1978
Grunt had a very difficult time coming to terms with Kit’s rape. He had a lot of guilt about moving out to live with Cindy. Would he have been able to prevent her attack if he hadn’t moved out? It ate him up inside.
He’d actually moved in with Cindy as part of a bigger plan to be near Kit. He knew the only way Grizz would let him be near Kit was if he didn’t think Grunt was a threat. The plan came to him quite by accident. He was still in college and studying architecture. A very prestigious firm had approached him to work part time. They had heard about him from one of his teachers. He hadn’t graduated yet, but he was eager to work with them, knowing he could get some good experience designing homes. He wouldn’t be able to put a certified seal on them, but one of the senior architects could review the work and make it official.
“Cindy, this is the nice young man I wanted you to meet,” the woman had been saying as she walked into Grunt’s office without knocking. It wasn’t his office exactly, but a small one he had use of when he was working at the architecture firm, Monaco, Lay & Associates. The woman, Mrs. Jenkins, was a wealthy socialite who was having her house on the beach leveled and had hired the firm to do the work. She wanted to start from scratch with her own ideas, or so she said.
Mrs. Jenkins had noticed Grunt on a Saturday morning when she was there to meet with one of the other architects. She zeroed in on him immediately, insisting that he design her house. They tried to explain that he was still a student and pretty much interning with them, but she was adamant. Now, looking at the young woman being dragged along by her mother, he knew why.
“Michael, I want you to meet my daughter, Cindy.” Grunt looked up from his desk and saw a cute, baby-faced girl walk in behind her mother. It was obvious that she was embarrassed. Her face was beet red. He took his glasses off and laid them on the desk. He stood up and extended a hand.
“Nice to meet you Cindy. I’m Michael. Michael Freeman.” Grunt had continued to use the alias he had established after moving to the motel so many years ago, and the name rolled off his tongue easily.
“Michael, I want Cindy to be included as much as possible in the decisions for the house. It’s going to be hers, anyway, so she might as well get what she wants.”
“Mom, I love my penthouse. I don’t want a beach house,” Cindy huffed, barely concealing an eye-roll.
“Doesn’t matter. One day, you’ll thank me.”
That was how it started. Mrs. Jenkins made use of every opportunity to throw Grunt and Cindy together. She was playing matchmaker, and why she set her sights on a wannabe architect and not one of her socialite friend’s sons was a mystery to Grunt. But set her sights she had.
It was about three weeks after their introduction. Mrs. Jenkins insisted that Grunt go to Cindy’s penthouse to have a meeting with her.
Cindy answered the door shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Michael. I know she’s been pushing these meetings these last few weeks. I’m so embarrassed.”
Grunt smiled. Cindy was a nice girl. Sweet, cute, and extremely likeable. He didn’t mind spending time with her. He wasn’t attracted to her, though. There was only one woman he was drawn to, and it was killing him that he had barely any time to spend with Kit. Between school and work, he rarely had free time, and if there was any, it wasn’t alone time.
“It’s okay, Cindy. I know what she’s up to. I just don’t understand why she picked me,” he said as he followed Cindy into the oversized condo, looking around at the tasteful and expensive furnishings. It smelled like a combination of vanilla and lemons. He could hear the tinkling of wind chimes and “Sweet Talkin’ Woman” by Electric Light Orchestra playing over an obviously state-of-the art sound system.
Cindy turned to look at him and laughed. “Don’t take this as an insult. But basically, she’s exhausted every other resource. I have turned down every guy that she has thrown in my face. She just won’t stop. I guess she’s not getting the hint. The beach house is supposed to be the dangling carrot.”
He had followed her onto an expansive balcony. “She’s not getting what hint?” he asked as he looked at the breathtaking view of Fort Lauderdale beach.
“That you aren’t my type, either,” she answered with a big sigh.
“And what is your type exactly, Cindy?” He was curious.
“For starters, you’d have to have bigger boobs.”
Cindy invited Grunt to sit, then proceeded to pour her heart out to him. He guessed she’d had it bottled up for so long that it just came tumbling out. She didn’t know how to tell her parents. It was the seventies. People weren’t as open to homosexuality. She figured that if she excelled at school and showed up at the right social events, her parents would leave her alone. But her mother was relentless. Grunt listened as Cindy told him her story. She even confessed that she’d had the same girlfriend, Carla, since high school.
“My parents think we’re best friends. Which we are,” she quickly added.
Grunt glanced around the condo. “So does she live here with you? Is she your roommate?”
“No. My parents never approved of Carla, even as just a best friend. Said she came from the wrong side of the tracks. They are pretentious snobs. There’s nothing wrong with Carla or her family.”
