“Friday,” I promise her.
“Friday,” she repeats firmly.
Then, with our goodnights, we end the phone call.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FREAK
Knowing how happy Ace will be with the news he’ll be seeing Toni again sooner than he expects, having woken early, I head over to Ma’s before Ace has to leave for school. Both their reactions are predictable.
My son is over the moon he’s going to see his aunt this coming weekend, his delight tempered a little by the disappointment that an extended stay over summer break will be delayed.
Ma isn’t so happy. She’s relieved it’s again only going to be for a couple of days, and that I’ll be there with him. Why the fuck she can’t get over her issues – whatever they actually are – with Toni, I have no idea. It has to be simply down to someone else intruding into our family unit that’s been established since I first brought Ace to her home.
She’s just going to have to get over it. I’m really beginning to think that if things keep heading in the direction they’re going, it’s highly likely Toni will be moving to southern Arizona permanently and will be a fixture in our family. Hopefully, Ma will soften and won’t prove to be the mother-in-law from hell.
When Ace leaves to get the bus, I decline the breakfast Ma offers to cook for me, knowing her generosity is only to give her another opportunity to warn me about Toni. I’d listen to her if she had anything other to go on than intuition, but she doesn’t have any concrete argument that would stand up to scrutiny.
Making an excuse that I’ve got club business to attend to, I leave as soon as the door shuts behind Ace. Then, mounting my motorcycle, I pause as I watch my son disappear up the road toward the bus stop, thinking how proud I am of him. I know he believes school’s a waste of time, and to be honest, it probably is for a genius like him, but he understands he needs a well-rounded education to pursue his dreams. He’s no athlete and isn’t one to join in any clubs. I’d once been so worried his studious nature might lead to him being bullied, I’d once discreetly turned up at his school to try and gauge how his counterparts treated him. At letting-out time, I saw he was surrounded by a group of both boys and girls. For a moment, I’d stiffened, my protective nature coming to the fore. Then I realised they were treating him with reverence and respect, as easily seen by the way they were both talking to and listening to him.
That put another worry in my head, which led to a conversation between us later that night.
By then, I’d had years of working around his autism, and knowing the best way to communicate with him. So I’d carefully broached the discussion, which ended with his promise that certain things were out of bounds, like hacking into the school’s systems and taking copies of examination papers, as was messing around with anything financial. The last thing I wanted was a parent’s funds to be redistributed to their kid. And yeah, that was already within his capabilities. He was allowed to help them with cheats in their computer games, and that, as it turned out, was what he’d been doing.
I’d elicited his agreement that, were he to be asked anything else, he’d run it past Genie or Pippa first. That’s if he didn’t feel comfortable talking to me about it.
I hadn’t threatened him with removing his access to technology. Instead, I painted a dire picture of what it would be like if he were locked up in youth detention, and, due to the probable charges that would put him there, he wouldn’t be allowed access to computers.
It was as if I’d threatened to take away the air that he needs to breathe.
So far, he’s kept to the guidelines. And how do I know? Ace might have his faults, but being knowingly dishonest and lying to me isn’t one of them.
Yeah, fuck I’m proud of him. I don’t know what his future holds. I’d probably be more worried if Pippa hadn’t turned up at the club. Maybe she can’t completely curtail his hacking, but with her background, she can make sure he’s safe while doing it.
Ace has turned the corner out of sight, so I start my engine, kick down into gear, and roar out of Ma’s driveway, heading for the clubhouse. When I arrive, the smell lures me inside, to where the club girls are cooking, and breakfast is ready to be served.
Grinning, I step into the kitchen, knowing I couldn’t have timed it better. I load up a plate, go to sit, then see Bullseye walking in. I change direction and intercept him.
“Prez, can I have a word?”
He looks pointedly at my full plate. “In private?”
“Yeah.” The brothers will know soon enough, but first, I need to clear my upcoming absence with him.
“Wait until after I’ve fuckin’ eaten at least. Then we’ll talk.” I raise my chin. Yeah, that’s probably the best option. He might be more amenable on a full stomach.
I take a free seat that’s unfortunately beside Rattler. Trying to ignore him, I concentrate on loading my fork and lifting it tomy mouth. As I eat, my mind reverts to the phone sex last night and the promise of the real thing in just two days’ time. I’m not given long to enjoy my daydream.
Instead, Rattler grins as he glances toward me. “You’re smiling, fucker. You got laid?”
Fuck. Maybe thinking about hearing Toni as she came last night wasn’t going to keep my expression stoic. “Shut it, Rat,” I growl.
“So who was it? Star?” He looks over to the club girl who’s turned as she hears her name. “Star, you fuck Freak?”
“No, she didn’t fuck me,” I answer for her tersely. “I was alone last night.” I can’t risk any rumours that might reach Toni’s ears if, or when, I get her to relocate.
Rat raises a brow. “Your hand must have gotten a fuckin’ good workout to put that expression on your face.”
