Huia Short Stories 10 by Tihema Baker Read Free Book Online Page B

carrier, and opened his eyes. Then he smiled at his grandmother, the first real smile, and she smiled back, the young and the old taking each other in.
    â€˜I’ve called him Henri, after Dad,’ said Mia and her mother nodded. ‘A good choice,’ she said, and Mia knew she was pleased.
    There was silence for a time and then, ‘Has he been hitting you again?’ her mother asked suddenly. The question she dreaded was here, but Mia couldn’t lie, so she hung her head and the answer was given.
    Her mother sighed, then said, ‘I’ve told your brother and he wants to speak to you. He’s outside in the garage, so go and see him. Do it now before those three come back. I’ll look after the baby.’
    The thought of what her brother, Kai, might do and say made her heart sink as she made her way slowly out to her father’s old workshop. Kai was hammering nails as though it were more than a piece of wood he was battering. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! The walls vibrated with the noise, and the blows shook the work bench. Mia called out, but he was concentrating so hard he didn’t hear. She came up behind him and touched his shoulder. He swung round, the hammer raised, and for a second, Mia thought he would bring it down on her head, splitting her skull.
    Kai threw the hammer down and put his arms around her, holding her tight. ‘Ah Mia,’ he said, and when he stepped back, she could see tears in his eyes. ‘Ma told me what’s been happening,’ he said. ‘I’m going to kill the bastard. How could he do that to you?’
    â€˜No, you mustn’t go near him Kai. It will only make things worse if you do. And he’s not always like it. Just when he drinks and …,’ she hesitated, ‘does the other stuff.’
    â€˜You mean take drugs?’ said her brother. ‘How can you stay there? Especially now with the baby. Come home. Ma would love to have you here, and we could look after her together.’
    Kai tilted her chin up, making her look at him. ‘You’re frightened aren’t you? That’s why you won’t leave him. What’s he done that you stay with a piece of shit like that?’ Like the thudding of the hammer, Kai’s anger filled the shed.
    â€˜You don’t understand Kai. He’ll come after me like he did before. I even went to the police but that was useless. And he found out – I don’t know how. He took me back to the house and beat me so badly I couldn’t walk for five days. He broke some of my ribs and did other things I don’t want to think about. He wouldn’t let me go to a doctor, so I just lay there wanting to die for a long time. I didn’t die, but I know I was lucky that time, and maybe I won’t be so lucky if it happens again.’
    Her brother gripped her arm, staring into her face. ‘Do you remember when I tried to warn you about going out with him? I’d heard things about him even then. They all said he was a vicious bastard, but you wouldn’t listen. Thought you knew better. He’s in a gang, Mia. A fucking gang that peddles booze and drugs to kids. What the hell is wrong with you?’
    Kai turned away and picked up the hammer again. ‘I can’t help you if you won’t let me. But when you make your mind up what you want to do, let me know. I’ve got mates that could sort him out, even if he is in a gang, and you could go away somewhere until it’s all sorted.’
    Mia looked at her brother’s broad back and shoulders. He loved her; she knew that, but she also knew that if he made a move against Danny Walker, he would die. She went to touch him but pulled her hand back and turned and walked into the house.
    She could hear her aunts talking to her mother in the bedroom but the thought of facing them and making excuses for her black eye was too much after the confrontation with Kai. She made a cup of tea then sat at the table,