Page 135 of Ink's Devil

Beth

By the time Ink emerges from church, I’ve just about thawed out from the cold journey home. I might have given him shit about it, but I wouldn’t have preferred travelling any other way. I’m not going to give up the chance to have my arms around the man who I want.

Ink’s giving me signals I can’t quite compute. Having accepted whatever he might have started feeling for me had been killed stone dead when he’d gotten arrested that night, I can’t understand why he’s so concerned and friendly now. I wasn’t surprised once I got over my shock at seeing him out of jail, that it had been him to come rescue me. I’d known he was an honourable man, whatever his feelings toward me were.

But to want me behind him on his bike? That’s surely not the sign of someone wanting to part ways.

Then there’s the not so small question of how he’s free, and whether he’s going to stay that way. Perhaps he’s just out on bail.

Neither Mom nor the other women could satisfy my curiosity in that regard. Mom had been too distraught over Phil kidnapping me to take notice of what was going on around her, and Vi told me that there’s been a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and club business going on. From what she’d picked up though, she thought he was home to stay. I hope she’s right. I found out, also under the heading of club business, that the women and sweet butts had spent most of the morning at Mo’s house and had only returned an hour or so ago.

It makes me wonder how they can live this way, being kept in the dark and never knowing anything. I don’t think I could do it.

I’ll probably not have a chance.Ink was just pleased to see me safe. He’d left me with those awful words hanging in the air,we’ll talk later.Every woman and every man alive knows that normally preludes something they don’t want to hear said.

He’d given me a message he didn’t want to see me again. Though he had given a quick explanation it was to keep the police away from me, surely he could have softened it? Explained it was only for now, or as long as he was sent away? The words that had been given to me sounded so final. Now seeing him has resurrected my hopes. I don’t know what he’s going to say. The waiting is driving me crazy.

“Beth, Patsy? Could you come speak to Prez?”

I glance up to see Ink standing outside his prez’s office, a serious look on his face. Mom and I exchange glances, both wondering what it is that Demon will have to say.

“Karl’s not back with the women yet,” I tell Ink as I walk past.

Surprisingly his mouth quirks and his eyes sparkle. “He’ll probably still be held up behind that accident.”

Yes, that will be it. But what is it about an obviously fatal crash that’s amusing? Or is Ink just laughing as Karl’s stuck waiting in what Ink calls a cage. I narrow my eyes as I pass him, failing to understand the joke.

The small office just about accommodates me, Mom, and Beef seated on chairs in front of the desk with Demon sitting behind it. Ink remains standing, leaning up against the door.

“Patsy, Beth,” Demon starts by acknowledging us. “You’ve heard the term, club business?”

I snort. “Yeah.”

“There’s good reason behind it,” Beef tries to explain. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you. It’s not that we don’t trust our women, but we keep some shit quiet, so it can’t inadvertently be given away, or we have to ask people to play dumb or even lie if someone asks questions.”

Demon takes over, “There are times when we need to share info that we’d otherwise not. This is one of those times. But I need both of you to give me your word you won’t talk about the first thing until it’s common knowledge.”

He’s got me intrigued. It’s Mom who voices her reservations, “I’ll reserve judgement until I hear what you’re going to tell me.”

“Fair,” says Demon. “The first thing is to put your minds at rest. I’m not telling you how, who, or why, but I’ve received information that Phil Foster is dead. That news is not to leave this room.”

I sit forward. Phil might have been my father, but that was only because of his sperm. He killed my brother or condoned his death and was going to consign me to a living hell because he preferred money to his kids. It’s the best news I could have heard. “You’re certain? Who? When? He left this morning… he said he had a meeting with you.”

“Beth,” Ink’s voice chides from behind me. “Prez has just told you there are some things he can’t share. We’re only telling you now so you can relax. And act fuckin’ surprised when you hear officially.”

I glance at Mom, wondering how she’s taking it, she was once married to the man after all. “Phil was behind Connor’s death,” she spits out. “He got what he deserved, I’m glad he’s gone.”

“About that.” Demon looks awkward. Then he sits forward. “We’re now entering the territory of shit that can never be spoken about. I won’t ask for your word, because it will all become clear and you’ll know why.” He’s about as serious as I’ve ever seen him, an MC prez for sure, as he starts talking again, “Your son, as you know, got involved with his father. Phil got him into some shady shit.”

“We know that. Running drugs for him…”

Demon shakes his head. “You’re wrong.”

Mom’s mouth snaps shut, mine opens and my eyes roll. “Ten kilos of heroin left in our house is a fair indication.”

“Connor stole those to get them away from Phil.”

I shake my head, disbelieving what he’s saying. “But why? Was he going to sell them himself?”

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