They had been sitting at a table on the balcony drinking the lemonade that Cindy had offered. She looked at her glass. “I have another place. It’s in Miami. My parents don’t know about it. I spend as much time there as I can, but between school and this stupid house my mom wants me involved with—” She trailed off. She looked up at Grunt with worried eyes. “I’m afraid I’m going to lose her. I just don’t have any time for her.”
Grunt leaned back in his chair and looked at Cindy. He thought for a second and made his decision. Yes, he would do this.
“Cindy,” he began, “maybe we can help each other out.”
That’s how the charade began. He started by designing the beach house on his own, telling Mrs. Jenkins the entire time that they were all Cindy’s ideas. The persistent mother was thrilled. She was even more excited when they decided less than six weeks later that they would make it official. Grunt would be moving into the condo. Cindy was ecstatic. All that was required of her was for her to show up with Grunt on her arm at an occasional event. Her parents left her alone. She continued with her education and lived with Carla full-time, only stopping by the condo to get her mail and to make sure she said hello to the doormen and an occasional neighbor.
Of course, Grunt never told Cindy any details about his real life. As far as she was concerned, he was Michael Freeman. He wanted to be an architect, and he needed someone to think he had a girlfriend. She was only too happy to comply and never pried. As time went by and she was introduced to Kit and Grizz, it all became obvious to her. He told her a little bit more after she met some people that referred to him as Grunt. He explained more about the gang life and said he was sorry for involving her, even if it was peripherally.
She didn’t care and told him not to worry about it. Her parents were so happy that she had a live-in boyfriend that they never bothered to do a background check on him or anything. When they asked about his family, he told them what he believed was the truth then. His father had drowned and his mother abandoned him. His sister and her husband, who had been taking care of him, had died tragically. He was raised in foster care and was smart enough to go to college. They never asked who paid for it or if he was receiving scholarships. They never seemed concerned that he was from the wrong side of the tracks. He guessed they were so self-absorbed and relieved to have found someone their daughter liked that they left them alone and went back to their lives. After Cindy was settled with her new beau, Michael Freeman, her parents started traveling extensively and rarely visited Fort Lauderdale. Mrs. Jenkins never even laid eyes on the beach home she’d had Grunt design.
**********
“You really think this will get mom off my back?” Cindy asked her father. It was several months before she’d even met Grunt—or as she knew him, Michael—and they were having a quiet cup of coffee in his study.
Mr. Jenkins smiled at his only daughter. “Don’t you?”
“I don’t know, Dad,” she replied honestly.
“Look, I’ll plant an idea in your mother’s head. I’ll suggest that maybe building you the beach house might be a good way to convince you to settle down. I have no doubt that when I send her to the firm where he works that she’ll bite. She’s been trying to tie you to a man forever. He’s years younger than any of the men he works for, and he’s a nice looking guy. I know your mother will notice him.”
“And I don’t have to do anything but become friends with him? Work with him on the stupid beach house?” she asked her father.
“Just become his friend,” her father answered.
“Gosh, Dad. I don’t know what your motive is and you don’t have to tell me. But, if you’ll help me keep mom off my back and keep my Miami condo a secret from her, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Your mom doesn’t have to know about the condo or Carla,” her father answered.
“What’s in it for you, Dad? Without giving me any details, because I know you won’t, what’s so important about this architect?”
“I’m just trying to show some new friends that I can be trusted. That I can do my part. That’s all.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to pledge a fraternity.”
“In a way, I am.”
Cindy never did figure out why her father wanted her to get close to Michael Freeman, but she didn’t mind playing the part for years. She ended up caring very much about him, and it broke her heart to see him pining over Kit. She even remembered helping him along by trying to make Kit jealous. She didn’t know if the little things she did helped or hurt his cause.
The only thing she did know was that Kit’s husband, Grizz, was the scariest, meanest-looking motherfucker she’d ever met, and she never felt comfortable in his presence. He never did or said anything inappropriate, but he was obviously someone not to be messed with. At times, she actually feared for Michael.
She didn’t want to let herself think what could happen to him if Grizz knew he was in love with Kit.
**********
The deception worked for a while. Tommy now remembered back to how he was almost caught by Grizz. He had graduated and was working full time at Monaco, Lay & Associates. Grizz called him one day.
“Come to the motel. Now.” Grizz said into the phone. He hung up without waiting for Grunt to reply.
What the fuck? Grunt fumed. He had two meetings that afternoon and didn’t have time to drive all the way out to the motel. But he sat back in his chair and thought about it. Grizz never called him. What if something was wrong with Kit? What if something happened?
Calm down. You just saw her a couple of days ago. He had taken her to dinner and then a movie. Grizz never cared. He believed Grunt had a serious girlfriend. Kit was Grunt’s friend, and if Grizz wasn’t able to take her out that much, Grunt didn’t mind doing it. Of course, he always made it sound like he and Cindy would be the ones taking her out. He told Kit early on, “Cindy really does have a lot of studying and she doesn’t mind if I go out with friends, Kit. But I just don’t think you should tell Grizz that we go out alone. I know we’re not doing anything wrong and you know it, but you know how he is.”
