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That left the dad.

“Fuck.” Gibsie shook his head. “That’s a big accusation, Johnny, lad.”

“I know,” I groaned, feeling thoroughly disgusted. “And I know if I’m wrong, then I’ll be opening a huge-ass can of worms, but I just…” I shook my head and clenched my fists. “I can’t get it out of my head. I think that’s what happened to me,” I added. “Why I lost my shit all weekend. I was trying to go hometo her, Gibs. Because I’m scaredfor her.” I shrugged, feeling helpless. “I know it’s a hunch, but I can’t sit on this, Gibs. I can’t ignore this or pretend it’s not happening. Something’s happening to her and I’m not prepared to sit back and do nothing.” I exhaled a ragged breath. “She means too much to me to brush this under the carpet. Even if I’m wrong, it’s worth checking, right? That’s the right thing to do here, isn’t it?”

“Just give me a minute to process this.” Leaning forward, Gibsie pressed his fingers to his temples. “This is a lot to take in, lad.”

No shit.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t sit still. Pain was consuming me but my thoughts were worse, plaguing me to the point that I was a restless bundle of nerves and anxiety.

Something was wrong. I could feel it.

“I need to go,” I announced, unwilling to wait for him to process a damn thing. “I’m serious, Gibs. You need to get me out of here, lad. I need to go home and check.”

“You can’t walk out of the hospital on a hunch,” Gibsie shot back, glaring at me. “Christ, Johnny, you can’t even walk without help. How do you propose I smuggle you down to Cork, ya langer? Under my fucking jumper?”

“Something’s happening to her, Gibs,” I choked out, feeling my heart hammer against my chest. “I can feel it in my bones.”

“Hold up a sec, I’ve got an idea—” Pausing, Gibsie pulled his phone out of his pocket and clicked a few buttons before placing it on speaker and setting it down on the bed between us.

“Hello?” Claire’s voice filled the silence after three short rings.

“Claire-Bear,” Gibsie replied, holding out a hand toward me, gesturing for me to stay quiet when I opened my mouth to ask him what the hell he thought he was doing.

“Gerard.” Relief filled her tone as she spoke. “Are you okay? How’s Johnny?”

Keeping his eyes on me, Gibs ignored her questions and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“T-tell you what?” Claire asked, sounding worried.

“About Shannon’s father.”

“What the fuck!”I mouthed, ready to kill him.

“Wait,”he mouthed back, holding a hand up to keep me back.“Trust me.”

“What are you t-talking about?” was Claire’s hesitant response.

“You know exactly what I mean,” he bluffed, slapping a hand over my mouth.

“She told Johnny, didn’t she?” Claire sobbed. “Oh god, and he told you.”

My heart stopped dead in my chest. My entire world collapsed. I was right.

I was fucking right!

“Yeah, she told him,” Gibsie said, sounding furious. “What I want to know is whyyoudidn’t tell anyone, Claire?”

“I didn’t know for sure,” she hurried to say, sounding devastated. “She never confirmed anything, but all the bruises… I knew he was doing something to her. I was afraid, Gerard. I was scared, okay?”

And then it hit me like a goddamn freight train.

“Who’s hurting you, baby? I’ll fix it.”

“It’s a secret.”

“I won’t tell.”

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