Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (9 page)

Tama opened his eyes. A bull-faced girl stared back.
Oh God, no, no, no...
He looked down at his cock jutting out of his pants then back up at Sledge’s sister.

“Get offa me!” He pushed her away and scrambled off the bed. He fell and landed on his butt, banging his head against the door.

Juliet looked annoyed. “But you said you wanted sex.”

“For fuck’s sake, I wuz sleeping. I thought it wuz a dream.”

He rubbed his head and stood up. Sledge or Mikey must have left the bedroom door unlocked. Bastards! He was going to give them a hiding for this. In the Rata household all the bedrooms had locks, so you didn’t wake up with a knife in your chest or an ugly-arse girl on your dick.

Juliet jumped off the bed and moved towards him as he zipped up his pants. She was Sledge’s twin sister and there was no way in hell he would fuck her. It would be like having sex with Sledge if he had a cunt and long hair.

“C’mon, Tama, you know I like you.” She smiled. “I’m on the pill now, so if ya don’t like condoms we don’t hafta use one.”

Tama shook his head. “I’ve already told ja I ain’t interested.”

She wiped her eyes. “But why? I thought you liked me.”

“You’re just not my type. Nuthin’ personal.”

“Nuthin’ personal? Are you kidding me? You’re a bastard, Tama!” She slapped him across the cheek.

He pushed her away. “Don’t fuckin’ touch me. I’m sick of you bitches slapping me around.”

“It’s your fault,” she yelled. “You led me on.”

“Bullshit!”

“I gave ya cash when you needed it...”

Tama gaped at her.

“...and I won’t give ya anymore if you’re gonna be a bastard.”

“What? You expect me to fuck you just cos ya gimme money?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Well, I ain’t givin’ it for nuthin’.”

Tama felt his face burning. God, he wanted to smack her. “I’m not your ho, bitch. You couldn’t pay me to fuck ya.”

She started crying again, but he didn’t care. Not only did she insult him, she took advantage of him.

“You look so much like your bro it would be like fuckin’ Sledge and I’m no homo.” He sneered. “Plus, you’re so fuckin’ flat even Jayden’s got bigger tits than you.”

Juliet’s face hardened. Before he could throw out more insults, and he had plenty, she started screaming at the top of her lungs, “Tama hurt me, Tama hurt me...”

“You bitch!”

He had to get out fast before her older brothers got hold of him. He grabbed his bag, opened the door, and shot down the hallway. Beer cans and people littered the floor. It reeked of BO, booze, cigarettes, sweet gunja, and something else he desperately needed to do. He jumped over sleeping bodies and headed for the back door. He twisted the handle, but it was locked.

He headed for the other door, weaving around the snoozing partygoers. Some started to sit up as Juliet continued to scream. As he opened the door, he heard Ash holler from the passage. “You little fucker, you’re dead!”

Shit, shit, shit!
Ash was Sledge’s oldest brother and the scariest bastard alive. He’d string up his nuts if he caught him.

Tama sprinted down the pavement, and jumped the fence. All he seemed to be doing lately was running and needing to go for a piss—at the fucking same time! He was sick of it.

The footpath was crammed with rubbish left out for the inorganic collection. To get a free run, he leapt over a battered couch and onto the road. He heard tyres screech and glanced over his shoulder. Ash’s Chevy had stopped for a yellow courier van. Was that Nike? Tama wasn’t going to stop to check. He was attached to his balls and wanted to keep it that way.

***

Rain beat down on Tama as he squatted behind a row of bushes. Typical bloody Auckland weather—nice one minute, crap the next.

Nike exited the walkway about fifteen metres away. Shit! It
was
Nike’s van he saw. How the hell did he know about Sledge’s house...?

Tama swore under his breath, “Mofuckin’ Jayden.” He was a crap mate. The amount of times he’d stuck his neck out for the bloke and got diddly squat in return, except for the occasional sly one with Leila. He massaged his nuts and winced. Fuck, he could do with some of her right now. He had a nasty case of blueballs because of bloody Juliet.

Nike stopped by a goal post. Man, he hated the prick. Tama took off his bag and pulled out his switchblade. He hoped he’d lost Ash, because he wanted to stick Nike right now. It was the perfect opportunity since the bastard was facing the other way. He shifted to the end of the bushes. Ten metres now. He flicked open his switchblade and stood up.

Ash exited the walkway. “Nike, have ya seen Tama?”

Tama ducked back down. Crap!

“I saw him head this way” Nike replied. “Why you after him?”

“He hurt Juliet...”

Tama grumbled under his breath, “I didn’t fuckin’ hurt the—”

Ash turned, and looked directly at the bush.

Tama’s breath hitched.
He can’t have heard me.

Ash pulled off his sunglasses, and frowned. Decked out in black leather pants and a ripped shirt, he looked the picture of a mean motherfucker, the stylised Maori tats around his neck and left bicep finishing off the impression.

Nike also turned to look at the bush. “What is it?”

Ash slipped his sunglasses back on. “Nuthin’. Just thought I heard sumpthin’.”

Tama slowly released his breath. Even with a knife, he didn’t think he could take down Ash—and he didn’t want to either. Sledge would never forgive him. Well, Sledge would just have to set things right. It wasn’t his bloody fault their psycho sister liked him.

“Anyway, why you after the little prick?” Ash asked.

“He knifed Maia.”

“Fuck. Is she alright?”

“Yeah, she’ll be outta hospital in a coupla days.”

