I need people to know she isn’t mine, and I have all that planned out for tonight.

  Everyone stands around the board. “What’s the plan?” Elijah asks.

  “The black pieces are them. What I’m trying to work out is, are the drugs covering up the guns, or are the guns covering the drugs.”

  “Well, we don’t do drugs, so what would that have to do with us?” Pike asks.

  “I think the drugs are covering the guns,” my dad says.

  "I agree, and we still don't know what the fuck we've done to them, so we're going to be playing this slowly," I say. I look up to see if they are all listening. They all nod, letting me know I can continue. "We are going to take all the pawns, the drugs. I want to know who is supplying it, where they are selling it. We are going to do this in steps until we get to the king, the king has to make a move sooner or later," I say.

  “So, the pawns are the drugs and guns, but what about the others?” Elijah asks.

  "Pawns, drugs, guns, the bishop and rook are the suppliers and buyers, who will hopefully take us closer to the knight and king, and along the way, we find the queen," I say. Everyone as a Queen, but I don't want to hurt the queen, so I'm hoping we can do this without involving her.

  “What are we?” Pike asks.

  "Our pawns. We have enough of them that they are going to be digging around, finding where they sell. Bishop and Rook, Elijah and Warren, take your time. Nothing is to be rushed. If this takes a year, it takes a year. Find out where they are getting the guns, and who they are selling to.” I turn to my dad. “Dad, if you can call the Americans to ask if it's them or not."

  "I will call them later and let you know. You're doing this old school style. Slowly, making sure you cut them off everywhere before you cut the snakes head." The smile on his lips makes me smile. He knows how we used to do it. We've not had to do this for a long time, but this way has never gone wrong for us before.

  "Pike you're the knight. You're in charge of the guns here. Where I go, you go. Even if it leads to blood. It will be most likely mine." I look at him and he nods. "Elijah, get extra security on Gwen if you feel it's needed. We don't know what this family can or will do," I say.

  "No, I'm happy with who we have. I trust them," Elijah says.

  “That is all done then. We will start tomorrow. Give our pawns the details on what they have to do. Now—”

  “You’re missing something,” my dad says. “The queen.”

  I look down at the black queen and pick the piece up. "We don't have one," I say.

  This was the hardest decision to make. Choosing to be with her and put her in danger, or keep her safe. Not being allowed to kiss her, touch her, be fine with others looking at her, still makes my blood boil. It's going to hurt me more every day to watch her, and not be able to touch.

  “Alice…”

  "Will be my biggest weakness, my biggest distraction, and it's best not to have that," I say, still looking at the piece in my hands.

  “You’ve just told the whole of fucking Sinwick and London that she is yours, so it’s a bit late for that,” Pike bites back.

  “That will be fixed.” I keep my tone calm.

  “What the fuck do you mean, you have it fixed?” Pike yells.

  “By the end of the night, everyone will know I’m not with Alice, and I will make sure that word gets around,” I explain.

  What I'm about to do is something I would never normally do, but I need people to talk, and tell others what they see. I need to make sure people know I'm not a one-woman man.

  “Everyone, leave,” my dad yells. I hear them cussing at me as they file out.

  "It's for the best, Dad. The other night, I should have been here at the bar, but no. I was at another fucking bar because she didn't listen to what I had to say. A couple of days ago, I broke a guy’s hand and almost killed another." Standing up straight, I look at him. "At the moment, she is all I think about, and it will get me shot."

  “Or it will give you purpose to live and win.” He takes a step closer to me. “We all have to make mistakes, and we learn from them. Don’t let this be your mistake,” he says.

  “Once this is all over…”

  "It might be too late, son. You're about to break the trust she has. I don't think she will give it back so fast."

  I look away from my dad. I know this is the right thing to do. If anything happens to her because of me, what’s the point of doing this? It’s safer for her this way.

  "I'm keeping her safe, Dad. We don't know what this family can do, and until we do…I have to keep her safe." I walk away from him and stand by the window.

