Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) (15 page)

He stopped laughing and let out a big yawn.

Annie glanced at the dashboard clock. It was already seven o’clock, Lil Jay’s bedtime. She leant over and pulled up the blanket, covering his Spiderman pyjamas.

“Close your eyes, sweetheart,” she said.

“But Mummy, I’m not tired.” He yawned again. “Where’s Daddy?”

“Just gettin’ some stuff,” she replied, nervously.

Annie peered through the passenger window, focusing on the shadows moving across the lounge curtains. Was Leila trying to talk Jayden into staying? God, she hoped not. No matter how guilty she felt, she still didn’t want to give him up again.

She rubbed the back of her neck. Her pastor always drummed it into the congregation what was right and wrong, and stealing someone’s husband was in the Top Ten countdown of evils. She frowned. But Jayden shouldn’t have married Leila in the first place. If her father hadn’t interfered they would never have broken up. Well, she wasn’t going to put up with it anymore. There was no way she’d let him tell her what to do after he’d hurt Jayden. Plus Jayden was right. She was eighteen now, so she could do as she pleased.

She was annoyed that they had to leave Auckland because of Leila. But she couldn’t blame Jayden for wanting to get as far away from Leila as possible. Even before Jayden had told her what had happened with Tama and Nike, she had always thought Leila was a hussy, the word fitting her like her skin tight dresses.

A crash came from inside the house, followed by shouting. Annie bolted upright.

Jayden screamed.

Annie covered her mouth. Oh Lord, Leila was attacking him. She didn’t know how to fight, but she couldn’t leave Jayden in there defenceless.

She turned around to Lil Jay. “Sweetie, stay put, I’ll be right back.”

His eyes were wide, all semblance of sleepiness gone. “Who’s screaming, Mummy?”

“Um...” She didn’t want to say it was his father, but she hated lying. “I’m gonna check it out. Just promise me you won’t move.”

He nodded.

“Good boy.” Annie opened her door. She didn’t like leaving him alone, but she had no choice.

More crashes and Jayden’s screams sounded from within. “Oh please, Lord, no.” She closed the door, scooted around the van, and up the steps. She grabbed the door handle. It was locked.

Jayden yelled, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Leave him alone,” she screamed as she hammered on the door.

She ran around the side of the house and up the back steps. Through the broken window she could see Tama kicking Jayden as he lay in a foetal position on the floor, pleading for him to stop. Annie couldn’t believe it. Tama was supposed to be Jayden’s best mate.

“Leave him alone,” she screamed again.

Tama stopped to look at her. He appeared upset, his face distorted by misery instead of anger. He turned back to Jayden and started kicking him again.

Jayden’s scream broke Annie’s heart. She yanked open the door and flung herself at Tama, knocking him to the floor.

She rolled off him and crawled over to a whimpering Jayden. “Quickly, gittup,” she said, tugging on him.

Tama grabbed her around the waist and picked her up. She started screaming and kicking as he carried her through the passage and into a bedroom. He threw her onto the bed then leaned over, his face inches away from hers. His breath stunk of beer. His gaze dropped to her chest. He frowned and looked back up at her face.

Oh God, was he going to rape her? She scrambled back against the wall and pulled her jacket across her chest. Tama had always scared her. He just looked so mean, especially with his tattooed head. She never understood why Jayden was friends with him.

“Stay put if ya don’t wanna get hurt,” he said. He turned and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Annie let out a heavy sigh then jolted as Jayden’s cries started up again. Her gaze went to the phone on the floor. She jumped off the bed, swiped it up, and started to call the police.

No. Nike would be better. He’d told her to call if she saw Tama. Since he only lived a few roads away, he could get here quicker than the police. Plus, he was tough enough to take down Tama.

Her hands shook as she keyed in his number. “Oh please, Lord, let him be home.”

After ten long seconds Nike finally answered. “Hello.”

“It’s Annie. Tama’s at Leila’s attacking Jayden.”

“I’m comin’.”

Jayden’s cries stopped as the line went dead.

20

Nike

Nike ran into his room, and grabbed his keys.

“Who was that?” Jess asked.

“Annie.” He jammed his feet into his boots then ran past Jess.

She followed him. “What’s the hurry?”

“Can’t talk; Annie needs me,” he replied, purposely leaving out the part about Tama.

Nike opened the ranch-slider and headed for his van. He jammed the keys into the door so fast he thought they were going to snap off.

“Nike, what’s happened?” Jess yelled as he hopped in.

He pulled the door shut and backed out, then stomped down on the accelerator. Shit, his heart was pounding so fast he was scared he wouldn’t get there in time. He couldn’t let Tama get away again.

He turned onto Parson’s Road and planted his foot again. He hoped there were no cops around because the van was going ninety in a fifty zone. His van zipped past the Marae, then slowed down and turned onto Jayden’s road. He pulled over in front of Leila’s home. Jayden’s van was parked in the driveway and the lights were on inside the house. Nike leapt out, and sprinted for the front door.

