Byron

by KJ Dahlen

  Caden nodded.

  Ted shifted in his chair. “Well, I guess that little secret is out of the bag and this is my come to Jesus meeting. Your mother and I were married. That was the one thing she got that none of my other women had. A marriage license. We had been married for some time when Dominick came along. I saw potential in that kid and asked your mom to work her charms on him.” He shrugged. “Whatever she did worked and soon they were a couple. After your sister was born, she came back to me and no one knew we were an item. We kept our arrangement a secret as we weren’t done with Dominick quite yet. It was shortly after that, I approached him for an engine. He didn’t want to build me one but eventually, he did.” Ted shrugged. “Then she got pregnant with you and I made her go back to him. She convinced the man that you were his and a year and a half later, she left him to come back to me. Dominick wouldn’t let her bring you or your sister with her as he thought you both were his kids.” He shrugged. “I didn’t care about that, but then I heard after the engine debacle that they were building a brand new engine. Well, the engine they built for me was good but I wanted the one they built after they got done with mine. I heard the new engine was bigger and better and I wanted it for the track.” Ted shook his head. “But they wouldn’t sell to me. They claimed I ripped them off by going to the patent board before the engine was turned over to me.”

  “And did you?” Caden needed to know.

  “Well, of course I did boy. I had an inside man and I went to the patent office the day before I got the engine. I wanted my name on the patent. I figured I paid for it. Why shouldn’t I claim it?”

  “That’s not the way they remember it,” Caden insisted.

  “I don’t care how they remember it, that’s the way it went down.” Ted gritted his teeth.

  “And the race?” Caden brought up the day he thought the man he called his dad died.

  “I made a deal with Dominick and Joe. I wanted that new engine. I’d seen the trial races and I had to have it. I bet them that if I won, I would take the new engine, if Dominick won, I’d give them back the patent I filed for on the first engine.”

  Caden then looked over at his mother. “Then you fucked everything up by tampering with his engine didn’t you? Not only did the race never end but you killed a man by tampering with his ride.”

  Candy shook her head. “I didn’t do shit to his engine. I wouldn’t know how or what to do. All I had to do was distract the pit crew.”

  “But you went to jail for it didn’t you?” Caden was confused.

  “That was part of the plan,” Candy explained. Then she glared at Ted. “Only it wasn’t supposed to take this long to get me out, was it darling?” She looked livid. “I was supposed to get out after a year or so but that didn’t happen. After five years, I got a hold of Ted’s attorney and told him to get me out. That’s when I found out that Joe had taken you and Kelly and disappeared. I would have to wait until they found you guys before I could present the evidence to prove my innocence. He told me to be patient and that I would be out of there before I knew it.” Candy crossed her legs and huffed angrily. “It only took them ten more years to find you all.”

  ~*~

  Caden just sat there and listened to them discuss events of the past but what really stuck out was the fact that neither of these selfish people actually wanted him. He had merely been a means to an end from before he was even born. The only one that really wanted him was the sister and the grandfather he’d just lost. Then he realized he’d been acting just like them, selfish and self centered, without even realizing it. Then he realized with a shock that he came by it naturally.

  Looking over at Jack, he noted Jack staring back at him. “Is she your mother too?” he asked.

  Jack nodded slowly. “Don’t go there, brother,” he warned Caden. “You won’t like the consequence if you go against our old man. He will bust your head and throw you to the wolves if you do. You are a means to an end at the moment and if you don’t fuck that up, you might end up meaning something to him. If you fuck it up, he’ll never forgive you and he will do whatever it takes to make you sorry you were ever born. That, I can promise you. You’ll find that our father always gets what he wants, by fair means or foul.”

  Caden looked over at his mother who he noted had been watching him. “So, if you didn’t fuck up the motor who did?”