  "I was always worried about you. So was your grandad. We worried you would end up alone. Now, I worry you will end up alone, being in love with someone." I listen to my dad's footsteps. Then the door open and closes.

  I shake my head, love. Love can kill a man—something I don't plan on happening.

  Chapter 11

  Alice

  Today has been a fucking shit day. I woke up this morning to an empty bed. No message, no note, nothing. I thought maybe throughout the day he would get in contact with me, but no.

  I spent all day thinking about what happened last night. I thought everything was perfect. I admit my reaction to his scars wasn't the best, but they took me by surprise.

  Even now, my hand trembles as I remember my fingers moving over them. The pain he took, the punishments, I can see why he can be so shut off and cold with everyone around him. He lived two brutal years alone and had no one to help.

  I thought Angel and I had a connection, something sparked last night between us. I have no idea what I've done wrong.

  I wanted to ask Drew if there was family business last night, but she was having trouble with Warren. She came over later crying, telling me how much of a dick Warren was being. I keep telling her that if she can’t trust him, she needs to tell him to fuck off. No matter how much I repeated myself, she won't leave him. She will live this life of back and forth fighting with him. All I can do is be there when she needs a shoulder to cry on or when she needs to complain about him. I will always be there.

  That was just half my day, and I thought it couldn’t get any worse. Then Ben called me. He only ever calls when something is wrong, so panic ran through my body. I was terrified he was going to tell me they’d found me. To my surprise, Vinny told him about Angel.

  I had planned to tell Ben. We don't have any secrets from each other. Next time we met up, I was going to tell him everything, but Vinny beat me to it. I will definitely have words with him about it. I asked Ben if there was any chance of the Midlands coming here. All Ben said was there was no reason for them to come to Sinwick. Both families made a truce never to get involved in each other’s business unless one family crossed the line. So, for now, I'm safe. Ben told me he would let me know if anything changes and Vinny will let him know if there is anything he needs to know.

  I told Ben I didn't have much of a choice when it came to Angel. I tried to walk away from him. I tried to tell him no. He wasn't listening to me. Ben said that Vinny explained how Angel was, but also said I need to be careful. The Frost family and the Midlands have a history, so they will get me no matter what.

  I agreed with Ben, and again begged him to leave the Midlands. He refused. I know he will never leave them until he knows I’m safe.

  It was an argument that I wasn't in the mood for today. In the end, I told Ben I didn’t have the strength to argue with him and would wait for his next call. We could talk about this when we meet up next. Which I'm hoping won't be long, because I miss him already.

  I look behind me as Drew walks into my apartment. “You’re here early.” I turn back to the TV. Our shift doesn’t start for a few hours yet.

  "There was a family meeting. Thought I would come to see how you're feeling this evening." She sits on the couch with me. It looks likes she and Warren haven't made up. She still looks miserable.

  "Well Angel hasn't called and Ben and I had an argument. So, nothing much has happened," I reply as I continue to eat my dinner.

  “Vinny was only trying to help. Plus, Ben needs to know. This might affect things. So, after tonight, want to go to the pub?”

  I look over at her. "I was hoping my night involved Angel in it, but it doesn't look like it. So, I would love to. Are the others coming?" I ask as she starts watching some TV show I've never seen before. She watches the weirdest reality TV sometimes.

  "I’ll ask when we get to the bar. I thought this weekend we could go somewhere, a spa weekend or something." Drew leans back on the sofa.

  “I think you’ve forgotten something. Work. We’re both working this weekend,” I tell her, but a spa weekend does sound nice.

  "I will see if I can get someone to change it with us if I can. You in?"

  "Yeah, I'm in. Where are you thinking?" I ask her.

  "The best spas are here in London. We can go to the main city. There’s this amazing hotel there…" She starts tapping on her phone as I finish the last of my pasta. "This place…I’ll see if some of the girls will swap and then I can book it."

