Redeeming 6 (Boys of Tommen, #4)

by Chloe Walsh

“Pregnant.” How I got the word out, I would never know, but I said it, and I managed to keep my tone level in the process. “You’re pregnant.” Trembling, she kept her hand pressed to her forehead like a shield and nodded weakly. “Pregnant.” A pained sob escaped her. “Yes.” “You’re pregnant.” “Yes.” “You’re saying you’re pregnant,” I heard myself repeat like an idiot, as my heart jackknifed in my chest. “Pregnant with a baby, pregnant.” “Yes, Joey, I’m saying I’m pregnant with a baby,” she snapped, and then choked out another sob. “So just stop saying the word ‘pregnant.’ Jesus!”

“He did that to you while you were pregnant with my baby?”

Pregnant. She was pregnant. With a baby. With my baby. Get the fuck up and take care of her. Stop thinking about yourself, you fucking pussy. Don’t even think about pretending that you don’t care. It’s yours and you care. She’s yours and you care. It does matter and you do care.

“I mean it, Aoife,” I warned. “Keep those feet on the ground.” “You’re being a tad dramatic.” “It’s called being sensible.” She rolled her eyes. “Since when do the words ‘Joey Lynch’ and ‘sensible’ go hand in hand?” “Since the words ‘Aoife Molloy’ and ‘pregnant’ joined forces,” I shot back, holding my school jumper out for her. “Sit your ass on the footpath.”

We were both flat broke, but if I couldn’t buy my pregnant girlfriend a measly bag of chips, then I needed to be taken out into a field and shot.

“Are we a team or not?” she demanded. “Yeah, fuck, we’re a team,” I conceded.

“How are you feeling?” “About the vinegar?” “No, genius, about being pregnant.” Anxiety flashed in her eyes and I watched as a small shiver rolled through her. “Oh, I think it’s safe to say that I’m sufficiently terrified to my core. You?”

She cocked a brow before asking, “Do you plan on fucking around behind my back with other girls?” I rolled my eyes. “Be serious.” “Do you?” “No, Molloy,” I grumbled. “I value my dick.” “Nuh-uh.” She slapped my chest. “Wrong answer.” “How about I don’t plan on fucking around on you because it takes up all of my time and energy just trying to navigate your many sparkling personalities.” “Try again, asshole.” “Fine. I don’t plan on fucking around on you because I don’t want anyone else. Because I don’t see anyone else.” “And?” I stared at her. “And?” “And,” she pushed, giving me an expectant look. Blowing out a frustrated breath, I relented and said, “And because there’s no other girl on the planet as sexy—or as vain—as you.”

“I am breathing.” Yeah, he was breathing flames.

“To talk, most likely.” “About what?” I rolled my eyes. “Uh, gee, I don’t know, Joe. Maybe about the fact that their children are having a baby?”

“Are you with me?” He nodded slowly. “I’m with you, Molloy.”

“Enough,” my father barked, glowering across the table at Joey’s father. “I don’t know how things work in your house, Lynch, but you’re in my house now, and you will keep your tone in check.” Whoa. Go Dad.

Ha-fucking-ha, I mentally cheered, go upstairs and change your boxers, you little shit.

“Joey’s my best friend.”

“He’s the best person I know,” I added, keeping my eyes locked on his as I spoke. “And I trust him with my life.”

“It doesn’t matter what any of you think. I don’t care if you agree with my decision or not. I’m sorry, Dad, but that includes you. Joey and I talked about it, and we’re keeping our baby.”

“I’ve loved your daughter for six years,” Joey finally broke his silence by saying. “I can easily love her for another eighteen.” Goddamn… My heart skipped in my chest. He wasn’t trying to sound sweet. He was trying to sound convincing.

“And you’ve got a lot of fucking nerve to sit across this table from me offering up fatherly advice and accusing me of not being able to raise a child.”

“You might have fathered six kids, but you sure as shit didn’t raise them.”

“Oh, I am so with you.”

“Joey Lynch.” “Aoife Molloy.”

“Now come here and blow me.” “That’s my line.” “It won’t ever be again if you don’t do this for me.”

“Look at me, Joe. Won’t you miss this body?”

“Don’t ever lose it, Molloy.” “Lose what?” “That spark of fire that makes you so incredibly you,” he replied, tightening his arm around me. “It doesn’t matter how your body changes, because I’m always going to keep coming back to you. Because I might enjoy touching all of this,” he explained, fingers trailing over my body until he reached my face and gently tapped my temple. “But I’m hooked on this.”

“We’re going to be okay, aren’t we, Joe?” I heard myself ask. “Aren’t we always?”

“What’s right, Aoife,” my mother replied. “I’ve done what’s right.”

