Page 18 of A Game of Secrets

I sigh in resignation. "Fine." I deflate, before pulling the lemonade out of the fridge. "Want some?" I offer as I pour out a glass for Teddy and myself, he declines and shakes his head.

The silence between us is cut short by an excited, "Uncle Max!" as Teddy wanders through the back door.

"Hey buddy," he says.

"Drink up honey then we'll get going." I cut in, grabbing my purse, keys and phone off the dining table.

"Are you coming to the park too?" Teddy asks between large gulps of his lemonade, wide eyes full of pleading as he looks up to Max who pauses for a moment, glancing over at me, unsure on how to answer.

"Sure, I'll walk with you but I can't stay long. I've got to get back to work."

Teddy beams at his uncle with happiness. "YES!" he cheers, fist pumping the air. "I'll get my airplane and we can fly it from the top of the climbing frame," he giggles excitedly as he runs towards his bedroom to retrieve the toy.

Most of the ten minute walk to Oxford Park is filled with Teddy teaching us what he's learnt at kindergarten this week. Telling us all about his new favorite book, about superheros and letting us know that he has the best lunchbox out of all of his friends because it has Iron Man on it and he is better than the HULK. I stare at him as he chats away to us both, his innocence with everything really going on in the big bad world weighing on me like a blackened rain cloud, threatening to burst at any moment. What a world it is for my brother to bury his feelings for a woman due to his job. What a world it is for me to glance over my shoulder at every turn to make sure I'm not being followed? What bigger problems there are than who has the best lunchbox?

"Are you okay Mommy?" He asks. Damn my child for being so intuitive.

"Yes baby boy, I'm fine." I answer, forcing the sincerest of smiles.

"Hey, Ted man. I bet I can beat you in a race from here to the sand at the bottom of the climbing frame!" Max goads playfully trying to distract him from asking any further questions.

Without any hesitation at all, Ted screams excitedly, "READY, STEADY, GO!" at the top of his lungs as he sprints off in the direction of the park and I can not help but laugh as I hear Max utter " you little shit" before he sprints off after him. I am grateful for the distraction as I hate pretending everything is alright. I’m now alone again with my ever intrusive thoughts as I walk slowly behind them.

The park's play area consists of a large metal climbing frame fit with a slide, foot bridge, climbing ramps, a fireman’s pole and several different levels to climb across, surrounded by individual rocking seats that are fixed on top of a large metal spring, embedded into the ground. There are only two other adults here, a middle aged woman and her two kids and a man sat further out on one of the benches smoking a cigarette, dark sunglasses covering his eyes. I assume he is with the other boy who looks to be around seven, kicking a football back and forth between a post just past the edge of the sand barrier surrounding the climbing area.

"Mommy, Mommy, did you see me win? I beat Uncle Max!" Teddy runs up to me, his happy beaming face pulling away my attention.

"Yes baby, you were so fast, well done!" I smile, leaning down and kissing the top of his head. "Now go and play for a bit, I'll be right over here on this bench, okay?" I say, pointing towards the bench off to the left.

"Okay," he chirps before skipping off towards the slide.

Max walks over to me, his eyes scanning the entire perimeter of the park as he does. I watch as he pauses momentarily in the direction of the lone guy sat on the bench at the back, then continues to sit down, obviously not finding what or who he was looking for.

"I want you to come to the warehouse meet on Saturday night," he says, cracking his knuckles and resting his elbows on his knees. "There’s a fight night and I want you to be there."

I cock my eyebrow at him in confusion. "Why?" I question. "Are you planning on needing some first aid or something?" I add laughing to myself.

"Yeah actually," he dead-pans, looking me square in the face. "These fight nights aren't exactly on the radar, if you know what I mean. I've seen some pretty nasty shit and we could do with a good pair of hands to help patch up after. It's harder than you think trying to get a doctor on the payroll for a one off, the greedy fuckers."

I stare at him open mouthed for a minute before realizing he really isn't joking. "Oh shit, you're being serious?"

"Yes Luce, I'll pick you up. Saturday 10pm. Wear something you don't mind getting a little blood on." he instructs as he takes a stand to leave. "And for fucksake, do NOT say anything to anybody. Especially Kat." he adds, a tone of authority to his voice "I mean it."

"OK, OK." I agree, holding my hands up in defeat. "I won't say a word," and with that he turns and leaves.

Chapter 11

Silas

Today is the day I walk out of this place for good. It's 5.45am, I nudge Nicholas to wake him. "Nicholas, wake up, they’ll come for me soon and I need to set some things straight with you."

Nicholas rolls over and rubs his eyes, squinting at me as he says, "If this is you about to confess your undying love for me Si, then I gotta tell you, I'm heterosexual."

Cheeky fucker "You wouldn't be able to pull a guy as pretty as me Nick so don't go getting your hopes up." We have always had great banter, I'm going to miss this. "But seriously Nicholas, you will be out in a few months and I'll have that spot in my crew for you, don't pass it up."

Nicholas simply nods "Wouldn't dream of it." The bell rings out for 6am wake up.

"This is it then Nick, I'll see you on the other side." With that, I stand and wait for the guards to come and collect me. I'm looking forward to seeing my brother and best friend but I'm also eager to find la mia luce.

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