Chapter 6

BEAR

Iwake with a start and find Elsie smiling down at me. I stretch out and check my bedside clock. "Tinks, it's six in the morning," I complain. "I've been in bed like two hours."

"It's the weekend. What are we doing today?"

"You're going to play in your room, and I'm going to get another hour."

She climbs in beside me, taking the remote for my television. "Can I watch a film?"

I groan. "If it means I get another hour, sure."

I wake again at ten and there's no sign of Elsie, which means someone's come and taken her down for breakfast. I shower, dress, and head down, where I find her in the kitchen baking with Star. "What are you making?" I ask, kissing Tinks on the head.

"Cookies," she beams, and I mouth the word ‘thanks' to Star. She's so good with Elsie, and I appreciate the way she entertains her without me asking.

"Actually, Star, I need a favour tonight."

"I can't watch her," she says, smiling. "Sorry. Hunter already asked, but I have to work. I've already swapped way too many shifts." There's no point me offering to match her pay. Being so young, she earns way too much on the stage.

"No worries," I say, heading to my office. I have another idea in mind.

Hunter follows me in. "All the girls are making themselves busy tonight. The men are being split over here and the strip club, just in case it's a lie and they aim for another business."

"And the two fuckers?" I ask.

"Man, they were wasted last night. They snorted so much shit, they could hardly speak. I reckon they'll be here by lunch for another hit."

I smirk. "Good. Keep them around, so if they get any news, we'll hear it straight away."

"You taking Tinks to her nan's?"

I shake my head. "Nah, things ain't good between us again. I've got a plan, though."

"We're all set then."

At six p.m., I raise my finger and press the doorbell. "Remember what I said, Tinks," I tell her, gently squeezing her hand. "You have to be on your best behaviour."

"I promise," she says, beaming up at me. I hand her the rucksack with all her overnight clothes just as the front door swings open and Nora stares wide-eyed.

I smirk, running my eyes over her wet hair and half-naked body, which she's wrapped in a towel. "Did I disturb you?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I need a favour."

Her eyes land on Elsie and she begins to shake her head, but I already have a hand on the back of Tinks and I'm pushing her through the front door. "I won't be long. An hour tops."

"Bear, no. I can't. I have . . ." I wait for her to finish, but her words die on her tongue. "I have somewhere to be."

"A date?" I'm surprised how that thought bothers me. It also makes me want to leave Tinks here even more, so she can't go.

"No, not exactly. Look, you can't just turn up and dump your kid on me."

"I wouldn't do it if I wasn't desperate. I swear, I won't be long."

She eyes me, folding her arms over her chest. "An hour?" I nod. "Not a second longer."

"I promise." I'm already backing up the path. "My number's in the bag if you need me."

NORA

I'm so pissed. I feel used, like this whole thing was so he could have me to babysit his kid. I stare at Elsie, and she stares back at me. "Nora, who is it?" Mum calls.

I sigh heavily, taking Elsie by the hand. "It's Elsie," I say as I enter the room.

Mum presses the button to sit up some more and smiles as Elsie comes into view. "Oh my, aren't you the cutest thing?"

"I work with her," I explain, "and her father had an emergency."

"I thought you had an interview?"

I nod. "I do, but it's just for an hour."

Elsie climbs onto Mum's bed, and I rush to stop her, but Mum holds up her hand. "She's fine," she tells me.

"Are you sick?" Elsie asks, eyeing up the tube in Mum's hand.

"I am," Mum replies.

"When I'm sick, a story makes me feel better."

My heart squeezes. She's such a sweet, misunderstood little girl.

"I don't think I have any books," Mum says, looking to me, and I shake my head.

Elsie grins, opening the zip on her rucksack. "I have some," she announces, and Mum smiles too. "I can read them for you."

"I would love that."

I notice a flash of pink in the bag and pull out what looks like pyjamas. I frown as I delve deeper and find a toothbrush and fresh clothes. "Elsie, did Daddy say you were sleeping over?" I ask, and she nods while she opens a book.

"Will you be okay? I just need to make call," I ask Mum, and she nods.

I find a piece of paper with Bear's number scribbled on it and head into the hall to call him. He answers on the first ring. "Missing me already?"

"What the fuck, Bear?" I snap. "Why have you brought an overnight bag?"

"Just in case."

"In case what?" I demand. "You said an hour."

"Yeah, and I hope I'll be just an hour. But shit happens and you never know."

"I have somewhere to be. You need to come back and get her."

"Impossible," he tells me. "What's so important you can't watch Tinks?"

"None of your business."

"It is when we're fucking."

I scoff. "That's all we're doing, so you have no rights over my life."

"Don't cheapen what we have," he says, sounding amused. "I gotta go."

"No," I screech. "Don't hang—" It's too late, he's already disconnected, and I growl in frustration. I check the time. I have an hour to get ready, so I rush upstairs and do my best to dry my hair, leaving it wild. I apply makeup, going heavier than I usually would with a smoky eye and red lips, then I slip into the sexiest underwear I own. It's from Victoria's Secret, and I've hardly worn it since it was from my ex. Next, I pull on a short black dress and grab matching heels, then I rush back downstairs and find Josh sitting with Mum and Elsie.

I haven't spoken to him about last night yet, but he gives me a sheepish look, which tells me he regrets his little binge. I tip my head, getting him to come out the room. "You owe me," I tell him, and he frowns. "After last night's antics. I need you to watch Elsie for half an hour while I go to this interview."

"I'm shit with kids," he argues.

"No, you're not. Kids love you. Please, Josh."

He sighs. "Fine, but don't be long. I have some work later."

I kiss him on the cheek, and he makes a puking sound while wiping it. "Love you," I tell him, and I leave before he can change his mind.

