More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Tears filled my father’s eyes and I blanched. “Oh fuck, it’s bad, isn’t it?” I choked out, jerking off the stool. “What’s happening here?” Trembling, I backed away from the island, knowing in my heart something bad was going on. “Did he hurt her?” Pain speared through me at the thought. “Is that it? Is she in the hospital?”
“There was a fire at the Lynch house.”
Holy fuck.
“There was a fire, Johnny,” Dad told me. “When you showed up here with the children and I called Billy, he was already at the scene of a fire in Elk’s Terrace. By the time the emergency services arrived, the house was up in flames.”
“A house burns down that quickly if it’s lit intentionally,” Dad replied gruffly. “The house was doused in flammables, Johnny, and all the windows and doors were locked. They didn’t have a chance of getting out.” He shivered. “Billy called me back just there to let me know that two bodies were pulled out.” Sighing heavily, he added, “Given all the information you told me that I relayed to him, he’s confident that the fire was set mere minutes after you took the children, and the bodies are—”
“She’s dead?” I whispered, feeling tears drip down my cheeks. “But I told her I’d go back for her,” I choked out, shaking my head. “Jesus Christ, I should have made her come with me!” My father’s arms came around me. “Shh,” he whispered, holding me up when my body felt weak to the bone. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” “I left her there, Da,” I choked out, clutching my father. “I left her in that house!” “Do you know what you did tonight?”
“You saved four children.”
Sean was doused in alcohol. You saved them all, Johnny. They were in their beds, son. They were terrified of him. There was no way those kids would have left their rooms if you hadn’t gone
“And what you said about slipping on the staircase and the landing and hallway when you were inside the house? That was alcohol and petrol, Johnny. One spark of a flame and it was all over for those children—the entire place would have ignited with all of you in there—but you kept your head and you got them out.”
“Do they know yet?” I whispered, clenching my eyes shut tightly. “No,” Dad replied. “Fuck,” I croaked out. “How am I going to tell Shannon?”
“What’s wrong?” she croaked out, eyes wide and full of fear. “Why are you crying?”
“I love you,” I whispered, holding her close. “Jesus Christ, Shan, I’m so fucking sorry.” “Why are you sorry?” she choked out, clinging to my waist. “What’s going on?” “I tried, Shan,” I choked out, tightening my hold on her. “I really did.” “Johnny, what’s happening?” she asked, voice cracking. “Shannon!” Darren’s voice filled my
“Are you all okay?” His bloodshot eyes were wild and panicked as he staggered into the kitchen. “Where are the boys?”
“Shan—” A gut-wrenching sob tore from his throat. “I can’t—”
“Mam,” he cried, burying his face in my father’s neck. “My mam!”
“What’s wrong with Mam?” Shannon choked out, trembling violently. “Wh-what did he d-do?” “She’s dead!” Darren cried. “He fucking killed her!”
“No!” Shaking her head, Shannon backed away like her brother’s words had scalded her. “No, no, no, you’re telling lies.” “He killed my mother,” Darren choked out, clutching my father. “Fucking bastard—” “Stop saying that!” Shannon screamed, pulling on her hair. “She’s not dead, Darren. She’s at home. I saw her!” Clutching her head in her hands, she glared at her brother and hissed, “She’s fine.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked up at me. “Tell him, Johnny!” she begged, lunging for me. “Tell him he’s wrong!” Grabbing my hand, she tugged pleadingly. “J-just t-tell h-him—”
“A fire?” Her eyes were wide and full of tears. “No, Johnny, no!” “There was a fire, baby,” I croaked out, heart racing. “And your ma… She, ah—” My words broke off and I cleared my throat before forcing the words “She and your da didn’t make it” out of my mouth.
“No.” It was one word but I knew the sound would haunt me until my dying day as she stared up at me, those big blue eyes begging me to tell her different. I wanted to—more than anything—but there was no escaping this. Her parents were dead.
“Mammy, no, no, no! Not my mam…not my mam.” A tear slid down my cheek as I watched her, feeling more helpless than I ever had in my life. Crouching down beside her, I placed a hand on her knee. “Shan—” “No,” she choked out, shaking my hand off. “No, no, no.” Exhaling brokenly, I tried again. “Shan—” “I said no!” she sobbed, wrapping her arms around her legs. “No…” Burying her face in her knees, she rocked back and forth. “Oh god, they’re both gone.”
“Don’t touch me!” Trembling, Shannon yanked her hands away from mine, chest heaving. “D-don’t do it, okay?”
With a huge sob, Shannon scrambled onto my lap and threw her arms around my neck, clinging to me in a way I knew I would never fully deserve. “Don’t leave me—” Tightening her arms around my neck, she buried her face in my chest and whispered, “Please don’t go…”
“That’s m-my Granda Murphy’s s-song,” she hiccupped. “You remember me t-telling you t-that?” “Yeah.” I remembered her telling me about her grandfather singing this song to her when she was frightened, and it was all I could do in this moment. “Should I stop?” “N-no.” Shannon shook her head. “D-don’t stop.” Trembling, I continued to rock her in my arms and softly whisper the words of the song in her ear, while I waited for the doctor I knew had been called.
