A Family Man (23 page)

~ oOo ~

The job turned out to be straightforward. The intel they had been given had been good, and within two hours of being in Bay View, Joe and Samson had reduced the cookhouse to ashes and the beat down they’d dished out to the guy there left him in no doubt as to what would happen if him and his Nazi buddies set up within the town boundaries again. 

As they drove the van back to the clubhouse. “Gotta say, bro. that was easy money. Be nice if all our jobs were as easy as that.”

Joe smirked. “Nah, you’d get bored. Not enough shit kicking to keep you entertained.”

“
You got a point.” He lit a cigarette. “I take it you won’t be sticking around.”

“
Nah. Gonna go see ma, then head back tomorrow.”

“
Don’t want to keep your old lady waiting, huh?”

“
Something like that.”

“
You tell her sister yet?”

Joe gritted his teeth. He loved his brother, but he was a nosy fuck sometimes. “Kinda.”

“Kinda? Jeeze, Tiny. Kinda? Can you be a bit more specific?”

“
Not that I think it’s any of your business. M knows that Beth’s in Seattle an’ we been seeing each other.”

Samson chuckled. “Since when did you pussyfoot around some gash?”

“Since that gash has the power to take my kid away.”

“
You think she would?”

“
I know she would.”

“
Want me to kill her?”

“
Tempting, but nah, best leave her breathing.”

They fell silent. Joe concentrated on the road ahead. Maria was still the fly in the ointment. Just hearing that he was seeing Beth had sent her into a rage. She had threatened then that she’d stop Amy from staying with him. Fortunately his ma had managed to talk her down on that occasion. However, if she got wind that not only were they living together, but he’d actually put his mark on her, she would flip. No amount of persuasion or threats would stop her from taking his kid away. All they had to do was hold her off for two more years, and they were free and clear. Amy would be eighteen and free to live where she chose.

Amy looked up as her aunt closed her phone, a huge grin spread across her face. She was staying with Beth in the motor home until Joe got back, not comfortable with the thought of her staying there alone. “Joe coming home?”

“Yeah. He’s staying at Sophia’s tonight and will head back in the morning.”

“
Is Sophia okay?”

“
Not sure, sweetheart. You know Joe, he doesn’t give much away. I reckon he’s worried, though.”

Amy nodded. On her last visit, she had been shocked at how shrunken and slow Sophia had become. It was clear she wasn’t going to be able to cope on her own for much longer. “Maybe she should stay with us.”

“I doubt she’d agree to that, sweetheart. All her friends are in Fillmore, and her and Joe would be at it all the time. You know what they’re like.”

“
Yeah. Nana Sophie has never held back when it comes to telling Joe what’s what.” She grinned as she remembered all those times when Joe was reduced to a sulky teenager by his angry mother. She said nothing, but she knew that if Sophia went into a home there was no way she’d be able to afford it without help, and that would mean Joe would probably have to take more of these jobs. As it was, money was tight, and she had already thrown away letters from the school asking for money for school trips. The thought of Joe spending even more time away, just to support his family, broke her heart.

Joe was cold and wet. It had been raining for the last hour and the wind was bitterly cold. He wasn’t going to stop, though. Not for anything. His girls were waiting and he wasn’t going to let a little rain stop him from being with them.

~ oOo ~

As she wandered around their new home, Beth couldn’t stop the grin from spreading all over her face. Finally, after weeks of living in a cramped, smelly and very cold RV, they could move in. The house wasn’t completely finished. The living room, den and guest bedrooms were still undecorated. But the huge kitchen cum living area was finished, as were the two bathrooms and their bedrooms. After what seemed like an eternity, they would all be back together again. One big happy family.

She turned at the sound of a van pulling up. The guys were here with their furniture. Her grin got wider at the prospect of sleeping in their own bed tonight.

“
You might wanna move outta the way, darling.” Barney pushed the door open wider to allow the sofa to be brought in. He’d never admit it, but he, too, was looking forward to them moving into the house. His relationship with his daughter may have improved, but Joe hadn’t been exaggerating when he said Amy was a handful. He swore if she stayed with him for much longer he would he’d end up back on smack. How his brother kept his temper, he’d never know.

