Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (34 page)

Mikey lowered his eyes.

“You worthless shit!” Her voice continued around the corner. “You ungrateful brat! You’re nothing. Nothing!”

“Sorry, I’ll be right back,” the nurse said, hurrying after them.

Maia turned to Mikey. Tears glistened on his cheeks. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Mikey—”

“She’s right. I’m worthless. Fuckin’ worthless.” He covered his face and started sobbing uncontrollably.

Maia took his hand. “No, Mikey, she is.”

48

Jayden

Jayden smiled at Annie as they pulled out of his driveway. The van was filled with as much as they could cram in. He wished he could have taken some of the bigger stuff, but because of his injuries they took only what Annie could lift.

He was damn lucky to have her. No matter how determined her dad was to keep them apart she refused to give in. The way she’d stood up to her father in the hospital, shouting him down, was a real surprise since Annie was normally so polite and sweet. Even though she’d been shaking, he’d never seen anyone act with such strength.

It was an even bigger surprise when her dad had backed down. But then again Jayden understood why ... no doubt her threat that she wouldn’t allow him to see Lil Jay again was the ace Mr. Daniels couldn’t trump. He grinned, ecstatic that she’d fought for him.

Annie stopped the van at the give-way sign. “I ran into my Aunty Sally, and she said Jess and Nike are staying with them cos someone broke into their house yesterday. I wanna say bye to Jess before we go.”

“As long as Nike’s not there.”

“He’s at work. Aunty Sally said he’s got a new fancy chauffeur job for some rich dude. Pays heaps too.”

“Typical, the shithead gets all the luck.”

“I’m sorry ‘bout what he did to you. He’s a bit intense sometimes.”

“He’s exactly like yo dad. He even looks like him.”

She took a sharp left onto Kea Way. “Nike and my dad mean well.”

“Not to me, they don’t.”

“Well, you don’t hafta deal with them anymore.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” He glanced back at Lil Jay. “How ya doin’, li’l dude?”

Lil Jay continued to play on his green Leapster console as though he hadn’t heard.

Jayden grinned, unconcerned that Lil Jay had ignored him. Once the kid had that game in his hands no one seemed to exist.

Jayden looked out his side window, watching as trees and crap houses flew past. He wanted to have one last glimpse at Claydon, because he didn’t want to come back. There was nothing left here for him. He didn’t want to ever see Leila again. And as for Tama, he knew he would eventually forgive him. He cared too much for the nasty shit to let what had happened get in the way. But right now, he needed to be as far away as possible from Tama or he’d find a gun and shoot the bastard.

Jayden sighed. “I wanna pop into a dairy first before we see Jess. I wanna meat pie.”

“Me too, me too!” Lil Jay shouted from the backseat.

Jayden glanced over his shoulder. “No probs, li’l dude. I’ll get ya a big one like daddy.”

Lil Jay squealed with delight. “Thanks, Daddy.”

Jayden smiled. It felt damn good to be called daddy. He’d dreamt of this for so long he could hardly believe it was real. Yeah, his ribs hurt like hell and he was still black and blue all over, but everything that had happened to him he’d welcome again if it meant that he could keep Annie and Lil Jay.

Annie pulled the van in front of the dairy and ratcheted the handbrake. She undid her seatbelt. “I’ll get them.”

“Get me a Coke too,” Jayden said.

“Me too, me too!” Lil Jay squealed.

Annie spun around. “You’re not allowed Coke, mister.”

“But Daddy’s havin’ one,” Lil Jay whined.

“You’re not old enough.”

“But I want one.”

Jayden’s smile widened. It was the first time he could say he didn’t mind having a whiny kid in the backseat, because Lil Jay was his.

“Just get me a juice then,” Jayden said.

“I want a Coke,” Lil Jay cried.

Jayden laughed. God, he was happy.

49

Jess

Jess froze as Tama kissed her. She couldn’t process how he’d gotten there or how it could be real. She could feel him squeezing one of her breasts as the other hand moved up her skirt, his erection pressing between her legs. Music continued to pump into her ears as she lay rigid. His fingers brushed across her thigh, then tugged at her knickers.

The memory of him assaulting her in the toilets came back, the way he’d pushed her inside and thrust his hands down her knickers, his fingers probing roughly. Nike had come out of one of the toilets and had pulled Tama off her. But there was no way Nike could help her now.

Snapping out of her shock, she shoved Tama’s shoulders and tried to buck him off.

He lifted his head and frowned, his body still firmly pressed against hers. “Calm down, Jess. I’m not gonna hurt ya.”

“Get offa me!”

His face screwed up as he grabbed her hands. “Stop it.”

Her heart hammered against her chest as she struggled with him. “Get offa me!” She started screaming.

He clamped a hand over her mouth. “Can it. Now!”

