by Lily Harlem
“Happy birthday, darling,” India squealed, as Beth stepped into Jolie’s hallway.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Come on in,” Jolie called from the kitchen. “I made you kids pancakes.”
Beth glanced at Roper.
He raised his eyebrows.
She guessed it was a long time since anyone had called him a kid.
“Thanks,” Beth called, slipping off her boots and jacket. “Be right there.”
“You smell nice,” her mother said, hugging her. “New perfume from him?” She threw a glare at Roper.
“No,” Beth said. “Just something I found next door.”
Roper walked into the kitchen.
“Well, I did get you something,” her mother said, unfurling her fist.
On her palm sat two dainty pearl earrings.
“They were my mother’s. Jolie had them here. We want you to have them.”
Beth stared at them twinkling under the bright overhead light. “They’re beautiful.”
“Just like you.” Her mother kissed her cheek. “Go ahead and put them on for your twentieth birthday.”
Beth did as instructed. She’d long since pawned the diamond studs she’d had when she ran off to New York. It felt strange to have jewelry again.
Her stomach growled.
“Oh my goodness, you need food,” her mother said, ushering her into the kitchen.
Roper sat at the table, forking in pancakes swimming in maple syrup.
Jolie leaned on the counter, cigarette in hand. She had on red lipstick and her hair looked sprayed to within an inch of its life. She was looking at Roper as though she’d like to eat him up the way he was tucking into the pancakes.
India slid two pancakes onto a plate and passed them to Beth.
She sat opposite Roper and helped herself to syrup. “Thanks, Jolie. This looks great.”
“Least I can do,” she said, “when my favorite niece and her handsome man come visiting.”
Roper caught Beth’s eye.
Beth pressed her lips together. Her mother had once told her that Jolie had been a terrible flirt when she was younger and had worked her way through three husbands and had countless affairs.
“So,” India said, pouring herself coffee, “what are these recent developments you talked about, Hermanus?” Her voice was hard again, the birthday excitement apparently over.
“Ah yeah, them.” Roper nodded.
“Yes, them.”
“Let’s just say you could find your old man is off the hook with Eastman, or at least quits with him.”
“Really? How so?”
“Charges are being dropped on Bowman, Eastman’s VP.”
“But he’s guilty as sin,” India said.
“Yeah, but it seems one particular FBI agent has been persuaded to see it otherwise.”
“And this is your doing?”
“Nah, why would I help Brent Rammada?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“No.” Roper appeared confused.
“Bethany. You and her. If you’re really together, then you’d do it for her.”
“Yeah, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for her.” He glanced at Beth.
A lovely warm feeling went through Beth. This was so much more than a fling, a screw, and Roper seemed happy to tell the world that.
“But I can’t take direct credit for this,” he said. “It’s another guy, a buddy of Bowman’s. Ball started rolling before I even met Beth.”
“Well, I’d like to shake his hand.”
“No, you wouldn’t, Mom. Not a nice piece of work.” Beth pulled a face.
India nodded, and Beth figured her mother knew exactly what she’d meant.
Roper set down his fork. “Thanks for that,” he directed at Jolie.
“You want more?” she asked. “Eggs?”
“Nah, I’m good.” He patted his lean belly.
Beth finished her last pancake and before she’d even swallowed, Roper was standing. “We should hit the road.”
“Sure.” Beth slurped at her coffee. “Sooner the better.”
“Where are you going?” Jolie asked.
“Chicago. I got business to attend to,” Roper said.
India wrung her hands together. “You should stay here, Beth.” She threw a glare in Roper’s direction.
“No, Mom, I’m going with him.” Beth shook her head.
Roper crossed his arms and gnawed on the side of his cheek.
“You’d be safer here and…” India scowled.
“And what?”
“And away from his influence.”
“I told you, Mom. Roper and I are together. You have to get used to that.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, look at the man, India.” Jolie pointed at Roper. “Your girl could do a lot worse.”
“And we could do without your opinion.” India’s eyes narrowed at her stepsister.
“I know I’m not what you dreamed of for your daughter,” Roper said.
“Too damn right you’re not. I have no idea what the family will say about this.”
“Probably the same as mine,” Roper said.
“Which is?”
“That we’re crazy to have hooked up.” Roper shrugged.
“Exactly, and—”
“And they’ll have to accept it.” He paused. “If my family want me around, they’ve got no choice.”
“It’s the same with me, Mom. You want me in your life, you’ll have to accept I’m with Roper now.”
A rush of color filled India’s cheeks. She pulled in a deep breath.
“You don’t wanna lose her again,” Jolie said, patting her stiff hair as though checking it wasn’t coming loose from its pins. “Do ya?”
“Of course I don’t.” India scowled. “Though it’s not hard to guess what your father will say about this, Bethany, or your cousins.”
“I’ll deal with them once this Bowman thing has gone through. It’ll sweeten the news,” Roper said. “And, in all honesty, it’ll be easier for Beth when the time comes if she has her mother’s support.” He narrowed his eyes and set his attention on India. “Which is the least you can do after what she’s been through.”
