Part 42 (2/2)
”I am not repressed, cos even you were shocked with what I wanted to do.”
He sneered, happy he'd turned the tables on her. ”You are repressed, cos everything with to you is a fantasy, nuthin' is real. I betcha m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.e while reading your books.” He started imitating a woman's voice. ”Oh f.u.c.k me harder, Flabio, oh yes, oh no, but we shouldn't, you're too big and I'm a virgin, but oh, you fit so right, but we still mustn't, we're not married, but oh, oh, oh, yes, yes, YES!”
”You're horrible! Why do ya hafta be so mean?”
”That's not being mean, but I can show ya mean if you ask nicely.”
”See, you're turning things s.e.xual again.”
”I wuzn't being s.e.xual, you're taking what I said the wrong way.” He reached out and grabbed her p.u.s.s.y, making her squeal. Grinning, he removed his hand. ”Now, that wuz s.e.xual.”
”You're an a.r.s.ehole,” she said, breathing heavily as she straightened her skirt.
”That's what I've been trying to tell ya. So, keep your lily white soul, and find some knight in s.h.i.+ning armour who'll treat you like the princess you are, instead of someone who grabs your p.u.s.s.y.”
”No, I still want you.”
He grunted a laugh. ”Then expect h.e.l.l, cos you won't be gettin' heaven from me, especially if you insist on a.n.a.lysing everything I do.”
”You've sent me to heaven twice so far, then put me in h.e.l.l right after, so I expect both, and will take both, if it means I get to have you.”
He shook his head. ”Then you're more f.u.c.ked in the head than I am, cos I ain't worth the trouble.”
”You are to me, I love you.”
”You shouldn't.”
”But I do, and you can't change that.”
”Maybe I don't wanna change it, cos I'm a f.u.c.ktard who loves you too.” He glanced at her smile, then looked ahead as sirens caught his attention. A minute later a cop car and ambulance headed towards him, quickly followed by another cop car. With dread filling his gut, Dante pulled over to the side of the road, his mind instantly going to Ash. ”Phone,” he barked at Beth. He s.n.a.t.c.hed it off her as she pa.s.sed it over, then dialled through to his Uncle Luka, getting him on the third ring.
”Have they found Ash?” Dante blurted out.
”Yes, they're taking him to Dargaville Hospital,” his uncle replied.
”Chaz didn't... Please tell me Ash is alright.”
”He's alive, that's all I know. I'm heading there right now. Where are you?”
”Near Maitahi.”
”Good, I'll meet you at the hospital. And don't ring Dida until we know Ash is alright. The old man's heart won't take another shock,” his uncle said, talking about Dante's grandfather.
”Okay, see ya soon.” Dante hung up and threw the phone on Beth's lap, then did a U-turn, heading for the small hospital.
”Please tell me Ash is okay,” Beth said, her voice high-pitched.
”I don't know, but looks like he wuz pro'bly in that ambulance, so pray to your G.o.d, cos I ain't f.u.c.kin' losing him.”
Dante entered the main foyer, instantly spotting his Uncle Luka by the nurses' station. His mother's brother was leaning over the counter, pointing at something in front of the nurse, jabbing it hard.
”Uncle Luka!” Dante called out with Beth tailing him.
His uncle looked up, the man an older version of him and Ash, but with blue-grey eyes instead of dark brown. And he was much scruffier with his permanently wind-swept hair as well as his ripped jeans and s.h.i.+rt. He was also shoeless-more at home on a surfboard than solid ground.
His uncle barrelled into him, giving Dante one of his famous bear-hugs, the type that rattled your bones, but never intentionally. Dante hugged him back, then pulled away, more interested in seeing Ash than family reunions. ”Take me to Ash.”
”Just a sec, the nurse was checking for his room.” His uncle threw a stern look at the young nurse, who appeared fl.u.s.tered.
”Yes, sir, I found it,” she said, holding out a piece of paper.
His uncle took it, giving the woman an apologetic smile, like he was already regretting snapping at her. He then headed for the corridor, both Dante and Beth running to keep up with him, his long legs chewing up ground fast.
At the other end of the corridor, a black-clad policeman stood outside of a room. He turned to face them, Dante recognising his uncle's best friend.
”Max, is Ash alright?” his uncle asked his mate.
”Considering what he's been through, he's doing remarkably well. But he's still in shock, so when you see him be aware that he may not acknowledge you.” The cop lifted his chin at Dante. ”G'day, Dante, good to see you again.”
Dante nodded, having seen the man twice before when he'd visited his uncle, the cop's green eyes memorable.
”Your directions were good,” the cop continued, talking about Dante's phone call. ”Just sad we didn't get there earlier, not only for your brother's sake, but because your stepfather killed two plain-clothed officers. They weren't even after him; they were following a sighting of a different escaped prisoner seen cutting through farmland.”
”Another prisoner?”
”Yes, the person who stabbed your stepfather.”
”Did he hurt Ash?”
”No.”
”Who wuz he?”
”You can ask your brother that, cos he seemed to know him.” The cop stepped aside.
Dante turned to Beth. ”Wait out here.”
She nodded and headed over to a seat, for once not giving him problems.
Dante followed his uncle into Ash's room, closing the door behind them, the small s.p.a.ce only occupied by Ash. His brother looked up at them, his eyes rimmed with red and his head wrapped in gauze. He had a hospital gown on and was sitting up in bed, biting his thumb nail like it deserved to be destroyed. Dante almost felt scared to talk to him, not wanting his thoughts about what Chaz had done confirmed.
Their uncle broke the silence. ”How're you holding up, Ash?”
”I'm alive.”
Dante grimaced, wondering whether Ash wished he wasn't. ”Can I please talk to Ash alone, Uncle Luka?”
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