The afternoon passes like any other Saturday, and to my relief Connor doesn’t make an appearance. I do start getting fidgety, anticipating seeing Ink again later. Surely the fact he wants to see me again so soon means something?
When my phone rings I stand and leave my mother alone.
“Missing me already?”
“Huh,” he laughs. “Not yet. But babe, gotta tell you, I’m really sorry, but I need to reschedule. I can’t make tonight, something’s come up.”
“Reschedule, You can’t, huh? And what’s come up, has she got a name?”
“There’s no bitch involved, babe. Trust me.” His chuckle shows he knows I was joking. “Just need to do something for the club.”
Mel’s learned to accept Pyro disappearing at odd hours with no explanation, I suspect I’m going to have to learn to do the same if my relationship continues with Ink. “Is this club business?”
“You got it, doll.” He’s quiet for a second before adding, “But how about I make it up to you tomorrow? Storm’s moved off now, it’s already warmer. Forecast is dry with sun for tomorrow. How about that first ride?”
“That sounds really good, Ink. I’d love that.”
“Okay. I’ll call you in the morning. Might have to wrestle Beaver’s keys off him first. Oh, and if you’re worried about leaving your mom alone, bring her with you. I’m sure she and Jeannie would hit it off, and she already knows Mel.”
I’d giggled when he’d mentioned Beaver and the key to his bike, but my eyes had gone wide when he’d talked about Mom. What fuck buddy thinks of his partner’s mother?
“I’ll talk to her,” I tell him.
“I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Take care, babe.”
“You too, Ink.”
“Me? Come to a motorcycle club?” Mom’s eyes twinkle when I tell her, and she nudges me in the ribs. “There were a couple of older bikers I noticed at Mel’s wedding.”
“Mom!” I stare aghast at her. “Hellfire and Bomber are taken.”
“What about the redheaded man? He was quite striking.”
“Rusty?” I roll my eyes. “Mother! I am reconsidering this if you’re going to make a play for your own biker. If Rusty hasn’t taken a woman in all his life, what makes you think he’d start now?”
She nudges me again. “He obviously hasn’t found the right woman as yet.”
I’m speechless.
She laughs loudly. “Just messing with you, Beth. Anyway, I’m fine staying here. Connor probably won’t even turn up.”
While I’m having doubt about the wisdom of Mom coming to the compound, I’m also against her staying here on her own.
“Come on, let’s watch a movie if you’re not going out with your man.”
We do. Mom, as usual, goes to bed fairly early. When she does, I turn off the lights and go to read in my room.
I miss Ink.
Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I stare down at the phone lying on the comforter, wondering whether I could text him. But I don’t know what he’s up to tonight, maybe it’s not right to disturb him.
My finger is actually hovering over Ink’s name when the phone rings making me jump.
“Yo,” I answer evenly, trying to hide how overjoyed I am that Ink’s called.
“Beth?”
It’s not Ink. “Yup. What d’ya want, Connor?” Nothing good, I muse, not at this time of night. “You coming to see us again?”
“I can’t.” His voice sounds croaky.
“You ill?” I ask, suddenly feeling sympathetic. He is my brother even though I may not agree with the choices he’s made in his life.
“I’m hurt, Beth.”
Oh my God. No. I sit up straight. “Hurt? How? Have you been in an accident?”
There’s a pause, then, “Beth, I need help.”
I grip the phone tighter. “What do you need?” He’s my baby brother. I might not think much of the man he’s grown into, but I was his protector while we’d been growing up. If he was bullied, I’d step in to help. My immediate reaction to offer assistance is automatic.
“Be certain, Beth, I’ve no one else to ask. It’s a matter of life or death.”
What? He must be being overdramatic. “Whose life, whose death?” I ask fast. “What the hell’s going on, Con?”
“They’ve hurt me and threatened worse if I don’t do as they say.” His voice certainly sounds rough.
“Oh my God,” I exclaim. “What? Who’s they? Why? Have you told the police? Do you want me to call them? Where are you, Connor?”
“No cops, Beth,” he croaks urgently. “Promise, no cops. They’ll kill me if I get the law involved.”
