Lash slammed his hand down. “Is that what it is with you kids today? You like to assume what I’m going to say before I say it? Your presence is no longer at that school for the next three weeks. That may sound like time to you, but it means you’re going to have to take your place once again. A whole load of shit can happen in three weeks. Your mom could have handled this but as usual, you all had to open your mouths and think you know what’s best for you.”
He moved away but she saw the tension in his body and had no doubt, if they were the enemy, he’d have killed them all already. “Not only are you guys suspended, but you also got your little buddies done too. You may think this is going to be fun and games for you, but you’ve all got another thing coming. Take a look around you. This is where you’re going to be learning. I’ve already got everything ready. You think lockdown was over, well, for you kids, it has only just fucking begun. You will stay here. Eat here. Sleep here. Study here. Your friends will come here and study right alongside you. You want to start badmouthing me, I’ve just given my prospects three weeks’ grace. You can clean toilets and I will make my boys take the biggest fucking shits so you guys are sick of it. That’s not the worst I can do either. You want to try me, bring it on. You think you’re such rebels, none of you saw men when I was younger. Tiny doesn’t even know the kind of shit I got up to. You will all follow my orders. Do I make myself clear?”
“Do all of our parents agree?” Tabitha asked.
“If they didn’t agree, you wouldn’t be fucking sitting here.”
“You broke my phone.”
“I know and guess what, you’re not getting a new one for the next three weeks. You’re now in The Skulls’ jail. Congratulations. I hope you all feel so damn good about yourselves.”
****
“The Skulls’ jail?” Simon asked.
He sat at the dinner table as his mom served out some more food to everyone.
“That’s what Eva said. They all just went a little crazy at the school and left. They broke some windows and computers and stuff like that.”
“Sounds like fun,” Josh said.
“Yeah, and look where that fun has gotten them,” Devil said.
Lexie chuckled. “Yes, please, kids, don’t take after The Skulls.”
“So I can’t talk to her?”
“No, honey. Eva said that Lash won’t accept it.”
“But he’s not her dad. Why is he being given the responsibility of saying what she can and cannot do?” He didn’t understand it.
“I guess because it is all The Skulls’ kids, sweetie.”
“So, aside from our BFFs at The Skulls, we have some news.” Devil touched Lexie’s hands and smiled at her.
Simon watched and he had a feeling he knew what it was. He stayed silent, waiting.
“Your mother got the news today,” Devil said. “She’s cancer-free.”
They all cheered. Simon got to his feet and rushed toward her, hugging her tightly. “Congratulations. I’m so happy.”
“We all are.”
Lexie laughed and tears streamed down her face. “Thank you. Thank you all for everything. I know you’ve been put through a great deal these past few months, but there is an end in sight.”
They finished their meal and it was a relief to know that she would be on a road to recovery. There would always be a risk she’d get it again, but they were going to test for it regularly.
He helped with the dishes and then his dad asked him to drop something off at the clubhouse that Ripper needed. It was a file. Devil would have gone himself, but he wanted to stay home to keep an eye on Lexie.
Simon was more than happy to go. He’d gotten a new bike for his seventeenth birthday and he used any excuse to ride it. He also hated using a helmet and so he rode all the way to the Chaos Bleeds clubhouse.
There wasn’t a lot of activity even though it was night. He imagined they were going to have a party to celebrate Lexie’s good news. It was what the club did, all the time, celebrated good news.
He headed indoors and found Ripper sitting at Devil’s desk.
“Thanks, man,” Ripper said, flicking open the file.
“No problem.”
“Good news about Lexie.”
“Yeah, who’s organizing the party?”
Ripper laughed. “We’ve become so predictable of late, haven’t we?”
“Pretty much.”
“Judi’s handling this one. She’s excited.”
“If you need anything, you know where I am.” He left the office, feeling good, feeling alive. He took several deep breaths, happy and content.
He stood outside the clubhouse and breathed in the fresh air. His mom was going to be okay. The past year was finally going to be behind them. So many nights he’d lain awake, waiting for the bad news to come in that she hadn’t been able to fight it.