“I know, Grunt. I just hate to lie. I don’t lie, especially not to Grizz.”
“Does he ever ask for details?”
She looked thoughtful. “No, I guess he doesn’t. He never asks how you and Cindy are doing. He usually just asks if I had a good time. And stuff like, ‘Did Grunt make sure you were safely in your car before he left?’ You know how he is about my safety.”
Grunt smiled at her. “Then you don’t have to lie and we can still have some friend time together.” He was relieved.
What if Grizz somehow found out Cindy didn’t make it to all of their little excursions? That he was alone with Kit more often than not?
Grunt pressed a button on his phone. “Eileen, I have some personal business to take care of,” he said. “Please reschedule my meetings.”
Forty-five minutes later, he was sitting on the couch in number four. Kit wasn’t there, and he didn’t ask about her, telling himself she was out shopping or something. Everything seemed to be fine. No one was hurt. Grizz was in his recliner. Axel sat on the couch next to Grunt.
Grizz stared at Grunt for a minute before finally asking, “So, how are things with you and Cindy?”
The question caught Grunt off guard. Grizz never asked about him and Cindy. Not once. There was only one explanation. Grunt’s earlier assumptions had to be correct. Grizz knew that Cindy wasn’t going on the little “friend dates” with him and Kit. How did he find out? Kit must’ve accidentally let it slip. He was going to have to think of how to cover himself. He was mad at himself for not thinking about this before today. He should have had a ready answer. Maybe he was overreacting. Maybe he was thinking too much. He would play along and see where Grizz was going with this.
“Cindy’s fine. We’re fine,” Grunt answered in a steady voice.
Grizz didn’t say anything. He just looked at Axel, then back at Grunt. “Something you want to tell me?”
This is it. He does know. Damn. He would still play along.
“About what?” Grunt asked with as much sincerity as possible.
“It’s okay to tell me,” Grizz said in an even voice.
Really? Grunt thought. This was strange. Grizz never beat around the bush with anybody about anything. What was this really about?
“Tell you what?” Grunt asked, looking at Grizz and then Axel. “What is it that you think I need to tell you?”
“You wanna tell me why you live with a dyke?”
Grunt tried not to let his jaw drop. He never expected Grizz would know Cindy was a lesbian. How did he know? Grunt looked over at Axel. Bingo. In addition to running Grizz’s car theft operation, Axel had a connection that did extensive background checks on people.
Grunt sighed. “Why did you check on Cindy? Why did you have to look into her background?”
“One of her father’s companies came up in a meeting,” Grizz said. “When I saw his name, I made the connection. I remembered Cindy Jenkins had a wealthy father. Wanted to see if it was the same guy. It was. I had to be sure she wasn’t with you for any other reason. Like she wasn’t with you because of business. My business.”
“And?”
“They’re clean. I’m pretty sure her father doesn’t know exactly what his accountant is having him invest in.”
This wasn’t completely true, but Grizz wouldn’t tell Grunt that. Grizz had his suspicions, but he couldn’t be certain. Besides, if Cindy was there for the reason he thought, she wouldn’t be getting anything from Grunt. He’d kept Grunt out of his other business for exactly this reason.
“But that’s not the point. Why are you setting up house with a dyke? And I know she’s not living at the condo.” Grizz nodded at Axel then, adding, “I know about the parade of fags that show up there and stay overnight in that penthouse.”
Grunt looked away from him then. He stared at something on the wall. It worked for a little while, his plan to have a girlfriend so Grizz wouldn’t think he was a threat. So Grizz would let him spend time with Kit. What was he going to say? I’m in love with your wife and this was the only way I could think of to spend time with her?
But it turned out he didn’t have to say anything at all.
“It’s okay to tell me if you’re a fag, kid.”
**********
It was actually quite brilliant, or so he’d thought at the time. Letting Grizz think he was gay. Grunt hemmed and hawed after Grizz’s last comment. He was shocked, but also relieved he had an out. So what if he had to let Grizz think he was gay?
Then he panicked. Kit.
“Don’t tell her!” he blurted. He looked at Grizz, then Axel. “Please! Please don’t tell Kit. I’m not sure how she would react.” He looked at the floor. “I wouldn’t want her to think less of me. You know I care about her. She’s like a sister to me.”
Grizz didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t think Kit would care one whit about it. She’d seemed to accept Axel without judgment, though of course he couldn’t be certain. Kit was religious, and even though he didn’t know a damn thing about Kit’s religion, or any religion for that matter, he thought maybe homosexuality was taboo. It certainly was in the biker world. That’s why he covered for Axel and now he’d have to cover for his son.