Kill him? “Con, you’re sounding like someone out of a movie. What the hell is going on?” I wouldn’t have believed him for a moment, except for one thing—his connection with our father who is very bad news.
“Promise, Beth. Promise you’ll keep this between you and me. You can’t tell Mom, or that man of yours. Promise me. You tell anyone else, I’m dead, I swear. Sis, I need you to promise. If you want to see me again, you’ve got to give me your word.”
Nothing he’s saying is making me feel any easier. I might not have had much to do with him lately, but there’s a sincerity in his voice, an underlying fear that warns me the situation is serious. A cold lump has settled in my gut. “What help do you need, and what can I do? You say you’re hurt? How badly? Where are you? Should I come to you? Should I ask Phil to help?” I never call my dad by a more familiar title.
“No, no and no,” Connor says fast. “I don’t want him involved. I got into this, I’ll get out of it. Look, I’ve got broken ribs, cuts, bruises, but I’m alive. I need your help to stay that way.”
I’ve gasped as he’s run through his injuries. He’s my brother. What can I say? “Christ, Con. Surely it’s best…” But there are probably reasons he can’t involve the cops. The reason why Mom hadn’t wanted him to have a key to the house was she thought he was involved in something illegal. From what he’s saying he probably is, but more importantly he’s hurt. What do I know about how things work on the side of the line which I’d never cross over? Nothing. All I can do is hope that my younger brother knows. “Anything, Con. Tell me what you want me to do. I’ll do it.”
“Anything?” His voice sounds sharper. “Do you really mean that Beth? Will you help?” If he was going to add more, it’s swallowed up by a fit of coughing interspersed with stifled moans of pain.
“It sounds like you need a doctor.” My heart’s beating so fast, my hand goes up as if to hold it inside my chest.
“When I can, I think I do, yes. But I can’t now, I’m being held.”
“Held?” I squeak. “Who by and where?”
“The first doesn’t matter, the second, I don’t know. I was unconscious when they brought me here. They let me have my phone, so I can arrange what I need to do to get me released.”
“Which is what, Con? What do you need from me? Shall I try to find you? Maybe I can locate you using the phone.” Maybe Ink’s friend Cad can do it. Or, “Have you an iPhone? I could use Find a Friend. I can come get you—”
“Beth, no. And I don’t have a fuckin’ fancy phone. No, the only way to get me out is to help me. That’s if you care about seeing me again.”
He’s an asshole, but he shares my blood. Of course I don’t want him hurt or worse, dead. “Anything, I’ve already told you. I’ll do anything to help.” My hand holding the phone is shaking.
“And you won’t tell anyone?”
It goes against the grain, but I can’t make his situation worse. “You promise, if I do whatever you ask me to, you’ll be safe?”
“Released straightaway. Beth, I hate to ask you, I should do this myself, but I can’t.”
“Just tell me, Con. The sooner I do it, the sooner you’ll be safe.” And then I’ll have to find a way to get him out of the life he’s living, get him away from the clutches of our father. He’s behind this, I’m certain. “What is it you need?
Is it money?” I don’t have a lot, but it’s his if he needs it to save his life.
“Beth? You listening, Bethie?”
“I’m listening.”
“I don’t need money. That won’t help. I do need you to make a delivery for me. If you go into my old room, I left some packages at the back of the closet, under a pile of old clothes.”
Left some… “What the hell, Con? You said you were picking up your stuff…”
“No time to argue, Beth. I needed somewhere to store something. Now I need some of it taken somewhere else.”
“Is whatever it is stolen?” If so, perhaps the person who it was taken from wants it back.
“What? No. But someone wants it in trade for my life. I need you to make the exchange.”
“Connor. Are you lying to me? Are you just trying to get me to do your dirty work for you?”
“Bethie.” His childhood nickname for me drops again from his lips. “Bethie, I promise. This is the truth. I won’t get out of this unless you help. Please Beth, I’m begging you. They’ll kill me.”
His tone has the ring of truth to it. Can I afford to doubt him? My eyes are leaking as I realise, I have no choice. “Okay, I’ll go to your room. What do you want me to take?”
