Page 13 of Straight to Me

They didn’t really have a choice after asking the Rippers for help in clearing up a local problem invading their hometown. In exchange they agreed to join the Rippers when we set up a charter down south. They didn’t like it, but like men, they agreed with dignity.

It’s their location we need. Access to the docks. We have a charter further south in the Midlands, but in our ever-expanding criminal world, we need more help to protect what we do. Procuring and distributing drugs. That’s where the Forgotten Tribe come in. We’ll set up here and control shifting the gear over the pond. It’s the quickest way to export overseas and make us a ton of money.

The nearly five-hour journey Friday afternoon meant we arrived at their clubhouse just before six in the evening. After a rest and a few beers, we headed into the city for early doors. Rocco was clear how this weekend was to go; make yourselves seen and heard out on the town. Get yourselves an alibi; if that means picking up some girls and getting our dicks wet, so be it.

Meanwhile I was to get a call from my brothers dealing with the Forgotten Tribe’s local issue; an organised paedophile ring, solicited by politicians and kept in business by local police. We could have sent the Midland boys to deal with it, but when you’re in charge, you have to lead by example. There was no questioning where we stood on this, and I was glad to be a part of ending them.

The call came in just after I left Mads.

It was risky to take her home first, not knowing how far away she lived, but it didn’t matter in the end. I guess I got lucky. Something I’ve never had, luck. I accepted early on in life that we make our own luck. You don’t like something, you change it. If it’s not right, you have to be the one to put it right.

I met them at the agreed location, a rundown casino at the edge of the docks, hidden from view. I was to oversee the fucking evil organisation’s demise. These Forgotten Tribe brothers, they no longer have what it takes to cut a man up for answers. A task I’m used for all too often. My Rough Rider Stag Bowie makes for light work.

But last night the scumbag I was to… reason with… was unconscious before I had a chance to really get started. I was left feeling short changed, having travelled so far for my work to be over before it started.

Tied up with cable ties and water boarded for answers, I thought he’d go the whole nine yards when I clocked a pile of his toes under the chair he was sat on. I didn’t need to look at Skitz to know it was him. Nicknamed Skitz for his sadistic interrogation tactics. He smiled from the corner of the room as I entered, hoping I’d acknowledge him or give him a fucking round of applause for his creativity.

The twat then started moaning for air. I whipped the sodden towel from his face and took a good look at him. He’d pissed himself, crying for us to stop, the remnants of his bleeding toes clotting at the ends. I looked down at them, and at that exact moment, all I could think about was Mads.

I’d watched her stumble to a bench, haphazardly making her way to the taxi line. I feel pretty shit for thinking it now, but when I saw her dancing with her friend, I saw she was dressed like an easy alibi.

Women always want me. Sounds like I think highly of myself, I don’t. They look at the club, look at me, and they instantly think I’ll make them my old lady. An edgy rider for their rebel phases or a challenge for them to tame.

But they don’t know the real me, and I’ve certainly never considered making any of them my old lady.

Mads was a picture of perfection when I picked her off her arse after she knocked into Beats. The way she looked at me and lost her breath, it was like magnets being pulled together. In that moment, I knew she would be mine, one way or the other.

Cuffed in a van puts a pin in that for the time being.

As we wait to be released from the cage, I replay the last twelve hours over in my mind. Those first moments with her feel like an age ago. It was the little things I noticed that set her apart. Like her nose twitching when I got close to her. The way she flushed and slurred her words, unable to get her words out because of all the drinks. Though I suspect I might have had something to do with that more than the alcohol.

And her body. I swear she caught me visualising all the ways I could make her scream my name when I looked at those long legs and those gorgeous tits. I had to shove my hands in my jean pockets to stop myself from taking her there and then.

She made me laugh at just how awkward she was trying to grab her phone. A simple task made impossible by the insufficient piece of cloth she was wearing. It looked good on her though.

Perfect.

For reasons unbeknown to me, I found myself looking around for her, and when I did, I followed to make sure she was okay.

I could feel my brothers, the ones who weren’t already ripping up the scumbags, watching me. Probably just glad I was securing an alibi like planned. Be seen. Be heard. Get our dicks wet.

I’d watched her, even when my mind should have been on the job at hand, but when I saw her storm off to the taxi line by herself, I knew I definitely wasn’t leaving her then.

Before I had a chance to think about why I was now watching this girl like a fucking psycho, she’d taken on some lad, for God knows what reasons, and when he moved to retaliate, she closed her eyes ready to just accept a punch.

Not on my watch.

Motherfucker was going down for intimidating a woman like that. Especially this one. I don’t need to know the facts. You don’t touch women. And I couldn’t let this woman get hurt. My stomach turned as anger boiled at the sight of someone threatening her.

I soon realised I’d gone over the top. For her.

What was I doing? There were bigger fish that needed catching.

Too late though, by the time she’d followed me and I’d taken her home she had me. I was weak in the knees. Falling, for the first time in, forever.

We don’t ride north until Sunday, so I knew I could get her to see me today at the Tribe’s charity event. Itwasthe perfect opportunity to get to know her better, even though my intentions and reasons for taking her had now well and truly shifted. Rocco’s order was no longer my prime motive for bringing her along.

The event went as planned with the police showing up in force. They couldn’t do shit. They knew it was no coincidence us being down here and a dead body showing up the same day, but they had no evidence of our connection, Mop made sure of it. The pictures we left next to the piece of shit’s body will no doubt be starting an internal investigation so big; their entire force will be compromised. So many of their colleagues’ faces were now on show for the world to see.

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