Nothing Left To Break

4

LANI'S BROTHERS WERE STANDING IN THE CORNER OF THE ROOM. Apart from Alfie who was sat at his desk.
"Anyone want to explain?" she asks calmly. Going over to the drink caddy in the corner.

"Explain what?" Alfie asks.
"Why I was pulled into my boss's office this morning?" She asks, pouring herself a drink and walking over to the desk.
"Probably because you-" Vin starts.
Lani cuts across him and slams her hand down.

"No! Not 'because me' anything! You did this by taking Alex out and beating a boy up! Not just any boy either. The boss's son" she shouts. Temporarily turning away from her brothers.

They fall silent. Lani finishes her drink in one swig.
"That's shit rum Alfie" she spits.
He just nods.
"It's the brown rum. For the workers" He states calmly. Putting his hand through his beard and taking his hat off.

She walk towards Alfie and stops beside him. Not speaking. But just goes into his side draw and gets out a packet of cigarettes. Getting one out and lighting it with Alfie's lighter which he placed on the table for her.

It's probably important to say that Ani only smokes when she's worked up.

"If you were having a problem Alex, why didn't you come to me. Especially with him, I work for his dad for gods sake" she says, shaking her head in disappointment and crossing her arms, with her hand holding the cigarette outstretched slightly.

"We sorted it" Vin mumbles from the corner.
Ani scoffs.
"Sorted it? Fucking sorted it?!" She asks, rhetorically, getting angry again.

"He won't bother our Alex anymore. Isn't that what you want?!" Vin asks angrily. He's the one who's voice is raised now.
He walks towards his sister and towers over her. Obviously trying to intimidate her.

"Oh cer I grafu Vin. You know full well that doing that would fuck up my job. I almost got fired today because of you fuckers, when there was a perfectly plausible way of going about this" she says, taking a step back but still pointing in his face. (Cer I grafu=go fuck yourself)

"Plausible way? And what is this plausible way?" Alfie asks abruptly. Usually he doesn't interviene in his sister outbursts. Don't know why he started now.

"I know for a fact that Fredrick. The boy you beat up, was hanging by a thin thread at school and his father was this close" she puts her fingers near touching together "to sending him off to boarding school. I would have bought this matter forward. Fredrick would be gone and that would be that. But instead, I am now hanging by a thread at work and you're suspended for a week" she starts off shouting but ends up just talking quite quietly.

She had learnt that sometimes it scared people more if you were to talk quietly. Talking quietly and eye contact. That did it. It creates a more tense atmosphere and makes you look better in an argument. That's why most of her student at work, even the bully's actually respected her when she was angry. She didn't scream at them. She treated them like adults.

"We're sorry. We understand that we did it wrong. We should have gone to you" Alex finally speaks up. He obviously wasn't very fond of his brothers antics. He looked nervous in this room.

"It's fine Alex. Just listen to me next time, not these idiots" she says, laughing slightly and going to hug her younger brother.

They all rest in silence for a second. Relishing in the aftermath of the argument.
"Right" Lani breaks the silence.
"I accept your apology. Now, go scare some men shitless for me. And Alex, you're coming back with me tonight" she states, smiling at her brothers.

In all fairness, they smile back and before they leave the room they both give her a kiss on the cheek. Alex then follows behind Lani out of the door.

Ignoring all of the men she walks through the doors, knowing that Alex is following behind her. She does however, wink and blow a kiss to the two men 'guarding' the doors. They both look away with embarrassment painted on their faces.

Once they are en route to Ani's home, the pair begin speaking again.
"I really am sorry you know. For er...fighting Fred and that" he says. If he wasn't so nervous he would be well spoken. Which is something that Lani was trying to teach her brother. Dignity and class.

"I know. Don't dwell on it now" she speaks softly.
"What were the consequences for you?" He asks, finally putting a stop to him fidgeting with hands and putting them in his pockets.

"Well, tutoring. I have to tutor you after school. Don't know how we'll survive. Honestly" she says sarcastically, nudging her brother slightly, laughing at his sour face.

"Makes sense" he mumbles.

"Oh god Alex. Chin up. Have I taught you nothing? Don't fucking mumble" she states clearly , physically lifting up her brothers chin.

He laughs and pulls away.
"Didn't think ladies were allowed to swear" he says.
"This Lady is" she says, a smirk growing on her face as her brother quickly goes back to his quiet state.

"That won't do" she says.
"What?" Alex asks, looking at his sister.

Ani confused the hell out of Alex sometimes. It didn't stop the fact that Alex completely idolised her. She was strong, she had her own job and she still managed to make time for her family. Or more importantly, to shout at her family. She did it with love though. She just wanted them to be safe.

Although with Alfie's business there was nothing she could do, apart from check the book every now and again for Alfie. Or go into a meeting to seduce then threaten Alfie's 'clients' into business.

It's safe to say that Leilani was Alex's hero. Not that he would ever admit such a thing.

"Fight back. But with words, it's much better to fight back with words. It subtly implies that you're better than those who fight with fists" Ani says, giggling as she over dramatically puts on a posh voice and sticks her chin up.

As they are walking, they don't seem to notice the big, grand, car passing them. What they didn't know was that everyone in that car were looking at them laughing. Watching. Lurking.