14. Jason
Chapter 14
Jason
‘For a stuck-up dude, Snoot sure can drive,’ I say, noticing that Christopher Snoot is managing to keep up with me pretty well as I push the truck as hard as I can.
I look across to Nick in the passenger seat and can see that he’s trying to be a brave boy in front of his Daddy.
The importance of this situation can’t be underestimated.
I know just how much thought and love Nick put into the design for his new home and for something like this to come along and threaten all of that must be causing him a fuck-ton of stress.
I might even be the same myself in his position – so I know that I have to give my baby boy every last drop of support that I can.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll work this thing out,’ I say, keeping both hands on the wheel as I take a sharp left that will cut a couple of minutes off the journey to Werner Hodge’s office. ‘We’re not leaving that office without at the very least putting a major dent in that asshole’s plans.’
My boy nods his head but I can see that there are a million thoughts in his head right now.
Maybe the best thing for me to do is keep quiet and let my driving do the talking instead.
I’ve faced up to bullies and bad guys before, and I know that I haven’t always come out as the winner.
Probably the main bully in my life was my stepfather.
On the face of things, he was the perfect role model. A respected surgeon with an eye for investing his money well. It was thanks to him that I grew up in nice houses and didn’t want for anything as a kid.
But the moment I said that medical school wasn’t for me, the man turned on me. It was like the previous fifteen years counted for nothing. The very fact that I was considering dropping out and seeking a very different career disgusted him so much that he wanted nothing more to do with me.
It hurt me – and I mean it hurt me real bad .
It took a long time for me to get over the pain of being disowned by my stepfather, a man who I had come to love over the years.
But, hey, it’s his problem and he can live with it.
I don’t live with hate in my heart – that’s just not how I’m built.
But if I learned one thing from the whole affair, it was that I always need to follow my heart.
I love my life in construction, I love being a Daddy, and I think I might just…
‘Woah! Fuck!’ I bellow, slamming my fist down on the wheel and honking the horn as I narrowly miss a sedan that seems to believe the rules of the road don’t apply to them. ‘Watch where you’re going asshole!’
‘Daddy, are you okay?’ Nick asks, putting his hand on my thigh. ‘I didn’t mean to get you involved in all this. I’m so sorry.’
‘Boy, I wouldn’t have it any other way,’ I reply, keen to make sure that my baby boy doesn’t think he’s responsible for this mess. ‘The only person to blame here is Werner Hodge. And that’s why we’re driving to his place to remind him that he doesn’t get to walk all over us. Not now, and not ever .’
For the first time in a little minute, I see a smile come onto my baby boy’s face.
‘That’s the spirit,’ I say. ‘Now let’s park up here and show that piece of crap what we’re made of.’
I slow the truck down and pull over directly opposite Werner Hodge’s office building.
From the outside it’s a pretty typical office block, nothing to write home about. I’d heard on the construction grapevine that he bought the entire building in some dodgy deal with a corrupt politician some years ago.
To be honest, nothing surprises me when it comes to Werner Hodge.
‘Okay, deep breath time,’ I say, leaning over and planting a kiss on Nick’s forehead. ‘You can stay here if you want, I won’t think any less of you.’
‘No, Daddy, I need to come,’ Nick says. ‘I’m a brave boy, and I’ve gone up against men like this before. I’m going to be standing by your side all the way, no matter what happens.’
‘Well let’s move our asses then,’ I say. ‘And it looks like Christopher will be joining us too.’
I look across and see that Christopher Snoot has caught up, having fallen behind a couple of blocks ago.
The three of us might make an unusual team, but that doesn’t matter to me. All I care about is facing off with Werner Hodge and getting the outcome that my darling boy deserves.
The walk up through the lobby and to Werner Hodge’s first floor office takes less than a minute, but we’re moving with such purpose it’s a surprise that we’re not all-out sprinting by the time we arrive.
I don’t bother knocking on the door – even if the secretary nearly spits her coffee out in shock as the three of us walk past her.
