Page 21 of Beautiful Lies
“What’s going on?”
My father was outside our door, pounding on it, and there would be hell to pay. “I need you to get dressed and stay in the bedroom. Understand? I’ll get rid of him and then I’ll take you home, okay?”
“But why—”
Her eyes widened as she checked the time on her phone. “Oh my God, Connor. It’s two in the morning. My mom is going to kill me. Five missed calls.” She fiddled with her phone. “The ringtone was on mute. Oh my God. I’m dead.”
“I’ll take care of everything. Promise. Just stay here,” I said, closing the bedroom door behind me.
I didn’t have time to explain. For all the talking we did and all my honesty, I’d kept Seamus’ dirty secrets. And for some reason, Ava had never questioned why I was living with Killian and not at home.
I opened the door and faced the man who had raised me. Solid muscle with wide shoulders and slicked-back dark hair. His face was an alarming shade of red, jaw clenched, the muscle in his cheek jumping. It took me all of two seconds to assess the situation. His sweat smelled like a distillery. He’d been drinking, and this wouldn’t have a pretty ending.
“What do you think you’re doing, boy?” he asked, his voice low and steely, cutting right through me. Seamus Vincent never shouted when he was angry. “Marie Christensen called me. She says her daughter’s with you. Was meant to be home hours ago. That right?”
There was no point in lying. The outcome would be the same no matter what I said. “I’m taking her home now.”
“She’s coming with me. I said I’d drive her home.”
“You’re not driving her anywhere. You reek of whiskey.”
“What did you say?”
“You’re. Not. Driving. Ava. Anywhere.”
He stared at me and I stood my ground, steeling myself for the impact of his punches. “Your job is the only thing you’ve got left. You want to jeopardize that? Fine. But you’re not putting my girlfriend’s life in danger.”
Seamus’ fist slammed into my face. My head snapped back, and I heard Ava scream.
“Watch your mouth, boy. Remember who you’re talking to.”
“I don’t give a shit if you’re the Pope. My girlfriend’s not getting in a car with you, old man.”
Seamus slammed me against the wall, pinned me down with his arm pressed against my throat and punched me in the stomach, knocking all the air out of my lungs. Little black dots floated in front of my eyes and I couldn’t breathe. I barely felt the next punch.
“Leave him alone,” Ava screamed, grabbing Seamus’ arm and yanking on it. He looked down at her, confused, and loosened his hold on me. It was enough to give me an advantage. I shoved him as hard as I could, catching him off guard and he stumbled backward, crashing into the side of the sofa.
“You little shit,” he said, his eyes narrowed as he came at me again.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Killian roared as he came in the door. He grabbed Seamus by the shoulders and pinned him to the wall, getting right into his face.
“Get your hands off me,” Seamus said, shoving him away. It was over. For now.
“I need to get Ava home. He’s too drunk to drive.” I stuffed my feet in my Nikes, grabbed my keys from the coffee table and took Ava’s hand, leading her out of the apartment and down the stairs.
“Connor.” Her eyes filled with tears and her whole body was shaking.
“It’ll be okay,” I said, leading her down the sidewalk toward the subway station. Two stops on the R train and a four-block walk from the station to her house. We’d be there in twenty minutes. “Everything is okay.”
“Hold up,” Killian called after us.
I looked over my shoulder at Killian who held up a set of keys. “I’ll drive you. It’s faster.”
Ava and I climbed into the backseat of Seamus’ SUV. He was in the passenger seat and I didn’t need to look at his face to know he was furious. Or that we’d pay for this little stunt. He’d humiliated himself, and there would be a price to pay. Seamus usually managed to control himself in public and mete out the punishment behind closed doors. This time he’d crossed over a line by allowing someone to witness his outburst. Not just someone. Ava.
“Text your mom,” I said in a low voice. “Let her know you’re on your way.”
She took her phone out of her pocket with shaky hands and texted, exhaling as she hit send.