Beth felt her stomach clench. This would go one way or the other. India was volatile. Her temper could flare or fade in a heartbeat, and it wasn’t always possible to guess which way it would go.
India tipped her chin and closed her eyes.
Beth held her breath.
“Okay.” India settled her attention on Roper. “I hear what you’re saying.”
“Good.” Roper gave a curt nod.
“And you’ll look out for Beth while you’re in Chicago? It’s not a safe place for her to be, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. But she’ll be safe with me.” He cupped Beth’s crown and set a kiss on her hair. “Don’t you worry, Mrs. Rammada.”
“Well, of course I’m going to worry.”
“Can’t stop you doing that.” He shrugged.
And did you worry about me these last months?
Beth pressed her lips together. Where would another argument get her? And with her mother apparently placated, there was no need to rock the boat. She’d learned not to do that over the years.
“And will you go and see your father?” India asked Beth.
“It’s the reason I’m going.”
India tugged open a drawer. “Here’s a key to the house. God knows what state it’s in. It was trashed when Eastman came knocking. I can’t imagine it’s been fixed up.” She shook her head as she handed Beth the key. “My poor antique vases, my beautiful artwork. I dread to think what state they’re in.”
“It might not be too bad, Mom. And let’s face it, they’re only things.”
“But they’re my things, just like you are.” She tugged Beth into a hug. “Now go…be safe. Give your father my love and tell him to call for me to join him as soon as the coast is clear.”
“I w
ill.” Beth hugged her mother back.
“I’m hoping we can speed that process along,” Roper said.
“Well, if you can help us make that happen, the Rammadas will be in debt to the Hermanus family.” India pulled in a deep breath and seemed to steel herself. “And in anticipation of that, I thank you and yours.”
“Might be a bit premature, but we’ll see.” Roper gave a curt nod.
“Well, whatever happens, we’re in a better position today than yesterday.” She flicked her hand between Roper and Beth. “Because of you two.”
Beth caught the familiar switch of her mother’s mood—the polar opposite shift in her expression and altered tone of voice that she’d grown up looking out for.
“Love can do that, change things,” India said.
“Mom, we’re not Romeo and Juliet, you know.” God, she hadn’t missed living with those mood swings and the unpredictability of conversations.
“I know. I know. Just saying, paths can take different routes. Rifts can heal.”
“Yeah, well, I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Brent finds out his daughter is shacked up with a Hermanus,” Jolie said.
“As Roper pointed out, my father and my cousins will have to get used to us being an item,” Beth said, tilting her chin. “I’m an adult now. I can be with who I want to be with.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Jolie said, lighting a cigarette. “And safe travels to you both. God be with you.”
Roper nodded at the two women. “We’ll be in touch.”
Chapter Thirteen
The drive to Chicago was long and cold. They stopped several times to fill up on coffee, and Roper insisted Beth eat again. “You need meat on your bones,” he’d said.
Eventually, they pulled up outside Callahans’. It was a brick building painted black. Its sign had three lights missing and one of the “Ls” was wonky.
“Classy,” Beth said, climbing off the bike and standing on a slushy sidewalk.
“It’s ours.” Roper locked his bike.
“You own it?”
“We own most of this street.”
She nodded. It wasn’t surprising really.
He pushed open the door and stepped in, glancing around as if having a recon of the place. He then reached behind himself and tugged her in behind him.
The air was smoke-laced, the lighting subdued. A murmur of conversation wrapped around her the same way the warmth of the place did.
Roper didn’t pause. He towed her to the bowels of the bar and slid into a booth so he was facing the entrance. He nodded to her to sit opposite him.
Within seconds of sitting down, another man slid next to Roper.
He looked younger, but similar, his hair a little longer than Roper’s and his frame leaner. He wore a black leather jacket and had a diamond stud in his right ear. His knuckles were tattooed with stars.
“Con,” Roper said, drawing the man into a hug and slapping him on the back.
“Hey, buddy,” Conner said. “Good to be back on home turf, huh?”
“Yeah.”
Conner signaled to someone at the bar. “Drinks to celebrate.” He set his attention on Beth. “Not that you’re fucking old enough to drink.”
“Twenty today,” Beth said, “so only one year to go.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t worry about that shit in here. You wanna drink, drink.” Conner turned to Roper. “Jesus, brother…twenty. Are you shitting me?”
“Shut the fuck up and get used to it. Beth and me are together, end of discussion.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see how that works out when some cute college kid comes along.”
“Cute kids are not my style.” Beth folded her arms. “I’m into men.”
Conner raised his eyebrows.
“I have to be,” Beth went on. “My family scared the shit out of anyone else I tried to date.”
Conner chuckled, his face softening. “Yeah, well, they’d have a job doing that these days. I haven’t seen any Rammadas around for a while now. Your patch has been taken over by small-time gangs and your house looks like it’s been nuked.”
Beth clenched her teeth. Things were as bad as she’d expected then.
A pitcher of beer and three thick glasses were placed on the table.
“Cheers,” Conner said, pouring.
Roper picked his up and took a sip. He then wiped away the froth on his top lip with the tip of his tongue. “You heard any more about the deal with Bowman?”
