Mafia King (Young Irish Rebels #2) - Vi Carter Page 0,46

cage again?” Connor continues. Shay’s cleared the stairs. I'm on the last step. He and his father are shoulder to shoulder, and my gut twists when neither of them moves.

“Do you want to get yourself killed?” Connor has maybe thirty years on his son, but I couldn’t say who would win in a fight. I’d seen Shay fight, and it was savage, but I heard about Connor O’Reagan, the fighter who was undisputed.

“You want to know why I keep going back?” Shay hits his shoulder off his dad’s, my stomach curls, and I’m gripping the banister like it might keep me upright.

“I’ve waited ever since the day Frankie died to find the person responsible, and I did.” Shay’s breathing heavy, and it’s like he’s lost.

“I found Michael Phillips.” He shoves his shoulder into his dad’s again. “I danced on that motherfucker’s head.”

Shay’s mom moves away until she’s resting against the wall. A wail leaves her mouth, but Shay and his dad are too caught up in their own rage.

“I gave my brother peace.” Shay thumps his chest, and the noise of it would rattle your bones. Blood starts to seep through his bandages.

“I gave my brother his vengeance.” Shay’s voice rises, and his mom’s wails grow.

Connor’s gaze wavers for the first time, and when they land on me, I swallow bile. All that rage has to go somewhere, and I’m a target.

“It won’t bring Frankie back.”

I feel the slap in Shay’s dad’s words. I cringe and wish for this one moment; he might just say, ‘Well Done.’

“No, it won’t. You put him in that cage.”

Connor reacts and shoves Shay, who snaps back and catches himself before falling.

“You want to have a go at me?” Shay’s bouncing, and once again, I’ve never seen anyone so lost in a tornado of rage and self-destruction.

“Stop it!”

My hands start to tremble, my body cannot take much more as Shay’s mom stands in between them with tears pouring down her face.

“YOU WILL NOT PUT YOUR HANDS ON EACH OTHER!” She’s screaming each word. Each word is so filled with pain.

“Okay.” Connor steps away from his son and drags his wife into his side. His fisted hand tightens around her as he hugs her to his body. Her sobs wrack her body. Connor stares at Shay, but it’s broken as Shay steps around him, opening me up to the floor. I’m moving without thinking. With hunched shoulders, I scurry past Connor and his sobbing wife and follow Shay outside.

Laughter gathers itself inside my chest, and I want to laugh and say, “that was intense.” Shay stops at the bushes and pulls up a bag that he slings across his shoulder.

I’m following behind him, and I don’t think he even knows I’m here. The laughter comes out in spurts like some broken faucet until my lips drag down and my chest tightens. I have to stop. I can’t breathe. More laughter comes out along with tears as I cling to a pillar that no one bothered to paint. It’s as neglected as I am.

Something that had a purpose, but no one bothered to give it its final touches.

“Emma.” Shay’s voice pulls me out of my turmoil, but I don’t face him. I can’t. I drag in the air. His hand touches my arm, and I move back away from him.

“Don’t put your fucking hands on me.” I know the knife is there, but right now, if I draw it, I’ll use it.

I’ll regret it.

Shay’s jaw clenches, and he looks beyond me and nods.

“We need to go.” He turns and starts to walk. What choice do I have but to follow him? Each step sends me into murky waters. I’m angry. Angry at him, angry at my dad for handing me over. I’m angry at Noel for not stopping this sooner.

“Where are we going?” My voice is low as I catch up to Shay. I count to five before he answers me.

“To a friend of mine.”

We’re going to another place that might be hostile and with more hostile people. I’m walking down a sidewalk with a murderer at my side. I take a peek at Shay, but he’s focused on what’s in front of him.

“Will I be safe there?” I ask the stupid question because I won’t be safe anywhere. I’m not safe with Shay.

“There’s no place that’s safe.” His answer irritates the fuck out of me.

Shay’s pace quickens like he’s hoping he’ll leave me behind. I tighten my arms around my waist as we continue to walk