‘Hodge, we need to talk,’ I say, my voice firm and full of authority. ‘You need to back the fuck off Sunvale Street. And I mean back all the way off.’
I wait for Hodge to respond.
He’s leaning back in his black leather armchair and has the look of one smug sonofabitch on his face.
Hodge is waiting for me to say more, he wants to see exactly what I know – but I’m not into playing those kinds of games, least of all with a piece of crap like him.
I look around and see how bare his office is.
Aside from his desk and the chair he’s sitting on, there’s barely any evidence that this is a place of work.
A sole laptop aside, I get the feeling that this office is more like a front to give Werner the air of a legitimate businessman.
‘So you three freaks think you can barge in here and threaten me?’ Werner laughs, finally breaking his own self-imposed silence. ‘So na?ve. So silly. And actually quite boring. I’ve seen off bigger people than you, Jason. You should know that. I’ve bribed enough officials to last me a lifetime’s worth of dodge deals and unethical favors.’
‘I ain’t leaving until you tell me you’re backing off my boy’s street,’ I say, gritting my teeth and feeling a surge of anger course over my veins. ‘You’re lowlife scum, Hodge. You’ve crossed a line, and I’m not letting you get away with this one.’
‘Daddy, be careful,’ Nick says, genuine fear in his voice as he watches Werner stand up from this desk.
Werner Hodge is a big guy, there’s no denying that.
And I know that he’s been involved in his fair share of physical fights and scuffles over the years.
Hell, there was even a rumor that he killed his former business partner – something that always sounded like gossip to me, until now perhaps…
‘Be careful, I am not a man to mess with,’ Werner says, walking toward me and turning his hands into two balled up fists. ‘I am sick and tired of you all now, especially you… Jason. I’ll make sure you never work in this town again.’
This asshole is looking for trouble.
But before I can say anything in response, he swings his right fist at me and lands it right on my jaw.
‘Is that all you’ve got?’ I reply, wasting no time in returning the favor with a huge right cross that sends Hodge flying backward onto his desk.
‘And every single word of this conversation has been recorded in crystal clear HD film,’ Nick says, his voice triumphant as he holds his cellphone up in the air. ‘We’re talking about corruption charges, bribing city officials, and of course assault!’
‘Get out!’ Hodge rages, knowing full-well that his loose talk and trigger-happy fist has just landed him in a heap of trouble. ‘Get the fuck out of my office!’
‘That’s my pleasure,’ Snoot says, his squeaky voice echoing around the room’s high ceilings. ‘I don’t expect to see you ever again!’
With that, Christopher Snoot turns and leaves.
Nick and I follow on behind and don’t even look back once at Hodge.
It’s all over, and I feel a huge sigh of relief that me and the boy can get our lives back to normal again.
As we stand outside the office, I know that there’s something I need to say to Nick…
‘Boy, I’ve needed to say this to you, but the time hasn’t been right,’ I say, suddenly feeling a mixture of nerves, excitement, and pure adrenalin. ‘I love you. I love you more than anything on this entire damn planet. I want you to be my boy. Not just for now. I want you to be mine forever .’
I hold my breath as I wait for Nick to respond.
I can see the emotion in his eyes, but I suddenly wonder if this was all too soon – it’s possible he’s too emotional after what’s just happened.
But when Nick smiles his beautiful smile I can see that I needn’t have worried, even for a second.
‘I love you too, Daddy,’ Nick says, a tear of joy rolling down his cheek. ‘I want you to be my Forever Daddy. I would swap all of my money, The Little Petal, and my new house if it meant I could be with you for the rest of my life.’
‘Well, don’t worry, none of that will be necessary!’ I roar. ‘I’m yours. I’m yours today, tomorrow, and for every single day after that too.’
We kiss, and it feels even more magical than the very first time our lips met.
‘Come on, let’s go,’ I say, smiling and taking Nick’s hand. ‘We need to celebrate this moment. And I’ve got just the way to do it!’