REVENGE…IS SO SWEET
Craig Garrison stood at the Major's party with a glass of wine in one hand , trying not took as bored as he felt , wondering how soon he could make an excuse to slip away. He would have preferred to
spend New Year's Eve with Angel and his men at the party that they had been preparing for all week in the Village Hall but this had been nothing less than an order , however it had been worded anD
his attendance was mandatory.
`You look about as bored as I feel `, a voice said
He turned and saw two beautiful blue eyes , a mass of shoulder length curly brown hair, and a smile that would light up a room.
`I know it's totally unladylike but I'm going to introduce myself anyway, `I'm Vivienne Landers`.
He smiled at her.
`Lt Craig Garrison, very pleased to meet you .Would you care to dance`. He asked.
`Why I would love to,` she said laughingly.
They had spent the rest of the evening enjoying each others company, and as the party ended , he asked if he could take her home, little knowing that this was the beginning of some of the worst
days of his life.
…..
He had been seeing her for over a week now and for some reason he wasn't quite sure of , had not told anyone about her, not even Angel. He didn't feel ready for all the questions that he knew she
would throw at him regarding any new lady in his life. As far as she was concerned , he was her brother ,and any woman had to be special. He really had begun to like Vivienne a great deal , and knew
that eventually the to women would have to meet, but he also knew instinctively that they would never be the best friends that he had hoped the two most special people in his life would be. In fact
he was pretty sure that Angel was going to dislike Vivienne , they were so different, Vivienne was a lady, some thing that as much as he loved her Angel would never be. He decided that the longer he
could keep them apart the better it would be for him.
`You are a coward Craig Garrison,` he said out loud.
`There was a knock at the door and Goniff came in with coffee.
`You need another cup Warden? He asked.
Craig looked puzzled.
`Thought I heard you talking to someone`. Goniff said
Craig laughed .
`Just talking to myself Goniff, deciding what to do for the best.`
`Got a problem then mate , have ya? He asked.
`Not really Goniff, nothing important anyway, it'll sort itself out. Thanks for the coffee , better get back to the paperwork, can't leave it all for Angel to do`. He said.
`You'd never get away with it if you tried, not without a good reason anyway, you know like two broken wrists,` laughed Goniff.
`You are so right,` said Craig joining in Goniff's laughter. `So thanks again for the coffee , and back to work it is.`
Goniff nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Craig sighed .
`Oh just grow some man and tell her straight , it's not as if she runs your life, if they don't see eye to eye so what. It's not like they'll be spending every day together , now is it` he said to himself
Deciding that this was the best course of action Craig picked up his pen and went to work deciding to get the two of them together as soon as possible
…..
He had arranged a meeting between the two of them in a coffee shop in London, he figured there at least they would have to be civil to one another. He couldn't have been more wrong. The snide
remarks from each of them grew worse as time went on, and he was glad when Angel decided she had other things to do and left .
`I don't think she cares for me at all`, said Vivienne.
`Craig tried to laugh it off , but knew that Vivienne was right.
`She is very protective I suppose, I'm all the family she has left now`. He told her.
`Well maybe she should learn to take care of herself more, after all we do have our own lives to lead , now don't we Craig? She asked him sweetly.
`Your right, as usual. I'll talk to her, explain things to her, all right? He said
`That would be wonderful darling`, she said as she kissed him` We have to do what's best for us , now don't we?
He returned the kiss,
`Anything you want darling , you only have to ask , you know that.` he said
`Yes Craig , I know, anything I want.`
…...
Angel had disliked the woman from the moment she had set eyes on her , She didn't know what it was that set her nerves on edge, but there was something that wasn't quite sitting right with her.
She knew that there had been lots of women in Craig's life , he was a good looking guy, and she would have been amazed if he hadn't returned the interest women showed in him. Like the others , he
spent time in London with women that he had befriended at parties , or met in pubs when they were out drinking together. They were all very adept at finding a partner for the night when they
needed too, and Angel had no problem with this, it was after all human nature, and more than once one of these ladies had been introduced to her , before the guys split up for the night with a spring
in their step and a twinkle in their eye, leaving her with no doubt at all about what they were going to get up to given half a chance.
But with Vivienne it was different.
There was something about that lady that bothered her. Somehow she knew that Craig was going to get hurt, and right now there was nothing that she could do about it , because he would not hear
a word said, against her. Angel sighed, one thing she was sure of, she had never seen him so besotted , Craig Garrison was hopelessly in love, and in this case she couldn't help feeling that this was
not necessarily a good thing.
…...
Angel had followed Vivienne after Craig had left her , she was so sure that she was up to something, She watched as she entered the hotel and checked in and then followed her to her room.
An Army Major was waiting outside for her . There were no hugs or loving greetings , so Angel suspected that this was business not pleasure. She couldn't hear anything that was said , but just had to
watch as they entered the room and closed the door. Something was going on. Something that involved Craig , and somehow she was going to find out what it was.
It did however come as something of a surprise to find that same Major leaving Craig's office the following day, just as she arrived.
As she knocked and entered , she found Craig standing at the window looking absolutely totally dejected.
`You all right Craig? She asked.
`Craig ? She said again as he ignored her.
She walked over to him and put her arm on his.
`What's happened? She asked him.
`They're shutting us down, disbanding us, say they're to much trouble, too unreliable .There sending them back to prison, no pardon, no parole, nothing, and there's not a damn thing I can do about
it.` he said angrily.
`Do they know? she asked.
