Page 28 of A Game of Secrets

I laugh at the seriousness of his face, "Oh I'm sure if you ask nicely she'll be able to sort something out for you. Maybe even the kind you do on the stove and probably some extra chocolates for the top too." I say knowing full well that is exactly what Kat will have planned, she's a pro when it comes to movie night snacks. Teddy's little eyes go wide as saucers and his mouth hangs open as he moans a loud "mmmmm" sticking his tongue out of his mouth just like Homer Simpson. I roll my eyes and laugh at his response before buckling him safely into the car.

"HEY TEDSTER!" Kat bellows, a huge smile spread across her face as she opens her front door to us then ruffles his hair playfully.

"Hi Auntie Kat, Mommy said you have the popcorn we can do on the stove and extra chocolate for the top!" he says all in one breath as he flings his rucksack down and kicks off his shoes. "Oh did she now?" Kat gasps bending down so she's eye level with Teddy, "and did she also tell you that I got us some Pop Tarts for breakfast too?"

"POP TARTS!" he shouts "NO WAY!"

Kat smiles as she nods her head at him before rising to stand again, "Bella's in the front room if you want to go through little man and you two can pick out a movie to watch."

"Okay, thanks Auntie Kat." Teddy turns to me and reaches up to hug me, I reach him as I lean forwards and squeeze him tightly before kissing the top of his head.

"See you in the morning baby boy, have a goodnight. I love you."

"I love you too Mommy," he calls behind him as he's already off running towards the front room.

Kat eyes me suspiciously as I step further through the front door, "You got time for a quick drink?" she asks heading towards the kitchen. I follow behind her contemplating what I'm meant to tell her is actually happening tonight.

"Yeah sure, just a quick one though, Max is picking me up at ten."

"Oh so it's Max you're being all weird about?" her eyebrows raise as she pours us each a tumbler of whiskey. I take the glass willingly as she hands it over to me.

"You know I'd tell you if it wasn't," I say, tilting my head to the side, "anyway you have literally been breathing down my neck all week, you would know if it wasn't," I say, noting the dubious look she's now giving me. "We've just got some family shit to sort out," I finally say, knocking back the whole of my drink in one, welcoming the burn it leaves in its wake from my throat down to the pit of my stomach.

"Right okay that's fine girl, just," Kat shrugs, "you know, just remember I'm here for you," she says as she steps in front of me and places her hands on my shoulders. "If you ever need to talk, I am here."

"Jesus, it's literally just some family shit but I know, you're my best friend, I know you're there for me. Thank you." I say, pulling her into a hug. I pull back and give her a reassuring smile. "I've got to go okay? Thanks for watching Ted for me, I've got a feeling it might be a late one tonight." I head back towards the front door and peep my head around the doorway into the front room to see Teddy and Isabella huddled together under a pile of cushions and blankets, the sight warming my heart. "I'll call you in the morning," I add turning to Kat before slipping out of the door and back towards my car.

Back at my apartment I pour myself another glass of whiskey and down it in one. I have just over an hour till Max should arrive. I'm getting so nervous, I can feel my stomach doing somersaults, and I'm not even sure why. I decide to take a cold shower to freshen myself up, I need to be alert incase I am actually needed to patch anybody up tonight, that is the reason I'm going after all. Maybe I shouldn't have anything else to drink, I warn myself as the shower head rains down over my body. Having quickly scrubbed myself clean and washed and conditioned my hair, I hop out of the shower and skip to the bedroom, rushing to pull on a clean pair of black underwear, some skinny jeans and a black cami top. I'll grab a flannel shirt before I leave to pull on, but this will do for now, and Max did say to wear something I didn't mind getting blood on. The thought instantly wreaks havoc inside of my head, a mass of images all flashing before my eyes, knives, knuckle dusters, chains. I gasp at the thought, I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into in a fucking gang-war fight night. Immediately feeling the urge to down the whole bottle of whiskey in my kitchen cupboard, I try to distract myself by applying a subtle covering of make up before I start drying my hair.

