Page 106 of Ink's Devil

I hadn’t thought of that. Though it will hurt them, believing Connor’s dead will protect Beth and Patsy.

Demon hasn’t finished. “It also buys the feds time to set up Alder. If they think Connor’s silenced forever, they won’t think they’ve anything to worry about.”

“Wit Sec,” Beef says. “I know all about that. It’s a fuckin’ hard option. I stood by Steph, remember, when she had to give up all contact with her friends and family.”

Hell shrugs. “Seems to me Connor burned his bridges a long time ago. Do you think Patsy and Beth will ever really forgive him, or trust him again? Nah. He’s got to stay dead. And his mom and sister have to believe it.” Hell looks at me directly. “How well could they act if they know the truth?”

I shrug. “They might be able to pull it off. They were estranged from Connor, it’s not exactly a close relationship. Patsy knows what her ex-husband is and must have been half expecting it. If they don’t shed many tears, won’t be anyone to overly question it.”

“Too big a risk, Mace. If they believe it’s real, they won’t have to act. Their grief will be genuine.”

Fuck. Hell’s right. It just goes against the grain to cause those two women such distress.

Demon looks from me to his father seated at the opposite end of the table. “I agree with Hellfire. I doubt any of us like it, but everyone outside of this room has to think Connor is dead. That includes the ol’ ladies. They can shed a few tears and support Beth. You know what women are like at funerals and weddings.”

There are murmurs of agreement from all around. I’m nodding my head. Christ, every female had a tissue in their hand at Mel’s wedding to Ro.

“Are there any whispers about Connor being on the compound?”

Beef reassures Demon. “All anyone knows is that a Dan Forster is being given refuge for a while. Prospects have been dealing with his food, I’ve kept his door locked when no one’s on guard. Of course they’ve seen Ironside coming and going, but as to who we actually have here, we’ve left them in the dark. The ol’ ladies, they know not to ask questions.”

Or if they do, they’ll go unanswered, I finish in my head. Then put in, “There’s no reason for Beth to think Connor is here.” And even his sister would be hard put to recognise him.

The VP reminds us, “Caruso’s back at the end of the week. I’m thinking we’ll set things in motion. In the meantime, we’ll get a funeral organised. When Connor can make contact, he can offer up the drugs and his info in return for Ink’s freedom. Connor must agree to leave Pueblo and have no contact with his family again.”

“And if Caruso doesn’t buy it?” Lizard asks. “Soon as we admit we know where the drugs are, we put the MC in their sights. I, for one, don’t want to be fuckin’ followed half the time or pulled over to make sure I’m not carrying.”

“I don’t think that holds an appeal for any of us.” Bomber looks disgusted. “Connor know we’ve got his stash?”

Beef gives a negative shake of his head. “I’m leaving him to stew for the moment.”

Prez is thinking. His fingers are at his nose again. Used to his mannerisms, we all look toward him.

“Okay,” he says at last. “Hell’s made some good points. Whether or not Caruso officially puts Connor in witness protection, he’s better off dead. All we need is to find ourselves a suitable body, and someone to volunteer to break the bad news to his mom and sister.”

“Hopefully the body will already be dead?” Pyro asks, a half-smile on his face.

“Rusty, you still got that friend who works in the crematorium?”

Rusty grins at the prez. “If he hasn’t been arrested for, let’s say, his unusual attention to dead bodies, yet, yes. And sure, I’ll ask if he can look out for a suitable one that won’t be missed.”

“So, who’s up for visiting the family?”

No one meets Prez’s eyes.

Ink’s my fucking brother, he’s often been my right hand. If I trust him to have my back, I’ll not give him a reason to be unable to say the same. This won’t be a pleasant job, but then mine often isn’t. What’s one more black mark on my soul?

“I’ll do it,” I find myself volunteering. “Reckon it should be someone who found him in that warehouse.”

“And we’ve left it until today…?”

Good point. I think for a bit. “We’re not exactly on best terms with Beth. Just telling her on our time, not hers.”

“Well, don’t leave it much longer. I’ll get onto Dr Ironside, he’ll make sure the paperwork stands up.”

I wait only for the news there’s a death certificate ready to be collected. I’m the type of person who when there’s something unpleasant to be done, I get right on and do it. By the time I’ve detoured past the doctor’s office, I’m pretty certain Beth will be home from work.

It’s only a couple of hours later when, minus my cut which I left back at the clubhouse and with a beanie pulled down right down to my eyes and a scarf hiding the lower part of my face, I’m knocking at the front door of Patsy and Beth’s house.

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