“
I guess, you’re looking forward to getting your place back to yourself.”

“
I ain't gonna lie, darling. That kid has had me climbing the walls at times. I have never met anyone more contrary. No matter what I do, it’s wrong.”

“
Word to the wise, Barney. Don’t try and keep her happy. When she gets in one of her moods, nothing you do will work.” She slipped her arm through his and led him out to the back yard. “I, for one, am glad that you and Amy have some sort of relationship. The more people she has in her corner, the better. I know Joe has his doubts, but if anything was to happen…”

“
Hey, hey. Nothing is gonna happen to Joe. Fucker’s tough as old boots. Nothing keeps him down.”

“
I know.” She sighed. “You and me both know that Joe could get hurt, or worse. I’m not sitting around fretting every time he walks out of the door, but I am a realist and if anything did happen, Amy is going to need a lot of support.”

He leaned back against the wall and lit a cigarette. “She’s got it, as have you.”

“Thanks, Barney. C’mon, we better go in. Joe gets angsty if I’m alone with you.”

“
Jeez, just cuz I fucked his woman once.” Barney rolled his eyes and led her back into the house, where a scowling Joe was waiting.

Beth left the SAA’s side and slipped her arms under her man’s hoodie. “Don’t look so worried, Joe. I’m not my sister.”

“
I know, girl. I trust you.”

“
But you don’t trust Barney?”

“
It ain’t that. I know Barney would never cross the line again. But I can’t get past the fact he betrayed me. Even after all this time.” He grinned at the expression on her face. “Yeah, you’re right. I should move on and I have, really. I love Barney, and if anyone is responsible, it’s M. She told him we were finished. Bitch thought he’d be a ready supply of smack.”

“
Yet you forgave her.”

“
Didn’t want to. But she had me wrapped round her finger. I’m a dumb fucker at times.” He wrapped his arms around her. “If I had my time again, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.”

“
Is that so? And who would you choose instead?”

“
You fishing for compliments, girl?”

Beth chuckled. “You better believe it, big man.” She looked around. “Where’s Amy?”

“Last time I saw her, she was giving the grunt a hard time about not being careful with her stuff.” Joe grinned. “No amount of hazing we do compares to an hour spent with my kid.”

“
Maybe you should set her on all your hangarounds before they prospect. Weed out the weaklings.”

“
Good idea. I’ll put it to Wolf. Shit, if I’d been faced with her, I’d never have gotten my top rocker.”

“
Do you think I should intervene?”

“
Nah. She’s enjoying herself.”

Laughing, they watched as their furniture was brought in and left in the appropriate rooms. Barney scowled as he and Bugs struggled to fit a kingsize mattress through the door. “You actually gonna do some work here, Joe?”

“Wasn’t planning on it.” He nibbled Beth’s neck, causing her to squirm and giggle. “Gotta keep my ol’ lady entertained.”

Amy sat on her dresser, her heels kicking the drawers as she watched the prospect assemble her bed. She had to admit he was hot. His blonde hair curled around his collar and he had the prettiest green eyes. Not that he looked at her. If Joe or Barney caught him as much as glancing in her direction, they would skin him alive. She sighed. At two months away from her sixteenth birthday, she was only eight years his junior. The same age gap as Beth and Joe. It wasn’t fair. The boys at school were too chickenshit to defy Joe and there was no way the prospect would be interested in a kid like her. Shit, if Joe had his way she’d still be a virgin at fifty.

“
Hey, Jason.” She crossed her legs and smirked as he quickly looked away.

“
Yeah?”

“
You thirsty? Beth’s got beer downstairs.”

“
Nah, I’m good. I’ll grab one when I’ve finished this.”

“
Okay, I’m going downstairs, I need to find the rest of my stuff. Do not break anything.”

“Hey, Joe.” Joe turned to see his kid sashay across the room. Fuck! When did she learn to wiggle like that? Maybe he should get Beth to talk to her. “Wassup, sugar?”

“
Any idea where those boxes of my stuff are?” She looked around at the crates and boxes scattered around the living room.

“
Don’t think they’re here yet. There’s another load on its way. Why don’t you help Beth put the kitchen stuff away while you wait?”

