Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (38 page)

“No!”

Nike winced as her nails dug into his skin.

Rory pried her fingers off, then wrapped his arms around her. “My keys are in my jacket pocket,” he said. “Take as long you need.”

For the first time Nike felt that Rory belonged in their family. His stepdad had held it together better than anyone else, doing all the talking at the hospital as well as calming down his mother and sister. In the past Nike would have laughed if someone had told him he would feel respect for the man, but right now he felt just that ... and more.

“Thank you,” he said. He pulled the keys out and headed for the front door.

***

The moment Nike pulled up to the Ratas’ house he knew that Ash wasn’t home. The green Chevy was nowhere in sight, only Dante’s Holden sat parked in the driveway. Nike slammed the car door shut and yanked open the gate. He didn’t give a fuck who gave him a gun, just as long as he got one.

“Dante!” he shouted as he headed up the path.

Rap continued to blast inside. Nike banged on the front door. “Dante!”

The music stopped, and swearing started up in the house. The door swung open. Dressed in ripped jeans and a black jumper, Dante glared at him. “What the fuck do ya think you’re doin’?”

“I need your gun.”

“Fuck off!” Dante went to close the door.

Nike tried to push his way inside. Dante shoved him. Nike tripped on a step and landed on the footpath. He went to get up, then stopped, his shoulders sagging. What the fuck was he thinking? Dante didn’t give a shit about him. If anything he probably hated him after what had happened with Sledge. But if he mentioned Jess would it be different? He’d lied when Dante had asked him if he knew more about Ash’s attack. His dad had told him that Dante had been there, and had tried to stop it.

“I’m sorry—” Nike said.

“I don’t give a shit about your apologies,” Dante snapped. “And I don’t care what Ash says, you ain’t welcome here, so fuck off.”

“My wife…”

“What about her?”

“Tama. He … raped her.” He closed his eyes, trying to stop himself from imagining what had happened. He willed himself to think of something else, anything. An image of Tama a few weeks back at Finley Park took form. A little girl had been chasing him, both of them laughing, having fun. In that moment Tama had appeared normal. Someone that could care. Not hurt. But it had all been a fucking illusion. The image of Jess lying naked under Tama resurfaced. Nike jammed his palms into his eyes.

Dante pulled Nike up by his arms. Nike kept his eyes closed, too ashamed to look at him.

“Come inside,” Dante said, his voice gentle.

Nike shook his head.

“Open your eyes, Nike.”

“Please … just gimme a gun.”

“I can’t give it to you out here.”

Nike’s eyes shot open. “You’ll give it to me then?”

“Yes. Come inside.”

Nike followed Dante to his room. On the floor neat rows of white packages were lined up next to a box.

“Wait here.” Dante closed the door on Nike. After a minute he reappeared holding a gun with a silencer attached. He held it out. “Make sure you do a clean job. You can’t leave any evidence. Your wife will need you even more now. You’ll hafta watch her closely, cos this shit can make people do things they normally wouldn’t. Wait here a mo.” Dante opened the door and slipped inside. Seconds later he came out with a card. “Here’s the name of a lady that helped Ash…” Dante cleared his throat. “She’ll be able to help you too.”

Nike took the card and slipped it into his back pocket. “Thanks.”

Dante nodded grimly. “Once done, phone me. I’ll come get the gun off you.”

Nike stared at Dante for a moment. Christ, he looked like Ash, even more so with his sombre expression.

“This is between you and me,” Dante said. “I don’t want Sledge knowing I gave you my gun.”

“Okay.”

“Then get outta here. Ash and Sledge are s’posed to be home soon.”

Nike turned and headed down the passage, the gun cold in his hand.

At the front door, Dante grabbed his arm. “Put it away, man. You can’t walk out there displaying the fucker.”

Nike slipped it into his waistband and covered it with his shirt and jacket. Without a word, he pushed open the door and headed down the footpath. Something crashed in the house. He looked back. He could see movement through the parting in the lounge curtains. Another crash sounded, then rap started blasting from within, twice as loud as before.

“Nike? Why aren’t cha at Craven’s?”

What the hell? Ash’s car wasn’t here. Nike turned around. His gaze shot from Ash to Sledge. The youngest Rata followed his brother through the gate, the sneer on the prick’s face all the ammunition Nike needed.

Nike pulled out the gun and pointed it at Sledge. “Where’s Tama?”

Ash pushed Sledge behind him. “What the fuck you doin’?”

Nike’s hand shook as he tried to sidestep Ash. “Where’s Tama?” he yelled at Sledge.

“I don’t know!” Sledge shouted back.

“Liar!”

Ash inched closer. “Put it down, Nike.”

“Tama raped Jess!”

Ash’s face went slack for a moment. “Is she okay?”

“Course she’s not fuckin’ okay, I had to take her to the fuckin’ hospital.”

Ash held out a hand. “Gimme the gun, Nike. I’ll take care of it.”

“No! Please … just make Sledge tell me.”

“Jess needs you out of jail.” Ash moved forward, placing the barrel to his chest. “I know you’re hurtin’, but this isn’t the way to go about it. Just gimme the gun ... or shoot me, cos I’m not letting you leave with it.”

Nike screwed up his face. “I need it.”

