He could have got that guy on his team for five years when I was sent down, but out of loyalty he would rather lose his customers and wait for me. That said a lot about our relationship.

"Bet you were pissed when I said I wanted to go straight when I came out then," I mused, wincing slightly as I remembered him putting a gun to my head.

He smiled sadly. "Of course I was pissed that I lost you off of my team, but I'm happy that you look happy, Kid. I've never seen you happy before, it suits you."

We rode the rest of the drive in silence. I watched the streets pass, just wishing that I hadn't woke up this morning. Silently I wondered if Tony's goon was still following me around or if he made a swift exit once he saw who I was with. Tony wouldn't cross Brett, not again, he probably learnt that from last time they clashed.

The meeting went well as expected. I didn't have to do much, just shake hands with a couple of people then stand back with my arms folded over my chest, looking like I was one of Brett's heavies. Thankfully I didn't have to witness anything too bad, I dreaded those type of meetings where Brett would hurt someone, or maybe I would be ordered to hurt someone. I'd done plenty of that when I used to work for him.

Instead of being dismissed when we were done at the meeting, Brett asked me to go with him to his 'new venture'. Apparently he had just worked out a deal to run a legit security firm that would be placed in Michael Torrent's strip clubs across town. By the sound of what he was telling me, this was the only legal business he had going. He provided the guys, and Michael paid him the money to keep his clubs and girls safe.

That's where we were heading right now. A strip club.

I looked around hesitantly as I got out of the car outside the club. I didn't really like places like this and I definitely didn’t want anyone seeing me go in there and it getting back to Ellie that I was checking out other girls. But I couldn't exactly say no to Brett so I dutifully followed him in there, smiling while he exchanged pleasantries with Michael, the owner.

It was lunchtime now so there were a few people in for lunchtime drinks, a few half naked girls walking around. They didn't interest me in the slightest. A blonde caught my eye and smiled seductively at me. She was wearing nothing but a thong, a bra that barely covered anything, and a pair of silver stiletto strappy heels. And the only thing I could think was that my girlfriend was a lot prettier than her and had longer legs. Ellie had ruined me as a man. I laughed at myself quietly and shook my head.

"Kid?"

I flicked my eyes up to see Brett looking at me expectantly. I snapped on my business face and stepped forward, nodding at Michael respectfully. "Hey."

"You remember meeting Mr Torrent, right? Well, you two will be getting to know each other a lot better from now on," Brett stated.

I frowned, wondering what that was about. "How's that then?"

"I'm putting you in charge of the security detail across the clubs," Brett said, shrugging.

I looked at him in disbelief. I seriously didn't want to do that at all, but there was no way I could say no, especially not in front of someone else because that would be disrespectful. I decided to try and go for another angle that would hopefully make them choose someone else.

"Brett, I'm not the best person for that. Someone like Terry or Wayne will do better here than me. I'm sure Mr Torrent wants the best person looking after his staff," I countered.

Mr Torrent shook his head. "I asked for you as soon as I heard you were back in Brett's employment. I've heard a lot about you, everyone has, and I'm sure just the name Kid Cole will pretty much guarantee no trouble at my clubs," he said, smiling at me and gripping my shoulder affectionately.

"I'm only here for three months," I protested.

Brett snorted and rolled his eyes. I knew right then and there that he was thinking I would get addicted to the rush and the money and I wouldn't want to leave at the end of the agreed time.

Maybe he didn’t know me as well as he thought he did. I wouldn't allow this to be my life, not while I still had something to fight for. Ellie was worth the fight to get my freedom from this life and I would scrap with every ounce of energy in my body to be good enough for her.

Michael looked at Brett; obviously he wasn't aware of our agreed timescale. Brett waved his hand dismissively. "Let's just get things sorted out for now, and we'll cross that bridge if we come to it," he suggested.

I wanted to correct him and say ' when we come to it' but instead I just nodded in agreement. I needed to just get through the three months and then I could leave this all behind me. It looked like now I was going to be working in a strip club at the weekends. Awesome.

We spent another hour in the club, going through the basics. I would have five guys in each club of Michael's seven clubs. Those guys would work security on the door, inside the club, and one that watched the backrooms where some of the girls provided 'extra services'. Basically I was just on call and would need to show my face at the weekends so that people would see me here. I had no idea why both Michael and Brett seemed to think that me being here was a good idea and that it would help stop trouble. It seemed like stories about me had been blown wildly out of proportion when I was sent down. In reality I wasn't even old enough to drink, I was only eighteen. But I did as I was told and agreed to come here on Saturday night for a few hours.

As time passed I was starting to resent my mother more and more. This new 'security detail' was going to significantly limit my time with my girlfriend.