“Thank fuck. Thank you, Beth. Take two packages. Take them to this address.” He rattles off a location. “Hand them over. Once that’s done, I’ll be released. Beth, I’m relying on you. I need you to do this.”
“Who do I give them to? What if… What if they take me too?”
“Beth, this will be simple. You don’t need to know who he is, he’ll be the only one waiting for you. And no, you won’t be hurt or taken. I promise you that. It’s not a difficult task. I wouldn’t put my sister in danger.”
He sounds certain I’ll be safe. But even if there’s a chance I won’t, what choice have I got? Find out the details and ask Ink’s advice. Yes. That’s what I’ll do. Now I’ve a hastily thought up plan, feeling easier I ask, “When?”
“Now. The rendezvous time is 1 am.”
I glance at the clock. Shit! “You’ve not given me much time.” I’ll be pushed to make it by then, let alone waste precious minutes discussing what I’ve been asked to do with anyone else.
“And what time you’ve got you’re wasting. Are you going to do this, Beth? Or do we say a final goodbye?” He sounds desperate, and his new bout of coughing reminds me he’s hurt, or at least says he is.
I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it for a second, wondering whether he’s being over dramatic. Worried about what low-life I’ll be handing whatever it is over to. But what if it’s all the truth? What if I say no and never see my brother in this life again?
There’s only one answer I can give. “I’ll do it.”
“Beth. You’re going to save my life. If there was any other way, I wouldn’t ask you, but there’s not. I love you, Sis.”
Then he’s gone.
Love you, Sis.
When was the last time Connor expressed such emotion for me? It must be years. What if that was his final message? What if, even if I try to help him, he ends up dead?
I stand, putting back on my warm sweater, wondering whether whoever it is will stop hurting him now he’s enlisted my help. Or will they kill him anyway?
No. I can’t think that.
I slip my phone into my pocket, then immediately pull it back out. Despite what Connor said this is too big. I need help. I’ll go to the police… I don’t place a call. What the hell do I know about this sort of situation? Connor might be right, and I’ll only be making things worse, or my little brother might be rescued but immediately arrested. I’m convinced he’s caught up in something illegal.
Prison might be better than being dead.
But people are killed in prison, aren’t they? And if he’s not quite irredeemable yet, he probably would be after being locked up with criminals. Connor would never forgive me.
Ink. Ink’s club might be able to help him. But what am I to Ink? Have I got the type of relationship where I could presume on his help? He offered to help if Connor came around, but could I really involve him in this?
Why should he lift a finger to help him, or draw his club into a fight which isn’t theirs? What if the club agreed to help find Connor and rescue him? What if Pyro stepped up and he was hurt or killed? While everyone says it wasn’t down to me that Mel lost her baby, if I hadn’t told her Skull was alive, would that have prevented events turning out as they had? Even if she had found out later, just a few more months and she’d have been holding a living, healthy baby.
I owe it to her not to involve them in my brother’s shady business. I’ll do nothing to hurt her again.
I can’t find my car key. I start emptying my purse, my hands shaking as I look for it again, my mind racing.
No cops, I can’t risk it. I can’t risk involving Ink’s club. I can’t tell Mom, she’d not want me putting myself in danger. I’m sure she’d choose me over her errant son. I pull back my shoulders. What choice have I got?
What if Connor’s lying to get me to do something?
It hadn’t occurred to me while I’d been speaking to him, but now he’s no longer on the line, doubts are entering my head.
Would Connor put me in that position? He coughed, yes. He sounded hoarse and husky. Could be he’s just got a cold and is going to pass an unpleasant task off onto his sister. He’d pressed enough of my buttons to do whatever he wants.
Damn this niggling voice inside that says, I can’t trust him.
One thing I know, I can’t be responsible for the death of my brother. I’ll do what he wants, then somehow I’ll find him, get him to a hospital if he needs one. If he doesn’t, he just might by the time I’ve finished with him.
