Page 240 of Redeeming 6

Forcing myself to fight back against his hold, I spat out a clump of blood and heaved against the tiles, desperately trying to buck him off my back.

Relentless, he reared my head back and smashed it down again.

Again and again.

Over and over.

“Get off him. Teddy, you’re going to kill him.”

Dizziness engulfed me.

“Good. And you’re next, you turncoat whore.”

Pain ricocheted through me. I could feel the bone in my nose twisting sideways from the brunt of his blows. In a way, I was relieved because I thought this might finally be it.

It’s finally over.

“That all you got?” I snarled, still fighting against his unbreakable hold, because I would never give in to this man. He would have to stop my heart from pumping first. “You’re losing your touch, old man.”

It was only ever going to go one of two ways. Either he was going to kill me, or I was going to kill him. At least, if he finished it, I could rest. I could just have peace.

Don’t you dare stop.

You’ve got a girl and a baby depending on you.

Get the fuck back up on your feet.

Don’t you dare leave her alone in this.

Furious, I kept fighting, kept goading, kept fucking going, until I somehow managed to twist my body sideways and drag him onto the floor with me. But I was too weakened, my body too worn out to fight him off.

Desperately fighting for my life, I tried to inflict as much pain as I could on him, but my hands felt like concrete blocks. It was so hard to lift them, let alone throw a punch.

Getting the better of me once more, my father straddled my chest and clamped his big hand around my throat, sealing my airway and restricting my lungs.

I could hear the kids crying, I could hear Mam wailing, I knew Shannon needed help, but all I could think of in this moment was my girlfriend. All of the bad shit I’d done, all of the horrible fucking situations I’d put her in down through the years. I could feel the tears trickling down my cheeks as my body weakened.

I love you, I mentally told her. I’m sorry. I gave it a fucking shot.

I wanted to close my eyes. To just stop. But something caught my eye in the haze. Shannon caught my eye. I could see her. At the other side of the kitchen. Slumped over and bleeding from her mouth. Panic clawed at my gut.

She’s dying.

She’s dying.

Get up.

Get the fuck up and help her.

“Help…her,” I tried to scream, but my words were barely more than a whisper. “Fucking…help…her!”

“Get off my brother!” Tadhg’s scream infiltrated my mind moments before the pressure on my throat eased.

Gasping for air, I pulled and tore at the hand still wrapped around my throat. He wasn’t choking me anymore, but he hadn’t released me, either.

“Tadhg, put down the knife,” I heard my mother strangle out. “Please, baby.”

“Fuck you,” he screamed back. “Get. Off. My. Brother.”

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