Shelby had caught Davey’s eye – he always liked the quiet, shy ones, because he liked anyone he could control. When Shelby’s friend tried to embarrass her by telling everyone she’d just won some chemistry prize at the university, that really caught his attention. It was just a joke at first, even a game: could Davey make a girl fall in love with him enough that she’d try cooking ice for him?

But then they’d gone on a few dates, and Davey had loved her company, and for the first time in Mackerel’s memory, he had respected a girl’s intelligence. He’d come home, walk into Mack’s room and sit on his bed, talking about how funny she was when she made that joke, how clever she was when she’d made this comment, how she was even smart enough to have won some fancy scholarship for an overseas trip . . .

By then, the game was over. Davey had genuinely fallen for her.

Why was it that even when Davey had bad intentions, good things still happened for him? Why couldn’t good things ever happen to Mack?

A different memory came into his mind. Ivy had asked him to run the Business. He had yet to give her a response.

Could he do it? Could he run the Business?

Of course he could. And better than Davey, too.

‘Hell, if I was good enough, I could even become the next Dread Pirate Blackbeard.’

‘So it could be possible?’ said Shelby quickly. ‘If you were really dedicated to this? You could become a drug dealer again, and somehow get into Blackbeard’s inner circle and unmask him?’

It was what they were dancing around the whole night. Here it was, the plan Shelby had come up with to save Davey and get her family back.

He could be the hero. He could save the day. He could be the man of the town.

He clenched his jaw. He wanted his shirt.

‘No,’ said Mackerel.

‘Please,’ said Shelby.

‘No, Shelby.’

‘The only way to bring Davey back is to bring down Blackbeard.’ Her eyes were bright, hopeful. ‘The only way to win his trust is for you to start dealing again. Please don’t make me beg.’

‘No, Shelby.’ He said it softer this time. He felt for her, he really did.

‘So,’ said Fiona, ‘you’re just going to let this Blackbeard monster destroy your lives. You’re not doing anything to stop him?’ Fiona gestured to the mansion. ‘Shelby doesn’t care about all of this, all she cares about is that.’ She unlocked her phone and showed Mackerel a family photo of Shelby, Kane and Davey. They had really prepared for this. ‘Or are you too selfish to see that, Mackerel?’

‘How could you ask me that?’ said Mackerel, folding his arms across his bare chest.

‘If you won’t do it, could you teach me?’ said Shelby.