Page 237 of Keeping 13

58

She’s in Love with the Boy

Shannon

“I’m scared, Joe,” I choked out, rocking baby Ollie back and forth in my arms to stop him from sobbing. “What do we do?”

“I don’t know, Shan.” At ten years old, Joey’s voice was still boyish and unbroken. “But we have to do something.”

“You do nothing,” Darren’s emotionless voice came from the bunkbed below us. He had turned fifteen yesterday and his voice sounded like a real grown-up now. “You stay in here and keep your mouth shut.”

“We can’t leave her down there with him,” Joey hissed. “She’s just had the baby. If he hits her, he’ll kill her!”

“He won’t kill her,” Darren replied, sounding frustrated. “But he will kill you if you go down there, idiot.”

“Mammy,” four-year-old Tadhg sobbed, curling into my side. “Mammy.”

“Shh, Tadhg,” I coaxed. Shifting baby Ollie onto my other thigh, I wrapped my arm around his chubby shoulders. “Mammy’s fine.”

“She’s not fine,” Joey choked out. “And he knows it.”

“What do you want me to do, Joey?” Darren demanded. “I’m trying to keep you safe!” Rolling off his bunk, he stood up and glared at the four of us. The streetlight flooding through the window illuminated his bruised and battered face. “I tried to stop him and look at me—” His voice broke and he dragged in several deep breaths. “They’re having… He’s trying… Listen, you don’t understand what’s going on down there—you’re too small to understand—but I do, and I’m telling you to stay in bed.”

Releasing a furious growl, Joey sprang down from the top bunk and grabbed his hurley from behind the door. “She’s our mother,” he hissed, staring up at Darren with narrowed eyes. “And if you won’t help her, I’ll do it myself!”

“He’ll kill you,” Darren warned, watching Joey as he unlocked the bedroom door and slung it open. “Don’t go down there, Joey. You don’t understand what’s happening—”

“I don’t care what’s happening,” Joey spat out. “I know it’s wrong. And maybe you can listen to her crying, but I can’t!” With that, he stormed out of the room with his hurley in tow. The sound of his footsteps thundering down the stairs had my heart leaping in my chest.

“Stop him,” I begged as the screaming grew louder and Tadhg cried harder. “Please, Darren!”

“I can’t stop the man,” he choked out, sinking down on his bunk. “I tried… He’s too fucking strong! I can’t—”

“Here, Tadhg, hold your baby brother.” Shifting Ollie into Tadhg’s arms, I climbed down the ladder and charged for the staircase with Darren shouting, “Shannon, please don’t!” after me.

I knew I shouldn’t go down there, but I had to. I couldn’t leave Joey on his own. We were the two amigos. We were supposed to stick up for each other.

Stumbling down the staircase, I hurried into the kitchen, only to skid over something wet and land hard on my bottom.

Glancing down at the pool of red I was sitting in, I shuddered in repulsion and quickly clambered to my feet, wiping my hands on my Barbie nightdress. I didn’t like blood. It always made me feel sick.

“You little bastard,” Dad roared, dragging my attention away from the blood.

My gaze automatically locked on my father and fear spiraled inside of me so strong, I felt faint. He was standing in the middle of the kitchen and he was bleeding. Thick, oozy blood was dripping down the side of his face and he looked furious. His jeans were hanging open, something I found very strange. What was he doing with his jeans open?

“Look at ya,” Dad sneered, glowering at Joey. “A little fucking mammy’s boy!”

“Get the fuck away from my mother,” Joey hissed as he stood in front of our mother and stared back at Dad. He was gripping his bloodied hurley in both hands, stance protective. “Or the next time I’ll kill ya!”

Dad laughed cruelly. “Do you think you’re a big tough man now, boy?”

“Do you?” Joey shot back, not missing a beat. “Pushing her around? Making her do that! Does that make you feel like a man?”

“Joey,” I choked out, panicking. “Joe—”

“Go back upstairs, Shan,” Joey instructed, tightening his grip on his hurley, never once taking his eyes off Dad. “I’ve got this.” His cheek was swollen and red, but his eyes were blazing with fury, not fear.

I didn’t know how he could do this.

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