Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
She taught me that violence is a choice. I may be a lad, but respondin’ with ye fists isn’t always an answer. And I’ve always lived that way, but the man who took Einin, deserves what’s comin’ to him.
“We can go now,” Einin says as she stops beside me. “Thank you for bringing me here.” Her smile lights up her face, and her teary stare is a punch to the gut.
“Ye sure?”
“Yes.” She nods before takin’ my hand. “I’ve said what I needed to.”
We head back to the bike, and once the engine rumbles to life, I pull onto the road that leads up to Da’s place. I no longer consider it mine. After I left, I put it behind me. He was more in love with the wee cottage than I was. It overlooks the ocean, which is the only thing it’s got goin’ fer it.
Pullin’ up to the place I grew up in, I turn off the engine and take Einin’s hand before makin’ my way up the short path that leads to the front entrance. Before I can knock, Da opens the door. He still looks good for his age.
“Now what do we have ’ere?” A smile cracks on his face when he glances behind me and sees Einin. “Ye’ve grown into a beauty, wee one. Come inside. Let me look at ye.”
He takes her hands and brings them to his face. An affectionate kiss on her knuckles makes her smile. My da always loved Einin as if she were his kin.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Aye, and ye’ve brought my lad back,” Da tells her with a chuckle.
I shut the door behind me just before Da surprises me and pulls me into a hug. He’s never been overly affectionate with me. I wonder if old age has finally hit him and now he wants those lost moments.
“It’s good to see ye, Son.”
“Aye,” I reply. “It’s good to be back. I wanted Einin to see her ma’s grave.”
I know there’s some explainin’ we’ll need to do. He’ll want to know why she didn’t come home fer her ma’s funeral. But fer now, we settle in the lounge while he insists on makin’ us drinks.
Coffee fer me, hot chocolate fer Einin.
The house hasn’t changed. It’s as if I’ve walked back in time. Da joins us and settles himself in the large armchair he used to favour when I was a kid.
“Ye ma’s passin’ was a sad one in the town,” he tells Einin. “She always spoke of ye, told us ye were so busy.”
“Well… Something happened when I left. I was on my way to school when the bus was hijacked. I was taken.”
Da’s face falls, and he turns ashen at the news. “What?”
“Yes. I was held captive for seven years,” Einin explains, but she doesn’t go into too much detail. “But then, a day before Christmas, Tye found me.”
Da’s questionin’ gaze falls on me. “Ye found her?”
Noddin’, I say,” Aye, there’s some shite goin’ down with the mob.”
“Ye gettin’ involved in all this now?” His brows furrow, and I know it’s out of concern rather than a tellin’ off.
“I need to help these girls, Da,” I insist. “I’m doin’ somethin’ good. Isn’t that what ye wanted?”
“Aye, but I don’t need my boy gettin’ killed. Ye hear me.”
“I won’t,” I promise, but it’s difficult to assure him. He, of all people, knows it’s not easy when you’ve committed to somethin’. Da was in the army for years after he’d turned eighteen. He’s been on the front line, seen shite go down that no human being should.
“I just want yers both safe.” The concern in his voice is evident.
“We will be,” I tell him, and that’s the end of that conversation.
One thing about Da, he never lingers on anythin’ fer too long. It’s one of the reasons I always found it easy to talk to him. He’d offer his advice, and that would be the end of it.
EPILOGUE
EININ
Happiness is no longer a fantasy or a fleeting moment. It’s my life. The rain has cleared up for the time being, and I wonder if we’ll have some sunshine this weekend for the celebrations.
The club wanted to do something fun, and when we suggested a St. Patrick’s Day party, everyone was on board. The months of darkness have passed. Even though the threat of the mob boss returning to Belfast is still hanging over our heads, there is a sense of calm.
We all know he’ll be back. But for now, we’re focusing on the present day. Tye has tracking software running to make sure we know the moment Patrick Bragan lands in the country. If he’s here, we will know. Even the peelers are working with us to make sure he’s arrested.
Opening the curtains, I watch the city hustle by. When Tye asked me to move in with him, I couldn’t refuse. We have known each other for most of our lives, and there isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t want to be near him. Even though it’s been a few months since he saved me, there are times I’m still anxious, nervous to go out alone.