Jess bit him. He yelped and slapped her face. The sting startled her for a moment, then she resumed screaming. Another slap struck her.

He clamped down on her arms. “Fuckin’ stop it or I’ll get my knife out.”

Oh God, was he going to stab her like Maia?

As if he knew what she was thinking, he shook his head. “I don’t wanna do that, babe. I just wanna make love to ya.”

Love? Jess shook her head as tears began to form.

He frowned. “Shit, don’t cry. You’ll like it. Chicks say I’m real good. I’ll make ya come too.”

Was he kidding? All he cared about with was his own fucking dick. She tried to push up, but felt his weight press down on her stomach. She went still at the realisation that he could hurt her baby.

He smiled. “That’s better, babe. No use struggling. I’ll let ya go if ya promise not to scream.”

She nodded.

“Good girl.” He sat up and straddled her.

She stared at him, at the tattoo on his head, his naked body and erection.

“Now take off your top.”

She shook her head. “Please, Tama, no.”

His face darkened. “I said take your fuckin’ top off!”

“No!”

He jumped off the bed and snatched up his jeans. Jess prayed that he was going to leave. He pulled out a switchblade. She gasped and pushed herself into the corner of the bed.

He flicked it open. “Take your fuckin’ top off or I’ll shred it.”

“Please...”

“Now!”

Jess clutched the hem of her sweater, her tears now flowing freely. She hesitated then flinched when he growled. She tugged it up over her head and placed it in front of her. He leaned over and snatched it out of her grasp.

His eyes fixated on her breasts. “Fuck, you’ve got gorgeous tits.” He grinned and indicated with his knife. “Now your bra.”

She unhooked it and dropped it onto her lap.

He moaned and bit his bottom lip, his other hand going to his penis. “Shit, you make me wanna come straight away.”

Unable to turn away, she watched as he stroked his shaft.

“Now your skirt and knickers.”

She shook her head, her mind trying to process how she could get out of this. She had to think of something, anything to make him leave. There was no one else to rely on this time, no Nike to come to her rescue, only herself. Rory wouldn’t be back for a while and Sally wasn’t due until lunchtime—two fucking hours away. But ... Tama didn’t know that.

She wiped her eyes. “My in-laws will be home soon. So ya better leave or Rory will take to you.”

“No, he won’t.”

“Yes, he will. He’s huge.”

Tama smiled. “I know he’s a big mofo. I watched him leave.”

Oh God, he’d been watching her. She looked back at his hand as he continued to stroke himself. A chilling realisation hit her hard.

“You wanked off onto my knickers.”

“Not my fault you weren’t home.”

“Please, Tama, I don’t wanna have sex with you.”

He let go of his penis. “But I’ll make it good for you. I’ll even give ya a lickin’ to warm you up.”

She shook her head, revolted by his words. She needed Nike so bad. “Nike—”

“Fuck him!” he spat. “You were s’posed to be mine, not that bastard’s. I’m gonna fuckin’ gut him.”

Jess’s hands shook. “Please leave him alone.”

“Hell, no! I should’ve sliced him up after he bashed me with that baseball bat. He took to me and I did nuthin’ wrong. Not my fault Leila wanted to fuck me.”

“Jakey needs his father.”

“No, I can be his stepdad.”

Jess breathed in sharply. She was right, he was a complete psycho.

“Now take off your skirt and knickers.”

Her hands moved around to the back of her skirt. Trembling, she fingered the zipper as Tama moved closer.

Bile rose. “I’m gonna be sick.” She jumped off the bed, and threw up on him as he grabbed her around the waist.

“Fuck!” he yelled, throwing her onto the bed. He looked down at his arm. “You fuckin’ puked on me.”

Jess wiped her mouth. Would he still want to have sex with her if he knew she was pregnant? Maybe he’d let her go. Hope filled her. “I’ve got morning sickness.”

His face fell. “You what?”

“I’m pregnant.”

His hands went to his forehead. “
I
wanted to get you pregnant.”

Jess gaped at him. The sound of a car snapped her out of her shock. The engine cut on the other side of the wall. Tama swore and lunged at her as she let out a scream.

50

Tama

Tama jammed a hand over Jess’s mouth, cutting off her scream. Car doors slammed on the other side of the wall, followed by a kid yelling, “Mummy, where’s my Leapster?”

Jess continued to struggle. Tama whispered into her ear, “Stop it.”

Another car door slammed followed by the doorbell ringing. Tama held still. They were only visitors, he just needed to sit tight and wait for them to leave.

Jess tried to bite him. He covered her face with a pillow. Why the hell was she making this harder than it needed to be? And she was fucking pregnant. That riled him more than anything. He wanted to start a family with her up north. He’d put up with the kid, if it meant he could have her. Hell, it was the right thing to do since he was going to gut the kid’s father.

The doorbell rang again, followed by the sound of Annie calling out for Jess.