Page 60 of Condemned Soul

“I hear it from good authority that she keeps poisonous peppermints in her purse.” I shrug, leaning forward on the steering wheel and pretending to suss her out when really I’m looking for Ella.

“Poisonous peppermints.” Hayley proves she’s no fool when she screws up her nose.

“It’s true, and that's why ya never accept shit from strangers, even sweet, old ladies that look harmless.” I let her think on that when I spot Ella, swinging back and forth on the swing while the housemaid who brought her here sits on the bench and reads a book.

My little girl looks so lonely and it breaks my heart to see it. Since we moved to the Blue Spruce Resort there’s been a real family vibe to the club, some of the brothers have even moved their families there and they’ve made the cabins that surround the lake their homes. I hate that both my girls have to miss out on that. Hayley gets to visit occasionally if a babysitter lets Mary-Ann down, but apart from that Mary-Ann likes to keep her detached from the club.

Seeing Ella so alone makes my heart ache.

“Hey, darlin’, why don’t ya hop out and go see if that little girl wants to play, we can stick around for ten minutes.”

“What little girl?” She looks out the window again.

“The one on the swing, wearing the uniform,” I point out, not entirely sure if this is a good idea, but feeling like they should know each other.

“I’ll wait right here, I got a call to make to Uncle Brian.”

“Who wears a uniform to school?” Hayley shakes her head.

“Private school kids do, and she seems kinda lonely, don’t ya think?”

“I guess… but what about the poisonous peppermint lady? What if she comes to us?”

“I got you covered from here, darlin’. One sniff of her openin’ that purse and I’ll be on her.” I wink and feel my pulse start to race when she gets out the car and makes her way over. Hayley turned eight last birthday and Ella is only a year and a few months younger than her. The two of them were never supposed to meet but I figure this is harmless enough, today they’re just two little girls in a park, and my youngest daughter looks like she could use a friend.

It doesn’t take Hayley long to work her magic, she’s never been one to hold back. And seeing a smile pull on Ella’s lips as her big sister says something funny puts a real warm feeling in my chest. I let the girls talk for a little longer than I should, and when the housemaid takes hold of Ella’s hand and moves her on, Hayley waves goodbye before she makes her way back to me.

“You have fun, sweetheart?” I ask when she hops inside the truck.

“She wasn’t so bad for a private school kid.” She shrugs.

“Well, it looked to me like you were havin’ a good time.”

“Yeah, she had to go home for dinner, they have fish on a Friday, but she prefers burgers and fries, same as me. She likes chocolate ice cream more than vanilla too,” Hayley informs me, having no idea how precious the information she’s given me is.

“Everyone likes chocolate ice cream more than vanilla.” I laugh as I start the engine.

“Which reminds me…” Her big brown eyes look up at me expectantly.

“Come on, let’s go get ya that chocolate ice cream.” I shake my head and pull away.

“Can I ask you something, Daddy?” Hayley sounds serious as we near getting back to our town.

“You can ask me anythin’.” I smile across at her.

“Do you kill people? I heard Mom telling her friend the other night that if you found out about her friend you’d kill him.” My blood runs cold and I’m all outta words. “Freddie Larkford told the whole class last week that I couldn’t bring you in for Parents’ Day because you were a murderer. He got in trouble for that,” she adds.

“So, he should.” I smile despite the ache in my heart. “Who was your mom’s friend?” I ask curiously. It may have been a while since me and her had anything but I still allow that bitch to walk around my town calling herself my old lady.

“I don’t know, I always have to go to my room when he comes around. I hear them sometimes, though. I think Momma does her waxing when he’s over because she always ends up screaming.” I close my eyes and grip my wheel. Mary-Ann should not be bringing men into my little girl’s home.

“So, do you? Kill people?” she asks with a voice so pure and innocent it puts a sour taste in the back of my throat.

“No, baby, I don’t kill people,” I lie to her, because I know from experience that sometimes lies are much kinder than the truth.

“Whoa, whoa! Troj! The bell rang.” Some guy drags me off the body I’ve just beaten to nothing. I stand up and keep bouncing on my feet.

“Who's next?” I search around the crowded warehouse at all the men who have come to see the show. None of my brothers are in my corner, they don’t even know I’m here. No doubt if I told ‘em they would have tried to stop me coming. But I need this tonight, here I can fight, here I’m not fuckin’ helpless.

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