Got my key. I listen carefully, there’s no movement from Mom’s room, but it is past midnight, she’ll be asleep. As I tiptoe to my brother’s old room, my mind is still whirring as again and again I run over my brother’s words. I’d taken everything at face value. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s fed me a line which I’ve swallowed.
Say you broke it, Beth. Mom will go easy on you. She hadn’t. I’d been grounded for a weekend that had turned into a week when I tried to shift the blame onto my brother and he hadn’t backed me up. Just say I’m already in bed, I’ll be back soon. He hadn’t been, he’d stayed at a friend’s all night and I was in the wrong because being older, I should have known better.
He’s also no stranger to embellishing the truth when it got him the result he’d wanted. An I’ve been sick, Mom accompanied by my stomach hurts so bad had gotten him off school coincidentally, when he hadn’t done the assigned homework.
Christ, I hate this. Hate being sucked down into the world of secrets. This is completely outside of everything I’ve ever known.
Take two packages and deliver them at one am in the morning. What could go wrong?
Chapter Sixteen
Ink
“Change of plan,”
I’ve barely stomped in and had my chance to take my seat before Demon starts speaking. Not entirely unexpectedly, Prez has gathered all those who are going to stake up Tits Up tonight, together.
Sounded quite simple to me. Allocate each of us to watching certain areas, and we were done. I’m still seething that I won’t be able to see Beth tonight, and for once not because I’ll miss wetting my dick. The more I’ve been thinking about her, the more I want to get her view of where she could see us going. No point in me making plans in my head if she’s only going to be turning me down. I’m also angry at myself. This isn’t me. I’d give my life for my brothers, and today all that’s being asked is to give them some time. Not the first occasion my own plans have had to be put on the back burner for the club, but it’s the first time I’ve been rankled because of a bitch. I make a concerted effort to calm myself down.
I see Mace looking at me warily. I throw a chin lift back and a shrug. He narrows his eyes, then turns his attention to the VP
who’s just cleared his throat to speak.
“I was picked up by the cops earlier today.”
Murmurs of surprise go around.
“What d’you do, Beef? Push that Fat Bob too hard?”
Beef glares at Lizard, who makes as if he’s sinking down on his chair, then continues, “Someone’s ratted out the club, or rather put in a report that there’s dealing around our businesses.” He waits for our exclamations to die down, then lifts his chin. “I suppose it was only a matter of time. Needles in bathrooms, shady people around. Anyway, I was interrogated. I had to decide fast what to tell them and decided ‘no comment’ was unlikely to help. I settled back, drank my water, and reminded them of the meeting I’d had with their chief a few months back. Told them again how they already knew we do our part to keep drugs away from our part of town.”
“They happy with that?” Thunder enquires.
Beef shakes his head. “Nah. Suspicious fuckers said things might have changed. I pointed to that report they had in front of them and asked how the hell they thought that fitted with what we were trying to do, that is, trying to make an honest living. As we have done for years.” He pauses for a moment. “They still weren’t convinced, so I shared our thinking of who was behind it, or rather, what little we surmised. That someone is coming in from out of area and using our businesses either as everyone local knows to stay clear, or because they saw a vacuum and filled it.”
“We’ve no rep for dealing or using,” Hellfire says, sounding annoyed.
“I told them we’d be fuckin’ stupid to shit on our own doorstep,” the VP responds. “Seems that got through their heads. I reminded them no member has been picked up with more than marijuana for a number of years now.”
“Ever since we became Satan’s Devils,” Hellfire states.
Beef raises his chin in acknowledgement. “I may also have given the impression we were fuckin’ angry about the situation, and they told us firmly not to address it ourselves.”
“General warning?”
“Nah. They’re planning something.” The VP grins widely. “When they’d finished questioning me, they went out in the corridor, but hadn’t closed the door properly. Maybe Steph’s rubbing off on me, but I’ve got excellent hearing. I heard a few words, didn’t have to hear it all. Tonight, Tits Up and SWAT. That was enough for me to put together there’s a bust planned for today. Look,” Beef leans forward, “the last thing I want is for us to be caught up with a trigger-happy SWAT team.”
Ink's Devil: Satan's Devils MC Colorado Chapter #5 Page 15