  "Great. Something to look forward to." I walktowards the kitchen. "Want to go to the cinema before our shift starts?" I ask. After today, I want to have a carefree evening.

  “Sure, want to get dressed for work here or there?” Drew turns the TV off, and walks over to me. “I left my uniform at the bar.” Grabbing her bag off the table, I grab mine as well and pick up my keys.

  “I have a spare there,” I tell her. As we both walk out of my apartment, Drew checks to see which films are on at the moment.

  ***

  I close my locker and make my way to the front. The doors open in a few minutes, which gives us time to get things ready.

  “Alice,” Vinny shouts from behind me.

  As I move behind the bar, I look at him. “Vinny, I’m not in the mood. You know Ben went crazy, you think—”

  "I'm sorry. He asked how you were doing, and Angel's name got mentioned. Ben will always worry about you." Vinny leans closer. "He will always worry, Alice."

  "I know he will, but I wanted to tell him, slowly." I stop and look up at him for a moment. "Vinny, you okay?" I ask him.

  He looks different. I know Angel told him to get someone, but I don't know what else he's had to do, and I'm starting to worry about him. He has a different look in his eyes. They're starting to look closed off.

  “Yeah, nothing you need—”

  “No, secrets,” I say, cutting him off before he can give me a stupid reason and tell me I don’t need to know.

  “No secrets, but you don’t need to know the things...Alice, if there was anything I needed to tell you, I would.” Vinny takes my hand in his. “They still don’t trust me, so I’m not in yet,” Vinny says.

  I look up at Angel's office and, like always, there he is watching me. He seems to be in a heated argument with Pike.

  “I don’t need you on the in,” I tell him.

  I hate every day that Ben is there, so Vinny can stay on the outside of the Frost family.

  “The doors won’t open themselves,” Ash says as he walks towards the dance floor. “Let’s have a good night,” he shouts.

  “Still on for the pub after work for a bit?” Vinny asks.

  “Yep,” I answer as I get some of the drink bottles ready.

  "Be good," Vinny tells me, and I start laughing.

  “I’m always good,” I yell to him.

  “Got my eye on you.” Vinny gives me a wink and walks away.

  Just before the doors open, I look up at Angel. This time, he's not looking down at me. He and Pike are arguing about something. Whatever it is, Pike is not happy.

  "Got our shift changed, and Ellie's coming, too. One more shift and we can go," Drew says as she joins me behind the bar. "You telling him?" she asks, nodding her head towards the window.

  "When he wants to talk, I might mention it," I tell her. I turn and smile at the first customer.

  “Hey, beautiful. Whiskey please.” He leans closer. “And anything you want.” He puts some money on the counter.

  “Only just started my shift. A little later maybe,” I say as I place his drink in front of him.

  "I'll be back later," he says, bringing his drink to his lips as he watches me. I give him a smile and walk over to the next customer.

  “What can I get you?” I ask.

  "One thing about this bar, they do have the most beautiful staff." The guy takes my hand, but I quickly pull it away. I remember what Angel did to the last guy that touched me.

  "You've not even had a drink, and you're already getting touchy." I smile at him as I get his drink ready.

  “Well it shows how beautiful you are,” he shouts over the music.

  "Well, thank you, handsome." Placing his drink in front of him, I move over to the next.

  Five hours later, my feet are killing me. I was meant to have a break, and I did, but it only lasted ten minutes. Tonight has been crazy busy in here, and they needed all staff on the floor or behind the bar.

  "What can I get you?" I ask a woman who’s moving her hand in the air to get my attention.

  “I’m here for Angel Frost,” she says. I look at her for a moment and study her brown hair, perfectly waved, and her brown eyes. I can’t see her body, but her breasts are out for everyone to see.

  I look up at Angel. “Up the stairs.” I point and walk away to the other side.

  “Who is she?” Drew asks.

  “No idea,” I answer as I see Pike coming down the stairs. He does not look happy.