Would she see Grunt differently? Would she act differently around him thus causing someone else to wonder about Grunt’s sexuality? Grizz had a good thing going with Grunt. He couldn’t take Kit out as much as she would have liked, and Grunt picked up that slack for him. Besides, he wasn’t really a dinner and movie kind of guy, anyway. Okay, so his kid was gay. Big deal. Truth be told, he really didn’t have an opinion on it one way or the other.
“She doesn’t need to know.” Grizz finally replied. Then, without another word, he got up and headed for the front door. He left, closing it behind him.
Grunt had been dismissed. He looked over at Axel, who had kept quiet the whole time.
“You’re not a homo,” Axel said to him matter of factly.
Grunt didn’t know what to say. He remembered when he’d first discovered Axel’s secret. He was maybe twelve or thirteen then. They had been sitting around the pit when, one by one, everyone got up and left. Grunt and Axel were the only two remaining when Grunt said to him, “You shouldn’t watch them, you know. You make it obvious the way your eyes follow them.”
Axel looked over at the boy. “What the fuck you talking about, kid?”
Grunt looked at him and with a kind expression said, “Don’t worry, Axel. I won’t tell. But you need to be careful. I know you try and put on a show. You take Moe in the room every once in a while to keep up appearances. I guess it’s because she kind of looks like a guy with her short hair and combat boots?”
Axel didn’t know what to say. His homosexuality could get him killed. How did the kid know? He was a smart little shit.
“You have to be careful,” Grunt reiterated. “You don’t realize it, but you look at some of the guys when you don’t think anyone is noticing. I watch people a lot, and I notice it. Eventually, someone else will, too.”
Grunt got up and left the biker sitting in the pit by himself. Axel stayed, absorbing what Grunt had said. If Axel valued his existence, he would have to watch it. Maybe it was a good thing the kid noticed. It might have actually saved his life. He’d been friends with Grizz since they were young and you would think that would offer him some form of protection, but there were no guarantees. Especially in the biker world.
Now, Grunt shot Axel a worried look. “How do you know I’m not a homo? And what did you tell Grizz to make him think I was?” Before Axel could answer him, he added, “Other than the fact that Cindy is a lesbian?”
“I just told him that I never saw you with a woman. Told him about the architect from Orlando. He’s a regular who likes to stay overnight. Grizz thinks he’s your boyfriend.”
Allen? It all made sense now. Yes, Allen Ribisi was thirty-five, handsome, rich, and gay. He was a good friend of Cindy’s and would stay at her penthouse when he had business in Fort Lauderdale, which was a couple of times a month. Sometimes as much as one or two days a week. He and Allen had become good friends and would often go to dinner. Allen knew Michael Freeman wasn’t gay, and he never pried. He actually ended up being a good mentor. Grunt even went to Orlando twice to visit him. Of course Grizz would’ve thought he was gay.
Grunt was human, though. He’d had a few flings over the years. Cindy had straight girlfriends, too, and more than a few had come to stay at the penthouse and offered themselves to what they thought was their straight friend’s boyfriend. Some girlfriends they were.
Axel interrupted his thoughts. “Why are you letting him think you’re gay?”
Grunt looked at Axel and sighed. Could he tell the biker the truth?
Axel cut into his thoughts. “Before you tell me anything, you need to know up front that I will never turn on Grizz or betray him. I like you, kid. I didn’t want to tell him what I found, but if he ever found out that I didn’t tell him, well, I don’t need to tell you what I think would happen.”
Grunt decided to go for it. When he gave it some more thought, the fact was that he could still make things difficult for Axel if certain members of the group knew he was gay. Maybe they could keep each other’s secrets. “Kit,” he blurted. “I just want to spend time with Kit.”
“Seems like a major deception just to spend time with a woman.”
“If you were talking about a normal woman, you’d be right. But, this is Grizz’s woman we’re talking about.”
“What you do with your personal life is your business. If it involved the gang, I’d have a problem. But your secret is safe with me.”
Axel was completely loyal to Grizz when it came to gang business. But as someone who’d experienced firsthand what it was like to deny your true self, he felt for the kid. Besides, he honestly believed that Grunt’s crush, or whatever it was, would eventually play itself out. Grunt would pine after her like a lovesick puppy for a while longer and eventually move on to a woman who was actually available. He’d keep the kid’s secret and maybe even have a little fun with it.
Axel stood then and stretched. “You want to make it convincing, you might need to learn a little more about being gay.”
“I’m not going to have sex with a man, Axel. No way. You know I’m not gay.”
“I’m not telling you to have sex with a man. But, you still need to play it safe. Grizz still might have someone besides me check on you. I’m telling you, you’d better play the part.”
“Fine. What do you suggest?”
“I’ll be parked at the beach across from your condo tonight at eleven. You can follow me from there.”
“Where are we going?” Tommy asked.
“Time to introduce you to the underground gay haunts in Fort Lauderdale.”