Without care (10 page)

I take in a
sharp breath. “Is he in trouble?” Ayden just nods and finally my
heart cracks in two. My father is in trouble and he is all alone.
“Will you please explain everything?” My voice is actually calm,
but whole body is immersed with fear.

“Your father
has been taking bribes to get his clients cleared from jail.
Although, one case back fired, big time.” Ayden gets up from the
sofa and walks over to a draw, he pulls outs a folder and walks
back towards me. “Mario Lopez,” he hiss's the name.

He sits back
next to me and pulls out a photo of a man I don't know. Just from
the picture you can tell he's a bad guy. His Latino features are
hard, his bold head and the tattoo of a gun on his neck. His eyes
are cold and menacing. I wouldn't want to meet him for real.

“What did he
do?”

Ayden turns the
picture over, but that image is imprinted on my brain. I will never
forget that face for the rest of my life.

“He is a leader
of a notorious gang in Seattle. He was arrested for murder and drug
supplying. He turned to your father to handle his case. Mario paid
your father over 100,000 dollars. He was pretty sure your father
would set him free.”

“And?”

“Well, the
prosecution had a few tricks up their sleeves. No matter how hard
your father tried, the evidence was stacked up high against Mario
and it was unbreakable. Mario was found guilty with a life
sentence.”

“This doesn't
explain why my father would come for me?”

“Mario wants
his money back. Your father doesn't have. However, your mother
does.” Ayden pauses and looks at me. “When she found out what your
father was doing she threatened to report him. He stopped her and
convinced her everything was fine.”

“She didn't
believe him, did she?” I quietly say, as I remembered the
conversation I'd had with her. Her words play in my head.
‘They
all lie, honey. It’s in their DNA'.
At least I now knew what
she meant by it.

“No, she left
with you, Lacey and wiped out your fathers bank account.” He locked
his hands together and placed them into his lap. “Everywhere she
went, your father somehow found you. It was only weeks ago your
mother started receiving the threats again. This time instead of
leaving she contacted the police.”

“And you’re
here to protect me, why?”

“In the treats
it was you who your father intended to kidnap unless your mother
returned the money.”

“Where is the
money? Why doesn't she just give it back?”

“It’s now
evidence, your father was committing Freud. He is now under
investigation, but he is good. There is no paper trail.”

“So, how long
will you be protecting me?”

“As long as
needs must.”

For the first
time since yesterday I took a good look at him. He was now a
stranger, and to think I thought I was in love with him. He had
lied to me and I felt foolish. Poor Chase, I had treated him badly.
Poor Becks, she had fallen for Ayden too and it was down to me and
my stupid family. We had brought him here.

“How old are
you?” I asked that feeling I had about him being older had to be
true now.

“Twenty-two” he
confessed.

“And your real
name?”

“Ayden” he
smiled. “That much is true. The house isn't my grandmothers, it’s
rented. Yes, I am from Seattle and yes, I do still count you as a
friend.”

His last words
shocked me, friend? How could we possibly be friends? This whole
time he has been paid to hang out with me. Wait...

“Who's
protecting my mother and Lacey?”

Ayden suddenly
looks sheepish and stares down at his hands. “That would be
Ted.”

“Ted?” My voice
is high pitch. “He's with my mother! Does she know?”

Ayden just
simply nods and once again I feel stupid, of course she knew. Out
of everyone, I was the one kept in the dark. I place my hands over
my face and let out a squeal of frustration. My father isn't who I
believed he was. My friend, who I thought I was in love with, is
some undercover spy. My mother kept everything from me. She could
have confided in me and explained everything. How can I carry on
living here? Those men, no doubt, will be back.

I only have one
thing on my mind and that is to see my father. I need to see him
and let him explain everything to me. I also have to kick his ass
for doing this to my family. How could he of been selfish like
this. I have been ripped away from everything I know because he is
a criminal.

I burst into
tears again. I am now living in fear. The only thing I had to worry
about yesterday was Chase.

“Hey,” Ayden
says, soothingly. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me
into him. It’s weird in spite of everything. I still get that warm
glow from him touching me. “There is no need to cry.”

“There is every
reason to cry” I sob; I pull my hands away from my face and look up
at him. “I need to see my father.”

His expression
hardens. “No! Seriously, not going to happen.” His grip on me
tightens, and the muscle in his jaw twitches. “He's too dangerous.
There is no predicting what he will do. He is desperate for that
money.”

“So I just stay
here and wait to be kidnapped?” I throw my hands up in annoyance.
“You know you can't be with me every second of the day.”

He gives a
little smirk. “I've done a pretty good job so far.” He raises an
eyebrow as if this is some sort of contest, but I stare blankly at
him. “Jennifer, think about it, everywhere you've been in the last
few weeks, I've shown up.”

I begin to
think about it. Has he? The first time I saw him was at school, the
store and work. He was at the beach and he was the one who picked
me up from Chase's party. My mouth opens and then closes. I am
speechless, he has been everywhere with me.

This still
doesn't change the fact that I want to see my father. I have a
right. I need him to tell me himself, it’s the least he owes me. I
can't sit around waiting for something to happen. He has to be told
to stop. My mother obviously isn't putting this right, so it is
down to me.

I push back the
blanket and stand up. “I need to go, Ayden” my voice is authorizing
and I have found some hidden strength I never knew existed. “I need
to go and speak to my father.”

Ayden jumps to
his feet. “No! Exactly what good would come from that?”

“I can tell him
to turn himself in. I can tell him what hell we have been through.
I can hear him, in his own words, explain what he did.” Once again,
there’s that tugging feeling in my heart and I let out a deep
breath. “My father is a good man and I know he would never hurt me.
Like you said, he is desperate and he is alone.”

