Cas
Leo was already down for his nap when I returned home, apparently not pre-planned by my wife, but very convenient.
“How long are you going to keep him alive?” Alannah asks, laying her head across my chest.
Every pulse in my body is still throbbing at her touch and I run my fingers through her soft hair.
“For four days and four nights.”
I’m going to put him through everything he made Oak endure. “Once he’s dead and buried, we’ll give Oak the send-off he should’ve had, we’ll celebrate Ricky and Kyla’s engagement and we’ll tell the world about our baby news. Everything will be put right.”
As right as they can be after everything that has happened.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she murmurs, “But nothing will ever be the same.”
“I didn’t say it would be the same, I said, put right. Life moves on, babe. You know this as much as I do.”
“It’s hard not to when everyone around me leaves. I’ve never been this scared to lose anyone like I am for you, there’s always going to be someone who comes for you and it’s getting to the point where I’m seeing danger lurking around every corner.”
How can I tell her I won’t ever let anyone get to me? Oak thought the same, hell, Sparky’s never lived like someone could get to him but they both ended up in the hands of an enemy.
“Don’t do this, you’re too strong to start doubting everything now. You’ve always known danger is out there, trust me again to keep it away from our door from now on.”
“I trust you, I do. I…fuck, I don’t know. I’m so tired, Cas.”
“If it helps, I feel responsible for Oak, and even more so every time I look at the scar forming on Sparky’s cheek. It was my job to bring them home, shit, it was my job to look out for them in the first place. It burns me that someone like Danny could get to us and rip us in two.”
"No, babe...it was not your fault, no one saw this coming. Oak went where he wanted, he would've been pissed to have it any other way."
I know she's trying to help but it isn't working. Leo cries out from his room and I’m glad at the interruption. I’m not getting angry with Alannah, I’m getting angry because putting things right is all I have left to do, if I had my way and it was possible, I’d bring back everyone she’s ever lost and life would go back to how it was.
She goes to get up and see to Leo but I pull her up my body and smack my lips against hers.
“I’ll see to Leo, go and run yourself a bath. Relax.”
“This is why I love you,” she smiles.
She quickly kisses me and slides off me and out of bed. She disappears into the bathroom and I slip into my boxers.
I plod through to Leo’s room, and he stops crying the moment he sees me.
“Dad, dad, dad,” he chirps away.
“Hey, what’s with all the tears, boy?”
I lift him out of his crib and he rests his head against my shoulder.
“You’re gonna have a little brother or sister in a few months, you’re gonna be a big brother, you can’t be crying, you’ve got to be strong.”
He doesn’t reply, fuck, he doesn’t even understand what I’m saying, but I’ll install it into him as grows up.
“Your momma is in the bath so we’re gonna go downstairs and give her some peace.”
He doesn’t have any objections and I smile to myself as I hear Lana singing softly to herself as I head downstairs.
It feels strange walking through to the kitchen, I haven’t spent much time here lately, I hate that I feel like this in my own home.
As soon as I’ve put Leo down, there’s a knock at the door. Leo is now distracted with his toy cars so I go to see who the fuck is interrupting my family time.
I swing the door open a little harder than necessary and find a middle-aged woman standing on my porch.
“Yeah? Can I help you?” I grunt.
We’re in the middle of nowhere, she better be very fucking lost so I can send her on her way. She stands there staring at me. I should have probably thrown some clothes on, but it’s not my body that has her captivated. She locks eye contact with me and I refuse to look away first.
“Look lady, you’re a while from town and we’re not interested in whatever you’re selling.”
“No, I’m not selling anything. I…” she stops and stares at me again.
“What do you want?”
I’m beginning to lose my patience.
“I was told Matthew Morley lived here.”
I shake my head.
“You were told wrong. This is my house and my name isn’t Matthew Morley,” I tell her.
“Oh, I’m sorry I bothered you.”
With that said, she turns and walks over to her car.
“Babe, who’s at the door?” Alannah yells from upstairs.
“Someone looking for someone else,” I yell back and close the door.
Leo is playing away with his toys and I put on a pot of coffee. As I wait for the coffee to brew I check that the woman drove away. Only Alannah’s car and my bike is on the drive and content, I dig out my smokes from my cut pocket. Going back through to the kitchen, I open the back door and sit on the back step.
Lighting up, I pull hard on the cigarette and hold it in my lungs for longer than usual. The sun is warm today and I soak in the rays as I exhale the smoke. Tiny hands pound my back and over my shoulder I see Leo wanting to get by me.
“Go get your sneakers,” I tell him and he toddles off and brings them back.
I dash my cigarette in the pot and lift him over me and sit him on my lap. In one minute, he’s ready to go and heads for his play gym.
This is another reason I have to be on my game in the future, I prefer to see my son playing out in the yard than cooped up indoors.
The ride back to the club is rejuvenating. Riding my bike and my old lady riding me is a perfect afternoon. I arrive at the clubhouse and the energy is buzzing. I find Sparky and Pope in the basement with Danny and his brothers.
Sparky is sat on a chair with his feet up resting on Danny’s lap. Pope is sitting on an old table in the corner, keeping to the shadows.
I pull up a chair next to Sparky and light up a cigarette.
“Has he said anything?” I ask Sparks, referring to Kyle.
“Nope.”
“Do you believe who your brother is now?” I ask the kid myself.
“Yes.”
“Tell me who he is then.”
“He’s the leader of a bike club.”
Myself, Sparky and Pope burst into laughter. He genuinely doesn’t have a clue.
“Do you see the patches we wear?” The kid nods and I carry on, “They mean everything to us and fuck all to your brother. Do you have friends? Friends you’ve known for years, who you’d do anything for and who’d do anything for you?”
“My best friend.”
“It’s a fuckin’ shame your brother doesn’t have the same respect for loyalty as you. We took you as a means to an end to get our hands on him,” I say, jerking my chin in Danny’s direction, “Well, he couldn’t give a shit about you but it still worked out in the end.”
Danny begins laughing uncontrollably.
“Shut him up.”
Sparky lifts his foot up and boots him in the face, he knocks the prick clean out.
I watch the brothers, Kyle doesn’t flinch and Cayden gets riled up.
“There was a guy called Oak. If you were lucky enough to be his brother, you had loyalty in abundance. Your brother ran him off the road, tied him up for four days, beat him and then shot him twice. He was fifty-eight and a good man, and now he’s dead. Your brother also killed his son. He sent one of his men to die, making him blow himself up and as many of us as he could. So, my question to you is, where do your loyalties lie?”
He doesn’t hesitate to answer.
“With me and my sister. Where is she? Is she still here?”
“She is and she’s safe.”
“I know you’re going to kill them, but what’s going to happen to me?” he asks.
“I like to keep your sister guessing cause it keeps her quiet. You’re the man in question so I’ll tell you first.”
He’s mixed with fear and relief.
“You’ll walk out of here and take your sister. You can be home within an hour, but, I need your word the last couple of days will vanish from your memory. I mean, we’ve been good to you apart from the tying you to a chair.”
“His two dead brothers might stick in his head,” Cayden spits.
“I’m sure it fucking won’t,” Kyle retorts.
“It doesn’t matter, we’re not gonna kill you or Danny so he’ll remember nothing.”
“But?”
“But nothing, you belong to us now and we’re gonna keep you around for a real long time.”
I look over my shoulder to Pope, “Untie our new friend, he looks like he needs some good food and a drink.”
Pope makes quick work with the ties and helps Kyle up to his feet. He doesn’t look back as Pope walks him across to the door and leads him up to the bar.
I stop at the door and turn around, “The next time I see you, Cayden, I’m gonna kill you.”