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I glanced around at the room taking in the sight of the broken coffee table and shattered glass and ornaments. There was a poleaxed Christmas tree strewn against the television unit, with festive baubles scattered everywhere.
“The neighbors must have h-heard them and called the Gards, because they showed up and arrested my b-brother.”
“Why?” I demanded. “Why’d they arrest Joey?”
“Because he w-won,” Shannon cried, holding onto me like I could somehow fix this. “He got the b-better of Dad for once.”
“Where’s your father now?”
“G-gone to the doctors.”
“And the boys and your mam?”
“The b-boys are in next door with Fran,” she sobbed. “And Mam… she went with D-dad.”
“She what?” My brows shot up in surprise. “What about Joey?”
Shannon shrugged and cried harder. “I don’t w-want him to g-go to prison, Aoife.”
“He’s not going to prison,” I was quick to reassure her. “I’m going to go down to the station right now and sort this whole mess out.”
“You c-can’t!” she cried, clutching me tighter. “You c-can’t t-tell them.”
“I’m not letting him get into trouble for something your father did.”
“No, no, no, please, please!” she practically screamed, and then jerked away hands moving to claw her hair. “Don’t tell!”
“Okay, okay,” I tried to soothe. “I won’t say a word until I talk to your brother.”
“Help him, Aoife,” she cried, clutching at her throat. “He’s all alone in t-the world.”
“No, he’s not,” I assured her in a shaky tone as I ran for door, with only one destination in mind. “He has me.”
NO MORE CHANCES, LYNCH
DECEMBER 11TH 2004
JOEY
It was gonenine the following morning before was I released from the Garda station, making last night one of my longest stints in the cells. A stark preview of what would happen once I turned eighteen at the end of this month.
No more chances, Lynch.
This is your last warning.
Beyond exhausted, I stretched out my stiff limbs and stepped through the station doorway, only to halt at the top of the stone steps when my eyes landed on a familiar blonde, curled up under a coat, fast asleep.
“Molloy?” Concern filled me. “Did you stay here all night?”
Blinking awake, she looked around sleepily before her eyes settled on my face.
“Joe.” Relief flashed across her face as she sprang up from the step and bolted towards me. “Oh, thank god!” Throwing her arms around me, she squeezed me tight, and then pulled back to slap my chest. “You have some serious explaining to do.”
“You’re one to talk,” I growled, holding her shoulders so that I could get a proper look at her face. “What the hell were you thinking staying out here all night, Molloy? It’s the middle of winter?”
“They wouldn’t let me talk to you,” she snapped back. “And I wasn’t going anywhere until I did.” Releasing another ragged breath, she pulled me in for another hug. “What happened? What did they say? Were you charged with anything?”
“Everything’s fine.” Slinging an arm over her shoulders, I led her away from the station, needing to put some space between this girl and my mistakes. “Stop worrying.”
