Shattered Poetry (Broken Lives #2)

by Marita A. Hansen

  “Well, obviously I didn’t pass my smarts down to you.”

  “I’m not dumb!” Jasper yelled.

  “Then explain why you wilfully ignored sumpthin’ as serious as this?”

  “I’m tellin’ ya, it’s not serious, otherwise the DC would be stalking me instead of Dante, so get offa my bloody case.”

  “No! This changes everything.” Hemi narrowed his eyes at his son. “Which means, you’re now under the same restrictions as Dante. No taking off from school. You are not to go anywhere without me or one of the gang.”

  “I don’t needa be babysat,” Jasper spat, looking horrified, probably thinking his dad was questioning his manhood. “And you don’t needa worry ’bout Jonah for much longer. Once I take care of that druggie, setting him up for the killings, the Devil’s Crew will be off our cases.”

  Hemi grunted. “I told you that’s not gonna happen. That druggie can’t stand straight let alone mastermind a killing as high profile as the McDonald one, and the DCs will know that, ’specially Jonah. He might be a psycho, but he’s got an IQ that would make Einstein look dumb. It’s why he managed to build the Devil’s Crew from a piss-ant gang to one of the most powerful MCs in the country. Our best bet is to pull the Mercenaries in for added protection, or even better, find who really killed the psycho’s son. If we get lucky and find that bastard, we’ll hand him over to the DCs gift-wrapped and with a fuckin’ bow on.”

  Hemi turned around and started the engine again, pulling away from the kerb. Jasper glared at the back of his dad’s head, looking furious over his idea being dismissed.

  Hemi rounded the corner onto the main road. He glanced in the rearview mirror again. “Wipe that scowl offa your face, boy.”

  Jasper mumbled something indecipherable.

  Hemi shook his head. “C’mon, things’ll work out, and I’d much rather talk ’bout nicer things than the DC, like your English teacher. What a hot li’l pocket fuck she is. Saw her the other day. Wouldn’t mind bending that li’l bite of blonde over my car.”

  My eyes widened. I could see the cunt lick his fat lips in the rearview mirror.

  “My dick’ll destroy that sweet thang,” Hemi said, singing the last two words, making me think of Jonestown. “Totally split her in two.”

  “What the fuck?” I yelled. “Don’t you disrespect her like that!”

  He glanced in the rearview again, his eyes narrowing at me. “I’ll say and do whatever the fuck I like, boy, and if your English teacher wants to take my fat cock up her cunt, I’ll be more than happy to oblige her.” His grin turned evil. “I’m definitely gonna come to the next parent/teacher meeting.”

  “You stay away from her! She won’t want your lard arse, she wants—”

  I hollered in pain as Jasper elbowed me in the ribs again. My head snapped to him. “What the fuck did’ja do that for!” I barked, glaring at the bastard.

  Jasper glanced at his father, then back at me, giving me a...

  Oh, fuck! He’d saved my stupid arse. I’d almost blurted out that Mrs. Hatton wanted me. I returned my attention to the rearview mirror, where Hemi was giving me a strange look.

  “Finish the sentence,” Hemi said, slowing down to enter the onramp. There were a few cars in front of us, also waiting to enter it.

  “I wuz gonna say she would want her husband. She’s married.”

  “You said she wants, not she would want.”

  “I don’t know what the fuck I said, just got pissed off you were disrespecting a nice lady. So, leave her alone. She’s one of only two teachers that isn’t a waste of space.”

  “Who’s the other one? Another hot lay?”

  “Only for you,” I said, hoping to distract him from what I’d said, worried he suspected I’d slept with Mrs. Hatton. “Spread your cheeks and Mr. Grey will be right up your alley.”

  “Watch your mouth!”

  “Sorry, didn’t realise you didn’t take it up the arse. Just get your bro involved and have a pork ’n rye sandwich instead. But make sure you’re on the bottom. Don’t want the other two squashed to smithereens.”

  Jasper cracked up laughing.

  His dad hit the steering wheel. “It’s not funny!” He shot me a glare in the rearview. “And you, boy, need a good smack across the mouth. Your father didn’t raise you to be a bigot.”