I'd already received Max's warning text to let me know he was on his way and to be ready, so I was already sat waiting when he walked through the front door. Looking me over, judging my clothing choices, he sighs loudly. "Please tell me you're planning on wearing a jacket," his voice full of desperation.

The fucking cheeky prick. "Well hello to you too brother. Nice to see you, I'm fine thank you for asking. Yes I'm feeling okay about coming to your illegal mafia fight night instead of being at home with my son. And yes you prick, I'm wearing a shirt!" I huff out in one long breath.

"This isn't funny Luce, I need the men there concentrating on the fight, not on you. I don't need any fights outside of the ring. You need to cover up." The words send a threatening lump straight to my throat as if I might throw up.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'm just nervous. I don't know what to expect," I sigh, pulling on a green checked, oversized flannel shirt and buttoning it up at the front, making sure to conceal my cleavage. Max watches me and nods as I look up for approval.

"That's better, let's go," he says, already out of the door heading back to his car. I let out a huge breath and face myself in the mirror giving myself a last one over before picking up my first aid bag I'd prepacked with supplies and follow Max to his car.

Pulling up at the warehouse my nerves are really getting the better of me now as we get out of the car and make our way to the entrance. "So this is all just mafia members, right? Totally off radar?" I ask, my eyes scanning the entirety of the car park.

"Yes Luce, there's a strict entry list and security on every door. You'll be okay. Just listen to me," Max stops in his tracks and faces me. "I need you to stay alert in there, do not trust anybody, stay in sight and for fuck sake do not tell anybody anything about yourself. Do you understand?" I'm almost sure my heartbeat can be heard outside of my chest, it’s hammering so hard against my ribcage I almost feel I might pass out.

A small "OK" is all I can manage to say. He watches me for a moment, a look of contemplation in his eyes. Is he questioning bringing me now? Because it feels a little too late for backsies.

"Let's go," he finally says, pulling me towards the doors.

Once we're inside it's hard to keep my face neutral. The large mass of bodies, mostly men, is completely overwhelming. The room is packed to the brim, the music so loud I can barely hear myself think. I glance around, taking in my surroundings. The ring is right in the center of the warehouse, a bar to the left and several stripper poles dotted around, each one cast in a brilliant spot light, beautifully displaying the almost naked women that are wrapped around the steel pole between their legs. Steel cages lined the back, bare naked women dancing inside of them, baring everything to the onlookers below. My eyes go wide and I see Max laughing at my reaction.

"Oh piss off," I laugh, shoving him in the shoulder, "naked dancers are not what I expected."

"Oh Luce, you really have no idea." he responds, shaking his head and chuckling to himself. "Follow me," he adds, nodding his head towards the ring. Once we make it to the front, Max introduces me to a few of the men gathered around, a few I vaguely recognise as I've seen them with Max before. I smile politely and nod my hello as I notice one of them whisper something into Max's ear, his brow creasing as a scowl forms on his face, his eyes darkening. Whatever it was he has just been told obviously isn't good. I'm distracted momentarily by a few of the men eyeing me suspiciously, their eyes roaming up and down my body until Max reappears beside me and introduces me as his sister.

"They’re friendly, don't worry. Just be on the lookout for threats," Max whispers to me, sensing my reservations. Fuck what I thought earlier about no more drinking, I need a drink and I need one now.

"Hey I'm gonna go grab myself a drink. You want anything?" I shout loudly over the music.

He shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. I turn towards the bar but get pulled back as Max grabs at my wrist. "Luce, I've been called into the ring tonight." My eyes go wide at his words. "I didn't know it was going to happen, and any other night I'd tell them to go fuck themselves but my opponent is the West Territory Don, and if I refuse I may as well just let him kill me now as I stand. I need to do this." Oh jesus, what the fuck!? I glare at him, my eyes darting back and forth between his trying to fathom what he’s feeling but his eyes are as hard as stone and black as coal. It's becoming clear that there is a side to Max that I have never seen.

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