Page 24

Dante

Rebecca left with surprisingly little fuss, which shocked the shit out of me. I had expected her to kick off big time when Rachel refused to go with her, but she seemed to recognise when she was beaten – a trait she had not passed on to her daughter, more’s the pity.

Rachel had refused to look in her mother’s direction when she was ready to leave and had simply thrown a curt ‘goodbye’ over her shoulder and went back to helping Bee put her shoes on.

I didn’t know a single thing about this Iris woman, but whatever happened must have been bad. Lord knew I’d done enough to Rachel in the month we’d known each other, and she had forgiven every single one of my sins.

Fuck me, has it really only been a month?

It seemed as though I had known her forever, and yet every day I was learning new things about her.

But despite what I learned, I barely felt as though I had scratched the surface.

It was so weird. I wanted to know everything about her, but at the same time, I sometimes couldn't fucking stand to hear her talk, because it was nothing but sarcasm and snide remarks.

Everything moved at a fast pace when it came to Rachel.

A day ago, I had thrown her out. An hour later, I was kidnapped.

A few hours after that, I was fucking her brains out.

Which I repeated this morning. And now, I was ready to drive her mother home and go for a normal day out with my old lady and my daughter.

It was enough to make my own head spin, never mind anyone else’s. It was impossible to keep up with, and yet I wouldn’t wish to go through this with anyone else other than her.

Rachel was my sickness, my poison, and my cure, all in one.

Scary fucking thoughts .

I had never wanted to give a woman this much power over me. But Rachel had taken my mild curiosity towards her and turned it into a full-blown obsession without even trying.

“Ready?” she asked curtly. “Or are you just going to stand there looking useless? Bee is waiting for us.”

I grabbed her arm as she went to walk away and twisted her back around to face me. “Oi. Don't take it out on me. It wasn't my suggestion that your mother go to live with this Iris person. I didn't even know she existed until precisely five minutes ago. For once, I am innocent.”

“I—,” whatever she was going to say was forgotten as she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. “I know, Dante. I know. I’m sorry.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve apologised.”

“Don’t get used to it,” she managed a small smile. “It's just hard to hear her name and not have some sort of reaction. But I don't want her to ruin our day. This is about you, me, and Bee. Forget you ever heard of Iris.”

“But you'll tell me later?” I asked, not letting go of her wrist as I scanned her face for any clues. Typical Rachel, she brought the walls up as soon as she realised.

“I'll tell you later,” she nodded before smiling brightly up at me.

Fuck off, Rachel. That might have fooled me once, but I know you better now.

That smile was masking, if ever I’ve seen it.

“Err, Boss?” A voice came from behind me.

“What's up, Monster?” I replied without turning around. I was still watching Rachel to see any signs of her slipping and letting that Alcatraz guard down.

“I heard you were looking for James or Shawn…?”

“Yeah?”

“No can do, Boss. They went out on a run this morning. Crash's orders.”

“On a run where?” I said, turning around and giving him my full attention.

“Well… Mac was supposed to—”

“To do the bricks,” I finished for him, the penny finally dropping.

My dad had tried to make Macbeth feel more involved with the day to day running of the club.

It hadn’t escaped our notice that he was spending more and more time in Leeds city centre, and so Crash had just assumed that Mac would be more inclined to want to do the drug distribution, since that’s where our biggest street sales came from.

We had been fucking blind to what was right under our noses.

“I assume ‘bricks’ means coke?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah.”

“Right,” she nodded. “So it’s important. Looks like we’re taking Rebecca home.”

“Rachel—” I began, but she held a hand up to silence me.

“Don’t bother,” she said shortly.

“Just let me explain—”

She laughed, interrupting me. The laugh alone was enough to make my stomach flip with excitement.

What the fuck is wrong with me lately?

“You don’t need to explain. I know you’re expecting an argument, but you’re wrong.

It’s fine. I’m not pissed. I don’t necessarily agree with dealing drugs, but I know it brings money in for the club, and I know it helps you keep in control.

If you’re not doing it, someone else will.

I get it. I also get it means we have to take my mother home. It is what it is, and I’m not mad.”

And with that, she turned around and made her way to the door to break the news to Bee and my mother.

“What the fuck was that?” I asked Monster without taking my eyes off Rachel’s retreating figure.

“Fucked if I know, boss.”

“Is she pissed? I feel like she might be pissed.”

“She said she wasn’t. She didn’t look pissed,” he frowned, looking back and forth between me and Rachel.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I scowled at her, even though she wasn’t looking at me. I couldn’t figure her the fuck out.

“She threw a bottle at me last week when I told her the bar had no peanuts left,” Monster said, looking equally as confused as I felt.

“I know. And she threw an ashtray at Vienna when he won at darts.”

“So she’s pissed then,” Monster said firmly, nodding his head.

“But she doesn’t look pissed. ”

“Mate…” he whistled. “Actually, do you know what? You’re on your own.

Good fucking luck. I don’t have an old lady.

I don’t need to deal with this shit.” He slapped my shoulder and twisted his lips apologetically before he walked away.

I noticed, however, that he gave Rachel a wide berth on his way out, just in case.