  Candy smiled slowly. “A man Dominick called a friend. He got into trouble with a bit of a gambling problem and Ted bailed him out. All he had to do was screw up the engine a bit and loosen the lugs, we never expected the lugs to vibrate off and cause him to crash. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”

  “That new engine was so calibrated, it was truly a masterpiece.” Ted nodded. “And Henry knew it. What he didn’t know was that Kelly could hear what the engine was doing. When things went wrong, she called her dad back to the pits. Henry had miscalculated the vibration ratio and Dom was coming in too fast. Then she stepped out of the pits and was right in his line of sight path. Rather than hit her, he turned the car into the wall. He had too much fuel left in his tanks or he never would have caught fire like he did. Henry fucked that up. He wasn’t supposed to crash until the middle or the end of the race.”

  “So why did you come to this rinky dink town?” Caden asked Ted.

  “Because my son told me that this is where old man Abalone and Kelly were hiding,” Ted admitted shamelessly.

  “You came here for them but not me?” Caden needed to know.

  Ted shrugged. “I need Joe and Kelly. The first hint I got of where they might be was two years ago when Mach2 came around. When I found out it was built by Kelly Gibbons I knew I’d found them. “ Then he nodded at his son Jack. “Then ole Jackie boy found himself a sweetheart of a hot rod car and he wanted my opinion on it.”

  Jack nodded. “It is the sweet mama of all hot rods. It’s a cherry red 1932 Ford Deuce Roadster with white interior and the sweetest sounding engine in the world. Byron put in a 427 cubic inch motor with a 4 speed transmission, with a dual quad carb and headers and a 411 gear rear end. That baby can go from zero to 75 in three seconds flat.” Jack firmed his lips and scowled. “Only problem is Morgan won’t sell the damn car, not to me.”

  “He won’t deny me though, will he?” Ted sat back and smiled. “He won’t have a choice.”

  “And just how do you think you can get to him?” Caden asked. “Or should I say around him?”

  “I have my ways.” Ted nodded.

  Caden didn’t doubt that a bit. He almost felt sorry for the Morgan Brothers, almost but not quite. “Well, I’m glad that’s settled, but now I think I need to go home and get some rest. It’s been a hell of a day and my leg is killing me.”

  “Well, there’s plenty of room here if you want to stay,” Ted offered.

  Caden watched as he got a calculating look in his eye and he didn’t trust this man at all. “That’s ok. I think I’ll head home. I’ll see you guys in the morning.” He got up and hobbled to the door. His car was parked outside and when he got into it to drive away he happened to look at the window and saw his mother standing there watching him. Caden shivered at the look in her eyes. She looked at him with total indifference. There was no love there at all. But there wouldn’t be would there? They didn’t have that precious mother son bonding. When she walked away when he was a baby, she had turned her back not only on him but on Kelly and Dominick as well.

  He didn’t understand it then and only now saw their relationship for what it was. Candy was a user, a cheater and a whore. Caden stared at her coldly as he backed his car out of the driveway. He turned the wheel to turn his car around and saw the curtain flutter as she turned away.

  ~*~

  Byron swore as the engine he was working on bit his knuckle again. He glanced over at Kelly and Joe. There was no music today, no swaying hips... no nothing. Kelly and Joe were busy putting the parts and pieces together to build a thing they both loved.

  He noted the lack of sound today. Yes
terday, the whole shop was rocking and rolling along with the music, while today there was nothing. He straightened his back and grabbing a rag he made his way over to Kelly. Bumping her hip, he motioned her for to come with him.

  Kelly looked up at the bump and sighed then grabbed a rag to clean her hands as she followed him over to the corner. When she got there, she waited for him to speak.

  “What’s up sweetness?” he asked in a low tone.

  Kelly just shrugged. “I’m just not feeling it, I guess.”

  “What aren’t you feeling?” Byron asked. “You always knew your brother was a little shithead. You already knew he didn’t give a shit about you or Joe. “

  “Yeah, I know, but maybe it was finding out that my dad’s best friend set him up to die, or that he was paid to do it. Maybe it was reliving the accident. It could have been a lot of things.”