Ayden bows his
head and places his hands in his pockets. “You know he's going to
end up in jail, right?”

“I know” my
voice is weak now.

“And you know
if we do go, we may not be able to find him. Your father is in
hiding and he seems to be rather good at it.”

For the first
time since last night I smile. “Does that mean I can go?”

“I'll have to
clear it first. This may just work.” His head springs up and those
dark eyes glare at me. “The second I feel something is wrong or
you're in danger, we leave.” I can't help running over to him and
wrapping my arms around his neck. “Don't get too carried away just
yet. We have to clear this with your mother and Ted.”

CHAPTER
EIGHT

“Over my dead
body!” My mother screams, her fist slamming into the table. “No way
in hell, Jennifer Hopkins. There is no way you are going to see
that monster.”

I let out a
defeated sigh. “Please” I beg, I look over to Ayden for support but
he decides to look the other way. “I need to do this. Nothing will
happen to me, I'll have Ayden with me.”

“What about
school?”

“I'll go to
summer school if I don't graduate. Even Ayden thought this would
help.” Everyone's eyes turn to Ayden whose eyes remain firmly in
the other direction. “If I can persuade him to give himself up,
then you're free. We all are.”

“She has a
point” Ted adds, suddenly I like Ted more. “If your ex gives
himself in and confesses then you won't have to live in fear any
longer.” His hand reaches for my mothers. “It’s worth a shot. And
you can trust Ayden. He won't let anything happen to Jen.”

“Come on, Mom”
I smile. “Isn't it about time we settled down?”

“Do you have
anything to say Ayden?” My mother asks.

“Nope” his tone
is crisp. I kick him under the table, which makes him curse under
his breath. His eyes turn to me and I raise an eyebrow. He should
be fighting in my corner, instead of sitting there all moody and
silent.

He rolls his
eyes and shrugs. “I agree with Ted. Your ex turning himself in
would be a relief and you would be safe.” A big smile grows across
my face. “And Jen will be safe with me. I am trained to deal with
all situations. I know how to shot and fight. Plus, she won't be
leaving my sight.”

“Well...”

My mother runs
her hands through her blonde hair and lets out a deep breath. “What
am I meant to say?”

Her hands run
down her face, which actually is free from make-up. She looks
tired. Her eyes are red and slightly puffy. For the first time I
can actually see the real her, the woman I remember so clearly. She
isn't putting on an act, she isn't faking this, and this is real.
This is how I love her. My heart swells with love for her. She
risked everything to keep me and Lacey safe.

I now feel
guilty for being selfish, I need to see my father and I believe I
can put all this right. I know I'm not a super hero, I do feel like
I could save the day. After all it’s worth a try, not for me or my
mother, but for Lacey. She deserves to feel settled. She deserves
at least an attempt at a real life.

“Okay” she
shrugs. “One week” she points at me and then Ayden. “If anything
happens to my baby, I am holding you responsible.”

“I wouldn't
expect it any other way” Ayden confidently replies as he stands up
from the table. “I'll be back in half an hour and we will go.” He
doesn't even look at me as he leaves the kitchen.

I close my eyes
and let out a little sigh, in spite of what he said him still being
my friend. It no longer feels that way to me. He is a stranger and
now I have insisted on spending time alone with him for one whole
week.

I push the
thought to the back of my mind, this isn't about me. This is for my
father, to persuade him to do the right thing. I will just have to
endure whatever is thrown at me and tough it out.

I race to my
room and begin to pack for my week away. I shouldn't feel this
excited, but the thought of going home and seeing where I grew up
is thrilling. I have made a mental list of where to look for my
father. He will be there. I am not allowing any negativity get in
my way. I am a girl on a mission.

I grab my bag
from my wardrobe and start throwing clothes in. I gather up my
iPod, books and anything thing else that will keep my mind occupied
during the long drive. Next thing is all my toiletries. There is a
knock on my door and Ted strolls in. My mouth drops open, he never
comes to talk to me. In fact, he has never even been in my room
before.

He places an
envelope down on my bed and I frown at him. “Money” he nods and
places his hands in his pockets. “I take it Ayden told you who I
am.”

“Yes,” I look
at the envelope and then back at Ted, he seems to look awkward and
twitchy. “I really don't need you to give me money, Ted.”

“I insist” he
smiles. “I plan on marrying your mother one day. So, I want to take
care of what is hers.”

I feel a little
taken back. “You want to marry my mother?” Ted never speaks to me
and now he is telling me his hidden secrets. I should be flattered
that he wants to share. “What about your job? I thought you were
here to protect her and Lacey.”

Ted lets out a
little sigh, takes a few steps and sits down on the edge of my bed.
“At first, yes, it was about the job.” He looks down at his locked
hands. “I just fell in love with your mother and vice versa.” He
quickly looks up and locks eyes with me. I see it then, how much he
does love my mother. “I will do anything for her, you and Lacey. I
want to be part of this family, if you will allow me, Jen.”

I open my mouth
and quickly close it again. Has he just asked for my blessing? I
think about what he has just said and it does sound like it. A
massive smile grows on my face, I see his shoulders relax and he
returns my smile. There is only one thing left to, I walk over and
give him a hug.

“I would love
you to join our family, Ted” I sing, I pull away and see his face
alight with happiness. “You make my mother happy and I wouldn't
want anyone else to take care of her.”

“What is going
on here?” My mother is stood in the doorway.

“Me and Ted
were just talking about you” I wink at Ted and turn my attention
back to my mother. I am itching to tell her, but I don't want to
spoil the surprise. I feel at ease knowing that while I'm away my
mother and Lacey will be taken care of.