As the last black fell into the pocket Danny crowed over to the crestfallen lad, "sorry mate you'll have to fucking walk home." His boastful grin beamed down over his beaten foe as he flexed his hand for the money, "pay up lad, you took the bet."
Andy fished into his pocket and handed over the last of his money, cursing his stupidity. As soon as the price of the bet rose so did his opponent's form, he'd been scammed. With each game lost his money dwindled and his nemesis grew cockier, verbally mocking him.
Snapping the last tenner out of the beaten lad's shaking hand Danny strutted around the table. "Don't be sore, I'm sure next time we play you'll be better. I doubt it but it might happen." With each mocking laugh, he watched the lad's eyes water and body tremble with frustrated anger, knowing that there was no chance it would get physical. Danny was older, stronger, and much bigger than the puny little teenager who was near to blubbering.
"Go on fuck off, run off home to mummy," Danny shouted through the pub as the lad weaved speedily to the exit. "Shouldn't be allowed in here if you're not old enough."
As the cold air hit Andy's face his tears mixed with the pouring rain as he slowly trudged home, no money now for the bus or train and definitely nothing for a taxi. Cursing himself for falling for that idiot's act and was furious with himself for his inactivity in fighting back even if his downfall was inevitable.
The light from the pub grew behind him and he turned to see his swindler in the doorway, grinning down on her as usual. "I could always give you one last chance to earn your ride home."
Andy's eyes burst to light in faint hope, "one more game."
Danny laughed loudly, "no lad, I thought we might find something your good at." As he snickered he salaciously groped his crotch and gestured Andy to it. "Suck it good and I'll give you the taxi fare."
Andy stared in a mix of shock and anger, never before had he been propositioned by another man. "Fuck off," he shouted as he sped away in the rain. The mocking shouts of his abuser behind him slowly dropped into the distance.
When he finally returned home he was met with a furious reception from his mum, "What time do you call this to come home at, crawling in here bedraggled and dripping water all over the carpet," his Mum screamed at him between slaps around his head. Andy accepted his fate with subdued anger, biting his lip and quietly apologizing when he could get a word in.
Fleeing to his room with her voice still bellowing at him from downstairs he stripped out of his soaking wet clothes into his pajamas and shivered into his bed. His momentary peace was broken by the older sister barging into his room.
"Fucking hell dickhead, you've got mum riled up tonight. that's meant to be my job." Lucy was everything Andy wasn't, loud, cocky, overtly sexual, and always in trouble. Her arguments with her mum were daily and loud, so she was correct in being shocked by this unusual occurrence. "How come your so late home, thought you only went to the pub."
Andy peered over his sheets, "it's nothing I just spent it drinking and lost the time."
"Fuck off, two shandy's and you'd be on your arse," yanking the sheets off him. "Don't bullshit me like mum, I know how much you had on you tonight." Lucy climbed on top of him and sat her weight down on top, "I even lent you a tenner for a taxi so spill it."
Reluctantly and in growing discomfort Andy told of his embarrassing comeuppance on the pool table, how he had been taken for a fool, and even the toe-curling chance to clear his debt. Red-faced and with eyes watering he spilled it to his sister who listened with a growing smirk.
"What a fucking idiot you are," her thoroughly annoying grin growing by the second. "That pub is always full of knobs like him but no ones stupid enough to get caught." Lucy peered closer to Andy's face, "were you tempted to take his offer?"
"Fuck off," Andy tried to kick his sister off him but she was too strong and agile for him. Wrapping her long legs around him and pinning him tight and holding his struggling arms down with her more muscled tattooed ones.
"Pretty boy like you, you could have made a profit," Lucy teased him but gently released her grip when she realized how upset he was. "Alright dickhead, forget about it for tonight but tomorrow I want a full description of this prick. I'll let Sam know someone is taking the piss in her sister's pub."
Andy breathed easier with his sister's weight finally off him and watched her slink to the door, "can we not just forget it and put it down to education."
Lucy flicked her long black ponytail, "you might be a dickhead but your my brother and if someone fucks with you they fuck with all of us." With a flick of her middle finger, she closed the door and jumped downstairs to needle her mum.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lucy nervously sidled up next to Sam after training, the goalkeeper wet with sweat and out of breath beside her. "Sam babe, my brother got hustled in the pub by some wanker on Monday." Normally Lucy felt pretty strong next to most women but Sam was the biggest and strongest on the team and made her feel like a little girl alongside her.
She slapped her gloves down on the bench, "how did he get done." Even when she tried to be quiet Sam could be intimidating.
Lucy forced a smile, "he got done at pool, definitely hustled." "I just thought if he turns up again Beth could let me know."
Sam knew exactly what Lucy was up to and was always down for some revenge herself. "Give us a description and I'll tell her. But if he knows what's best he won't be back."
"Thanks, babe," she gave Sam a quick peck on the cheek and retreated to the showers.
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Lucy's friend Sam was the toughest butch woman she knew but compared to her sister she was a pussycat. Beth White was the proprietor of the 'The Boudicca' pub and had been successful in control for many years. The pub was situated in a rough working-class estate but Beth was relatively successful in maintaining order amongst her clientele. Partly this was down to her abrupt and forceful nature but also down to the family's well-earned reputation.
The Whites had been a known presence to the police and criminal fraternity for many years and their infamy in the area grew over time. Any trouble caused in the pub would be quickly apologized for and any damages recompensed before any further escalation. It meant for the most time, the pub was an oasis of calm in the midst of the madness happening nightly around them.
Beth did not take kindly to any outsiders breaking her well-ordered and maintained control of the bar and anyone caught took pride of place in the rogue's gallery placed above the bar. Photos of various scally's who had been caught and punished looked down upon the regulars, and the stories of how they were punished grew far and wide.
When Sam entered the bar Beth was leaning on the bar reading a newspaper, her white t-shirt tight to her muscled torso. Her arms were nearly all tattoos and no skin and she flicked her long loose black hair from her face to see her sister. "Look what the cats dragged in."
Both girls hugged over the counter leaning their six-foot-plus frames, "give us a pint sis." Sam grinned at Beth as she slipped onto the stool.
Although there was only a year between them Beth had always been the big sister, physically and emotionally. The only woman Sam ever felt overruled by, "I've got a little favor to ask."
Beth slipped the pint of lager in front of Sam, "go ahead, ask away."
