Bang Gang(31)

"Yes," I snapped. "And how, exactly? By kicking off? Giving the kid a  slap? Mouthing off in front of the whole village?" I lowered my voice.  "I've dealt with enough Darren Trent gossip these past few weeks without  another fresh load on top. I could do without it. So could the girls."

She held up her hands. "Fair enough. It was just a thought."

"I know," I said. "Thanks. I appreciate the concern, I just … "

"It's alright," she said. "Handle it your way. I'm sure the school will sort it."

I hoped so. The idea of more drama filled me with dread.

"A bit of peace would be nice," I laughed. "Just a bit. A quiet life for a while."

But there was no chance of that.

I heard a gruff voice barking out some choice words about a rotten  little vandal. I turned on instinct, and sure enough the vandal was my  freckle-faced daughter. She was facing up to the owner of the Audi  –  a  skinny old posh guy in a suit. I didn't know him.

I groaned and dashed over with Tonya behind me, grabbing Ruby by the arm before she could antagonise him any further.

"I'm sorry," I said. "What's going on?"

He was flummoxed, exasperated. Pissed off. "Your daughter kicked my  car!" he snapped. "It's disgraceful! You should keep her under control!  Do you have any idea how much this car's worth?!"

I looked at my out of control daughter. "Did you kick this man's car, Ruby?"                       
       
           



       

"No!" she said. "I kicked his tyres!" She stared up at him with defiant  eyes, then pointed to the back wheels. "Those tyres are balder than you  are, mate."

Oh Lord.

At least she didn't use the C word.

I looked at him in horror, at his wispy excuse for a comb over. His eyes  were piggy and too small for his face, and it really didn't look like  he was seeing the humour in it.

"I'm sorry," I said again. "Her dad's a mechanic. She likes to help."

"By kicking people's cars?" the man snapped. "Maybe her dad should teach  her some manners then, ignorant little hooligan. No respect. No respect  at all."

I saw Tonya's eyes widen, saw her stare behind me with an expression of horror.

"I'm her fucking dad," Trent's voice barked. "What's going on here?"

Oh no.

I turned on my heel, all ready to play pacifier. No big deal, just a misunderstanding. But Audi-man answered before I could.

"Your daughter kicked my car," he snapped. "This is an expensive car, as  you should well know, I don't need hooligans kicking it."

Tonya made an exit and I can't say I blamed her. She headed over to Mia who was still yapping on to Daisy on Skype.

Trent opened a fresh pack of cigarettes. He stuck another in his pocket. Shop run. Of course.

Godawful timing.

He looked at me, then looked at Ruby.

"What's going on, Rubes?"

"His tyres are bald," she said. "Tried to warn him. Guess he got  butt-hurt." I heard her pathetic excuse for a whisper. "I didn't say any  garage words, Dad, I promise."

Garage words. Brilliant. Just brilliant.

He ruffled her hair, then lit up a cigarette while Audi-man gawped. My  stomach dropped as Trent took a step back onto the road, eyed up the  car's back tyres.

And then he kicked them.

"Those tyres are balder than you are, mate," he said. I would have  laughed if I hadn't been so horrified. "She's done you a favour. Got  wire showing on the rear driver's. It's fucked."

Ruby folded her arms, gave the man a smug nod. "Told you," she said. "Balder than you are."

I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.

Audi-man didn't even look at his tyres. "Your daughter shouldn't go around kicking cars," he said.

"You shouldn't be driving on those tyres," Trent said.

"Stay away from my car," the man said.

"Stay away from my fucking daughter," Trent said. "Raise your voice to her again and it's not going to end well."

The man sneered. "No wonder she has no manners."

I put a hand on Trent's arm. Please stay calm.

"I think you should get in your fancy fucking car and drive away," he said.

"I was planning on it," Audi-man said. "I should never have parked up in this backwater shithole. Full of halfwits."

"Roll on, mate," Trent said.

Audi-man bleeped his central locking, slipped into the driver's seat. I took a deep breath as he drove away.

