Page 24 of Playing By Ear

“What about your daughter? You want Lucy to grow up to be a gangster?” He whispered the G word. “Is that part of your ‘big plans’?”

“Of course not.” Belinda glanced back at the house as she took a deep drag from her cigarette. Then she shifted closer and spoke in a hush, letting the secret glide forth upon a puff of smoke. “By the time Lucy leaves school, MacKray Enterprises will be 100% legit.”

Jamie stared at her. She’d just defended the entire concept of community-based criminal enterprise, and now she claimed to be going straight?

“Not because I believe in society’s senseless laws.” Belinda picked a pale dog hair off her coat. “It’s not about me at all, actually.”

“Who, then?”

Belinda hesitated, staring at the pointed toes of her coal-black shoes. “It might have been different if I’d had a son, or even a girl like me, someone who could grow up hard and ruthless. But Lucy…” She shook her head. “That lass is too much like her Uncle Jamie to survive in our twisted world. I need out for her sake.”

A chill zipped down Jamie’s spine. “Are you feart for her if things go bad?”

“Not directly, no. The code is hanging by a thread, but it’s still there.”

Ah, yes: the code barring violence against women, children, and “non-coms” or noncombatants, i.e., innocent bystanders. “If not directly, then what?”

Belinda’s lips folded under for a moment. “Lucy loves her dad, and her grandda, and her great-aunts and -uncles and cousins. Losing any of them in a bad way would destroy her.” She took another drag off her cigarette. “Also, there’s foreign firms lurking about now, especially down south, and some of them don’t give two fucks about the code.”

A million questions swirled through Jamie’s mind, about how she would make this transition without losing her fortune, her family, and potentially her life. But he’d be safer—and saner—not knowing details. “Not that I care, but what’s Dad think of your plans?” He knew the answer before the last word had left his mouth.

“If he knew, which he doesn’t, he’d hate it. He loves being a gangster.” Unlike Jamie, she didn’t whisper the word. “It’s more than money. It’s the excitement, the power. All the macho shit that gives me an ulcer.” She tapped the ash off her cigarette with a flick of her thumbnail. “I want to run a successful business, and I don’t much care what sort. I’ve not got a calling or special gift like you.”

He looked away. Flattery wouldn’t win him over, not even from the most important person in his life.

But if he looked after Martin, Belinda would have more time to transition the business into one that didn’t devour people’s lives. Jamie could be part of the solution.

“So, where were you Saturday night?” She elbowed him. “Is there someone special I should know about, for security purposes?”

Thinking of Perry gave Jamie a needle-like stab at the place where his ribs met his breastbone. “He had potential, but after I saw you I broke it off. I don’t want him anywhere near this family.”

“Wise move,” she said. “It’s hard to find a safe person to love. I was lucky to fall for Stuart.”

Aye, right. Luck had nothing to do with his sister marrying the son of Dad’s strongest vassal. The marriage had sealed the Wilkies’ loyalty forever, like alliances between clans or kingdoms in olden days.

“I’ve always wondered, did he propose to you with his catchphrase?”

“Stop,” she said with a chortle, giving him a shove.

“‘Belinda, my love,’” Jamie said, imitating Stuart Wilkie’s high-pitched, nasally voice. “‘Marrying me is an A-1 opportunity.’”

She laughed harder. “You’re a numpty.”

Jamie coughed Stuart’s voice out of his throat. “I’ll never understand how a man so easy to look at can be so hard to listen to.”

“You get used to it.”

“Does he know about your plans to take the business legit?”

“Mmmm.” She raised her chin and moved it side to side, stretching her neck. “I’ve made vague noises now and again, but I don’t think he’s got a Scooby how thoroughly I’ve mapped it out. He’s prettier than he is clever.”

“So you’ve telt me something your own husband doesn’t know?”

“I know you can keep a secret.”

“Aye, loads of practice.”

Belinda nudged his shoulder with her own. “If you come back, you could finally meet Lucy. She’s playing the ukulele and wants to learn guitar. Maybe you could teach her?”