. ‘Why d’you ask?’