  Byron wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close. “You know something here? Despite the past, you were in no way to be blamed for the accident. Your dad turned the wheel to avoid hitting you. He gave his life, so you would live and that was his choice. He loved you that much.”

  Kelly thought about that for a minute then nodded. “It’s just too bad that the guilty one has yet to be punished.”

  “Well now, maybe we can find the evidence we need to make sure that happens. There’s no statute limit on murder and that’s basically what this Henry did.”

  Mountain stomped into the shop from the showroom and looked around the room. When he spotted Byron, he jerked his head toward the front. “You have a visitor, asking about a car.”

  Byron frowned at the unpleasant look on his brother’s face and wondered what was up. He looked down at Kelly and smiled. “Remember the past but look to the future. Think about your dad with fond memories, remember the great times you two had. Those are what you need to hang on to. Let the rest of it go. What happened... happened a long time ago, almost a life time ago. You may never have all the answers you need to make this right but you keep believing in your dad, your grandfather and yourself. That’s your family, your strength. “

  “And Caden?” she whispered.

  “Caden threw you away, not the other way around. Right now, the pain is too fresh and you shouldn’t have to think about it. Put it away and bring it out another day.”

  Kelly nodded. “I can do that.”

  “Then go back to what you love the most. You’re creating something wonderful, something the world has never seen before. You need to concentrate on that.”

  Kelly’s smile was slow in coming but it did come through.

  Byron bent over and kissed her deeply. Then he let her go and as she walked back to the engine, he slapped her on the ass. When she squealed, he laughed and moved over to his brother.

  His smile slipped off his face and he growled, “Who the hell is the customer that you couldn’t talk to him?”

  “He insisted on speaking to you little brother.” Mountain arched his brow. “Said his name was Ted McGee.”

  “What the hell does that prick want?” Byron asked with disgust.

  “He wants to buy your 32 Ford Deuce Roadster.”

  “Not fucking likely.” Byron turned to the showroom door. Pushing it open, he heard a thud when the door only went so far before it swung back at him. When he pushed the door open again, Byron could see an older man standing on the other side holding his bleeding nose, scowling at him.

  “Can I help you?” Byron hid his smile at the man holding his bleeding nose. Serves the snooping fucker right.

  “I think I need medical attention,” Ted grumbled under his breath. His voice was nasally and sounded mumbled.

  “Guess you shouldn’t have been standing so close to the door then huh?” Byron smirked. “Look McGee, I already told your son, Jack that car is not for sale and I mean just that, you can’t buy it, for any price. Now go away and leave me alone.”

  “Nonsense boy, everything has a price!” Ted blustered.

  “Not me dumbass and not anything I own,” Byron insisted.

  “I want to speak to Kelly or Joe Abalone. Do you know where I can find them?” McGee squared his shoulders and glared at the other man.

  “Nope, never heard of them.” Byron crossed his arms over his wide chest. “Please get the fuck off my property.”

  “You’re making a mistake of making me your enemy boy.” McGee glared back at him.

  “I’m not making you anything,” Byron assured him. “I’m asking you to leave politely.

  McGee snorted. “You tell Joe something for me. You tell him I know who really caused the accident that cost him his son. You tell him if he wants to know that he should call me.” Ted reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. Leaving it on the counter, he turned and walked away. Before he left the showroom, he turned back to Byron. “I will have that car. One way or the other, I will own that vehicle. You think about that son.”

  “I am not your fucking son, god forbid that shit. Lucky me,” Byron ground out.

  Ted smirked briefly. “I wouldn’t want that either kid. But I will have that car.”

  “Not fucking likely,” Byron whispered under his breath.

  Chapter Ten

  Ted got into the waiting car.

  Candy and Jack were sitting there.

  Candy gasped at the sight of his broken nose.

  Jack just shook his head. “I take it he didn’t like the fact you came to see him.”

  Ted snorted. “He didn’t hit me if that’s what you think.” He dabbed at his upped lip to clear away the dried blood while he looked into the mirror. “I was standing too close to the swinging door trying to see if I could hear Kelly in the back when he pushed to door open.” He cleaned up the best he could then glared at his son. “The bastard didn’t even give me an apology for breaking my nose.”

