Chapter 10

I was right to be anxious.

There was a cop car outside Buck Merril's, a group of Socs and an ambulance. The stretcher outside had a body on it but I couldn't see whose. I stared at it and then scanned the crowd for Tim. My chest ached when I couldn't see him, my heart throbbing in my throat. Dally was pale outside with some of Tim's boys. He wasn't there.

He wasn't there…

I threw myself out of the car and almost tripped over Curly. We ran to the crowd and I pushed my way through the crowd, searching, until I heard Curly's yelp of excitement. I pushed through people and almost sobbed when I saw Tim. He was ashen and shaken but he was breathing and that was all that mattered to me. He was safe.

I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his chest. I inhaled shakily, breathing in cologne, cider and cancer sticks. Tim hesitated and then pulled me closer so I had to stand on his feet and rocked backwards and forwards. I felt his lips press into the top of my head and sighed.

"Who is it?" I muttered and looked up at the stretcher. I was closer now and it wasn't someone I recognised. He was definitely a Greaser but with the state his face was in, I couldn't tell who he was.

"Ben Withers," Tim said quietly and then relayed the story to me. Everyone had been settling down for a meeting and the River Kings had been unsettled from the start. Their new guy was missing and they were blaming anyone who looked there way. Buck had gone outside for more beers, there was a cooler out the back. He'd started hollering and they'd all come out to see the group of Socs dropping him off at the side of the road. Buck called the cops. The gangs had kept the Socs here. My eyes burned in sympathy for the boy, who when I looked back was being pushed into the back of the ambulance. The paramedic was talking to him but he was frowning The other cop was blocking the door of the ambulance mumbling about statements.

It wasn't looking good for us.

"I think we'll make a move. When we get Mr. Wither's statement, we'll let you know," the cop was saying. One Soc, a big tall brown haired guy was smirking. Buck looked appalled and waved his hand around.

"You have a bunch of witnesses to the boy being dropped off by them in this state," he yelled and the cop frowned. "You're just gonna let them get away without even saying anything?"

"There's not enough evidence-" he began but was cut off.

"Yes there is," Sophie said suddenly. "There's a mark on his cheek, like that guys ring. The insignia is stamped on his cheek." She stroked his cheek and then froze. Her eyes widened and she shook him lightly and started to tapping on his shoulder. "There's something wrong."

The cop walked up and looked at Ben. He shook him and when there was no response, he went white. The paramedic was cursing the other cop out, while the guy standing by the stretcher started checking his pulse and barking out commands. Ronnie was dragging Sophie away and the River Kings were beginning to stir.

"We'll investigate," was all the cop said. He grabbed the Soc with the ring and put him in the back of the car. The others skulked away except for one, who hesitated and looked back. When eyes turned to him, he scurried away.

Brandy, his head hung low was talking to the paramedic, who was talking quietly about tests. I swallowed when I heard the word 'comatose' being uttered. He nodded and they whisked Ben away. His second muttered to him and then walked from Buck's and got into a car. The place stayed deathly quiet.

"I'll kill them all," he whispered and every person standing in that lot pretended not to notice the tears dripping from his cheeks to the ground. "I'll do anything, let's just get rid of them."

I wasn't surprised Brandy Rivers was so affected. The River Kings, despite the size of the organisation and the jobs they ran, had a low death and injury rate in comparison to the other groups, even Tim's. The only one lower was the Curtis gang. Brandy wasn't new in this kind of life but when you were careful about your boys and where they were, this was a hard blow. But he had been careful. His dad had established the gang and after running through a few different leaders it was left back to him. He was only younger than Tim by a few months but it was something Tim liked to hold over his head. I never figured out why Sophie never went steady with him. He was a good looking guy. He had warm brown eyes and a mop of curly brown hair when it wasn't slicked back. He was a good guy too, always conscious of his actions.

People were leaving and I turned back to look at Tim, who was staring at his boys most of whom had stayed put. Curly was shaking and Ronnie was patting his back gently. They had grouped off among themselves, muttering darkly watching the ambulance roll away. Tim nodded to Robbie and then grabbed my hand and lead me in through the doors. Sophie was sitting with Brandy, their heads bent in together. Tom Davis from Brumley was up at the bar. He kept looking back and when he got his drinks, one was left to Brandy. He nodded to Tim, then settled at an empty table in the corner where he could watch everyone. Compared to his boys, he might as well have been a genius.

