Breaking Ties by Vaughn R. Demont Page A

against the wall of a covered bus stop. An armbar hurts , just in case you’ve never had one. Also, strangely, no one seems to notice the fight. “By the way? He chewed off three legs and was still stuck.”
    What happened to the blond coyote when he got caught in a trap?
    And that’s not my boss’s voice.
    Oh goddamn it. I should’ve expected this, really.
    Considering I’m on the outs with the clan, it means that fellow Coyotes who had a beef with me are likely clear to pursue vengeance now. Thornton’s done plenty to me already and nearly got me killed last year with a prank, and that was before I got kicked out. Still, though, there’s one who asked Father Coyote personally if he could take my life.
    Justin Crain. My father.
    â€œI expected you to quit over a month ago, or run a game on me, or at least report all the shit I was doing. Very disappointing, Spencer. Since when are you a workaday?” He relaxes the grip on my arm, letting me go.
    I turn to face him, and he’s still cloaked, but not as my boss anymore. Instead, well, he’s my father, looking exactly as he did on the day he left.
    His hair is short, raven black in a fashionable bedhead style; his skin and golden-brown eyes imply Native ancestry mixed with Caucasian. He’s lithe, dressed in jeans, a denim jacket, Doc Martens, faded gray T-shirt, and a cheap watch. And that smile. That goddamned reassuring Coyote smile that made me believe him when he said he was going to pick up some scratch-offs and he’d be right back.
    â€œSo you’re here to kill me?”
    I ignore the bystanders, they won’t hear any of this anyway.
    He motions off toward a nearby hotdog cart, and I follow. I should run, I know, but I doubt he’s going to choke me with a footlong. “I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t myself. Selah could really fuck with your head, you know?” A grin spreads across his face as he inspects the available toppings. “Though she could really fuck with a bunch of other parts I didn’t mind. Girl had a mouth like a—”
    â€œGod, please stop talking. It was bad enough before.” Like when he causally mentioned that my mother gave amazing head. Yeah, you can never unhear your father saying that .
    He turns to face me. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œFor what? Walking out? Screwing me up? Driving Mom into her own head? Putting me through hell for the last few months? Trying to kill me ? Or just the comment about the Silver Lady’s skill at fellatio?”
    â€œAll of it.”
    I cross my arms. “Apology not accepted.”
    He shrugs. “Don’t care. I’m still sorry.”
    I turn away from him. “Fuck you.”
    â€œI seem to remember you getting trapped by her wiles as well. I thought you’d understand. It’s not like it was really me, Spence. I’m not that crazy, certainly not enough to stab my own son to death in the middle of Tolon Park.” He maneuvers around to get back in front of me. “I know you’re on the outs with the family.”
    â€œOpen season on me, I’m aware.”
    He shakes his head. “I could take out a gun, shoot you in the head, and the clan would buy me a beer.”
    That’s a little worse than I thought. “And you’re not because…?”
    â€œBecause you’re my son, is that so hard to believe?”
    â€œThornton had no problem leaving me to get eaten by a dragon just because I screwed with his half-assed attempt at an Emerald. I turned your girlfriend over to Fate, and Mom will never remember you. I’d say you’ve got a better motive. Besides, Thornton already tried the fake-forgiveness route. You think I’d fall for it because it’s you?”
    He heads back over to the hotdog cart, ordering a couple, and glances at me. “Ketchup, mustard and relish, right?”
    â€œNo. I’m leaving.” I start toward the