“
And what are you going to do while we’re stuck in the kitchen?”

“
Man stuff. Nothing for you to bother your little girly head about.”

She rolled her eyes. “If you disappear into the garage, you know Beth will be pissed.”

“Nah.” He held out his arms. “How can she be pissed at this.”

Amy rolled her eyes again. “Whatever.” Turning on her heel she headed off to join her aunt in the kitchen while Joe did ‘man stuff’ in the garage.

It was after midnight before they got to bed. Beth had managed, amongst all the chaos, to cook for his brothers as a ‘thank you’ for all their help. Tomorrow the moving van with Beth’s stuff would be arriving, and it would start all over again. But tonight, for a few hours, they could relax and spend the first night in their new home.

Beth smiled as she snuggled into her man’s chest. She had never believed in happily ever after and had spent her entire life waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now, though, things were different. She had the life she’d always dreamed of and she was going to relish every moment.

~ oOo ~

Maria lit her third cigarette and paced up and down her kitchen. Amy had let slip that Beth and Joe had bought a house together! How the fuck had that happened? He didn’t love her sister, he loved her. He’d always loved her, even after all those years apart; as far as Maria was concerned she was the one Joe wanted. Why else would he come running back? Time and time again.

She had to get to Seattle! Stop Joe making the biggest mistake of his life. She had to get that fucking bitch away from him. There was no way she was going to let them get away with this. Did they really think she was going to let them play ‘happy families’ with her kid? Oh no. She swallowed the last of her wine. No one fucked with Maria Miller and got away with it.

THIRTY-TWO

Joe didn’t recall much about his school days. There was one teacher, however, who he did remember. Her name was Miss Robins, and she was passionate about the classics; her enthusiasm had rubbed off on him, and he would spend his detentions listening to her wax lyrical about art and literature. He hadn’t thought about her for decades, but as he walked through the front door, one conversation she’d had with him sprang to mind. She’d explained in great detail how most people were wrong when they talked about the seven circles of hell. There were in fact nine.

Joe shook his head as the wall of noise hit him. No, Miss Robins, you too were wrong. There weren’t nine circles of Hell. There was a tenth, reserved just for him. Trapped in a house full of teenagers for all eternity. Shit, he’d give up every vice he had to avoid that.

Amy was sixteen! Another year closer to adulthood! A new truck sat on the driveway, and she was surrounded by her friends and family. She grinned as she looked up and her eyes met Joe’s. “Joe!” She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I wasn’t expecting you to come home.”

“
If I thought I could get away with avoiding this.” He looked over to where a gaggle of teenage girls were watching the latest boy band, and the few boys who were brave enough to cross his threshold were lurking in the corner. “I would. But if I leave your aunt to deal with all you on her own, she’ll rip me a new one.”

“
Oooh I never thought I’d see you under the thumb, Joe.”

“
Under the jack boot, more like.” He kissed the top of her head. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in the den.”

“Was that Joe?” Beth put the tray of nibbles on the coffee table and looked over to the den.

Amy grinned and helped herself to chip. “Yeah, I think he’s trying to stay out of the way.”

“I’m surprised he showed up at all.” Her aunt shook her head. “This so isn’t his thing.”

“
He said you’d be pissed if he didn’t show up.”

“
I would, but since when has that stopped him? Joe always does as he pleases.”

“
I guess it pleases him to keep you happy then.”

Beth beamed. “I guess it does.”

The den was Joe’s man cave. He had given Beth and Amy free rein when it came to the rest of the house, and as a result the place was too damned girly. The kitchen, where they spent most of their time, wasn’t too bad, and his and Beth’s bedroom was tolerable. The living room, however, was all female. He could almost feel his balls shrink back into his body as he crossed the room. Those pastel shades and soft furnishings sucked the masculinity out of him.

