Page 13 of Ink's Devil

“I’ve got an idea,” Beef puts in. “Why not have two managers? Week on, week off. Day on, day off, or however they work that shit. That way the burden is shared.”

Wills raises his hand. “I know I’m still green, but I don’t mind stepping up if Sparky shows me the ropes.”

“Hey, boy, you old enough to know tits from ass?” Bomber slaps his palm down on the table chuckling loudly at his own humour.

“Yeah, will you be able to stop shooting your load when you see the dancers wrapped round that pole?” Rusty adds.

“He’ll wish they were wrapped around his pole.” Thunder chortles with the rest.

Wills, twenty-three if I remember right and quite old enough to work in an adult club, lets the witticisms flood over him, and with only a slight twitch to his lips replies in a serious tone, “I’ll have to try now, won’t I?”

Wills has only sat around the table for a year, but he’s got a sensible enough head for the job. I raise my hand in support when Demon asks.

“Any objections?”

There are none. Wills has a new job. Sparky looks relieved he’ll be getting more time off.

“Pal? Cad? How’s the security business?”

That too, it would appear, is coming along fine.

It’s a routine meeting, nothing out of the ordinary until other business comes around. Demon suddenly frowns. At this point in the meeting it’s unusual, and I’m not the only one to sit forward.

“Got something we need to keep a look out for. Had word from both the Wretched Soulz and the Silvestri.” As he mentions the dominant MC and the local Mafia, everyone sits up straighter. “There are drugs coming into town, and it’s not them controlling it.”

We don’t allow dealing on or near our premises. We like Devil’s Ink, Devil’s Pins, and Tits Up to have a good reputation, and have an agreement with both organisations that they deal in other parts of town.

“I haven’t seen anything,” says Sparky, frowning. “I’ll start keeping an eye out.” He raises his chin toward Wills, who gives him a sharp nod.

Prez continues, “That’s what I’m asking everyone to do. We don’t know who the asshole is. RIP thinks it could be organised crime stepping on everyone’s toes.” If RIP, the prez of the Wretched Soulz sees fit to issue a warning, it’s something we should heed.

“What do you want us to do if we catch someone dealing?”

“Bring them in, if you can. We’ll question them ourselves, then pass what’s left off onto the dominant. RIP would be grateful.”

Doing a favour for the prez of the Wretched Soulz would gain us some bonus points.

That agreed, the gavel comes down.

Chapter Five

Beth

Ibeam when I see Mel walking into the office on Monday morning. She’s smiling and looking relaxed and happy. Well, she tied the knot with Pyro two days ago, and discovered she was having his baby. Certainly, a lot to be happy about.

Although it’s silly after such a short time, and she was living with him already, I can’t help the inane enquiry spilling out of my mouth, “What does it feel like to be married?” There’s a glow on her face which suggests she and Pyro have continued their celebrations all weekend.

She could just have answered briefly, but to my surprise, she pulls up a chair. “Skull did a number on me,” she starts. She doesn’t need to tell me that, I already know. “When he walked out and never came back, it was hard, but I could accept he was dead. When I found he was alive, well, that broke me. It proved I wasn’t woman enough to keep him.”

“He was already married,” I point out, gutted Mel thought she wasn’t good enough for the bastard.

“I know, but still. It shook me, you know? It affected my relationship with Pyro.”

“You didn’t expect he’d do the same thing and disappear, did you?” I hadn’t considered that. Anyone could see leaving Mel was the last thing Pyro would voluntarily do. He was devoted to her, even when he thought she’d never be his. Had Mel not seen that?

“Stupid, I know. He proves how much he loves me every day. But yes, I’d lost all confidence in myself. But being married to him? Again, it doesn’t make sense, marriages fail all the time, but it shows a commitment in the eyes of the world. So, to answer your question, marriage has made me more sure of myself.”

I smile broadly at her. “Being pregnant probably helps too. Jeez, Mel, Pyro was possessive even when the child you were carrying wasn’t his. He must be over the moon with your news.”

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