Page 118 of Ink's Devil

“We may, however, wish to question Mr McNeish if our inquiries show he might have something useful to offer. But for now, Mr McNeish is free to leave.”

As the detectives pull their papers together, get up and go, I remain seated, unable to believe the words I’ve just heard.

“You going to just sit there?” Sykes is looking at me with something akin to amusement on his face.

“I can go?” It seems like a dream.

“You can go. You want a lift to the compound?”

I’m still trying to process how my fortunes have turned around. Yes, the clubhouse first, see my brothers, pick up my bike. Then I’ll go see Beth and commiserate about the death of her brother, then when she’s in a better head space, find out how she’d feel about becoming my old lady.

“Too fuckin’ right I’d like a lift,” I tell him, a grin now splitting my face.

I have to go through the formalities, first signing the forms to regain my possessions, carrying my cut as I’ll be leaving in a cage. I experience an incredible sense of relief when I’m on the right side of the steel door and security gates. It’s not until I’m out in the open that I start to relax and begin to lose the feeling someone’s going to run out from behind me and say letting me go was a mistake.

The skies are grey and there’s a cold winter drizzle falling, but it doesn’t prevent me raising my head and just staring at the open expanse of sky above me. Only minutes ago, I hadn’t thought to see such a sight again, or not when it wasn’t framed by prison walls.

“You coming?” Sykes is standing by his open door, unlike me, he seems to object to getting wet, as after his question he quickly slides into the driver’s seat.

Yeah. I’m fucking coming. Don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary. As I turn and walk smartly to the passenger side of his Lexus, I start to believe I really am free.

Sykes puts the car into gear. As he draws away, part of my mind wonders just how much we’re paying him for him to be able to afford a high-end model car. But part thinks however much it is, it’s worth it if he had anything to do with getting me out.

During the short journey, I try, not totally successfully, to rearrange my thoughts. I’d spent the last few days convincing myself I could cope with being locked up for the rest of what could be a short life. Bikers are in danger in the penitentiary. Now I’m apparently a free man.

A free man who’s got a ball and chain. A man who’s claimed an old lady. Well, as far as my brothers are concerned, I have. Beth, though, she’s ignorant of my intentions. Guess I’ll let her grieve some for Connor, then I better try to ease her back into a relationship that she thought I’d rather forget.

On the inside, there was some comfort in knowing everyone thought she was mine, a dream to cling onto. Now it’s reality and I’ve got to face it. Is that still what I want? Now when I’ve got back my freedom, will I find my mind changing and our relationship disappearing like smoke?

I want to fuck her again, no doubt about that. My dick’s already stirring in anticipation. But live with her?

Could we make it work?

Do I even want to try?

What if someone’s let slip that I claimed her? What if she knows and she’s all starry-eyed because she’s got what she wanted, a biker of her own like Mel snagged Ro. What if she clings if I don’t want to make a go of it? What if she holds me to promises I made inside?

I’d done it to give her protection. Had my brothers known it was a sham? Would they be let down if I unclaimed her just as fast as I’d told them she was mine?

And what if I did? Judge had been sniffing around her, Sparky too. As a woman with no patch on her, someone as beautiful and sexy as her would be fair game and wouldn’t be on her own for too long.

“You okay?” Sykes gives me a strange look. “I swear you just growled.”

But I’m saved from giving an answer. Karl opens the gates, his eyes widening as he recognises me sitting next to my lawyer, but like any good prospect, doesn’t ask anything to satisfy his curiosity. All he does is give me a chin lift, accompanied by a wide grin.

“You coming in?” I ask Sykes.

“No. Just tell Demon he’ll get my bill in good time.”

I hold out my hand, he does likewise and shakes it. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“Cops have your number now. Stay out of trouble, Ink.”

“You can bet on it.” I never want to go through the last few days again.

Then I’m out of the car and opening the door to the clubhouse as Sykes does a three-point turn and heads out the gate.

I expect the clubhouse to be fairly quiet, it’s Tuesday night after all, and not a day we’d have a party. Of course, there’ll be club girls around doing what they’re there for, brothers drinking or playing pool, but those who live off the compound will probably have gone home. I’m just looking forward to seeing any friendly face, have had it up to the back teeth with drunks or the police. But when I step inside, I’m surprised to find it’s crowded, and noisy. Well, until people turn to see who’s come in the door. Then silence descends like a switch being thrown.

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