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Groaning, I open my right eye because my left one is almost closed over, thanks to the beating I got last night.
“Bout ye? Ya look like shite.”
Turning my cheek, I see Cian sitting in the armchair, skimming through a copy ofMacbeth.
“Ach, happy days,” I reply, flinching as I shift to lean against the headboard. I’m breathless from the simple action.
“He lamped ya good this time, didn’t he?”
It’s not uncommon for Cian to find me black and blue, thanks to my dad’s fists. It’s a sight he’s seen many times over the years. But this time is different because I’m going to fight back; just not in the way everyone thinks.
“I need yer help,” I say, which has Cian placing the book on the armrest. “I want to go to Dublin.”
Cian blinks once, appearing to need a moment to process what I just said. “Dublin?” he asks, in case he’s had a lapse in hearing.
I nod firmly.
He shoots up from the chair and begins pacing the room. “A don’t believe ya! Stop actin’ the eejit. Ya wanna get killed?”
“Stop bein’ so dramatic,” I counter, pulling back the blankets. Cian flinches when he sees my bruised ribs. “I just want to have a wee look, that’s all.”
“A wee look at what?” Cian exclaims, hands out wide, but he knows. He knew it would eventually come to this.
“I can’t let those fuckers walk around without any repercussions for what they did to my mum. Every day they live is just an insult to her memory!
“The aul’ lad is nothin’ but a coward. The only reason I’m still here is ’cause I hoped to learn somethin’ about Ma’s death. But I’m done waitin’. I know I can’t do this on my own. I have to be smart.”
“Ya can’t just go danderin’ into Dublin, Punky. Would ya quit actin’ reckless?”
Placing my feet onto the carpet, I take a moment to pace myself. “Sure, this is it, but I’ll be careful. Besides, youse big lads are gonna keep dick for me, aye?”
Cian pales and abruptly stops in his tracks. “This is a bad idea. But we’re with ya. Besides, a wee look can’t hurt?”
“Aye, sure why nat?”
My flippant response does nothing to ease Cian’s worries, but I mean it. I’ll proceed with caution. I just want to take a look around. That’s all.
But that look will eventually lead to bloodshed, one way or another.
“Is that why ya got a hidin’? Ya told him yer goin’ to Dublin?”
“Ack, no,” I hiss, my eyes darting to the door to ensure no one is listening in. “No one can know about this but us. Once I have a plan, we go. All right?”
“Sound.” Cian nods, running a hand through his dark brown hair. “So why did he belt ya?”
Clearing my throat, I stand casually. The room spins, but I stay upright—for now. “’Cause I lost the rosary beads.”
“Shut your bake! How?”
I’m utterly scundered when I confess, “A wee doll stole it…when I helped her last night.”
Cian’s mouth twists into an amused grin as me helping strangers, or anyone for that matter, is a quare rare thing. “Helped her with what?”
“Helped fix her bike,” I explain, but he thinks it’s code for sex.
“Yeo!” he hollers, but there is nothing to be excited about. “She a ride then?”
“Cian, what she is, is in trouble. I need to find her. She took my mum’s brooch too.”