  “Eh?” I replied, thinking Hemi was delusional. “He’s the biggest bigot out there. You should hear what he says ’bout your bro. Goddamn fag this, bloody fag that. The only thing I’ll put up his arse is my fuckin’ boot,” I said, imitating my dad. “Though, I ain’t a bigot. I don’t give a toss if a person’s gay, lesbo, bi, pan, straight, they can love whoever they want. Hell, they should all get married and live happily-ever-after, like you should with your blow-up doll, since you fuck her every night.”

  Shaking his head, Hemi turned onto the motorway, heading for Wera. “You’re fuckin’ impossible. Your dad shoulda worn a condom.” He glanced at Jasper, who was still laughing. “Like I shoulda worn one.”

  Jasper stopped laughing. “Hey!”

  Ignoring him, Hemi changed lanes, settling between a truck and a Nissan. Thank Christ he didn’t say anything more, my temper almost getting my woman into a whole world of trouble. If she was even my woman, especially after the way she’d looked at me the other day, thinking I’d fucked Phelia behind her back.

  I slumped into my seat and looked out my window, watching the cars lining the motorway. My mind went to my ex, remembering how I had to constantly bite my tongue not to blurt out she was mine too. I’d hated it, and now I’d willingly stepped into another relationship where I couldn’t say shit. I pinched between my eyes, knowing I was a chump for doing it, because there were no way things could come out into the open with Mrs. Hatton. Not only was she married, but she would get locked up if people found out what we’d done together. Though, things could change when I turned sixteen. If it worked out between us, maybe further down the line we wouldn’t have to hide anymore. But first I had to right things with her, making her see that Phelia meant nothing to me.

  I leaned my head against the window, wondering how I could sweet talk her into forgiving me without giving away I hadn’t slept with Phelia that time. Maybe I could point out that we hadn’t been an item back then, though were we ever one? She was still married, not to mention she hadn’t said she wanted to be with me. But the way she’d acted in my bedroom ... how could she not want to be with me? She’d let me get her half-naked, with her knickers around her ankles, looking at me like I was the only one for her. Jesus, it got me hard just thinking about it.

  I closed my eyes, imagining what could’ve happened if my dad hadn’t come home early. My cock twitched, a smile pulling at my lips. I would’ve done so much to Mrs. Hatton... No, with her, because if I hadn’t made a move, she sure as fuck would’ve. She’d been sopping wet for me, her pupils so blown it looked like she was high. She definitely would’ve kept going if I hadn’t pulled away, too wrapped up in me to realise my dad had come home. Shit, I was sure she probably would’ve taken me raw too, no condom, clothes, absolutely nothing between us. I might’ve done it too if my dad hadn’t broken the spell. And it was a spell. The woman had worked some sort of voodoo shit on me, making me do things without thinking. But that was the thing with her. I didn’t have to think when we were in the moment. I only had to feel. And the feeling was out of this world. Without question I wanted more of it, but to do that, I needed to get her alone, where there was no chance of my dad, or anyone, walking in on us. I needed to take her someplace where we could let loose. She could scream, moan, groan, yell out my name to her heart’s content, and I could do the same, not worrying about consequences, only the woman I was with.

  Jasper shoved my shoulder, startling me. I opened my eyes and sat up, taken aback that we were already at school, Wera High’s gates within a stone’s throw. I’d obviously fallen asleep, Mrs. Hatton lulling me into a dream.

  I yawned and grabbed my school bag, not su
rprised that I’d fallen asleep after having to put up with Jasper’s snoring the previous night.

  Jasper pushed me out of the car, almost making me fall onto the ground. He climbed out after me and bobbed his head down to look at his dad through the driver’s window. “What time you picking us up?” he asked his old man.

  “Straight after school, and remember, no skiving off,” Hemi replied. “And get a move on. I needa go to work.”

  “Then go.”

  “Not until you’re safely inside the building. And even when you’re inside, watch your back and Dante’s. Don’t go near any of the DC babies,” he said, saying the nickname the Skins called the Devil’s Crew who went to school.

  Jasper nodded and lifted his hand in farewell.

  I followed Jasper up the lawn to the main building. “Do ya think he knows I fucked Mrs. H.?” I asked, heading past a half-filled bike stand.

  Jasper shook his head and nudged past a junior student. “Nah, my dad’s a dumb cunt. As soon as you mentioned he should fuck Mr. Grey, I think his brain short-circuited.”

