Keeping 13 (Boys of Tommen, #2)

by Chloe Walsh

“Kav,” he choked out, noticing me. “I fucking left them in there.” Tears were dripping down his soot-stained cheeks as he broke free from a Garda’s hold and ran straight for me. “You have to help me get them out,” he panted, eyes wild and clothes covered in soot and smoke stains. “I walked out… I got pissed and left, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t leave them, so I came back, but the house was… And my mother… Fuck, Shannon…Tadhg! Nobody’s listening to me—” “I have them, Joey,” I snapped at him, desperate to get him to hear me. “I got them out.” “You have them—” His voice cracked. “You got them out?” I nodded, shaking. “Ollie, Tadhg, Sean, and Shannon.” “Shit… Darren.” Panic filled his eyes and he bolted toward the house once more. “My brother’s still in there—” “No, he’s at my house, too,” I choked out, dragging him back to me. “They’re all there. I swear to god, lad, all of your brothers and Shannon are at my place right now.” Wrapping my arms around him, I held him back as I whispered, “They’re safe.” A ragged breath tore from his throat and he sagged against me. “You both need to get out of here,” a fireman barked. “It’s not safe.” “We’re going,” I choked out, backing away with Joey in my arms. “Come on, lad—” My breath caught in my throat when my gaze landed on the body bags being wheeled to the back of an ambulance. I spun us both around, desperately trying to block the image out of my head and his. “You don’t need to watch this.” “This is my fault,” he whispered.