Saving 6 (Boys of Tommen, #3)

by Chloe Walsh

Because her screams meant she was still breathing. Her silence could have meant that she was dead.

Hoping my thoughts could fuel my anger, and my anger could help me flip the switch and not care anymore. Because caring was killing me, and I honestly didn’t think I could hold on much longer.

“Seriously?” I laughed humorlessly. “You’re this pissed off because I asked you to walk me home?” “No, Molloy,” he bit out. “I’m pissed off because that prick put you in a position where you had to ask me to walk you home.”

“Listen, I’m embarrassed enough about it,” I heard myself admit. “No need to layer it on, Joe.” “You should be embarrassed,” he snapped, tossing his cigarette butt away. “Embarrassed for giving an asshole like Paul Rice the chance to treat you like an option.”

“You’ll take your meat whatever way I give it to you,”

“I always win, Joe.”

“I’m here like you want, I’m staying for the fucking film like you want, but I draw the line at snuggling.” “Snuggle me.” “No.” “Do it.” “It’s not happening, Molloy.” “Snuggle me, Joey.” “I said no.” “Snuggle me or I’ll scream.” “For fuck’s sake, fine,” I snapped, lifting my arm up for her to nestle into my side. “There. We’re snuggling. Are you happy now?”

“You’re my favorite friend, with my favorite everything.”

don’t like you, asshole. I don’t like how you talk, I don’t like how you act, and I sure as shit don’t like how you treat your girlfriend.

“No need to shake, asshole. Just make your peace with God because I’m going to bury you.”

Addiction ruled his life. That was the pattern his life had taken, and I hated him for it. But not as much as I hated myself for following in his footsteps.

“You might think that you’re brave enough to take me on, to go toe-to-toe with me, but make no mistake about this.” Leaning in close, he pressed his lips to my ear and whispered, “You’re not the wolf in our story, Molloy.” His breath fanned my cheek, causing my pulse to skyrocket. “You’re the lamb.”

“So, you might want to stop hunting me, Molloy.”

“Because if you don’t?” With my wrists pinned to the mattress above my head, he stepped between my legs and leaned in close, so close that his nose brushed mine. “Then one of these days, I’m going to hunt you back.”

Her easygoing, playful nature meant that she didn’t take a lot of his jibes to heart, but I did. I fucking took them to heart for her.

“Make sure you do.” She laughed. “Because I’ve put an awful lot of effort into saving you, six.”

“Don’t you ever touch her like that again, do ya hear me?” “Or what?” “Or I’ll put you in a body bag.”

I felt snared, fucking cornered. Surrounded by liars and cheats, I couldn’t turn my back for a goddamn second. Exhausted from fighting a war I would never win, and cut open from betrayal, I struggled to rein in my tumultuous thoughts. Nothing made sense anymore.

We were fucked, royally screwed, and I was too broken to keep these kids alive any longer. Not when I wanted to die.

Somewhere in my mind, I knew I was behaving in a self-destructing manner, bringing on unnecessary pain, inflicting harm upon my own body and mind, but I couldn’t stop myself. The depression eating me from the inside out forbade it.

“If they look as good on you as that yellow thong you’re wearing, then I’m going to have to agree,”

“So, you like the color yellow?” “It recently became my favorite.” “Is that so?” “That’s so, Molloy.” “My favorite color is yellow, too.” “It’s a good color on you.”

“I look even better when I take it off.” Feeling mischievous, I purred, “You’re so sure of us being incompatible, but I wonder if that might change if I sat on your lap. Hmm? Do you think we’d find common ground there, Joe?”

“Someone broke my halo, Joe,” I wailed, waving a broken piece around aimlessly in front of his face. “I’m a fallen angel now.” “Don’t worry about it,” he replied with a shrug.

“No one likes a saint, Molloy.”

“Listen, we can just chat,” I hurried to say. “Hang out, whatever. As friends. Friends is fine. Just please don’t go with him, Joey.”

Releasing a pained breath, he leaned in close and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I could go a fair bit crazy over you, Molloy.” His lips brushed against my brow as he said, “Stay out of my head now, ya hear?”

Was I breathing? I couldn’t tell. I couldn’t care if I wanted to. And I didn’t. I just wanted to stop feeling. To stop caring.

“Got any more of those chocolates you keep in your pencil case?” “Don’t know why you keep asking when you already know the answer.” He moved for my pencil case, and I quickly slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch my Rolos.”

“Hmm,” Joey grumbled, nudging my shoulder back. “If it was anyone else, Molloy. If it was anyone else.” “But it’s me.” “It’s you,” he confirmed. “Pain in my hole.”

“Don’t hate me for trying to move on,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around my waist and burying her face in my chest. “I’m doing what I have to do to move past this.” A shaky breath escaped her. “Same as you.” “Yeah, Molloy.” Feeling my anger dissolve, I sighed heavily and dropped my chin to rest on her blond hair. “I know.”

Keep your head, I mentally instructed myself. Do not pick up this pot of chili and throw it at them. Don’t do it, Aoife. You are too much of a princess for prison. Think of your nails. Just keep stirring.

“Don’t leave me.” “Joe…” “Please just stay.” He paused to release another slow breath before continuing. “This is the only time it’s ever stopped. Please don’t break it.”

“This is the only time what’s ever stopped?” I croaked out, feeling my heart thunder wildly in my chest. “And don’t break what?”

“My head,” he mumbled, before adding,...

“You mixed erectile dysfunction medication with cocaine?” she screeched. “Are you insane!” “I didn’t fucking know, did I?” “No wonder your dick is trying to levitate off the bed. It’s been set on ready-steady-fuck mode, Joe!”

“Imagine if you had.” I snorted, switching off the hob and plating up the French toast. “We would have needed to hitch a trailer onto the taxi to cart that stallion between your legs.”

“He misses his friend.” My heart flipped. “He should miss her. She’s amazing.” He smirked. “He wants her back.” “She never left.” I swallowed. “She just needed a time-out.” “Good.” He nodded. “Because if she did leave, he wouldn’t like it.”

“My Joseph. My brave, brave boy. Terrible burdens. A cursed cross to carry. But always rising from the ashes. Always getting back up. Always the…protector.”

“Promise me that you’ll…never…give in to them.” “Give in to who, Granda?”

“The demons your father put in your head.”

I wasn’t convinced about happy endings, but when Molloy locked her eyes on me and smiled, I could believe in the possibility of a happy day.

will break this…” He paused to gesture between us, before adding, “Whatever this is, this warped little friendship we’ve formed over the years? I will fuck it up.” “But will you mean it?” I pushed, refusing to back off. “That’s the important part.” “No.” His green eyes narrowed on me, studying me with a sharpness that was entirely unnerving and exhilarating in one breath.

“I won’t mean it. Of course I won’t fucking mean it, but that won’t stop it from happening—”

This kiss was going to have consequences, I realized. Huge, heart-stopping, feeling-igniting consequences.

I couldn’t think about anything other than her. Aoife Molloy consumed me to the point that I didn’t feel like everything was completely fucked in the world anymore.

“Like what you see?” “What?” She grinned shamelessly. “I always check the product before I make any purchases.”

“Oh, I’ve been sold on you for a long time now, Joey Lynch.”

“Don’t worry,” she said in a soft tone as she reached up and stroked her thumb over my cheekbone. “It’ll be safe with me, Joe.” “What will?” “Your trust.”

“I see you, Joey Lynch,” she continued, stroking her nose against mine.