His space, however, was a celebration of manhood. The room was dominated by a huge flat screen TV and, other than the huge overstuffed leather sofa, coffee table and mini fridge, was empty. The black walls were bare save for a huge poster of a scantily dressed girl astride a tricked out Harley and shelves with stacks of bike magazines, DVDs and CDs. Neither Beth or Amy went in there. He hadn’t banished them, but they both recognized and respected his need for space. His brothers had taken to coming around for Sunday lunch and to watch football. He didn’t mind; he loved his brothers, after all. But Joe was essentially a private person, and he was having trouble adjusting to the concept of having his brothers in his home. Today, though, it was a haven of calm amongst the chaos, and he had no intention of leaving unless absolutely necessary.

~ oOo ~

Maria sat in her little rental car at the end of the long winding driveway and watched as the last of Amy’s friends were driven away. She had managed to convince her daughter that she was pleased for her sister and accepted their relationship. Both Beth and Joe had been wary of her, but she had kept her cool, and they had started to relax. She gave a small smile; sometimes their stupidity astonished her. Well, today was the day they would learn just what happened when you fucked with her. She might not be able to stop them being together, but she wasn’t going to let them keep Amy. She was her kid and if she said she wanted her back in Fillmore with her, there was nothing they could do about it. She gripped the steering wheel in an attempt to stop her hands from shaking. She would love to have had at least one glass of wine to steady her nerves. But one whiff of alcohol on her breath and Joe would call child services and she’d lose her son as well. To say she was nervous was an understatement. Joe was a dangerous man and she was relying on his love for her daughter, and the love he once had for her, to keep her alive.

Joe wandered through the now blissfully quiet house, throwing paper plates and cups into a trash bag and wiping sticky cup rings off all the flat surfaces. Beth wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his neck. “Leave it till the morning, Joe.”

“
Nah, it won't take long and if these marks don’t get wiped right away, they’ll mark the wood.”

She rolled her eyes and let him carry on. She knew he wouldn’t relax if the place was a mess. “Okay, I’m going to have a shower. Maybe when you've finished your housework you could join me.”

“Sarcastic bitch.” He grinned and finished wiping. “Keep it warm, I’ll be there in a sec.”

He was just about to join her when the doorbell rang. Frowning, he went to answer it. The only person they were expecting was Barney, and he always let himself in through the back door. He pulled open the door. “Fuck!”

“Hi, Joe. Weren’t expecting to see me, eh?” Maria leaned on the door frame. “So are you going to let me in?”

“
What do you want, M?”

“
Why should I want anything? It’s my daughter’s birthday, is it so unreasonable that I would want to see her?” She tried to push past, but Joe barred her way. “You can’t stop me from seeing Amy.”

“
You want to see her, there’s a diner a mile west from here. Go wait there, I’ll bring her to you.”

“
Oh no. You don’t get to dictate where or when I see my own kid. I’m her mother and I demand you let me see her right now.”

“
You’re no mother to her, never have been. This is about me and Beth.” He took a step closer to her and she backed away; Joe could be an intimidating guy when he wanted to be. “I will not let you use that kid to hurt me or Beth. I will talk to her. If she wants to see you, that’s fine. Hell if she wants to go back and live with you, I won't stand in her way. But if this is some pathetic attempt at revenge, forget it.”

“
You can’t….”

“
Can’t what M? C’mon, out with it. What can’t I do? I think you are underestimating just what a nasty piece of work I really am. I know as far as the law is concerned I got no rights. But here’s the thing, bitch. I ain't never held the law in high regard. I would hate to have to hurt you, cuz that would mean having to lie to Amy. But if that's what it takes to protect her from a venomous bitch like you, then that’s what I’ll do.” He smiled, and Maria shuddered, as she looked into those cold, emotionless eyes. “We will be at the diner in an hour. If you want to wish your kid a happy birthday, you will be there. If not, well it’s all the same to me. You haven’t bothered before, why should you now. Now get the fuck off my property before I remove you myself.” Joe stepped back and slammed the door in her face.

Shit, this was not good. Turning on his heel, he hurried to the bathroom to where his old lady was waiting for him to join him in the shower.

“
Fuck, Joe. This water’s going to go cold.”

“
Sorry, baby girl.” He reached in, turned off the water and handed her a towel. “We just had a visitor. I think we need to talk.”

“
Who?” Beth stepped out and wrapped the towel around her, shivering as the cool air touched her bare arms.

“
Maria. Said she just wanted to see Amy. But I ain't buying.”