“Hey, Sexy Legs, I slapped the shit out of your brother just now,” Alec declared, sinking down on the table in front of us. “Hope ya don’t mind.” My eyes widened. “You did?” “Of course.” He winked. “Lynchy’s on his last warning, so he couldn’t do it. And I couldn’t have Brains doing my favorite girl dirty like that.” “Where is he now?” “Who? Brains?” Alec shrugged. “On the phone to your mammy, I suspect.”

“Your boyfriend’s henchman hit me.” “Yeah, well, snitches get stitches, asshole.”

On his way back to our desk, his movements were stiff and rigid, and I knew all too well that the marks on his face weren’t the only ones his father put on his body. My heart cracked at the thought.

My heart slammed wildly in my chest as I mentally translated his words. Fair enough, teacher. I was telling my sweetheart that I love her. “Dúirt mé léi freisin go bhfuil cuma álainn uirthi,” Joey continued to say, not missing a beat. I also told her that she looks beautiful. Shrugging, he added, “Agus go bhfuil mo chroí istigh inti.” And that my heart is inside her.

“She’s not riding into school on a donkey, looking for shelter,” I growled. “She’s looking for an education, not gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

If I had any doubts about Joey Lynch’s willingness to stand by me before this meeting, they were long gone now.

“Oh Jesus, Joe,” Molloy choked out, swinging back to look at me. “It was the Tommen party.” “Yeah,” I managed to get out, though I was sure my heart was thundering ten times faster than the kid housed in my girlfriend’s womb. “Fucking Gibsie and his spliffs of Moher.” “And the champagne.” “Fucking champagne.”

“I’ll do right by you,” he vowed gruffly. “I swear I will.” “You don’t need to convince me, Joe.” I leaned in and pressed my lips to his before whispering, “I’ve been sold on you since I was twelve years old.” He looked at me for the longest time before blowing out a pained breath. “I love you, Aoife.” “Love you, too, Joe.”

“Yeah, Molloy.” Releasing a contented breath, I reached a hand up and tucked her hair behind her ear. “I was high that night, but you sent me soaring.” “Smooth.” “Not smooth, just honest.”

Aoife: Seriously, Joe, about my dad. I saw a pair of rusty pliers on the passenger seat of his van. I think he might be considering castrating you.

“According to your father, he threw a wrench at Joey’s head, but had no hand in the black eye he’s sporting.” “Oh my god,” I cried, sinking back down and dropping my head in my hands. “Kill me now.”

“You let me down, Joey.” Christ, hearing him say it out loud hurt worse than I thought it would. “I know, Tony.”

“You’re going to stick by her?” “I am.” “Are you going to marry her?” “If that’s what she wants.” “What do you want?” “Her.”

He stared hard at me for a long moment before blowing out a frustrated breath. “Goddammit, Joey, this would be so much easier if I didn’t like you.” Yeah, I know.

I know you’re a good lad, but I’m telling you now, man to man, if you ever consider laying so much as a finger on my daughter or that child—” “You wouldn’t have to kill me, Tony,” I cut him off and said. “I’d do it myself.”

“Who, Ollie?” I demanded as my legs broke into a run in the direction of my house. “Is it Mam?” My heart jackknifed in my chest. “Is he hurting Mam?” “Shannon!” Ollie screamed down the line. “He’s killing Shannon!”

Oh no

Blood smeared on the kitchen tiles. Shannon limp on the floor. Tadhg covering her body with his. Blood on his face. Mam standing in the kitchen screaming. And him. Him. Standing in the middle of the carnage was our father.

Because I couldn’t stop. Not until I made him stop. Forever. He needed to be stopped. I needed to make it all fucking stop.

“Well, we feel the same about you,” Tadhg tossed out. “None of us want you!” “Tadhg, be quiet,” I warned, feeling my panic rise when my little brother put himself directly in the line of fire. “I’ve got this.” “No, I won’t be quiet, Joe,” he argued. “He’s the fucking problem in this family and he needs to hear it.”

She was my ride or die, and whether it was right or wrong, I knew she would come.

Pain ricocheted through me. I could feel the bone in my nose twisting sideways from the brunt of his blows. In a way, I was relieved because I thought this might finally be it. It’s finally over.

Don’t you dare stop. You’ve got a girl and a baby depending on you. Get the fuck back up on your feet. Don’t you dare leave her alone in this.

I love you, I mentally told her. I’m sorry. I gave it a fucking shot. I wanted to close my eyes. To just stop. But something caught my eye in the haze. Shannon caught my eye. I could see her. At the other side of the kitchen. Slumped over and bleeding from her mouth. Panic clawed at my gut. She’s dying. She’s dying. Get up. Get the fuck up and help her.

“It’s not okay, Joe.” With tears streaming down his cheeks, he shook his head. “None of this is okay.”