  “Cos he’s pro’bly in the closet. I never see him with any chicks. Bet he’d rather bend Mr. Grey over his car than Mrs. Hatton.”

  Jasper made a spiffing sound. “Fuck no, my dad’s defo into women, he’s just too fat to get any. You should see his porno collection. I broke into his room once and found stacks of videos and Playboys. He even had women on women vids, as well as gangbang ones.” Jasper shook his head. “Like pretend rape ones, where a group of men jump women, and stuff cock into every hole.”

  I screwed up my face. “The fuck!”

  Jasper shook his head again. “Yeah, my dad is screwed in the head. I pity any bird he sets his sights on.”

  “Like you.”

  Jasper stopped in his tracks, almost causing a student to bump into him. “What’s that s’posed to mean?” he snapped.

  “Phelia.”

  He grimaced. “I told you, I’m not interested in that bitch anymore. I’d rather make her piss her panties than come. Her sloppy cunt doesn’t deserve my cock or yours, so stay clear of her.”

  “That’s the plan. And you needa stay clear of her too. She won’t rat me out, she likes me too much. Actually, I think she really does love me.”

  “Fuck knows why, you’re a right cunt.”

  I grinned at him. “You love me too.”

  “Like a bro, not a ho. I’m defo not like my uncle.” He smirked. “I feel sorry for your poor dad. Killer won’t let up until your dad either fucks him or kills him.”

  “Guess you better plan for your uncle’s funeral then, cos my dad likes pussy through and through.”

  “You got that right. I interrupted him fucking Kano’s bitch in the toilets, while Kano wuz up front working. Your dad’s a right cunt at times.”

  I shrugged, knowing my dad had fucked a number of the old ladies, no one’s chick safe around him. “It takes two to tango.”

  “Yeah, like with you and Mrs. Tiny Arse. You really are like your dad at times.”

  I grimaced. “Look who’s talkin’?”

  Jasper opened his mouth. A horn beeped, cutting his retort off. I looked towards the sound. Hemi’s dad was indicating for us to get a move on. We started walking towards the main building again, a couple of girls near the entrance smiling at me. I recognised them, the prettier one having given me a blowjob once in the boys’ restroom.

  “I’ve got a big dick,” Jasper said out of the blue, his gaze latching onto the girl who’d blown me. She had blonde-brown hair and a heart-shaped face, reminding me of Rachel out of Friends.

  She giggled, along with her friend, who looked more like Chandler than Monica, the chick a touch tomboyish.

  Jasper grabbed his crotch. “I really do, babe. Go out with me and I’ll prove it.”

  The Rachel lookalike smiled at me. “I’d rather go out with Dante. I know he has a big dick.” She bit her bottom lip, looking like she wanted to suck it again.

  “My dick is bigger,” Jasper said.

  “I’m sure it is,” she replied, her tone sarcastic.

  “It is!”

  “Pity it’s attached to you, then.”

  “Bitch!”

  She jumped up the steps and took off with her friend, the two of them disappearing into the corridor, which was probably a good idea, since Jasper looked like he wanted to take a piece out of her.

  I patted Jasper’s arm. “Real smooth.”

  “Fuck you,” he snapped, hitting my hand away.

  I yelped and shook my hand out, the bastard not a light hitter. “What the fuck wuz that for? It’s not my fault your lines are shit.”

  “My lines aren’t the problem—” he pointed a finger at me “—you are.”

  My eyebrows shot up. “I’m not the one who said I’ve got a big dick.”

  He grimaced at me. “You can say whatever the hell you like to chicks, even insult them, and they fall at your feet. I just want one of them to look at me instead of you for once.” He stormed off, shoving some students out of his way.

  I watched him disappear down the corridor, only wanting one chick too.

  18

  Clara

  Mulling over Markus’s behaviour, I pulled into the school grounds and parked in my usual spot. My mind kept returning to how angry he’d been, his behaviour still stunning me. It almost felt like someone had swapped bodies with him, his personality nothing like it was prior to returning from England. But again, he was right about everything. Right about my behaviour. I just didn’t know how to fix it, other than I was coming to the conclusion that maybe I should ask for a break. Although I knew if I did that, it would be the end of our marriage.

