Page 14 of Broken Hero
He reels off an address in Badger’s Mount that I don’t recognise.
“How much?”
“Five hundred love. I...I’m sorry.”
“Dad, I don't have that much. I told you, no more.”
“You’ll have to find it from somewhere - they won't let me leave. I don't have anything to put up for collateral.”
I try to think where the hell I'm going to get that much money from. I already owe a shitload to my landlord. I have an emergency credit card - I could draw money out on that, enough to pay off this guy and pay for a cab.
“I'll call you soon.” I press to end the call and switch my phone to silent. I hate my dad right now. How can he keep doing this to me? I'm his daughter.
“What’s the matter?” Declan glances at me with a frown on his face.
“What? Oh that, just my dad. He...he can be a bit unpredictable lately.”
He raises his eyebrows. “What does that mean?”
“Just that he’s a pain in the arse.” I give a short laugh.
“What does he want you to do?”
Should I tell him? No, it's best he doesn't know. “Oh, something he wants me to do for him tomorrow. I'll deal with it in the morning.”
I look down at my phone and see that he’s calling again. Why does the vibrating sound so loud? I don't answer it – he’ll have to wait until I get out of this car.
Finally, we pull up to my house. “Thanks so much, Declan.”
He stares at me. “Is something wrong - something going on that you're not telling me?”
I sigh. I would make a crap secret agent. “My dad, he needs me to go and pick him up from somewhere.”
“Now? At this time of night?”
“Yeah, I think he’s in a bit of trouble. It's no biggie, I can sort it.” I smile and try to act like its no big deal.
“Where does he want you to pick him up from? And why would he ask you when he knows you don't have a car?”
“He wants me to get a cab and take him some money – he...well, he has a problem with gambling.”
“Let me get this straight - he wants his daughter - to go out at one in the morning with some money to bail him out of a gambling situation?”
“That about sums it up, yeah.” I know how bad that makes my dad look.
“What the fuck?” His voice has an edge to it that makes me pay attention.
“It's complicated with him.” I don't know why I feel the need to defend him when he doesn't deserve it. I'm grieving too, but you don't see me making stupid life choices - chance would be a fine thing.
“Go in and get what you need. I'm taking you.”
“I can't ask you to do that, Declan.”
“You didn't ask. Go in and get what you need.”
“I feel so bad – you doing this for me, you don't even know me or my dad.”
“I know that you should not be going out at this time to God knows where, and I know that you've done a full shift at the track and a full shift at the pub - you must be exhausted.”
