Page 75 of Ink's Devil

“Should Beth hear Ink’s story?” Demon asks.

Sykes nods. “Yes, for the reason that if she came forward now, it would make Ink out a liar. Ink’s saying,” he turns to me and looks me up and down, “that a man, tall and slim appeared. Ran off when Ink confronted him and dropped the bag. Ink picked it up and was taking it to the cops, when the dealer took it off him at gunpoint.”

“Plausible.” Demon nods.

“Flimsy, but it’s up to the cops to prove otherwise.”

“I’ll make sure Sparky knows what Ink’s putting forward.”

“Is Ink allowed visitors? Can I at least call him?” I want to tell him how sorry I am, that however long it takes, I’ll be waiting for him. If he ends up in prison, whatever sentence he’ll be serving, I’ll do that time too.

Demon exchanges glances with Sykes, and it’s the MC prez who tells me, “Ink doesn’t want to see you, Beth. He doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“But…”

“Beth. Whatever relationship you had with Ink, well, consider it over.”

“He blames me?” Of everything I’d been thinking, even when I was paralysed by my guilt, I hadn’t imagined he’d cut all ties with me. Why put himself in this position if he didn’t care for me at all? I bite my lip. Seems like he’s regretting his actions, and that in saving me, he’s looking at years inside. Unless his story holds up. I’d suspected I wouldn’t be his favourite person but hoped he’d at least have heard me out. Now it seems I won’t have a chance to give my side of the story. “Demon—”

“Beth, no. It’s over between you. Best you forget you ever knew Ink.”

My anguished eyes meet his firm ones, and oh God, while I’d thought I’d prepared myself, I hadn’t. A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away

The lawyer clears his throat, then stands. “Well, I’ll leave you now. You’ll keep me updated, Demon, with anything you find out?”

“I will and thank you.”

“You’ll get my bill.”

With that Sykes opens the door and leaves. I swallow hard to keep back the tears that threaten to follow the first one that had fallen. Believing the meeting must be over, I start to get to my feet.

“Sit, Beth.”

I obey, my brow furrowed.

Demon drums his fingers on the table. “Look, Beth, I’ll be honest. Brothers aren’t happy with you right now. They believe you’re responsible for putting Ink into the position he’s in. You know yourself this situation is fucked up, how much of it was your own making or your brother’s we don’t know yet. Our focus is Ink, and well, if there’s blowback on you, maybe you deserve it in their eyes.”

I stay dumb. I could protest my innocence again, but it wouldn’t do me any good. While I think Demon believes me, I could understand why Ink’s club brothers don’t. And even if they did think I’d been telling the truth, because I tried to save my brother on my own, I brought trouble on a member of the club.

“Can’t put this plainer, Beth. Ink’s cut you loose, for more than one reason.” I just stare at him dumbly while he lists them off. “First, he’s angry as he’s entitled to be. He doesn’t know yet why you had two kilos of H on you last night, but he’s not in a place where he’s willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.”

“But when he knows…”

Demon moves his head side to side. “It’s over, Beth. As I said, for more than one reason. The other being, he’s managed to find a way to keep you out of it. Think of your mom if not yourself. Ink and the club have attracted the interest of the cops. They’ll investigate anyone connected to him and to us. Ink gave up his freedom so you could walk free. You owe it to him to keep out of trouble, and that means keeping well clear. You have to deny there was ever anything going on between you and Ink.”

“A lot of people know I had a relationship with him…”

“Not a relationship, Beth. Ink fucks. Nothing more to it.”

I lower my head, letting it rest in my cupped palms. Ink obviously hates me, even if he were to get out, there’s no me and him and won’t ever be. All because I fucked up. Now the club is washing their hands of me and I can’t deny I deserve it.

“What about Connor? Are you still going to try to find him?”

Demon’s eyes harden. “Yes, Beth. We won’t stop tracking him down.”

“If you find him, will you tell us?”

I don’t like the expression on his face, it’s so cold it makes me shiver. Well, there’s no point them telling me he’s alive if they’re only going to kill him shortly after.

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