Page 70 of Straight to Me

“I’m sure he has.” Travis laughs taking another sip from his bottle.

“You said he’s been MIA. He’s not in trouble, is he?” I ask, nodding towards where VP and Rocco are standing.

“Nah, my boy doesn’t get himself into trouble. And if he did,” he swings his head round, “he wouldn’t let Rocco have a showdown with so many people here.”

“Why are there so many people here?”

“It’s Friday, time to drink and party.” He raises his bottle my way.

I smile sipping my beer before asking, “What do you do on the other days?”

“Well, there’s family day on Sunday, then we meet at church Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.” He looks at me seriously. “I’m guessing he was with you, which is why he missed it this week.”

My cheeks flush. It wasn’t entirely my fault. He wasn’t meant to come with me to see the flat, I did tell him that. I didn’t realise he was supposed to be here.

“That’s why Rocco's sending him to Australia,” Travis says.

“As a punishment? I thought he had family over there?”

“Yeah, it’s actually not my place to say. Sorry, shouldn’t have said anything.”

VP finishes his chat with Rocco and walks back to the bar. As he nears, Travis stands. “What did he want?” The pair of them watch Rocco walk back up the stairs.

“Nothing,” VP says, but it’s not convincing. Travis notices too.

“Well, you know where I am if you need me.”

“Cheers, lad.” They shake hands and Travis walks away to another group of members.

VP takes my hand in his, clearly put out by his chat with Rocco. We head towards Skitz who’s now sat on the sofas. As we cross the floor, a young lady strides by in front of us, heading towards the entrance. She’s dressed in a tight red vest top and a tiny denim skirt. Her body sashays on her heels as she walks. She looks at me briefly while pushing her deep red hair off her shoulder, then her gaze falls on VP. She gives him a curt, suggestive wave with a smile before pushing through the exit door.

“Huh. She mustn’t have noticed me,” Skitz says, suddenly appearing by my side, making me jump. He sounds disappointed. She must be the woman he spent time with earlier, Red. “Come on then, fuckers. Let’s get you on your way.”

“Where’s the van?”

“It’s out back,” Skitz tells VP.

“Right. Keys?”

“Here,” Skitz takes the keys from his pocket, throwing them at VP. He looks between the two of us as if waiting for something.

“You can leave.”

“Righto, Deano,” Skitz sings, turning on his heel and walking away.

As we pull out of the yard in the van, I can’t help but think about what Travis said.

As if sensing my thoughts, VP places his hand on my knee. “You okay?”

“I’m fine,” I say, turning to focus on him. “Are you? Things looked a little heated between you and Rocco.”

“He’s pissed with me.”

“For missing church on Thursday?”

He cranes his neck whilst keeping his eyes on the road. “And how do you know I missed church? Hang on, how do you even know what church is?” He places his hand back on the wheel, watching the road ahead.

“My uncle has a friend in an MC over in Spain. The Road Devils,” I explain.

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