Diamond (Diamond Trilogy 1)

‘You want to watch yourselves,’ she said. ‘Keep out of trouble. Once you’re in, you’re in and it gets harder and harder to stop.’

‘What are you, a Fed?’ asked one in disgust.

She climbed inside the car and turned the key in the ignition. Even then, it was some time before the kids would get out of the way enough for her to drive off.

Jenna didn’t want to admit it to herself, but she was a bit shaken.

Don’t be daft. It’s just kids. You were one, once. You aren’t going to let a bunch of snotty kids scare you off the streets where you grew up, are you?

Back at the house, the kitchen fitters were piling back into their van, ready to leave for the day.

‘Are you almost done?’ she asked, bumping into the last at the gate.

‘Another day should do it,’ he

said. ‘Got the worktops fitted now – it’s looking good.’

She went straight up to the attic, where she found a shirtless Leonardo crouching down to brush in the street level detail of his latest work.

He didn’t turn around, though he must have heard the attic door creak and slap down on the boards. She watched him, his dark hair brushing his bare shoulders, his spare, strong frame, the little gap in his jeans she could put a finger in and tug to tighten them over his abdomen. He was barefoot and the soles of his feet were filthy.

‘Evening, Jason,’ she said, once he had put the brush in his jam jar of water.

He still didn’t turn but she saw his shoulders tense.

‘Who’ve you been talking to?’

‘My old next-door neighbour. Went round for tea.’

He stood up and turned, facing her down.

‘So, did you find out what you wanted to know?’ he asked tonelessly.

‘Only what I already knew. Except your name. I didn’t know that.’

‘You didn’t need to know.’

‘But, Jason,’ she said, liking the name as she spoke it, thinking it more suitable than the ridiculous Leonardo. ‘Why shouldn’t I know it?’

‘I liked being who I am here. I liked having no past and no future, just my art and my woman. Now it’s spoiled.’

‘Oh, don’t be silly. How could that have lasted anyway? We have to live in the world.’ She felt a flutter at the pit of her stomach, all the same, at being described as his woman.

‘I don’t see why,’ he said, stubborn and grim-faced. ‘What’s the fucking world got to do with us?’

‘What,’ she said tentatively, ‘if I were to find Mia? If I were to find out what really happened and who was really responsible for what went on in that house?’

‘Oh, no, leave it,’ he said, shaking his head and striding towards her. He caught her arms in his hands and held them to her sides. ‘You can’t get involved, Jen. Don’t go near this.’

‘But if you could be vindicated—’

‘It won’t happen. All that will happen is that you’ll put yourself at risk. Stay away from those people, Jen. Even Mia. It’s too late for her. It’s not too late for you.’

‘But it’s not right!’

‘That’s life.’

‘But …’