AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Cyril’s eyes widened and he slid a guilty glance at Cash. “TJ Jameson? Yeah, I guess.”
Tyrone laughed and slapped Cyril on the shoulder, causing him to stumble forward. “Thought I’d seen you around. One of my boy’s buds, hey?”
The web had tangled even further. “Elle. Cyril.” Cash knew his tone was harsh, but he had to get them away. “Back room. Now.”
Cyril took Elle’s hand and dragged her past. She protested, but Cyril shot half-frightened looks over his shoulder as he hustled her down the hall.
Tyrone followed their departure with a speculative eye. “Pretty girl.”
White-hot fury burned from Cash’s gut to every nerve ending. “Stay away from her.”
“I’d be more worried about that boy she’s with. If he’s who I think he is, he’s a pussy. TJ needed to teach some fucker a lesson and he refused.”
Cool relief flooded Cash at this news. He had wondered but hadn’t wanted to ask Cyril. Then the second penny dropped. “Your son wrecked my shop.”
Tyrone frowned and looked around. “Seems okay to me.”
“Couple months ago. Some assholes smashed all the glass, tried to break into my cash drawer, vandalized the place. I caught one of them.” He pointed toward the back. “Cyril. He’s spent the last weeks working off the damage your son and his gang did. And not once did he give up his buddies, not even when I threatened to take him to the cops.”
Tyrone shrugged. “Maybe he’s not as spineless as TJ thinks.”
No word of apology for what his son had done. Not even an acknowledgment it had happened. Cash’s breath hissed in and out as he struggled to control his outrage.
He took one long stride forward and came nose to nose with Tyrone. “Get out of my shop. Don’t come back. Tell Jordy thanks but no thanks.”
Tyrone glared, black eyes sunken in the flesh of his round face. Cash prayed this visit hadn’t been suggested by Jordy. The other man had much less at stake if he were just trying to curry the leader’s favour, not following orders.
After several tense seconds, Tyrone’s sullen scowl melted into false bonhomie. “Hey, man, it’s all good. Just trying to do you a solid. You don’t want me to put a word in, I won’t.”
Cash didn’t unfurl his fists until his so-called friend was out of sight.
THE SKY WAS BEGINNING to pinken. Abra and Delilah stood at the living room window, noses pressed against the glass, waiting with fizzing anticipation for Mark, Jacinta, and her two sons to arrive. Two suitcases and two carry-on bags waited by the front door.
Penta’s heart was breaking.
“You going to make it?” Cash wrapped his arms around her from behind and rested his chin on her head.
Afraid she’d start weeping if she unclamped her lips, she nodded and leaned back against his sturdy warmth. Last night had been the first time he’d stayed over without a direct invitation. He’d known in his Cash-like way that she would need his support this morning.
She’d wanted to go to the airport to see everyone off, eager to extend the final minutes with her daughters. Mark had quashed that. “You’ll make a scene and everyone will be crying before we get through security. If the girls get homesick I’d like to put it off until we are in Mexico at least.”
She sniffed back tears, hating to admit he had a point.
Cyril and Felix slouched up from the basement, yawning and bleary-eyed at the 4:30 a.m. wake up call.
“Have fun, squirts.” Felix ruffled Abra’s hair but knew better than to touch Delilah’s short yet carefully arranged strands.
The atmosphere between Penta and her eldest son was still strained. It didn’t help that he was revelling in his new work responsibilities. She was certain not returning to university was a huge mistake, but each day he grew in confidence and maturity. Her influence had slipped away without her noticing. When he’d been a child, she could win an argument with “because I said so.” Not anymore.
Cyril mumbled something to his sisters and then fell into an upholstered chair and closed his eyes. He, too, was rarely home these days. He was spending a lot of time with Elle and as much as she liked the girl, she couldn’t help but worry. She’d had the safe sex talk with him for the second time, which he’d listened to with burning ears and averted eyes, all while saying it wasn’t like that. She didn’t believe him.
The Airporter transfer van Mark had hired rolled into the driveway. Abra raced to open the door, waving madly before turning back for her luggage, and Delilah swung her backpack onto one shoulder.
Be good.” Penta hugged her so tight she squirmed. “I love you. Take care of your sister.”
“I will. Bye, Mom. See you in a month.” She vanished outside.
Penta helped Abra straighten the straps of her own backpack, noting the fragility of her shoulders, the delicate stalk of her neck. Her baby was leaving her, and she would miss the last month of her childhood. When she returned, she would be in high school. Everything would be different then.