The short walk to the new strip bar that's due to open in a week takes me less than ten minutes. If I can pull this off, it will be ideal to get to and from work.

I knock on the backstage door as instructed and a large beefy man opens. "Yeah?"

"Hi, I'm Nora. I've got an interview."

He grins, opening wider. "Go right through to the bar. There're a few girls already waiting."

I find five women, all looking nervous. Two are a lot older while the rest are around my age. A woman struts over holding a clipboard. "Names?" she barks, and we all give our names.

"The boss wants one-on-one," she tells us. "You," she points to me, "follow me." I gulp. This suddenly feels all too real and I wonder if I'm making a mistake. The lure of money is way too strong, and when I saw the ad, I knew it was a sign. If I get the position, I'll be able to hand in my notice at the school and to Bear and do this instead.

I'm led into a small room where a man sits with his back to me. There's a raised circle stage in the centre with a dance pole. The woman gives a small smile and leaves, closing the door behind her.

I move to the stage, and when my eyes finally meet his, I gasp. "Ray?"

"Long time no see," he says dryly.

My heart hammers hard in my chest. I've been avoiding his calls since I moved back here, and he's the last person I expected to see. "What are you doing here?"

"Holding interviews."

I frown. "But this is a strip club."

"Didn't I tell you I was expanding before you left me?"

"I didn't leave you," I mutter, "and I thought you were expanding into Manchester."

"Shows you didn't listen." He's right, I probably didn't. When I first met him on a night out, he had this spark that I was drawn to. But after six months, I began to see his true colours. He was a bad boy, and every other bad boy in town looked up to him. I got sick of the way he'd boss people around and how he'd flash his cash. I never really asked what he did for a living, but when he began buying bars outright, I knew it was nothing good.

"So, you need a job," he says, breaking my daydream.

"I didn't realise you owned this. It's a bad idea." I go to step off the stage, but he stands, blocking my exit.

"You need a job and I need a dancer. When I saw your name on the sheet, I was surprised. I thought you had a job lined up."

"I did, but I need more money."

"If it's money you need . . ."

I shake my head. "I need to go."

"Look, I'll give you a job. I've seen you dance," he grins, and I blush. "But let's do the interview anyway to tick the boxes."

I look back at the stage. I really do want the money, and realistically, how often would Ray actually be here? I sigh, giving a nod.

BEAR

"Where the fuck are those kids?" I bark, and Hunter shrugs.

"I tried calling Josh, but he said he had something come up."

"I don't trust him. Get him here now or tell him we'll come and find him."

He gives a nod and goes off to make the call. We've had men patrolling the fence and they've seen nothing suspicious. But I can't do this shit every night. I need to go to Ray fucking Johnson personally, and luckily, we've had a tip-off he's at a nearby club owned by Guy Banks, an associate of the MC. Johnson's hired it out, and that can only mean he's staying nearby because he plans to make his move against us, and soon.

Ten minutes pass before Hunter knocks on the office door. "Pres, you ain't gonna be happy," he mutters.

"Why?"

He opens the door wider, and Tinks skips in. "What the fuck is she doing here?"

"Josh had her."

I stand, picking her up. "What happened to Nora?"

"She had to go for an interview," he tells me.

Josh appears. "Start talking," I snap, handing Tinks to Hunter, who takes her from the room.

"My sister was babysitting the kid and she had to go. I promised I'd watch her for an hour, but then Hunter said I had to come here, so I brought her with me. But look, I gotta get that kid back before Nora returns cos she'll kill me."

My blood is boiling and I hear a ringing sound in my ears. I'm about to blow. "Your sister is Nora?" He nods. "Fuck." I've been using this kid, getting him hooked on our shit so he owes us, and he's fucking related to Nora.

"You know her?" he asks.

"Elsie is my kid," I tell him, and his eyes widen before he grins.

"No way. Small world. Anyway, you got any more of that gear?"

Hunter returns holding a small bag of powder. "No," I snap, "you can't have any more of that shit."

"Why?" they both ask in unison.

"Cos I fucking said," I snap. "And cos I'm the goddamn President. Hunter, watch Tinks. I got a woman to go track."

"She's at a bar just up the road," says Josh. "But look, man, she wouldn't normally leave a kid like that. She just needs the money."

"What bar? She already works two jobs."

"Yeah, well, they don't pay what she can make behind the bar there apparently."

I frown. What kind of bar job pays that good? "Bar?" I ask again.

"Banksy's. It just opened."

Hunter arches a brow. "Why the fuck would she be there?"

"I told you," says Josh, "she's got a job interview with the new owner."

I grab him by the shirt and haul him closer so we're practically head-to-head. "That's impossible because the fucking owner is in Dubai. I know this cos I spoke to him an hour ago and he told me your fucking mate offered him a lot of cash to close for the night so he could hide out there."

Josh frowns. "Ray?" I shove him away, and he stumbles back. "Why's my sister with Ray?"

"You tell me." He shrugs, and the baffled expression almost makes me believe he doesn't know. "Are you two in this together? Have you set me up?"

Josh shakes his head fast, desperate for me to believe him. "No, no way. Why would I come here with your kid if I wanted that? I didn't even know you knew Nora."

I grab my bike keys from the desk. "Well, let's go find out." I head out.

"Shall we round some of the men up?" asks Hunter, following me.

"Nah, I'm gonna kill this fucker myself."

Tristen pops up from behind the door as we pass. "You heading out, gorgeous?" he asks, smiling wide. Hunter's brother goes out his way to irritate me on a daily.

I narrow my eyes, but it doesn't phase him. In fact, I think it turns him on. "Watch Tinks," I bark.

He salutes me. "I'm practically step-mum anyway," he retorts.

"Rein in the fucking attitude," I hear Hunter hiss.