“Yeah.” Conner nodded. “Looks like it’s gonna go ahead.”
Beth sipped her drink as a spark of hope lit once more within her. Perhaps this would work out. Maybe she’d be able to visit her father with the good news that Eastman had called a ceasefire.
“Franz is a shifty son of a bitch, but he gets shit done,” Roper said. “This is good for the Rammadas.”
“So?” Conner shrugged and took several big gulps of his beer.
“So,” Roper said, leaning closer to him, “that means it’s good for me. Beth is in over her head here. They’ve lost everything.”
“And you’re suggesting we’ve got to help them? Have you got a short memory? The Hermanus and the Rammada families have been at war for years.”
“Well, it’s time to call an end to it.”
“What, ’cause you’re fucking Brent Rammada’s daughter?”
“Yeah, I’m fucking her. And I intend to for a long time, so get used to the fact we’re a couple. And if kids come along—”
“Kids? Shit, man, you never heard of condoms?”
“Can’t stand the things.” Roper glanced at Beth, then back to Conner. “So get used to it. The Rammadas need our help, and we’re gonna give it.”
“Whatever you say,” Conner said sulkily. “You’re the boss.”
“Yeah, I am, and don’t forget it.” Roper slugged his beer again.
“But the others ain’t gonna like it. There’s gonna be hell to pay. You’ll have to get through that.”
“I’ll take ’em on one at a time.”
“I have no doubt you will.”
Another man, short and stocky, suddenly slid into the booth next to Beth. He grinned at Roper, showing off two gold front teeth. “Hey, man, when you get back?”
“Just now.”
“Got yourself a bit of pussy, too.” He winked at Beth.
“Watch it, Solomon,” Roper said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, she’s special, is she?”
Beth glowered at Solomon. Who the hell was this asswipe?
“Sol, meet Beth Rammada,” Conner said, nodding at Beth.
Solomon’s eyes widened. “Rammada?” He shook his head. “Jesus fucking Christ, you screwing the enemy, Hermanus?”
“No longer the enemy,” Roper said, tension making his voice deep and growling.
“No?” Solomon raised his eyebrows. “Does that mean we can use Ma Rammada’s whorehouse for free?” He swept his hand over Beth’s shoulder, pushed her hair past her neck and exposed her tattoo. “Are you one of your Ma’s whores? Can I fuck you later for free?” He chuckled. “Reckon I could show you what a real man can do. You might even choose me over Hermanus here.”
Beth shifted, nausea welling inside her. But she hadn’t needed to move away because Roper was over the table, gripping Solomon’s jacket.
Next thing she knew, there was a sickening thwack of knuckles meeting cheekbone and a spray of spittle flew across the table.
She gasped and squeezed against the corner. The fury on Roper’s face as he’d hit Solomon was evident.
Solomon had a wild swing at Roper, but missed, and they both toppled to the floor.
For a few seconds, they tussled, grappling with each other, arms and legs flailing. Then Roper got the upper hand, rammed Solomon face down onto the grimy wooden floor and locked his hands behind back. “You disrespect my woman again and I’ll fucking kill you,” he said. “You want a goddamn bullet in your brain?”
“Get the fuck off,”
Solomon said, screwing up his eyes.
Several people had stood to watch the fight.
Roper increased the pressure, intensifying the awkward position of Solomon’s arms.
Solomon cried out.
“Things around here have changed,” Roper said. “And don’t forget who’s the fucking boss.”
“Yeah, yeah, all right.”
“Give him a break,” Conner said, then sipped on his beer. “Sol’s mouth always runs away with him.”
“Yeah, well, it’s time to get it under control.” Roper looked up at the crowd. “You getting a good look, boys?”
“Yes, boss,” a few murmured.
“Good, ’cause this is only the start of what happens if anyone has issues with the new woman in my life. Got it?”
“Yes, boss.”
Roper released Solomon’s arms, slapped him hard across the head, then stood. He brushed his palms together and straightened his jacket, before he sat back down.
“You okay, baby?” he asked a little breathlessly.
Beth nodded. “Yeah, fine.”
“No one will speak to you like that again, I promise.”
“It’s okay.”
“No.” He reached for her hand. “It’s not okay, and I won’t fucking stand for it.”
“Jesus,” Conner muttered, “ain’t love sweet.”
Two hours later, Beth stood before her family home. Conner hadn’t been wrong when he said it looked like it had been nuked. The once tall and reassuringly secure gate was off its hinges. The majority of the windows were boarded up, a few of the boards had graffiti on them—rat, snake, grass and a combination of lewd images.
It also appeared that there’d been a fire in one of the upstairs bedrooms and soot laced the brickwork around the window and slicked up to the roof before being hidden by snow.
“My father is living here?” Beth stared at the place in amazement. “Living on the streets wasn’t fun, but this is pretty shitty, too.”
“Yeah, I reckon.” Roper led the way to the front door.
Beth retrieved the key from her pocket.
“It’s not exactly secure,” Roper said. “We can get in without a key.”
“I’d rather use it. This is the house I grew up in, so using anything other than the front door seems wrong.”
“Fair enough.”
Beth unlocked the door and pushed it open.