Christmas to Come: a heartbreaking coming of age saga set in London's East End Carol Rivers (best sales books of all time .txt) 📖

'That's not the true picture, Micky,' Ronnie replied shortly. 'Last week Joyce had a visit.'

'From him?' Micky looked startled. 'Did you, Joyce?'

She nodded, saying nothing.

'They own half of Soho now,' Ronnie continued. 'And you know their reputation, connections with Old Bill included. They've built on their investment and are respected for their pull.'

Micky moved restlessly and Ronnie sensed this was not going to go down well. Micky resisted change and Ronnie knew in his heart that his brother still believed he had been robbed of the distillery. They never discussed it now. But it was there between them and always would be.

'So what if they pull a few strings? Billy's crew is west of us and of no importance. Joyce's place is not in their manor.'

Micky looked astonished as Joyce answered for Ronnie. 'Billy McNee ignores boundaries. He arrives with an army in tow. It don't take a genius to see which way the wind is blowing. He's buying up all the cream businesses of which I am one.'

Micky looked nonplussed. 'But you had Ronnie's men on the doors, didn't you?'

Joyce nodded, her expression weary. 'They were outnumbered ten to one. And when Billy left, he took two of my girls with him.'

'He can't do that!'

'He can and he did.' Joyce shrugged her shoulders and looked into Micky's shocked gaze. 'I'm selling out, Micky. I'm likely to end up with nothing except a severe case of concussion.'

'But we can take him! We can soon shut him up,' Micky protested.

Joyce smiled as she shook her head. 'You don't understand, Micky. They were tooled up and in an impressive way. McNee is an operator, bigger than you've ever dreamed of.'

Micky's head jerked round, shock registering in his eyes. 'Did they come to the club?'

Ronnie nodded. 'Yeah, no surprises there.'

'What happened?'

'What I have been expecting for quite a while. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse.'

'What are you saying!' Micky shouted. 'The Blue Moon is Bryant turf. You can't ditch it. The club is ours, always has been. This is our manor.'

Ronnie felt the anger that he had been forced to hide suddenly fill him again. He didn't want to lose the club any more than Micky did. And he also knew Micky wouldn't understand. He hadn't seen the full force of McNee's outfit. Joyce was right, they were an army, acquiring every club and brothel across the city that Billy fancied. Ronnie had thought hard about the future as he gazed into McNee's cold eyes. The man was wearing rings and a quality suit, but underneath he was a new breed of villain. The quality that put him above the rest was his insatiable greed. He took out anyone in his way. Billy McNee was travelling East. He was advancing and if Ronnie opposed him, without doubt there would be loss of life. In that moment of clarity, Ronnie had agreed. He had done the deal, accepted the offer and called it a day.

'I'm quitting, Micky. Time to move on.'

'You are going to be pushed around by the likes of McNee?'

'I'm accepting his price.'

'I don't believe I'm hearing you,' Micky said. 'We're not cowards, Ron. We've got to fight.'

'Like we fought at the warehouse?' It was Sean who spoke now, his face tense as he looked at his brother. 'I've not forgotten what happened that night Micky = and neither should you. Ronnie nearly died, the place was burnt to a cinder and we lost our business. Or have you blanked out Sammy Stratton?'

'Bugger the Strattons and the Mc Nees,' Micky shouted again, his fists slamming down on the table. 'They are filth and should be treated as such.'

'Micky – just think about it for a moment,' Bella broke in. 'Please!'

'McNee is a brainless git,' Micky continued angrily. 'He's struck lucky, putting the fear of God into people just because they let him. And that is what is happening to us – the Bryants. Ronnie, you can't let this happen.'

Ronnie stared into his brother's ashen face and wished with all his heart that he had the balls to take Billy McNee and rip him apart. But if he did that, it would be world war three and he couldn't allow that to happen. 'Billy McNee might be the brainless git, Micky,' Ronnie nodded, 'but he's ousted everyone in his path so far. Resistance is not an option for us. We are small fry in comparison to the big firms. Listen to me, the mob has changed into something I don't recognize now. What is happening today is out of our league. The specialist crews are moving in and taking over, disregarding manors and turf. They are heavies of the first order and we are not. We have had our day. Now we must put our brains where our muscle has been. And we can do it. All above board and legitimate too. Ten years down the line we will be wealthy, with businesses that are not corrupt.'

But Micky was shaking his head as Ronnie spoke. 'Ronnie, you are making one big error here. The Bryants are a name and will continue to be so if we stop McNee right now. Once this is done, we step into his shoes and then we will be wealthy men!'

Ronnie flexed his tight fingers, again amazed at his brother's refusal to learn from past mistakes. 'You have a short memory, Micky. We paid the price in '49. And I refuse to pay it again.'

Micky sat back, his blue eyes ice cold. 'You are running scared, Ronnie. And you know what, all those that respect us now will be laughing behind our backs. We'll be standing jokes to the hard men of this city. The Blue Moon is our turf and ours alone. If it sinks, then we sink with it.'

Ronnie looked calmly at his brother. 'I have seen this day coming and prepared for it, Micky. That's why I bought the garage, a legitimate business and you must grow it. There's no