ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(44)

Rebecca managed to get her mother standing, despite the woman’s hands and feet being bound, and was now looking down at Davie with an expression he wasn’t used to. It looked like compassion. “I’ll make sure the police know that you had nothing to do with this,” she told him. “You should get out of here, too, before Frankie comes back dow-“

Andrew crashed through the living room door and sprawled onto the carpet beside the sofa. His hands were covered in blood, as were his jeans and shirt. Frankie came through the door immediately after him – followed by Shell and the twins – and swung a massive kick into his midsection.

Andrew was silent as the blow crushed his ribs and sent him struggling for breath on his back. Covered by blood and swollen in the face, Andrew looked more dead than alive.

Frankie looked around and noticed that Rebecca and her mother were standing. Davie swallowed a lump in his throat as he waited for his brother’s reaction.

“Sit down, bitches,” Frankie ordered them, without seeming suspicious. Perhaps he assumed they’d stood up in surprise when Andrew had crashed into the room.

Rebecca did not sit down as instructed and instead lunged right at Frankie with her fingernails pointed out like claws.

There was a deep-red lump growing on Frankie’s forehead and Rebecca added to the wound by gouging two long furrows into the flesh of his cheek. The scratches began to bleed instantly, but Frankie reacted fast. He punched Rebecca hard in her stomach, doubling her over in agony, then shoved her, by her head, to the ground. He made it look as effortless as discarding a piece of rubbish.

“Tie this slag up,” he ordered the twins before looking at Davie and scowling. “What the f*ck, man? You were meant to be keeping these two under control.”

Davie nodded. “I’m sorry. I was just distracted by the way you all burst in. I’m sorry.”

Frankie let his expression soften and walked over to him. Wrapping his hand around Davie’s head and pulling him close, forehead to forehead, he told him not to worry. “Don’t sweat it, little bro. No harm done. You just keep watching my back like you always do and nothing will ever hurt me. You’re my good-luck charm.”

Davie hoped that wasn’t true, but was glad that his brother was not angry with him. He decided it best to help get things back under control again. Any chance that the women had of escaping was now gone and there would be no point crossing his brother. Penelope was still standing aimlessly and Davie eased her back down onto the sofa. Then he knelt down beside Rebecca on the floor.

She lay on her side, breathing in and out rapidly. Davie waited a few moments until she managed to calm down and then said, “Come on.” He placed a hand around the soft, warm flesh of her shoulder and wished that he could share some of her pain. “Let’s get back on the sofa. If you’re quiet Frankie should leave you alone.”

Rebecca said nothing, but she rolled herself up onto her knees and got back to her feet. She was unable to straighten up completely and moved in a stooped-over gait.

Dom and Jordan came over with the duct tape. “Get her on her feet, Davie.”

“She’ll be okay. I’ll make sure she behaves from now on.”

Dom shook his head. “Get her on her f*cking feet, Davie. You heard your brother.”

Davie glanced at Rebecca who stared back at him sadly. He couldn’t tell for sure, but something about the way she looked at him told him that she understood he had no choice in the matter. He hoped she knew that.

Davie reached forward and pulled up Rebecca’s feet. They were small, with perfect little toes painted a deep purple. He had to force himself not to gaze further up her naked legs. Davie knew little about women, but he knew not to stare.

Dom got to work, wrapping the silver duct tape around Rebecca’s ankles so tight that it made her wince. After he was done with her legs, Dom had Davie grab the girl’s wrists while he trussed them up as well.

“Do the bitch’s mouth,” said Frankie from the other side of the room. He was busy getting an unconscious Andrew back into the armchair. Michelle was helping him.

“No worries,” said Dom, happily tearing off another thick wad of tape and forcing it over Rebecca’s mouth.

Jordan came forward to join his brother and squeezed one of the girl’s breasts. She tried to cry out in pain but could only mumble from behind the tape. “Don’t worry,” he said. “We’ll take it off later when we have a good use for your mouth.”