Page 134 of Ink's Devil

I’m still chuckling to myself, wondering what the cops will make of a highway closed because of Mel’s baking flour. Then I frown. “Really wanted to make him hurt, Prez. He was going to sell Beth.”

Prez has sympathy in his eyes. “I knew we had to protect the club. Fastest way of doing that was to take him out clean.”

“Dead is dead, Brother,” the VP says. I suppose he’s right. Now Beth won’t need to keep looking over her shoulder.

“Ink. What’s your update?”

“Got the propane tank in one hit, Prez. Must have been full, it exploded, set the house on fire.”

“You risked burning your old lady?” Judge’s eyes are wide.

“What the fuck do you take me for? Pal’s drone worked like a charm. Showed us exactly where she was, in the opposite side of the house.”

“Casualties?”

“We made sure of it. All the men Phil had left are dead.” My face hardens. “We found something else there. Phil was keeping women in his basement. A teenage girl, who the prospect dropped back at her home in Denver, and two women with nowhere to go. I, er, well, Karl’s on his way back with them now.”

“The girl. She know who we are?”

I shake my head. “No. We weren’t wearing our cuts and didn’t offer any information.”

“So we’ve got strangers coming to the compound?”

“Sorry, Prez. Couldn’t think what else to do with them.”

“Nah, you did okay. We’ll sort it out.” Just one more problem dumped in his lap to solve, but like everything, Prez just takes it in his stride.

“There’s a women’s refuge in town,” Cad puts in. “I agreed with Ink. We couldn’t do anything else. Oh, and there were some of Phil’s staff, illegal immigrants I suspect.”

“Yeah, your Spanish came in useful, Pal.” Credit where credit’s due. He’s done well today with that and the drone.

Pal just shrugs.

Demon drums his fingers on the table. “The only loose end, as I see it, is Connor. When is this Agent Caruso back in town?”

“Saturday. Connor’s getting twitchy staying in his room, but we can’t let him loose while Beth and Patsy are here. I’m presuming Ink will want Beth to stay around. I was thinking he could go to the cabin?” Beef raises a brow at me.

I give him awhat do you fuckin’ think?look back. Then ask, “He still dead, now that Phil’s gone?”

Beef thinks for a moment, and exchanges gestures and facial expressions with Demon, then speaks his mind. “I think so. Phil’s gone, as you said, but Alder’s still around.”

Christ. I’d forgotten about him. “You think he’ll come sniffing around?”

“Hopefully not. But it’s best if Connor stays underground.” Prez looks at Beef. “I understand why you said the cabin, but Connor probably still needs care. Beth and Patsy have had enough to go through, why not tell them the truth? Let him have some time with his mom and sister, before he has to disappear.”

“You trust them to keep their mouths shut?” Hell doesn’t look so sure himself.

“Beth will,” I tell them. “And I think Patsy would too. Wouldn’t you rather know your son was alive, even if you had no contact?”

“Went through this with Steph,” Beef puts in. “Her family missed her like hell, but they stayed clear knowing it was her life at risk. It was hard for her, but she made it work, as we all know. I’ve spent time with Connor. Once he knew what Phil was into, he wanted out, just couldn’t get out of his clutches. A fresh start is what he needs. If we can trust Patsy and Beth, I think they’ll see this is the best opportunity he could be given.”

“You wanted them to arrange a funeral and be able to act genuine in case Phil turned up to watch. Phil’s gone now.” I’d been filled in on the details last night.

“Funeral still needs to go ahead. Want Connor’s body burned and destroyed. That will get Alder off his back too if the official records have everything straight.” Demon pinches the bridge of his nose. “Okay. We’ll resurrect him from the dead, for now. As long as they understand it’s not safe for him to remain local, and as far as anyone else knows, Connor is dead and gone.”

I just hope Beth and her mom won’t die of shock when they see a ghost alive and breathing.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

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