“
Oh God, she’s going to stir up shit, isn’t she?”

“
Reckon she’s gonna try. I sent her away, told her I’d take Amy to meet her at that diner down the road.” He pulled her into his arms. “I ain't gonna let her take Amy away.”

“
I don’t see how you can stop her, Joe. You can’t hurt her. I won't let you.”

“
I don’t plan on hurting her.”

“
Promise me, Joe. Maria is a bitch, but she’s my sister and Amy’s mom and we love her. Despite everything.”

“
And if she tries to take Amy away?”

“
We let her.”

“
Just like that? Fuck, Beth. If you think I’m gonna step aside and let that bitch get away with that.”

“
No, not ‘just like that.’ We fight her. Through the courts if necessary. You have been awarded guardianship, and since being with you Amy has been attending school, has stayed out of trouble and has built a relationship with her biological father. You have more rights than you think.”

“
I’m a felon.”

“
Yes, but I’m not, and I’m her aunt. Amy is sixteen now, Joe. The authorities will take what she wants into consideration. It won't be pretty but if we fight her on this, there’s a very good chance we will win.”

“
And if we lose?”

“
We accept the court’s decision.”

“
What about Amy? She gotta accept it too?”

“
Joe, we are jumping the gun here. Maria is full of shit. I don’t think she’ll follow through with any threats. She’s pissed cuz we’re together, but she couldn’t cope with Amy before, what makes you think she could now?” Beth reached up and kissed him. “My sister has never thought about her actions. She’s come here all guns blazing, but if we explain the facts to her she’ll soon run off with her tail between her legs. She isn’t going to want her record as a mother dragged through the courts, and to be honest I doubt she’ll even bother to turn up at the diner.”

“
Fine, we’ll play this your way. But if she hurts Amy…”

“
Joe, if she hurts Amy, I’ll kill her myself.”

~ oOo ~

“Wanna take a ride, sugar?”

“
Sure, can we take my truck?”

“
Not unless you want me to drive.”

“
Joe…”

“
I told you before. I don’t ride bitch. Ever.”

“
So how am I supposed to learn?”

“
Talk to your aunt. Now grab your helmet and move that skinny ass.”

With a sigh, Amy complied. She didn’t mind, really. In fact riding with Joe was the best. She had broached the subject of getting a bike, but the idea was shot down in flames by both him and Beth. The only reason he was okay with her driving at all was because the truck he’d got her was built like a tank.

Despite her enthusiasm for riding with him, Amy couldn’t shake that feeling of unease. She’d known Joe all her life and could read him like a book. Many would say that he was the master of the unreadable expression, but she could see how tense he was by the set of his jaw and the way he held himself. She tightened the strap under her chin and, reaching out, touched his arm. “You okay, Joe?”

He gave a tight smile. “Not sure, sugar. While you were upstairs getting changed, we had a visitor.”

“Who?”

“
Your mom.”

“
Oh. Shit. Did she say what she wanted?”

“
To see you.”

“
Okay… Joe?”

“
Yes, sugar.”

“
She’s here to stir up shit, isn’t she? I mean, she’s never come up here to see me before.” She swallowed the lump that was forming in her throat. “What if she wants me to go back to California with her?”

“
I don’t know.” He touched her cheek. “I told her to wait at that diner down the road. Why don’t we go and talk to her. See what she really wants?”

“
Okay. Why are you playing along, Joe?”

“
Because she’s your mom.”

“
But she’s only doing this to hurt you. She doesn’t care about me.”

“
Yes, she does. She loves you, Amy. I know that she has a funny way of showing it, and yes, right now, she’s more interested in hurting me and Beth than what’s best for you, but she does care.”

“
So why did she send me away?”

“
That wasn’t her idea, you know that. It was me who thought it was best for you to live here.”

“
I know, but she hardly ever calls, never visits.”

“
Well she’s visiting now. So how about we go and listen to what she has to say.”

~ oOo ~

Joe smiled as they walked slowly towards the diner and he felt her small hand slip into his. It was something she only did when she was nervous and needed to draw strength from him. He gave it a squeeze. “It’ll be okay, Amy.”