Page 139 of Beautiful Scars

She tries to recover, stumbles a little, and then pulls herself together. Then she takes her hat off and places it down on the table. Releases the bun at the nape of her neck, blond hair falling around her shoulders.

I stare at her through narrowed eyes.

PC Didn’tSayHerName clears her throat. Smiles. “You’ve been a naughty boy.”

The hush in the room is gone now. I round on my brother, who’s smiling at me like the cat who got the cream.

I shake my head.

Then I remember the girl behind me, who’s shrugging out of her stab vest.

Who the fuck buys a stripper a stab vest?

“Nah, nah.” I shake my head again. “Don’t bother.”

“God’s sake, Kill. It’s a laugh!” Cole shouts across. “Keep going.”

I round on him. “Howis this a laugh?”

“To be fair, she had me fooled.” Tadhg cuts in. “I mean, she’s a bit young but some of themarerides.”

“Keep fucking going,” Cole shouts.

I turn around. “Don’t. You don’t need to do that.”

The girl’s eyes go wide and I turn around to see Cole getting out of his chair.

Jesus Christ.

He moves around the table like he owns the place. I guess he does. “Do what I’m paying you to do.”

The poor thing looks like she’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Or, the Hendry twins, which I suppose is the worst kind of rock and hard place. “Give it up, Cole.”

“Why?” He says the word like it could cut through concrete.

I choose not to respond, even though I have a million reasons.

He smiles, starts chuckling, and looks around the room to make sure people are still watching us. “Wait. Are you...? Are you scared Meisie’s going to have your balls or something?”

Again, I choose to stay silent.

My lack of reaction only angers him more. Telltale signs that the rest of the room wouldn’t notice. The flare of his nostril as he sniffs. The tick in his jaw, same one I get.

“Fine. If you’re not going to, then I will.” He barges past me and grabs the girl by the wrist.

“Crack on, mate. I’ll catch you tomorrow.”

He stops what he’s doing and stares at me, but I’m already leaving.

I don’t want to be here. Didn’t even want to come in the first place. Before I go I grab the bottle and down it, knowing that’s the only way I’ll get to sleep tonight.

I catch Derek’s attention, who’s been working all night, and tell him to take me home.

As I leave, I glance back and see Cole staring me down from across the room with slitted eyes.