‘Aye A know, everycunt says Danny wis fuckin oot ae order. Aw the troops ir talkin aboot it, man. Aw the Toi n even the Fleeto wans ir after him, sayin he’s gonnae git plugged fur it.’

‘He’s no gonnae git touched, wee yin. The Fleeto ir fuckin miniature heroes. Wit aboot me?’

‘Dunno, mate.’

‘A’m second prize. Danny’s made fuckin sure ae that. Matty wis tryin tae fuckin do me in wae a dumb-bell bar.’

‘Yi heard fae Danny?’

‘Huv A fuck, son.’

‘He’s a fanny fur dain it.’

‘Course he is. He’s got wan ae us or himself done noo in retaliation.’

‘Yi hink so?’

‘Aye. They’ll up the fuckin ante noo.’

‘Wit dis that mean?’

‘It means we’ll needty watch oot fur each other. Make sure nae cunt gits sneakied when they’re by themselves.’

‘If they come lookin we’ll just fuckin doo them.’

‘Mate, it needs tae stop somewhere. It’s gittin oot ae fuckin control.’

Toffey doesnae understand yit. At sixteen, yir still a Young Team wan through n through. Daft as a brush n mad fur it. He husnae started tae endure the bad that’s inevitably comin. He’s still young, sittin in a tracky n a wee guy in the face.

‘Well A’ve git suhin tae tell yi.’

‘Spit it oot then!’

‘That Patricia’s bad news, mate. She’s still been fuckin aboot wae that Jamie Peters.’

‘Wit makes yi think that, youngster?’

‘Cos A saw hur wae him the other night.’

‘Aye right.’

‘Fuckin swear doon.’

‘Where?’

‘In his BMW, the flashy cunt.’

‘When?’

‘Fuckin Wednesday there, Azzy. She’s seein yi both, man. Git hur tae fuck.’

The door swings open n we both jump. Patricia’s standin n A kin tell by hur face she’s just heard Toffey’s revelation. Ma maw wis always bad fur lettin cunts just walk up the stair. She looks like she’s gonnae go fuckin tonto.

‘You’re a fuckin lyin wee cunt!’

‘Awright, Patricia. Just calm doon, fuck sake.’

‘Naw A won’t calm down! If you’re gonna sit n listen to that yi can fuck off.’

‘Who the fuck yi talkin tae?’ Toffey says wae a growl, bold as brass.

‘You, ya wee fanny! Azzy, yi know for a fact I’m not seein Jamie anymore.’

‘Wit wid Toffey lie fur?’

‘Maybe cos he wants yi to be wan of the Young Team! When yi clearly don’t give a fuck anymore n yir tryin to move on.’

Toffey is shakin his heed n pullin faces. Patricia is standin wae hur arms crossed in the doorway, ragin, wae a dash ae red across hur cheeks.

‘Well fuckin wan ae yees is lyin! N A cannae see why Toffey wid!’

Patricia comes over n sits wae me on ma bed. ‘Don’t listen to him, Azzy! He’s just tryin to get yi involved in shite! Danny’s got yi in enough trouble without believin wee-guy stories.’

‘Aye well, funny, Monica told us much the same hing.’

Hur face changes tae a deeper shade ae pissed aff. ‘Monica? As in the lassie who still clearly fancies you but is more interested in hur wee college boyfriend! N put it this way, A’ve not said anythin to you about you being in hur bit a few times. That’s up to you. You’re allowed pals.’