  I walk over to him and pour him a whiskey.

  "Thanks." Pike doesn't look at me.

  My eyes follow his up to Angel's window.

  I watch the woman standing in front of him. She moves in closer to him, her hands moving to his chest. What the hell is happening? There is no way he would do this. No way.

  I get a nausea pain in my stomach as I watch her moving closer and closer to Angel. My legs get weaker and my chest pulls from the pain of it being stepped on.

  Then, what seemed to be happening in slow motion finally happens. Angels kisses her. His hand moves to the back of her neck, pulling her in closer. Angel opens his eyes and looks straight at me as he kisses her. I watch her hand begin to take his jacket off as they walk away from the window, still kissing each other.

  “Fuck,” Pike says.

  I grab the whiskey bottle and pour myself a drink. I look over at Vinny looking at me, and I raise my glass to him.

  “Alice, everyone…”

  "I can see them, Drew," I say as I watch everyone looking at me, and then up at Angel's window.

  “Can I get another?” Pike puts his glass on the bar.

  Pouring him another drink, I pour one for myself and turn to the guy standing next to Pike.

  “Now that we know you’re—”

  "Move the fuck away," Pike shouts, and I look over at him.

  “Don’t listen to him. Can I get you a drink?” I ask him before looking back up at the window. I’m trying very hard not to cry, trying hard not to shout, not to throw something at the window.

  “I’ll get it.” Drew walks over to me and sees my hand shaking.

  I’ve never been as angry as I am right now.

  He tells the whole fucking town, making sure that no club will let me in, because I'm Angel fucking Frost’s girl, and this is what he does? What happened last night? What did I do that was so fucking wrong?

  “Go take five,” Drew tells me.

  “No, I’m fine,” I bite back.

  I’m not fine. I’m so fucking far away from fine, but I won’t let Angel think he affected me.

  “Hey, beautiful, you know what they say. One man's loss is another man's gain.” The guy standing next to Pike moves to take my hand, but I pull it away.

  “I’m not going to tell you again,” Pike growls. He looks at the guy then waves Vinny over. “Get this asshole out before I hurt him.”

  Vinny looks at me, making sure I'm okay. I give him a nod, then he grabs the back of the guys' shirt and drags him out.

  Pike walks away as he puts his phone to his ear, and I hear Drew say from behind me, “What fucking game is he playing?” Her voice sounds more annoyed than me.

  “Letting me know I was a fucking warm up for his game,” I tell her as I move away from her.

  I was just a little game for Angel to make sure he still had power in this town. He saw that no one would come close to me. He found out people still feared him. The whole of Sinwick is still scared of him, and he can break anyone he wants.

  "There is a fault with the electric system. Sorry folks, but the bar will be closing. We’ll be open tomorrow," the DJ announces.

  I watch Pike walk back over to the bar. I follow his eyes to the stairs and see the woman walking down them and over to us. Well, that was a quick fuck. She stands next to Pike.

  “Can I get a vodka,” she asks.

  I place a shot glass in front of her.

  “One for yourself, too,” she adds.

  I fill both glasses up and take my shot fast. It's taking everything in me not to punch her right now.

  “Cheers,” she says as she raises her glass.

  “Oh, sorry,” I say as I fill my glass again and clink it with hers.

  “To Angel coming home,” she says and I down it.

  With the music now turned off, I move closer to her. “Listen here, bitch, you come and fuck Angel all you want, I don’t give a shit, but if you come and have a drink with me again, I will cut your fucking tongue out.”

  I hear Pike click his tongue, making me look over at him as he drinks his whiskey.

  I grab a beer and walk away. “Angel is looking down here,” Drew tells me.

  “I don’t fucking care,” I reply.

  But I do care. I want him to see how annoyed and angry I am. I take a step closer to the bottles behind the bar and take three of them. “We have our drinks for the night,” I tell Drew.

  "He's coming down," she says.

 

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