Darren put his hands on Ruby's shoulders. "Good spot," he said. "You were doing him a favour, ungrateful prick."

It wasn't exactly how I would have put it, but it was exactly the moment  I decided to handle the Tyler Dean situation with the school and  definitely not with Darren.

I watched Ruby watch the car down the street, a quizzical expression on her face.

She turned to look at her dad when the car was out of sight.

"Can I ask you a question?" she said. "A garage question?"

He smiled. "Go for it."

I nearly smiled along as he dropped to her level to hear her out, my skin prickling at the memory of his body against mine.

Ruby folded her arms, and scowled. She jabbed a finger at the spot the car had vacated and let out a sigh.

"How come a cunt like that gets to drive such a nice bloody Audi?"





I sent Ruby over to Tonya with a tenner for ice creams. She took the  girls over to the shop and I tackled this Audi shit with Jodie.

"He was a prick," I said. "She was right about his fucking tyres, arrogant cunt."                       
       
           



       

"That's not the point," Jodie said. "She kicked someone's car, Darren, and she was rude."

"She kicked his tyres, it's totally different."

"She's eight years old," she said. "She shouldn't be kicking anyone's anything."

She looked tired. Really tired. I pictured her under me, squirming as I fucked her tight ass.

"You should be in bed."

You should be in my bed.

"I came out for breakfast with Tonya. The girls were up early."

I looked her in the eye. "You alright, Jo. About everything?"

She nodded, gave me a crappy smile. "I'm good, yeah. You?"

"Alright."

"Good," she said. "Then we're alright. That's good."

So fucking awkward. She played with her fancy fake nails. I watched her, just watched her.

I sighed. "You should get some sleep this afternoon. I'll take the girls."

"But it's not your weekend … " she said.

"Fuck that, Jo. When have I ever cared if it's my fucking weekend or not?"

She looked at the floor. "I thought you might be …  busy … "

Busy Bang Ganging. That's what she thought. That's what she meant.

Ruby came charging down the road, her face covered in whippy ice cream  and chocolate sauce. She had the ice cream clenched in her fingers,  trying her best to lick it and run at the same time. Even Mia had hung  up Skype for the sake of a whippy cone, but she was more demure about  it, walking slowly at Tonya's side.

Once again I noticed the makeup on her, and it made me feel weird. Made  me feel old. She was too young for all that shit, but then again, what  did I know? All her friends were probably doing it.

"Wanna come with me, girls?" I said. "We'll take the truck over to Sam's place. Get some practice on the track. How about it?"

They didn't need much convincing.

I sent them ahead to the truck with the keys and Jodie said her thanks.

Tonya took her by the arm. "Better get this one back to bed," she said. "I'll stay on call for Nanna."

I smiled at her, gave her a nod.

"I'll be seeing you," I said.





I took the truck up to Sam Brown's. He's got an off road set-up up there, perfect for letting the girls loose.

Sam was working on an old Honda Civic when we pulled up. He raised a hand as I lowered the window, gave the girls a wave.

"Alright," I said.

He headed over. "Good day for it."

"Hoping to take the girls up the track, let them have a go behind the wheel."

"Be my guest," he said.

I shook his hand. "Cheers, Sam."

He kept an elbow on the window. "Big event at the Brecon track end of  this month. Gary Finch can't make it, family wedding up north. Think  you'd be game? Nothing major, would just appreciate an extra pair of  hands if we need it."

"I'm game for that," I said.

I didn't need to see Ruby's face to know she was busting a gut to get in on it. "Rally cars?" she said. "Can I come?"

Sam smiled. "It's an open event," he said. "Plenty of people gonna be camping. Bring a tent, make a weekend of it."

"Might just do that," I said.

Ruby wouldn't let it go as I took the truck on up to the ridge.  "Please!" she said. "Please, Dad! Pleeeeease! I'll be good, I promise! I  won't kick any tyres or anything! Not even one!"