Page 16 of Paddy

“Cute kid.” Mr. Sullivan shrugged.

“I’m going to give youonechance not to fuck up. But if you fuck up, you're gone.”

“And I’m going to make one thing clear.I do not work for you. It’s your husband that hired me. Notyou. As long as Vernon wants me here, that’s not your decision to make. And it’s clear as day the kid wants me here?—”

“Mr. Sullivan, do you want this job?” I interrupted, being subject to that condescending laugh and dimpled smirk. “Because if you plan tokeepit, it's going to start with respecting my household, including the people in it.”

“I can do that. As long as you can agree not to be so bloody sensitive. Everything ain’t an attack on you. I’m Irish. You can’t take a joke around us, you’ll never know when we’re flirting with you.”

Flirting? Was…Mr. Sullivan flirting with me? “We’ll work on that. But you’ll also be expected to adhere to some house rules?—”

“Like what?” He interrupted.

“Wake up times to ensure you’re getting Elijah up and ready. A curfew?—”

“Curfews?” He smirked once again, interrupting. “What do I look fourteen?”

“Look, I'm not going to let some stranger come and go as they please in my house.”

“Fair enough. Is there anything else?”

“Naturally you’d get weekends off.” Unsure of what other incentives Vernon offered.

“Weekends, huh? Does it come with benefits and raises with satisfactory behavior, too?” He smiled sarcastically.

“Mr. Sullivan, I'm taking a chance on you. On thestrengththat my son, against his better judgment, seemed to like you. I was serious about only giving you one chance.”

“And I was serious about you not being the one that hired me. See, that's the problem with women. They do more talking than listening. I know what I'm doing Mrs. Washington.”

“I'm reminding you,” I said through a fake, forced smile. “You have one time to fuck up. I don't carewhothe hell hired you. If I'm trusting you with my son, I won't give you two chances to give me a reason not to make sure you're out on your ass.”

“Mrs. Washington, I wouldn't give you the satisfaction. The look on your face alone? The fact that I won’t be giving you a reason to bitch will be way more satisfying than what your husband’s paying me.”

Seven

Paddy

The thing I appreciated about Tadhg was that he wasn't one for a small talk. Shite he didn’t feel he needed to know, he didn’t ask about, which is why he was my top choice to drive me to my new gig until I got my car back on the road.

Shouldn't have been too long from now, but I will admit, I was missing my baby. My older brother was always adamant on taking the long way to most places. Something about he didn't like how the streets were paved on Chime Road, or something.

He was strange in that way, textures, certain sounds, or just minor changes in his routine made him throw a bloody fit. I never really questioned it until Pa passed, and when Pa died, everything he suppressed seemed to reveal itself more openly. It was like everyone breathed better now, everyone except me. Tadhg surprised me when he turned down the music dial, but we were approaching the last stop soon, so I was certain he just had questions.

“How long is this stint for?” I shrugged.

“Erhm, not long. But deal is, I have to stay here for the duration of the assignment.”

“And that's how long?”

“About six months, give or take.” At that, he gave a nod of confirmation, as I prepared for his predictable next words. He wasn't the same kind of leader Pa was.

Oisín used guilt, manipulation and fear to get what he wanted out of you, but Tadhg always had more of a pragmatic approach. But the one thing he excelled at, was hammering in how important it was to stay close to home.

“You know, Pa didn't ever see it, but I always have. You're a tough lad to tie down. Pa never gave you this freedom, but I always sense when you need space. Do the job, and come back to us. I don't ever want you to feel the captivity that I've always felt. It’s important to me that you’re not only be part of this family, but that you love it. Just remember who you are. Remember all the people back home who care for you, whether you're a bodyguard or an enforcer, you're still part of this family.”

Was I a part of this family? These days, I wasn't even too sure. Since my father's confession, I questioned everything about myself. Who I was. Would they all accept me if they knew? Would it change the way they all felt about me? The same way my mum guarded this secret, I felt this heavy weight on my soul.

We approached the Washington home as Tadhg parked and met me outside the car. Embracing me in a tight bear hug, his last words being non-negotiable, no matter how much space he sensed I needed.

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