Page 166 of Straight to Me

There’s a finality in my voice. The look of evil in Vincent’s eyes makes my lip twitch. “Look,” I say, taking a quick breath and unravelling the balls my fists have made under the table. “How many times have we been here? Scotland is free to make its own decisions. They wear a Rippers' cut, but they voted to help you in exchange for a slice of any profits.” Vincent opens his mouth to speak but I don’t let him, “That’s for you to work out with them, not us. We still want nothing to do with it here.”

He doesn’t want any Ripper working closely with a Sodom Saviour charter, but they’ll need as little resistance as possible from us if they want to make money with firearms. I can see his mind racing. My heart suddenly starts picking up pace. If he says no to this, I don’t see how either club survives. It will be war.

Leaning forward, I link my hands and rest my arms on the table. “We want the threats to hurt our families to end,” I say to him. His dark eyes suggest he’s mere steps away from unleashing the devil. “This deal ensures you get clear channels to move the firearms, and we keep the port to move the drugs. Both clubs get what they want, and we stop hurting innocent people.”

Rocco’s smile is furtive, sinister almost as he speaks. “Scotland’s your best play Vincent, and you know it. Our boys have law enforcement there on the take, with the Rippers' help, you can do what you want up there.”

Vincent smiles threateningly. You can tell he’s fighting with himself. Jump over the table and continue a war that’s played itself out since the eighties, or accept that a modern way of business requires give and take. He looks to his men sat either side of him, then looks back to Rocco.

“For now, your offer will have to do. We won’t hurt anyone. But you,” he turns to look at me, “you know there’s still a debt to be paid.” His eyes stay on me as he stands.

Our boys stand with him, keeping a suitable distance while being close enough to react if the need arises. I hold his gaze, refusing to move. They’re escorted to the door and still I don’t move, but my hands have formed fists again.

That was the clearest threat I’ve ever been given.Iwas going to pay for what unfolded at the mill and for what Uncle Ronnie and I did the night I’d dropped Mads and Jack at hospital. Not the Rippers, just me.

Seeing them injured had sent me out of my mind. Considering we both felt the same way, Uncle Ronnie took me to the Sodom Saviour hang out that very same night I’d dropped them off at hospital with Harper.

Unplanned but running flawlessly, we caught them regrouping, managing to pick off the majority that were left one by one. In and out before anyone knew what was happening, it looked like we were at the hospital the whole time. It wouldn’t take a genius to work out we’d done it, but they had no proof, just their gut feelings and raw emotions.

Lighting a smoke, I stay seated with Rocco as the room empties. My phone pings as Travis shuts the door behind him, turning back to the table. “Things just got a whole lot messier, didn’t they,” he says. I look up and find his fists on the table, wide eyes glaring at me.

“No. The club is safer, our families and the people we love, are safer. Let them make their threats… they’ve tried once to get rid of me and look how that worked out.” I stand up and move towards Travis. “I don’t want to hear anymore about it.”

Walking past him and out of the room, I open up my message.

Mads: Are you free? I’m outside with Jess and Bex x

VP: On my way. Stay put

Moving quickly down the stairs, I kick open the fire exit door and spot Jess’s car with the girls sat inside. Vincent may have just vowed that no families would get hurt, but knowing Mads was outside when they left has my heart racing.

The four Sodom Saviours start their bikes. I join Mop who’s stood watching them, ensuring they ride away without any trouble. Once they’re out of sight, I hear a car door open and I turn to see Mads walking slowly towards me.

I don’t take my eyes off her as Jess's car pulls away. “Everything okay?” she asks, stepping close to me. My brow furrows but I try to relax.

“Yeah, all good.”

“You look stressed.” I watch her face wrinkle as she makes me look at her, inspecting my face, seeing through my lie.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I say, trying to put her mind at ease.

“VP—"

“Mads, it’s done. We came to an understanding with them. Trust me.” I pull her close to my body and I wrap my arms around her. She holds me tight as I push my lips to her head, kissing her hair softly.

“Promise me you’re not going to get hurt.”

I pause before replying. “I promise.”

After a brief silence, Mads lets out a sigh and asks, “Who was that man, the last one to leave the building?”

“What?” She moves back and I hold her gaze with intense curiosity.

“I recognised him,” she says.

My eyes narrow. “What do you mean? Recognise him from where?” I feel my blood pressure spike at her statement.

“From school on Friday. The last man to leave just now, he picked Lauren up before I left with Jess.”

---