Page 51 of Ink's Devil

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.”

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