  “Did you really think he would?” Jack scoffed.

  “No, but I have a feeling Joe and Kelly were there listening to everything that was said.” Ted grunted.

  “Did he seem interested in the information you offered?’ Candy asked.

  “Not a bit.” Ted frowned. “That makes me wonder if maybe he’s already figured it out.”

  “How could he have figured it out?” Candy demanded. “Everyone thinks I killed Dom.”

  “How the hell am I supposed to know woman?” Ted growled.

  “So, now what?” Jack asked.

  “Now we wait and see what they do next,” Ted stated.

  “And if they do nothing?” Jack asked.

  “Well, that sort of depends on what Caden does next, doesn’t it?” Ted hinted.

  “What the fuck are you up too old man?” Jack narrowed his eyes.

  Ted didn’t say anything but he sat forward and smiled. Turning the key, he started the engine and drove off the lot.

  ~*~

  Inside the shop, Joe watched as Ted drove away. His heart felt like lead in his chest. Feelings he felt a lifetime ago were boiling back up to the surface and he didn’t want to face them.

  Kelly put her hand on his shoulder.

  He reached up and patted her hand. “I’m all right girl.”

  “I know you are grandpa. Byron told me to let the past go and just remember the good things. I think you should do that too. The only way that bastard can hurt us is if he knows he can get to us. For the first time in my life, I’m taking back the power we gave him to hurt us. I’m tired of hurting so bad every day. I don’t want that anymore.”

  Joe nodded. “Yup, I guess it’s time to heal isn’t it?”

  “Long past due time to heal,” she whispered.

  “Well girl, we all heal in different ways, my way is to work on a new engine,” Joe told her. “Let’s get busy.”

  Kelly smiled. “Ok, let’s get busy then.”

  ~*~

  It was later that afternoon, with the music blasting while Kelly and Joe were working hard getting the engine ready when suddenly the music was turned off.

 
Byron was under the hood of his car and when the music was shut off, he looked up. Two officers were standing there with their hands on their belts staring at him. Kelly and Joe were cleaning their hands when Byron joined them. “Hey guys, what’s up?”

  “We’ve been asked to do a well check on a senior citizen, one Joseph Abalone,” one of the officers told them.

  “I’m Joe Abalone,” Joe grumbled. “And I’m fine.”

  “Who asked for this well check?” Kelly asked.

  “His grandson, Caden Gibbons.”

  “You can tell my brother, grandpa is fine.” Kelly nodded at the police.

  “He asked us to bring his grandfather to him so he can see for himself he’s all right,” one of the officers insisted. “He claims he’s not welcome to come here to see the older man.”

  Kelly turned her back and took a step or two away.

  Joe growled, “You tell that kid I’m fine and I’m not going anywhere. He got himself kicked out of here, no one else did that. He was told not to come back here and start more trouble but he didn’t listen. He and another man broke into the shop and were dragged out of here by the police. He’s just causing trouble now. Tell him to quit while he’s ahead. I’ll see him when I want to and where I want to. Oh, and you tell him the money he’s after doesn’t belong to him. His money went to clothe and entertain him. I don’t owe that’s little punk a damn thing.”

  One officer looked at the other and they both nodded. They turned to leave and as they stepped away, one of them hit the play button again and the music blasted again.

  Kelly walked over and turned down the volume. Then she went back over to the engine and began working again.

  Joe looked at her worriedly then turned to Byron. “Take her away from here for a while. Give her a reason to feel good about all this,” he ordered the younger man.

  “I’ll call my brother to keep you company.” Byron reached for his phone.

  Joe motioned that he would be okay.

  Byron ignored this and made the call.

  A few minutes later, Bowie came in the shop.

  Byron waved at him then went over to Kelly. He took her hand and although she protested it, he led her away. Holding her hand, he led over to the steps leading up to the second floor of the warehouse next door.