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Johnny’s father made a big deal of checking his watch and sighing before reluctantly nodding. “I can give you fifteen minutes.”

“Yes, yes, thank you.” Mr. Twomey sagged in relief and scurried back into his office.

“Shooting fish in a barrel, Da?” Johnny quipped.

Chuckling softly, Mr. Kavanagh winked at his son before following Mr. Twomey. Pausing in the doorway of the office, he turned to Darren and said, “I’ll have your brother home by ten tonight.”

“Thank you so much.” Exhaling heavily, Darren strode over to Mr. Kavanagh and extended his hand. “And I’m very sorry for the way my family—”

“Irrelevant,” Johnny’s father replied, shaking Darren’s hand. “We all need a little mercy sometimes.” Flicking his sharp gaze to Johnny, he said, “Take that pepper sauce home to your mother before you go to training, son.” He looked to me then and gave me a soft smile. “I hope one day we will meet under happy circumstances, Shannon.” With that, Mr. Kavanagh sauntered into the office, letting the door swing shut behind him.

“He’s going to torture him.” Johnny chuckled as he strolled over to where I was sitting and pulled me to my feet. “Don’t worry, Shan,” he added, wrapping an arm around my waist. “He’ll get this sorted.”

I blew out a ragged breath. “I can’t believe he did that for us.”

“Neither can I,” Darren muttered, rubbing his jaw.

“I told you my parents love you,” Johnny coaxed, taking my hand in his. “Do you believe me now?”

Trembling, I squeezed his hand and sagged against his chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t even say that,” he whispered, wrapping me up in his arms.

“I smell like fish,” I warned him. “You’ll get it on your clothes, too.”

“I don’t care,” he whispered, dropping a kiss to my hair. “I love fish, I love you, and I still want to eat you for dinner.”

“Not as much as chicken,” I sniffled.

“I fuckinglovechicken,” he agreed with a chuckle. “Everything’s okay, Shan.” Stepping back, he cupped my face in his hands and stared down at me. “Do you hear me?”

I shrugged weakly. “I hear you.”

“You’re going to be okay,” he said gruffly, blue eyes locked on mine. “And so is Joey.”

“I don’t think I’m going to make dinner tonight, Johnny,” I squeezed out.

“That’s okay,” he replied, dropping his hands to rest on my shoulders. “We’ll do it another time.” Stroking his thumbs over my collarbone, he added, “I’m going to make this right for you.”

I sagged against him. “Doesn’t matter.”

“It matters,” he corrected, pulling me back into a hug. “And it’s never going to happen to you again.”

“I’m just so scared for Joey,” I confessed, burying my face in his chest. “I don’t want him to be in trouble over me.”

“My da will get it cleared up.” He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Seriously, if you knew the half of what he’s managed to drag Gibs out of down through the years, you wouldn’t be worrying. He’ll clear it all up, Shan. He’ll make it go away.”

“Really?” I sniffled. “You’re sure?”

“Hundred percent,” Johnny replied. “He meant what he said. Joeywillbe home tonight.”

Relief washed through me but I was afraid to absorb it. I waspetrifiedof getting my hopes up only to have more bad news thrown my way.

“I misjudged you,” Darren’s voice cut through the air. Stunned, I spun around to find he was looking at Johnny. “I was wrong about you,” he added, tone hoarse. “And I owe you an apology.”

“Yeah, you were wrong,” Johnny said tightly. “I’m not the person your ma makes me out to be.” Sighing heavily, he added, “But I don’t need an apology.”

“Well, you have it all the same,” Darren replied wearily.

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