He jimmied the handle. Fuck, it was bloody locked. He ran around the side of the house, and entered through the back door. Jayden lay on the ground, curled up in a ball, and moaning in pain.

Nike scanned the room in a panic. Where was Annie?
No, no, no…
He jumped over Jayden and headed down the passage. Crying came from behind Jayden’s bedroom door. He opened it, thinking the worst.

Annie’s back was against the headboard and her hands over her face. She looked up as Nike ran towards her.

He sat down and pulled her into his arms. “Did Tama hurt you?”

“No.” Her eyes widened. “Oh Lord, Jayden.” She pushed him away.

Nike followed her into the dining-room. She dropped to her knees and rolled Jayden onto his back. Jayden continued to moan.

“Baby...” she sobbed. “Where’s it hurt?”

“My ribs,” he gasped.

“I’ll call an ambulance.” Annie headed back down the passage.

Nike sized up Jayden. No matter how violent Tama was, he still couldn’t believe that he had attacked his best mate. Tama was usually the one protecting the big wimp, not hurting him. The first time that Nike had clashed with Tama was over Jayden getting Annie pregnant. Nike had taken to Jayden, and Tama had fought like crazy to protect his mate.

“Why did Tama attack you?” he asked.

“Go away, it’s your fault.”

“How the fuck is it my fault?”

“Leila and I fought cos of you. I didn’t mean to...” Jayden covered his face.

Nike stiffened. “Where’s Leila?”

Jayden shook his head.

Jayden had done something to her, Nike could feel it. He bobbed down next to him. “What didja do to Leila?”

Jayden started sobbing.

“Where is she?”

When Jayden didn’t answer Nike pushed him in the ribs. Jayden let out a pained cry.

Annie ran back in with the phone clutched in her hand. “What happened?”

Nike ignored her. “What didja do to Leila?”

“I didn’t mean to...”

“Tell me what you did.” Nike pressed Jayden’s ribs again. Jayden screamed.

“Nike!” Annie pushed him over. “Why ya hurting Jayden for?”

Nike sat back up. “I wanna know what he’s done to Leila.”

“He’s done nuthin’ to her. Leila cheated on him with Tama.”

Nike’s expression darkened. He leaned over Jayden. “If ya don’t tell me where she is, I’ll bust your ribs some more.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Annie glared down at Nike. “He’s done nuthin’ wrong. It’s that slut’s fault. Sleeping around, then sayin’ she loves you.”

Nike stood up. “He did sumpthin’ to Leila alright. Use your brain, Annie.” He tapped her head. “Why the hell would Tama hurt him otherwise?”

Annie smacked his hand. “Jayden did nuthin’ wrong!”

“Then ask him.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, and stuck her chin up. “No. He did nuthin’.”

Nike shook his head. She was so bloody thick. Well, she still needed to know what sort of scum she was hanging around with.

He squatted down next to Jayden. “Unless you don’t want me to hurt you more, tell us what ya did to Leila.”

Jayden sobbed louder. “I can’t ... Annie won’t ‘ave me.”

“Tell us!”

“No!”

Jayden screamed again as Nike pushed his ribs. Annie hit Nike’s injured head.

“Ow! Fuck! Go away, Annie.” He covered his head, and swatted away her hands. “Will ya stop that?”

“No! You hurt Jayden.” She pushed him over. “I should never have called you. You’re always mean to him.”

Nike moved to the other side of Jayden. “Where’s Leila?”

“Tama said she’s at the hospital.”

“Why she’s at the hospital?” Annie asked.

Irritated by her stupidity, Nike ignored her. “How bad is she?”

Jayden’s shoulders shook. “Leave me alone.”

Nike pinched the bridge of his nose. She was hurt bad alright, and it was his fault. If he hadn’t come over she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

“I’m gonna go check on Leila,” he said, stepping over Jayden.

Annie squealed. “Lil Jay.” She took off towards the front door.

Nike glanced back at Jayden who continued to sob. Although he’d always believed that Jayden was scum, he’d thought he was at least better than Tama. But he’d been wrong; they were just as bad as each other.

21

Tama

No matter how hard or fast he ran all he could think about was Jayden curled up on the floor, screaming for him to stop. He’d beaten up people before, but nothing like this. Jayden wasn’t just a mate, he was like a brother, yet he’d still kicked him over and over again.

Tama stopped and leaned over, resting his hands on his knees. His stomach lurched and he threw up. He waited for a moment, then wiped his mouth and ran across the road.

Rain began to descend. Tama flicked his hood on, and continued to run. He needed something to take his mind off Jayden. Maybe he could visit his mother? He’d love to see how she was doing, and she would be happy to see him.

Tama jogged past the playground, through the gate, and onto the field at the back of his property. The lights were on in the lounge. He smiled. Cool, she was home.

He chucked his bag over the fence and scaled it, swinging his legs over the top. The lights went out. He grabbed his bag and lumbered down the slope, up the back porch, then pulled out his keys and opened up.

He stepped inside and switched on the lights. “Mum,” he called out.

The dining-room and lounge were empty. He headed down the passage and searched the rooms. The beds were all made.