He shook his head.
`I've only just found out, that's what Major Ellis was here for, to give me the good news. We have a week to get things in order here and then that's it , we're finished.` he said
`Can't you go above his head? She asked.
`I'm going to try , but he knows things that they've done that he shouldn't , things I've not told anyone but you, things that haven't been sent in the reports. `I don't know if I can get them out of
this.` he said .
`What sort of things? She asked.
`Jobs they've pulled over there , capers they've set up on their own,
Scrapes they've gotten into, things about their past that only you and I know `, he said
Could they have told anyone? She asked
`Most probably, put nails in their own coffins, this time`. He said angrily.
Angel took a deep breath.
`Did you tell Vivienne any of this? She asked.
He turned on her with a viciousness that she had never seen before .
`This has nothing to do with her , why do you have to make everything her fault.` he asked.
`Craig it's not like that`, she said.
`You just don't want me to find any happiness , do you? You've never liked her, never given her a chance , well I'll tell you something Angel. I love her . And I'm going to ask her to marry me, and if you
don't like that then maybe you should just get out of my life and stay out, because she's more important to me than you are right now`.
He was shouting now, angrier than she has seen him in a long time.
`Craig please , there are things you need to know`, she began.
`There's nothing that you need to tell me, I know you hate her, she's told me that. You'll do anything to make her look bad in my eyes , well it won't work Angel. What I decide to do has nothing to do
with you. You do not rule my life like you ruled David's. You were his wife , not mine , I am not responsible for you , so maybe you had better get out, go find someone else latch on to , because we
don't need you interfering in our lives any longer. Vivienne is more important to me than you will ever be.` he shouted angrily.
Craig she's seeing Major Ellis, I saw them together , you have to believe me. She's in this with him`, she said
It was then that he slapped her hard across the face
You're a liar , a pathetic sad human being, I don't know why you want to hurt her, but I'll not let you , not ever again. Now get off this estate and stay off. I don't ever want to see you here again.
Don't be here when I get back`, he shouted.
`Craig please` . She said as she tried to hold back the tears, `Please don't do this.
Without looking back he stormed out of the office slamming the door behind him.
…...
She didn't know how she managed to get back to the cottage, she had just grabbed the nearest jeep and driven hard, almost leaving the road sometimes. She entered the cottage, bolted all the
doors and windows, determined to keep them out, not wanting them to see her like this. Then suddenly all the emotions she had been trying so hard to control came to the surface, and she collapsed
to the floor, and cried like she hadn't done in the longest time. She could forgive the words , the hurt they caused her, but he had hit her, and he had meant it, there had been no holding back, he had
wanted to hurt her. As the sobs continued she knew that Vivienne had won. And that she had lost the most precious thing in her life. She sobbed uncontrollably now, and as strong arms surrounded
her she fell into their embrace , not knowing or caring who it was, just that she needed to be held, needed not to be alone.
As the sobs slowly subsided a handkerchief was put in her hand and she looked up into Actor's face, and then saw the others looking worriedly down at her.
`Thank you`. She said tearfully.
`Goniff make some tea will you? He asked `Casino get a brandy, she needs it right now.`
Both men nodded and disappeared ,
Actor nodded to Chief , and they helped her up and sat her on the sofa between them, Actor pulling her close to him and placing his arm around her shoulder.
`Here , drink this, and don't argue`, he said.
She did as she was told, even though she hated it.
`Here you are love, nice cuppa tea, lots of sugar`, said Goniff trying to smile.
`How did you get in? she asked Goniff
`Kitchen window love, piece of cake`. He said.
She wiped her eyes and sniffed .
`Gonna go back there and give him a good talking too, might even throw in a punch or two , if we're going back to stir there's no point in holding back , now is there? said Casino angrily.
`How did you know, about prison? She asked
`Couldn't not know, the Major wasn't bothered about keeping it a secret.
Casino got up to leave.
`Please don't `. Angel said tearfully
`Not now Casino, it's not the time`. Said Actor.
`Please …. Don't do anything, any of you, promise me`. She said
`They all looked at her.`
`You might be gonna let him get away with what he did lady, but I sure as hell ain't`, shouted Casino.
`You hurt him and I'll never forgive you Casino, I mean that`. She said. Casino could see that she was serious.
`Huh`. Said Casino as he poured himself a drink.
`You need to rest for while now `, said Actor , as he watched the shock and the brandy take effect
`Promise me you'll stay here, promise you won't do anything , please`, she begged.
`I promise that we will do nothing without telling you first, all right? Said Actor.
`Chief? She asked `I need you to promise too, I know if you give me your word you'll not break it`. She said.
`Got my word`, said Chief sullenly
`Don't let anyone hurt him, ok? She asked.
`Promise , for you though , not for him, won't do nothing for him now, not after what he did`, he said`
He looked at Angel .
`She's sleepin' said Casino so let's go and talk to the Warden shall we?
None of them moved
`Gave her my word Casino, much as I want to talk to him ,I promised her, ain't gonna break that promise`, Chief said, emphasising the word Talk, so that they all knew that was the last thing he
wanted to do .
`We'll make some coffee and wait until she wakes up, we stay with her and no-one gets in, she's our responsibility now, agreed`. Said Actor
They all nodded.
`Chief? Said Actor `You ok with that.
`Sure , but I promise you now, nobody will hurt her again, not without going through me first`, Chief said.
Actor looked at them.
`That gentlemen goes for all of us.` he said
…...