Free Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives) by Marita A. Hansen

down now.”
    Jayden handed Lil Jay over to Annie. He didn’t want to fight her father, but was willing to if pushed. “I’m takin’ ‘em whether ya like it or not.”
    Mr. Daniels shoved him. “Like hell you are.”
    It was like a bloody rerun—The Pick on Jayden Show. Jayden gritted his teeth and pushed him back. “Don’t touch me!”
    Mrs. Daniels ran in front of her husband as he raised a fist. She looked like an older version of Annie, with her wavy brown hair and dimpled cheeks. “No, Matt, please don’t. Not in front of Lil Jay.”
    “Then tell him to go back to his wife and leave Annie alone,” Mr. Daniels snapped.
    “I only married her cos ya wouldn’t let me ‘ave Annie.”
    “Well, it’s too late now, ain’t it?”
    “I’ve left Leila for Annie. I love ya daughter.”
    Annie gasped. “Really?” She smiled at Jayden with the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen.
    Jayden nodded.
    Annie turned to her father. “Please Daddy, let me be with Jayden. I love him.”
    Jayden grinned. She loved him! He couldn’t believe his ears. He’d been scared that she’d turn him away, telling him to f-off and that he was a right loser for not fighting for her. He would have agreed with her too.
    “Over my dead body!” her father said.
    Jayden wished he could make that happen. “She’s eighteen now, ya can’t stop her.”
    “You ruined my daughter’s life once. I’m not letting you do it again,” Mr. Daniels spat.
    How did he ruin it? If it wasn’t for him Lil Jay wouldn’t be alive. Plus, Annie was never going to have some fancy schmancy career. She was just like him—dumb. He wasn’t being insulting, it was just a fact. She had only ever wanted to be a mum. He remembered they had talked about it when they were younger. Her exact words were, ‘I want three boys and three girls.’ Jayden hadn’t minded, because he loved kids too. Although he didn’t expect to start their whānau so soon, he could never regret having Lil Jay.
    “Ya ‘ave a beautiful grandson, don’t ya? How’s that bad?” Jayden offered.
    Mr. Daniels charged him. Although Jayden knew Annie’s father wanted to hit him, the tackle still took him by surprise. Pain shot through his skull as he hit the driveway. Mr. Daniels started pounding his head. He could hear Annie and her mother screaming and Lil Jay crying.
    Jayden covered his head with one arm and blindly swung out with the other. He was beginning to feel light headed, voices were becoming muffled and he could taste blood.
    “No, Dad!”
    The punches stopped. Jayden pushed up onto one hand as Annie tried to pull her father back. Mr. Daniels yanked his arm free.
    Jayden lost consciousness as a kick struck the side of his head.

 
     
     
    12
     
    Nike
     
     
    Nike needed to get out quick. He didn’t want to talk, have a beer, nothing, there were just too many people hanging around Ash’s house. He tucked the package under his arm and headed down the steps, reminding himself not to run. As he neared his van a female voice shouted at him to stop.
    Just stay cool, he told himself. She doesn’t know.
    “Oh, c’mon, cutie, I just wanna talk?” she called out.
    Nike looked over his shoulder. A girl walked towards him, followed by two others in tight dresses. They had messy hair and smudged mascara, their black makeup giving them panda eyes. The word slappers came to mind.
    Behind the girls, half-awake partygoers were making their way across the lawn and out the gate. From inside the house Ash yelled, “Fuck off.” A loud crash sounded then a guy flew out of the front door, followed by another one. They picked themselves up and took off, almost tripping over each other in their efforts to get away. Ash and Dante stepped outside, their different tattoos the only distinguishing marks between the brothers.
    Nike wondered where their younger brother was. He wanted to ask him questions about Tama. Yeah, Sledge hated him and probably wouldn’t have told him shit, but