Page 141 of Ink's Devil

“Dan’s doing fine, but he is what I wanted to talk to you about.”

We’re both quiet while she draws her thoughts together. I shoot Ink a concerned look, and he sends one back to me.

“I need you both to answer a question. Is this serious between you two?” She looks at Ink.

Ink huffs a laugh. “Are you asking me what my intentions are?” At her small nod, he holds out his hand to me, and I put the last of the folded clothes down and walk over to join him. “It’s as serious as a fuckin’ heart attack, on my part at least. Beth’s it for me.” He pulls me down to sit beside him and kisses me sweetly.

I hold the eyes of my mom. “I’m serious about Ink. I love him, Mom.” I realise I haven’t actually told him, but we’ve expressed our emotions in other ways instead. When I glance at him, he mouths back,I love you too, Beth.

Mom seems to need convincing for some reason. “You’ll always look after her?”

Ink’s brow creases. “Of course I will. I love Beth. Not only has she got me, she’s got my brothers.”

“A family.” Mom smiles. “I may have been speaking to Mel. She’s explained how it works.”

There’s still a little residual awkwardness between me and some of Ink’s brothers. Not that they still blame me, now they feel guilty for not believing my version of events. But things are getting easier, and I think we’ll get to the place where I’m accepted in the same way as my friend. That’s what I want. It’s mismatched and not perfect, but it’s just as Mom’s said Mel described it. The club is a family.

“Connor will be alone,” she states.

“It’s how it has to be,” replies Ink quickly. A worried look my way. It’s the only way to keep Connor out of the clutches of Alder. I, too, hope she’s not going to be difficult. “You know this, Patsy. If anyone thinks he might not be dead, they’ll be watching you and watching Beth.”

But that doesn’t seem to be what she has on her mind. “I know that Ink. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise his future. But that doesn’t mean I can’t work something out. I’m not tied here, I can work anywhere. And Beth, you’ve got Ink and his family.”

“You’re going with him?” Ink’s quicker on the uptake than me. His hand rests on my arm, as if telling me to consider it and not dismiss the suggestion immediately.

I do take a moment. “Mom, have you really thought about this? If you do. It will be hard, impossible even, for us to stay in contact.” I’ll lose my mom? I didn’t expect her to suggest that. My first thought is panic, what will I do without her? I’ve lived with her all my life. She’s been there every day, my rock.

Ink’s hand starts caressing my arm, the gesture, as it’s meant to be, is calming. “Think of your brother, babe,” he says carefully. “He’ll be on his own. He’s younger, hell, he’s only just old enough to buy himself a drink, and he’s not had the best influence for the past few years. He needs love, support and stability, else he might end up throwing this chance away. You’ve got me. This might not be forever, once Connor’s settled into a new life, has new friends, maybe a girl of his own, maybe your mom can come back home.”

“Might be years.” I bite my lip.Might be forever.Am I selfish wanting her to myself? Until Ink, I haven’t really considered moving away from home. Of course, I’d been toying with the idea sometime in the future, but never for one minute did I think she’d be the one to move out. I’ve had a comfortable existence. But Connor, I can see how he could need her. Much more than I do myself.

“Ink’s on the right track. I am worried Connor might fall in with the wrong crowd if he’s left to his own devices,” Mom says. “I don’t want to leave you Bethany, you’re more than my daughter, you’re my best friend and I won’t deny I’ll miss you. But Connor’s my son. We’ve been doing some soul searching these past few days, and he’d like to go to college and make something of himself. I fear he’ll find it hard on his own.”

“What about the house?” The home where I’ve lived all the life I remember. The house with the beautiful yard.

“I’m sorry, Beth, but I’ll have to sell it.” That she’s replied so quickly shows how seriously she’s been thinking about this.

“Sell it to us,” Ink says fast.What?I turn to him. “That’s if Beth’s agreeable, of course.”

“It’s got a big yard,” Mom says. “Needs upkeep and maintenance.”

Ink isn’t put off. “That’s what prospects are for.”

My mouth drops open. He shrugs, unrepentant. Seems like this life might have benefits I hadn’t realised I’d signed up for.

“It’s a big house. A family house.” Mom seems to want to make sure Ink understands what he might be taking on.

But he just shrugs. “We’ll have to have a big family then.”

Kids?Again, I turn to him in surprise.

But he simply says, “Told you I wanted everything, babe.”

I think it was that statement that convinced Mom she’d be leaving me in safe hands. I put on a brave face, but it was the hardest thing I’d ever done to try to be positive about her leaving my life. My problem is, I’m twenty-seven years old, Connor just twenty-two, and his knowledge of adult life tainted by living with Phil. He’s no idea of how to fend for himself, and I share Mom’s worries, that left to his own devices, he might take the easiest path which isn’t necessarily the right one.

When I’d told him I knew of their plans, his face had brightened when I gave him no other indication than I was fine with the idea. There’s no doubt the fear of him starting afresh had eased once he knew he wouldn’t be alone. That had given him a new confidence.

A day later, the clubhouse is on its best behaviour when Agent Caruso comes calling. Of course, us women weren’t supposed to know what was going on, but Connor had been so worried about what might happen, he’d needed someone to confide in, and naturally that was Mom and myself.

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