“No, you don’t.” Ash curled his fingers around the barrel.

Nike let go, feeling utterly defeated.

Ash tucked the gun into his leather pants. “I’ll deal with Tama.”

“No!” Sledge yelled.

Ash spun around. “Stay the fuck out of this.”

“Where is he?” Nike said.

Sledge’s face had “fuck you” written deep into his sneer. “I wouldn’t tell ya if I knew.”

Ash moved towards Sledge. “Where. Is. He?”

Sledge stepped back. “I don’t know.”

“Tell Nike what ya know then.”

Sledge shook his head.

“Tell him!”

“No! You’re gonna bash me anyway. And there’s no way I’m gettin’ Tama killed. He’s got enough grief with his mother dying.”

“When’s the funeral?” Nike asked.

Sledge looked at him. “Eh? You didn’t know her. Why the fuck would ja...” A dawning realisation spread across his face. “Don’t cha dare go there!”

Ash shoved Sledge away as he went for Nike.

Sledge pushed back, trying to get past him. “He’s lying!”

“Bullshit!” Nike yelled. “And I don’t need anyone’s help.” He headed for the other gate. Fuck having a gun. Tama didn’t deserve a bullet anyway. That would be too merciful for a rapist. He wanted to make Tama suffer, to bash in his balls and beat him to a bloody pulp. The memory of the first time he’d gone after Tama flashed across his mind ... and what he’d used.

57

Tama

Tama stared at the framed picture on Naf’s cabinet. The gang looked happy, and very drunk. Mikey included. His cousin’s words rung in his head. He couldn’t leave Auckland now, knowing that Mikey might try to top himself. He had to stay, to make sure his cuz didn’t do anything stupid. Yeah, he couldn’t hole up in one place for long, but he still had plenty of mates that were willing to help out.

His phone ran in his pocket. He pulled it out, and smiled at Sledge’s number. Yeah, he had heaps of good mates.

He leaned back against Naf’s headboard and clicked the phone on. “W’sup, bro?”

“Nike’s after you,” Sledge answered.

“I already know that.”

“No, he had a gun. Said you raped Jess.”

Tama sat up straight. “What?”

“Ash took it off him, but offered to top you.”

“Shit!”

“Don’t worry, bro, he won’t. Nike wants to do it himself.”

“Good, cos I don’t want your bro anywhere near me. But Nike ... fuck him, bring it on.

“He knows about your mother’s funeral. I bet my balls he’ll turn up there tomorrow.”

Tama’s face burned with rage. “The mofuckin’ arsehole! Does the bastard have no respect for the dead?”

“You should stay away,” Sledge said. “You’ll have both the pigs and Nike there. You can’t avoid them both.”

“There’s no way I’m missin’ my mother’s funeral. I’m the one who caused her to slit her wrists. It’s my fuckin’ fault.”

“But the pigs’ll drag you away. You won’t see nuthin’.”

“I don’t plan on being out in the open, you retard. I’ve already sized up the cemetery. It’s got good coverage with loads of trees and bushes.”

“Cool ... me and the gang will also look out for ya. Just make sure you have your phone.”

“Sure, thanks, bro.”

Tama frowned as Ash’s muffled voice came through the mobile. “Sledge! Where are ya?”

“Don’t hang up,” Sledge whispered.

Tama gripped the phone tighter.

A door banged on the other side of the line and Ash’s voice became clearer. “What the hell are ya doin’ in the wardrobe?”

Sledge coughed and laughed nervously. “I thought you were gonna bash me after what happened with Nike.”

“Why would I do that for?”

“Um ... I don’t know.”

“Well, get the fuck outta there. I need ja to drop off some letters at the post office.”

“No probs. I’ve just gotta take a shit first.” Tama heard the relief in Sledge’s voice, followed by a scuffling sound.

“The letters are on the dining table,” Ash said.

“Okay.” A door closed, followed by Sledge’s voice. “Fuck, I thought he wuz gonna bash me again. He looked fuckin’ agro.”

“Your bro is one scary bastard.”

“Yeah...” Sledge paused for a moment. “Is it true what you did to Jess?”

Tama sniffed. “Jess is mine. Nike will just hafta deal with it.”

“He said he took her to the hospital.”

“Eh? Why the hell would he do that for? I never hurt her.”

“I knew it. I tried to tell Ash, but the bastard wouldn’t believe me. It’s exactly like that shit that went down with Leila all over again. The arsehole’s just pissed that his woman wanted you.”

Tama thumped the bed, the memory of getting bashed now at the forefront of his mind ... but this time Nike was after a gun. He needed to take the prick out before the funeral so he only had to worry about the pigs.

“I’m goin’ out lookin’ for him now,” Tama said. “You wanna come? I’ll let ya take a piece outta him if ya want.”

“Most definitely, but whose car we gonna use.

“Corey’s home. I’ll borrow his.”

“You wanna see if he wants to come?”

“Nah, he’s as NAF as Naf when it comes to fighting. He’d probably help Nike without knowin’ it by trippin’ us up.”

Sledge laughed. “Trey?”

“Nope, we’re the only two who have a beef with him. Anyway, two’s plenty.”

“What about Jayden? He’s got a huge beef with Nike.”