Part 18 (1/2)
Sledge bolted upright, his gaze darting to Naf. ”Nuthin'. I didn't know you were home, your car's not here.”
Naf entered the room, dressed in the same hoodie and jeans from yesterday, and reeking of cigarette smoke. ”It broke down.”
”Sorry. Do ya know where Corey is? I wanna talk to him 'bout...” Tama. ”...things.”
”He's pro'bly sleeping the party off somewhere.”
Sledge stood up. ”What party?”
Naf took a step back. ”Ah... At Kirstin Jones's place. He wanted to stay behind, so I left with your cousins Tag... I mean, Kane and Mick, to do a bit of tagging.”
”Kirstin Jones as in Len Jones's daughter, the fattest b.a.s.t.a.r.d in Auckland and the same p.r.i.c.k who shot at Dante and attacked Ash?”
”I have no idea who her father is, and Jones is a common name. Anyway, your cousins were there, so chill, it must be alright.”
”Still, why the h.e.l.l didja take Corey to a party? You know what he's like; he'd be filling up on booze and drugs.”
”Stop tripping, man. He's pro'bly sleeping it off at Ty...” Naf grimaced. ”He met someone and is most likely at their place.”
Yeah, probably some slapper, Sledge thought. G.o.d, why did Corey do this s.h.i.+t? He was going to get hurt again, he could just see it. ”Do ya know where the chick lives? I'll go pick him up.”
”He doesn't need ya holding his hand; he can make his own way back.”
”He's sick, and he has the worst taste in chicks. I don't want him gettin' hurt again.” Sledge clenched his hands. ”Don't look at me like that; I'm worried after what happened with Juliet, and you should be too.”
”Yeah, true,” Naf said, looking guilty.
Sledge's ears perked up at the sound of a car. Hoping it was Corey, he headed outside, but instead got Juliet. Her eyes locked onto his. Looking panicked, she fumbled with the door handle, getting it open as Sledge ran for her.
He slammed it shut. ”You might as well tell me why you beat up Corey, cos I'm not letting you get away this time.”
”No, let go of the door, I hafta pick up Ash.”
”Then why'd ja come home?”
”None of your biz, let go!”
”No! You tell me why you punched Corey. Now!”
”It's between me and Corey, not you.”
Sledge slammed a fist into the panel next to Juliet. She squealed and jumped to the side, raising her hands to cover her head. ”Tell me or I'll make ya!”
Naf pushed himself in between them. Sledge looked down at his short mate, thinking the bloke had b.a.l.l.s. Naf couldn't fight to save himself, let alone protect Juliet.
”Corey doesn't want cha hurtin' her, so back off,” Naf said.
Sledge sneered at him. ”You've changed your tune. I heard you yelling at her yesterday. Has Corey told ja what happened?”
”It's between Corey and Juliet, not you.”
Sledge leaned over Naf, dwarfing him. ”Tell me.”
Naf looked like he was going to p.i.s.s himself. ”Corey doesn't want cha knowing.”
Sledge's lips twitched. ”Why am I the only one not allowed to know?”
”Cos it's up to Corey.”
”But, he never hides stuff from me.”
”Oh, yes he does.”
”Like what?” Sledge said, feeling like this had more to do with him than Juliet.
”Believe you me, you don't wanna know.”
Sledge breathed out, trying to calm himself down. ”But, I do.”
Naf shook his head as a car turned into the driveway. Sledge's gaze s.h.i.+fted to the Alfa Romeo. His eyes widened in shock. What the f.u.c.k was Corey doing with Tyler Jones?
Sledge ran for the car, yanking the door open as Tyler pulled on the handbrake. He jammed an arm across Tyler's neck and undid the seatbelt.
”Get offa me!” Tyler struggled against him, trying to push Sledge's face away.
”Leave him alone, Sledge!” Corey yelled.
Once the buckle was undone, Sledge yanked Tyler out, furious that the poof was even in the same proximity as Corey. Tama had told him all about Tyler hitting on Corey a few months back, so now it was his turn to hit on Tyler, just with his fists.
”Your uncle almost killed my brother!” Sledge yelled, raising a fist.
”No!” Corey grabbed Sledge's arm and tried to pull him away.
Yanking it free, Sledge dropped Tyler and turned on Corey. ”What the f.u.c.k are you doin' with that princess? Tama warned you 'bout him.”
”He's a mate.”
”A mate?” Sledge stared at Corey in disbelief. ”His dad and uncle have attacked my brothers more than once, and you're his mate? You're s'posed to be mine.”
Corey's face screwed up.
”You're not gonna cry, are ya?” Sledge said. ”What sort of pansy-a.r.s.ed s.h.i.+t is this? First Juliet beats you up, then you come home with this t.w.a.t.” He gestured towards Tyler. ”And why the h.e.l.l is he giving you a lift for anyway? Are ya doin' his cousin?”
”No.”
”Then what?”