  I got out of my car, wondering how different things would be if I hadn’t talked him into moving to New Zealand. Would we still be happy together if we’d stayed in England or would cracks have appeared regardless of Dante? I frowned, not knowing the answer, other than Dante had made me question a number of things about my marriage. I undoubtedly found Markus attractive, and liked his ‘normally’ sweet, fun-loving nature, but I was also starting to realise just how much our relationship lacked in passion. I looked down at my ring, realising all my previous relationships had lacked it too. They’d all been safe, middle-class, and normal.

  While Dante was anything but normal.

  Loud laughter caught my attention. A group of boys were walking across the lawn, heading for the main building. I wondered whether I would’ve entered it that first day if I’d known this would’ve been the result. Me standing here, realising I was willingly letting my marriage slip away for a fifteen-year-old boy.

  I focused on the group of boys more closely. A couple of them were very good-looking, but unlike with Dante, there was no spark of interest, their attractive features not eliciting desire in me. They were almost plain in comparison to him. I frowned, realising I was starting to compare every attractive male I saw to Dante, putting their looks down even though there was nothing wrong with them. But it wasn’t just his looks that fascinated me. It was his energy, his whole verve, which ranged from cheeky to mournful to absolutely captivating. At times his dark eyes almost glowed with a supernatural energy, the life within him so much more magnetic than anyone else I’d known.

  What this more than an obsession?

  Was I actually falling for him?

  A boy.

  My student.

  A beautiful, passionate, fascinating, incredible being, who made me want to shut out the rest of the world, so it didn’t impede upon our time today.

  I squeezed my eyes shut, telling myself to stop it, that I couldn’t afford to fall for him, especially since he didn’t feel the same way about me. Because if he did, he wouldn’t have had sex with Phelia on the same day he’d tried to get with me. I clenched my teeth, the thought angering me. He was playing with my emotions, making me want more with him, yet at the same time, making me want to run as far away as possible.

  Because he was bad news.
>
  Completely and utterly.

  A car horn blasted, jolting me out of my thoughts. I opened my eyes and looked behind me, flinching at what I saw. Jasper’s father’s car rumbled towards me, the flames along its side coming alive under the bright autumn sun, licking a fiery path across the black paint. Revving the engine, Jasper’s father stared straight out of the windscreen at me. I remained where I was, frozen to the spot, like a deer caught in headlights—or in the line of a predator.

  His car came to a standstill a few metres away from me. He stuck his head out of the driver’s window and indicated for me to approach him. When I didn’t, he indicated again. I shook my head and turned away from him, not wanting to go anywhere near the horrid man. I didn’t know what he wanted, and I most certainly didn’t want to find out.

  I locked my car, hoping he would go away. Instead, he backed up and steered his car into the driveway, parking behind my Volkswagen. He climbed out and removed a lighter from his leather vest, which reminded me of bikers. He was also wearing a long-sleeved, checked shirt under the vest, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He flicked the lighter as he walked towards me, creating the illusion of flames spouting from his fingertips.

  He came to a stop in front of me. “You lied to me.”

  “We’ve already discussed this.”

  “I’m not talkin’ ’bout the Jehovah mistake.”

  “I don’t have time to talk, I have a class to teach.” I went to step around his massive bulk.

  He mirrored my move, blocking me. “You’ll make time for me, bitch.”

  I stiffened at the last word. “Please leave.”

  “Not happening ’til I say my piece.”

  “Then spit it out,” I said, tensing up even more, the man’s behaviour scaring me.

  His top lip curled back into a grimace. “I’ve done some pretty bad things in my life, things I’m ashamed of, but I would never,” he lowered his voice, “ever touch a child like you have.”

  My eyes widened in surprise. I quickly looked around me, praying no one had heard what he’d said. Students were walking all over the grounds, but none of them showed us any interest, other than a few boys, who were staring at Jasper’s father. But they were too far away to have heard anything, even more so since Mr. Rakete had practically hissed out the last few words. If anything, the boys were probably fascinated by his mammoth size, the man as tall as Shaquille O’Neil—just twice as wide. They could’ve also been staring because of his souped-up car and gang insignia. I recognised the little hooligans from detention, the kids no doubt idolising anyone with a patch.