Tama frowned. So little Maia was fine. If he hadn’t been high as a kite on drugs, and tanked full of booze, he probably wouldn’t have stabbed her, just taken what he wanted. God, was that guilt he felt? Fuck no, push that shit down. It was done now, no use in regretting it.

Tama’s eyes widened as Ash gave Nike a handshake, which turned into a quick hug followed by a couple of back slaps. Tama grimaced. He was in bigger shit than he’d thought. He hadn’t realised Ash was tight with Nike. Nike was such a clean bastard. Why would he know a drug dealer?

Nike and Ash left down the walkway. Tama waited until they were out of sight then unzipped his jeans and took a much needed piss. Man, his balls hurt like fuckery. He needed another type of release and with Nike out he could go see Jess. He so wanted to feel his balls slapping up against her.

His phone started to ring. He pulled it out of his bag and checked the caller. “Jayden! You’ve got a fuckin’ nerve callin’ me...”

“Tama...”

He zipped up his jeans. “Leila?”

“Jayden beat me bad,” she sobbed.

Jayden wouldn’t hurt Leila, he must have heard wrong. “What?”

“He knows about us.”

“Shit! I’m coming.”

11

Jayden

Jayden didn’t know whether Leila was alive or dead. And he didn’t give a shit either. The bitch had humiliated him long enough. She’d watched him get roughed up by Nike and then told the bastard she loved him—in his own fucking home! What with finding out she was screwing his best mate then this; it was the final nail in the coffin.

He sniffed. Well, it could be in her coffin anyway. She did look pretty bad when he’d left this morning. Her face was unrecognisable. Her breathing wasn’t right either, like she was struggling. But then again, he didn’t give a shit!

Right now all he cared about was seeing Annie and Lil Jay. He parked on the road and looked up at Annie’s house. It was the same size as his shithole, but well looked after. Instead of peeling paint and overgrown gardens, the exterior had been recently recoated, the lawns were mown, and roses lined the footpath up to the front door.

They were probably at church. He banged the back of his head against the seat. He may have made some dumbarse decisions in his life, but not all of this was his fault. If Annie’s bloody self-righteous father had let him see her he wouldn’t have married Leila.

Okay, so he’d made the mistake of knocking up Annie at thirteen and not taking responsibility for it, but come on ... he was just a kid. How the hell could he have known she’d get pregnant at that age? Tama had told him that he’d spoofed in chicks before and nothing had happened. Unfortunately, he found out afterwards that Tama had been a virgin at the time.

Anyway, after he’d gotten over the initial shock he’d tried to take part in her life, but her father blocked every attempt. Well, he wasn’t going to put up with it anymore. As soon as they got back he was taking Annie and Lil Jay, and he’d bash her father if he tried to stop him.

He looked down at the wedding ring on his finger. If he wasn’t already a widower, he was going to divorce Leila and then with his fingers crossed marry Annie. Maybe he could even get an annulment, considering he’d only married Leila a few weeks ago.

He pulled the ring off, wound down the window and threw it out. He looked down at the other one Leila had given him for his eighteenth birthday. Blood was embedded into the square design. It followed the first one out the window.

His head snapped up to the rear view mirror at the sound of a car. A large SUV was turning into the property.

He watched as Annie’s family got out. His four-year-old son was giggling at something. Jayden was grateful that Lil Jay had his mum’s finer features instead of his ugly pie-hole. At least Annie’s father could thank his God for that small blessing.

Jayden got out of his van and walked up the driveway. Annie was the first to notice him. Her smile disappeared. Jayden hoped it wasn’t because she didn’t want to see him. He wouldn’t have blamed her though. They had hardly seen each other over the years, and the last time he’d tried to visit, her father had punched him and told him to never come back. That was right before he’d started going out with Leila.

Mr. Daniels saw him next. The guy was a few inches shorter, solidly stacked and dressed in his Sunday best. He looked a lot like Nike. He also wore the same violent expression his nephew had earlier. Yeah, the guy was religious and all, but he wasn’t the type to turn the other cheek. Jayden knew Mr. Daniels would much rather punch him instead.

Annie stepped in front of her father as he made a move for Jayden.

“I thought I told ja not to show your ugly mug here again!” Mr. Daniels yelled.

Jayden ignored him as he walked over to Lil Jay and picked him up. “Annie get ya stuff, you’re comin’ with me.”

Annie looked at Jayden stunned. Lil Jay held out his arms for his mother. “I want Mummy,” he cried. Annie went to take him.

Jayden held onto his boy tight. He just wanted to hold him. What was so wrong about that? “Please Annie, he’s my son too.”

Mr. Daniels stormed up to Jayden. “Put him down now.”

Jayden handed Lil Jay over to Annie. He didn’t want to fight her father, but was willing to if pushed. “I’m takin’ ‘em whether ya like it or not.”

Mr. Daniels shoved him. “Like hell you are.”

It was like a bloody rerun—The Pick on Jayden Show. Jayden gritted his teeth and pushed him back. “Don’t touch me!”

Mrs. Daniels ran in front of her husband as he raised a fist. She looked like an older version of Annie, with her wavy brown hair and dimpled cheeks. “No, Matt, please don’t. Not in front of Lil Jay.”

“Then tell him to go back to his wife and leave Annie alone,” Mr. Daniels snapped.

“I only married her cos ya wouldn’t let me ‘ave Annie.”

“Well, it’s too late now, ain’t it?”