Saving 6: Boys of Tommen

“If by her, you’re referring to my fella’s sister, then I’ll give you a five second head-start to get the fuck out of her face before I cut your ponytail off and strangle you with it.”

“Stay out of this, Aoife,” Hannah tried to interject, glancing around nervously. “This isn’t your fight.”

“If you fight her, you fight me,” I warned, as unaffected by their bullshit as I was unwilling to back down. “So, are we fighting, or are you bitches keeping your hair for another day? I’m down either way.”

More eruptions of laughter unfolded.

“Ah, don’t you take any notice of them, pet,” Dad crooned, through fits of laughter. “It only cost me a fiver.”

“I hate you all,” I announced dramatically, and then waved a finger in Joey’s amused face. “Especially you, turncoat.”

“Don’t you go scaring him off now, ya hear?” Dad said, eyes on me. “I can’t be losing my apprentice if you two decide to part ways.”

“You won’t,” Joey assured him. “I won’t mess this up.”

“Yes, good lad,” Dad said. “But I was talking to her ladyship alongside you.”

“Me?” I laughed. “How am I responsible for this metaphorical parting of ways?”

“Probably because you’re such a demanding pain in the hole,” Kev offered dryly. “And Dad’s having a hard time understanding why anyone would voluntarily agree to set up house with such a princess.”

“Ha fucking ha,” I shot back, digging both of my couch buddies in the ribs when they erupted with laughter. “Aren’t you all just so hilarious?”

“Don’t worry, Aoife, love,” Mam offered then. “Dad didn’t have to pay Joey too much to go out with you.”

“We seem to have our wires crossed, boyo,” Tony said with a heavy sigh, as he walked towards me and clamped a hand on my shoulder. “I warned you off my daughter because I didn’t want to lose a good worker if it all went pear shaped, and for no other reason.”

I frowned at him. “But I thought…“

“You’re a grand lad, Joey,” Tony added, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “A lad I would be happy to see look after my Aoife.”

“No.” I shook my head, brows furrowed in confusion. “I’m really not, Tony.”

“You forget that I’ve known you since you were a small boy of twelve,” he reminded me, as he steered us towards the back door. “I remember looking at this small scrap of a lad standing in the garage, down on his luck and with the weight of the world on his shoulders. That small boy asked me for a chance that day,” he added, voice thick with emotion. “I took a chance on that boy, and I’m glad that I did, because the man that small boy turned into is a man who I am damn proud of.”

Turning to face her father, who was glaring at me like I had betrayed him, and let’s face it I had, I quickly held my hands up. “Before you say a word, just know that I didn’t set out to disrespect you in any way, shape, or form.”

“Tony.” Forcing myself to remain calm, I offered him a small nod. “All good. Thanks for, ah, for having me over.”

“It was Aoife’s idea.” Reaching into the drawer, he retrieved the sharpest looking carving knife I’d ever had the misfortune of laying eyes on. “She said the two of you had something to discuss with us.”

That’s how he’ll do it, I thought to myself, as I made my peace with God, that’s what he’ll use when he cuts my balls off.

“Dad,” Molloy growled in a warning tone. “You promised.”

Tony held his hands up. “Have I said a harsh word to the lad?”

“You didn’t have to,” she snapped back. “The fact that you’re glaring at him while yielding a carving knife says it all for you.”

She folded her arms across her chest and huffed. “Do it.”

I laughed. “No.”

“I want an apology.”

“And I want a million euro,” I laughed. “Tell you what, you’ll get your apology when I get my money.”

You know the old saying; don’t poke the bear?

Yeah, I poked him.

“He told her about that head gasket,” Joey whispered, smirking. “But would she listen?”

“I told the woman that head gasket didn’t have another ten miles in it, but would she listen?” Dad growled.

Joey winked, and it was slightly unsettling how well he knew my father.

I shook my head. “That girl is her own person, lad. Believe me. Nobody’s going to cage her.”

“Except for you,” he chuckled.

“No, lad,” I corrected, feeling my heart roar to life when she smiled across the room at me. “Especially not me.”