Page 66 of Imperfect Skin

Ziggy stepped into the light, and man did he look like shit. His nose was still bruised, and he smelled like he’d been on a week-long bender.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Ziggy?”

Ziggy walked further into the room, holding an open bottle of whisky in one hand. “Came to pay you a visit, didn’t I. But the place was all shut up tight.” Ziggy scratched his head. “Well, except for that rusty, old padlock on the front door. One good smack with a spanner and it broke off easily enough.”

I kept the door at my back, ready to bolt should Ziggy make a move towards me. I just hoped Rhys and Alice didn’t come to find out what was taking so long.

“Saw you, ya know, with that little prick Rhys and the brat. That who you’d rather spend time with? Fucking losers and children? No wonder you’re fucked in the head.” Ziggy took another swig and swayed towards me.

“Not a step closer, Zig. I’ll call the cops. Doing this is a B&E charge for sure, and you fucking trashed the place. You need to fuck off now, before Simon or Cal find you. Believe me, you would rather be dealing with the coppers than those two.” I moved slowly backwards towards the door, my eyes fixed on Ziggy.

“Simon and Cal. Oooh, I’m fucking terrified,” Ziggy sneered. “That old prick only got a punch in because I didn’t see it coming. Next time, I’ll fuck him up.”

“Jesus, Zig, who the fuck do you think you are? You’re a fucking failed actor who couldn’t even land a gig doing ads for Tesco. You’re a bully and a drunk and an abusive fuck, and now you’re acting like a spoiled child ’cause someone got the better of you.” Fear had given way to anger now. For years I’d put up with this dickhead’s abuse and let myself believe I didn’t deserve any better. But Callum had helped me see I was worth more than that, and I’d be fucked if I was going to let this little prick hurt me or mine again.

I moved towards the shop door, and Ziggy cackled. “If you move one more step, this whole place goes up in flames.”

“What the fuck, Ziggy?” I looked around and it finally sunk in. The smell that had been making my nose itch was petrol. The floor and walls were covered in it, and Ziggy was holding a worn Zippo lighter in his hand.

“Was going to try and get that old prick down here and knock him out. And then poof! Bye-bye Viking Ink, and farewell Callum fucking Harris.”

“What the fuck has Cal ever done to you?” I yelled. Any sense of calm had fled the building.

“I’ve been playing second fiddle to that guy since the beginning, you were always pining over the sad old fuck. I never had a chance,” Ziggy mumbled, drunkenly swaying as he lurched closer.

“What utter bullshit. You were fucking every available guy from one end of the county to the next. You bullied and hurt me, chipping away at my self-confidence. What, because you loved me? Fuck you. You’re just pissed because I had the guts to finally realise I was worth more than what you gave me.”

A shadow appeared at the door, and I heard Alice’s worried voice.

“Mouse?” Rhys’s blond head popped around the door and his eyes went wide. Alice stuck her head around Rhys’s waist and let out a shrill scream.

Ziggy lunged, but I’d be damned if I let him touch my friends. Acting on instinct alone, I dove forwards, pulling him down in a rugby tackle Simon would have been proud of.

“Alice, Rhys, go get Grumpy.”

Eyes wide in shock, Alice nodded, bolting out of the door. I didn’t have long to focus on her before a punch landed on my jaw. Ziggy and I traded blows like two drunks after a Saturday night lock-in. Even munted, Ziggy’s punches still packed a wallop. But I wasn’t going to let him burn down the shop or threaten my family.

No way in hell.

Dad had Simon and I training at the boxing gym since we were little, and all the playfights I’d instigated over the years with Simon had finally paid off. Zig outweighed me and he was taller, but if I could drop my brother, then I had a chance to overcome Ziggy. A lucky punch to my nose had me blinking, but I focused on quick jabs to his kidneys and stomach, which I knew were his weak spots. It was an ugly scuffle, but I didn’t care as long as I could keep him focused on me until Alice and Rhys could get help.

“Why’d he have to turn up at The Pit? You wanted it. You said so yourself. That prick broke my nose.” Ziggy swung wide, his feet slipping out from under him, and he landed on the ground with a loud thud.

“Stay the fuck down.” I shook my head in annoyance. “You honestly can’t see what you did was wrong? What did you think, you were going to beat me bloody then take me home and fuck me? I said no. I withdrew my consent, and you ignored it.”

“Fuck that noise. You’d never complained before.”

My stomach lurched at the memories of the past. Dec and I were going to have a whole lot of shit to talk about next session.

“Oh, I complained plenty. You don’t fucking get it, do you? I didn’t just leave you ’cause you’re a randy toerag who can’t keep his dick to himself. I left you because I realised you’re an abusive piece of shit, and I deserve so much better.”

“Damn right you do, lamb.”

Glancing up I saw Cal and Don standing at the door. Relief coursed through me. Donald was already pulling out those zip tie things they used as cuffs these days and stalking towards Ziggy.

“Sorry ’bout the shop, Daddy. Seems Ziggy wanted to try his hand at redecorating without our permission.”

Cal cast a critical glance around the shop, then back at me. His ferocious expression softened as he held his arms out.

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