Finally Tiber Street Tigers appeared, at least seven of them, settling around the bar. Ricky Moreno walked in last, beady eyes scouting out each gang leader in the room. His eyes lingered on us, then Brandy. His eyebrow crooked and then sat heavily by the door. Another smart move. Moreno was Mexican and around here it paid to be shifty. People like him were often blow-ins and they were often chased out by Greasers. Some like Moreno, had dug their nails in and climbed to the top. He had dark eyes and even darker hair. He was tanned and short, only barely taller than Dally but just as big as Darry. He was oddly proportioned, with skinny legs and a massive torso that rivalled Dally. It made him look like a lollipop.

"Ladies can go to the powder room," he jeered and Tim rolled his eyes at me, throwing an arm over the back of my chair. Sophie had Brandy's head in her lap and she answered by flicking her knife out and poking it in Moreno's direction.

"Off you go Moreno," Davis sneered and the Tigers started to stir. Buck slammed a glass down and they froze. Dallas slipped into the room, Ronnie and Curly at his heels. Two River Kings came in the back and suddenly both sides were even.

"They'll get off on bail," Brandy said thickly. "Then we do to them what they did to Ben." Sophie hushed him and smoothed his hair down. Ronnie was tilting his head oddly, his eyes darting between them all.

"Have his mother file a report," he said slowly. "Get a lawyer, go to trial. Sue for the hospital bills… Does he work? Sue for lost wages."

"That would be fine if you could afford a lawyer in the first place," Tim snarked. Ronnie tipped his head, looking like a puppy instead of a bird. His eyes darted to Sophie who sighed.

"We're poor Ronnie," she muttered. My eyes darted to Ronnie and all the pieces connected. He was a Soc. And a rich one.

"What the fuck Sophie?" I muttered. Her eyes connected with mine. Curly had stepped away from Ronnie and I heard a 'schlick' as a knife was flicked out.

"Meet my stepbrother, Ronnie," she sighed. Brandy looked between them slowly, his brow furrowing. "His dad works for the Krays." He shifted and then grinned at us, not looking worried at the greasers who were armed with knives and one of the Tigers had slid a heater out.

"They're gangsters," Curly said softly. The gangs froze.

"Rich ones," Ronnie agreed. "Rub shoulders with all sorts. Frank Sinatra, Barabara Windsor. Seen 'em all. Dad runs the boneyards. They nick car parts and sell 'em on. He can find a use for every single park. Runs a load of boneyards across England. He gets paid well."

"Still not a greaser," Moreno shrugged. "I say we get rid of the both of 'em." Sophie tucked her head in and when Brandy wouldn't meet her eye, she paled. Ronnie however, grinned and walked right up to get in Moreno's face. He looked down his voice and when he spoke softly.

"I wouldn't if I were you. They'll send people and when they do, they'll get rid of you anyway. They'll kill all your boys and they'll kill your families. Then who knows, they might settle down here. I'll make sure they know who to look for. You'll be the first." An eye was cast in my direction. "Hate to see what they'd do to your girls." Tim rose but I put my hand on his. It was an empty threat to me.

It was his smile that was the most unsettling. It was small, really more of a smirk but set against the stony truth in Ronnie's eye, I had no doubt what he was saying was true. He straightened and turned to Brandy.

"I'm going to find somewhere decent to stay," he announced. "Always wanted to go to New York. Got a business meeting up there. I'll send a lawyer you're way. I won't be gone long. Try not to lose the plot." He turned and walked out the door, leaving us all quiet and stunned at what had happened. Sophie buried her head in her hands and started to sniffle. I exhaled shakily and turned to look at Tim when he muttered my name.

"You stay away from him," he muttered and looked over, catching Sophie's shining eyes. "Both of you. Everyone does. Never thought I'd say it but that posh boy is dangerous."

A/N: I like this chapter and I don't know if I like it. I wanted to include the Krays, they're iconic and I wanted Ronnie to be an absolute maniac with money. But more of that a little later on. Now the wheels are gonna be set in motion and the story can get moving. I wonder what will happen next?

Thanks and don't forget to R&R