Ash clenches his fists. “She remembers that fucker instead of her own son?”
“Watch your language. Harry’s upstairs. And I think it’s about time you let go of your hate towards him. He’s been nothing but helpful to me over the years.”
“I bet he has. One sister not enough for him?” He snarls, his pupils dilating, making his eyes appear darker.
“Don’t be gross. It’s not like that. When you were locked up, he was like a brother to me. He can’t help it if you were always getting yourself into trouble.”
“No more than you.” He glares at me with an eyebrow raised.
“Yes, but I wasn’t a thief or a junkie. It was only a matter of time before you landed yourself in prison, or worse. Dead.” A shiver wracks my bones as I remember my brother off his head on heroine, stealing whatever he could get his hands on for his next fix.
Fern said he’s a lost cause. I’m sure Shane thinks the same like he’s a waste of space, an oxygen thief taking up resources because he can’t get himself under control. But this latest stint in prison seems to have cleaned him up.
“The cop will get what’s owed to him. Levi doesn’t forget. Especially since they raided Jodie’s gaff where he’s been staying.”
I pour the hot water from the kettle into two cups of tea. “When was that?”
“A few weeks back. They confiscated five grands’ worth of gear. He’s pissed.” Ash chuckles. “Can’t say I’m sorry. I hate that piece of shit, Levi as much as the cops.”
I hand him a tea, then open the kitchen door. “Harry, are you all right?”
He mumbles, “Just cleaning my teeth.”
“All right.” I sit down at the kitchen table opposite Ash. “So why are you hanging out with him? I gave you that money to setup your own place and get away from them, not invite them to live with you.”
“I had a debt I needed to pay. And since Jodie’s place got busted, she needed bailing out and had nowhere to go. I didn’t realise she was still using. She told me she was clean until they took her son.” The apple in his throat bobs, rippling the inked pattern on his neck. “My son.”
My head snaps up. With wide eyes, I swallow the tea in my mouth. “You have a son?”
“She thinks he’s mine. She must have been pregnant before I got sent down twelve months ago. I can’t even see him.” He runs a hand over his tired, beaten face. “Got to wait for the social worker to organise a paternity test before I can get visitation as my name’s not on the birth certificate.”
“Whose name is on the certificate?”
“Nobody’s. Just hers.” He shrugs a shoulder. “It’s all fucked up.”
I swat his hand for swearing.
“Shit. Sorry. Fuck.”
“Promise me you won’t go back there. Get your own place away from Levi. You need a fresh start. That’s what I gave you the money for.”
“They’ll find me. I owe them a debt and since the pigs and our dearest fucking brother-in-law raided Jodie’s place, I don’t have the money to pay them off.”
“What has that got to do with you?” I flare my nostrils in frustration. It’s like banging my head against a brick wall.
“I was gonna work for Levi, do a few runs until the cops took the gear he'd stashed at Jodie’s.”
“Well, how much more do you owe?”
He covers his face with his bruised knuckles. “Another two gees.”
I rub my fingers against my temple. “I have another thousand at the end of the month. Can’t you get a job?”
“Sure. There're loads of people wanting to take on an ex-con and former addict.”
I inhale a deep breath, wishing someone would just give my brother a break. Watching someone you love slowly ruin their life makes you feel helpless. I’m glad Mum doesn’t remember my brother’s demise. He always struggled through school and got in with the wrong crowd, but drugs and alcohol addiction is a disease that isn’t recognised in society.
Nobody wants to help the addict like they would if they were treating them with any other illness, even if addiction is a result of undiagnosed mental health issues or trauma. In my brother’s case, it was our father’s passing that sent him spiralling. Mum couldn’t help, as she was in her own grief.
