The Good Life Read Online Free PDF

through the cupboards for clean cups. One thing with Johnny Mac, he could make the most awkward situation seem normal. Eileen was repairing the damage to her face, and Jenny was just sitting there, white as a sheet.
    It really hit her hard, how these kind men, who had been so good to her and Bella, must see her and her world. For the first time, she was viewing her life as others perceived it. It wasn’t a good feeling. Sometimes she hated her mother even as she loved her.
    Johnny clapped his hands together loudly. ‘Cuppa’s on the way. Any biscuits?’
    ‘Look what that fucker’s done to me! Scratched my neck all over, and I’ll have a black eye. Fat fucker, he is.’
    Cain and Johnny laughed.
    ‘You’ve had worse I should imagine and, look on the bright side, at least you ain’t been banged up.’
    Cain took two twenty-pound notes out of his wallet and passed them to Eileen, saying, ‘Go to the chemist, get some salve or whatever it is you put on bruises.’
    Eileen took the money, then she looked from him to Jenny thoughtfully and she smiled. ‘Give me a lift, would you, Johnny?’
    Johnny looked at Cain who nodded imperceptibly, and the two left the flat.
    Cain poured out two teas and he placed one before Jenny, her face still a white mask of humiliation and horror. Like him, she had realised her mother was offering her only child to a strange man. Fucking Eileen Riley, mother of the year as usual.
    ‘Drink that up and you’ll feel better. I put lots of sugar in it.’
    Jenny didn’t move, just sat there like a statue, staring at her hands. Cain Moran was annoyed with himself. Why was he bothering with this? What was the attraction of this young girl?
    But he knew what it was all right. She affected him in so many ways. From her sad eyes, to her big full breasts, she had somehow entered into his psyche, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He had a wife and a handsome son − true, he took the occasional flier with a bit of strange − nothing significant.
    But what he felt for this girl was different to any feelings he had ever had before in his life. It didn’t make any sense. He’d only met her twice. And each time she had caused him nothing but aggravation.
    ‘Has your mum ever done this to you before? Left you alone with strange men?’
    Jenny stirred to life then as she said indignantly, ‘No, she hasn’t. How could you even think that? I’m not like her! I’m nothing like her.’
    ‘All right, all right, keep your hair on.’ He believed her and he was inordinately relieved that she was a nice girl. ‘Are you going to be OK, love?’
    She shrugged, and he noticed how slim her shoulders were; they didn’t look capable of holding up those enormous breasts. She really was a stunning-looking girl. She nodded. He noticed she had relaxed a bit now she knew his intentions were honourable. She finally looked into his eyes and his heart constricted in his chest. This was trouble he really didn’t need.

Chapter Twelve
    Richie Jakobs was fat in every way, from his huge belly to his double chins; even his hands were pudgy. But he was surprisingly light on his feet and, even though he looked like he was six seconds behind everyone else, he had a razor-sharp mind. He was, in truth, a mathematical genius and, if he had been blessed with a different set of parents, he would have taken his brain to university and learned how to put it to good use.
    Instead, he was a haggler. He had bookies, and he was used by everyone to work out percentages. His main fault − and they were legion − was he could never resist a scam of any kind, especially one where the odds were in his favour. He was wary of Cain Moran − who wouldn’t be? He had a fearsome reputation.
    But with the likes of Jamie Jones beside him, Richie felt that he was in a much better position. Jamie wasn’t a mug by anyone’s standards. In fact, he had a good reputation when it came to looking after himself. Jamie Jones was also known as