Renegade Hearts (Rebels of Sandland 1)

“This is Ryan’s workshop. For his cars.”

We stepped inside, and Sean clicked the lights on.

“Wow!” The car sat in the middle of his workshop wasn’t fully assembled, but it already looked like something that was out of this world.

“He made that. Designed it and built it from scratch. Even welded the chassis himself. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Kieron and Connor help him with the donkey work, but he does all the main stuff. He’s a prodigy, my son.”

Sean stood to the side with his arms folded, looking on proudly as I circled the silver piece of art in front of me. That’s the only way I could describe it; art.

“He gets commissioned to make them. He’s making quite a name for himself.” Sean rubbed his chin in thought. “He’s too good for this place, but then you already know that.”

I nodded, stunned once again into silence.

“I’ve told him he needs to go into engineering or be out there designing cars for the big companies. Not stuck in here with me day in, day out. He’s got talent, my lad. Real talent.”

He pointed to the back wall and I wandered over to find polaroids of other cars he’d made, pinned up on a corkboard.

“These are amazing, Sean. You’re right, more people need to know about this.”

I glanced down at his notes and drawings scattered across his makeshift desk; numbers and mathematical calculations that looked like hieroglyphics to me were written all over them. That’s when I noticed another polaroid sticking out from underneath the pile of papers. I slid it out and my breath caught in my chest. It was a picture of me, taken at the warehouse party a couple of weeks ago. That damn white dress stood out like a sore thumb amongst all the darkness. In the photo I was standing by the doors leading downstairs, where I’d run into Ryan and Brandon in the fight room. I’d had no idea Ryan had spotted me before then. In fact, I had no idea why he was taking pictures of me at all.

I slid it back where I got it from and turned to face Sean, hoping he hadn’t seen it too. Suddenly, I felt uncomfortable being here, like I was intruding on something that I shouldn’t. Secrets I hadn’t earned. Lies I had yet to uncover.

“He’s a good kid,” Sean added as if he’d read my mind and wanted to smooth things over for his wayward son. “I know of all people, he wouldn’t mind me sharing this with you, but he’s so private. Even I’m not allowed back here normally.”

“I’m glad you showed me. I won’t say you did.” I smiled at him and his shoulders relaxed.

“I’m glad he’s found you, Emily. I’ve noticed a difference in him these past few weeks. It’s like he’s got his spark back.”

I knew I couldn’t take credit for that, but I didn’t want to burst Sean’s bubble. That spark he’d seen in his son came from the revenge he was out to get and the lifestyle he led. Not me.

Sean carried on, oblivious. “He took it harder than any of them when his mum died. He’s the youngest of my lads, and yet, he’s always been the one to step up, the carer. I don’t know what I’d do without him.” Sean shook his head as if he was shaking away bad thoughts and smiled at me, holding my keys out to me as he did.

“Thanks, Sean.” I took the keys from him and then I don’t know why, but I hugged him. He probably thought I was a complete weirdo, but I couldn’t help myself. I liked Sean. He was what a real dad should be. He was light years away from my father, and in a way, I was jealous. Ryan might have gone through the heartbreak of losing a parent, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, but he’d lucked out with Sean.

“Come round for dinner one night,” he said, hugging me back and planting a fatherly kiss on the top of my head. “I’ll tell Connor to behave. We’d all like to get to know you better.”

“Maybe.” I pulled away and sighed. I’d have liked to have had a father like Sean, and it made me sad to think I’d never have that. The closeness and ease of being so familiar. Unconditional love. I could’ve built a thousand cars and my father would never have looked at me with the pride that Sean did.

“Tell Ryan I stopped by,” I added, feeling a little guilty. As much as I liked Sean, I knew by leaving that message it’d rile Ryan up, and I didn’t care. If anything, I wanted it to. Ruffling his feathers was becoming my new favourite pastime.

Friday evening rolled around, and at about eight, my father came through the door. His driver carried his bags through and my dad went straight into the living room, calling out my mother’s name. Not mine. He wasn’t here to see me.

I wandered over to the doorway and watched them hug and kiss. I don’t know why she didn’t just go to Westminster with him when he was working. She didn’t do that much when she stayed back here. Only shopping, hair appointments, coffee mornings, and getting on my back about sorting out my future.

I gave them another few minutes alone together then sauntered in to cast my shadow on their idyllic little reunion. Dad came over to hug me, but I didn’t feel any warmth there. He was good at playing a part, putting on a show. It was his job.

“Got any further with those university applications, Emily?” No, how are you? No, did you miss me? Because I missed you. I think he just wanted another soundbite for his campaign. Look, here’s my daughter, the future… Please insert whatever upstanding and highbrow profession you like here.

“I’m still looking. I haven’t decided what I want to do yet. I do have a gap year to finalise things. There’s no rush.”

“You know, I have ties to Oxford and Cambridge. I don’t know why you won’t let me use them. It’d make life so much easier.”

Not for me it wouldn’t. I didn’t want to owe my future to one of my father’s associates. I’d do this all on my own.

“And another thing, Emily…” He frowned at me like he was getting ready to read me the riot act. “I had a call from the breakdown company the other day. Something about responding to a call out and you not being there. Is that a thing now? Making prank calls about your car breaking down?”

He wasn’t happy. His face was bright red, and he looked at me like I’d committed armed robbery or something. Thing was, I was as shocked as he was. Hadn’t Ryan done the necessary calls and paperwork or something?