Page 252 of Redeeming 6

“I know he’s my child.”

“Then fucking act like it!” I hissed, narrowing my eyes in disgust. “Stop treating him like an afterthought. He’s not a fucking afterthought, okay? You can’t just show up here and lay down the law after not checking in on him once! It doesn’t work like that, and I won’t stand by and let you sink your twisted claws any deeper into him than you already have—”

“Molloy.”

“No, Joe, she needs to hear this.” Swallowing down a scream, I blinked away my temper tears and pointed a finger at his mother. “He’s the best damn thing that came out of your marriage and you’re too stupid to see it. He’s not your bodyguard. He’s not your bank account. He’s not your babysitter. He’s not your fucking husband. He’s your child. He’s your son!” Furious, I turned my glare on his brother. “And as for you? Well, I don’t really know you that well yet, but I’m feeling like this is a fuck-you kind of moment. So, fuck you.”

“Are you quite finished with your outburst?” the oldest Lynch asked calmly, arching a brow. “Because I’m not leaving until I speak to my brother in private.”

“Then I guess we’re all staying,” I shot back, unyielding.

“Molloy.” I felt Joey’s hand on my waist. “It’s okay.”

Feeling panicked, I swung around to look at him. “You don’t have to talk to them, Joe. Do you hear me? You don’t need to listen to another word she says.”

“It’s okay,” he whispered, giving my hip a reassuring squeeze. “Go home and get something to eat. I’ll be fine here.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not going, Joe.”

“I’m going to have to talk to them at some stage.”

“But I—”

“It’s all good, baby. Just give me a few hours, okay? I’ll be fine.”

No, this wasn’t good at all. This was all bad. I didn’t want these people anywhere near him.

“Joe.” Chewing on my lip, I implored him with my eyes to not do this. “Are you sure?”

He didn’t look sure. He didn’t look like he was in any fit state to handle these people. Still, he nodded stiffly and released me.

“Fine. It’s three o’clock now,” I squeezed out, briefly glancing at the screen of my phone before shoving it back in my pocket. “I’ll go home and have a shower, and I’ll be back at six, okay?”

“Take your time,” he replied. “It’s all good.”

No, it wasn’t.

Everything inside of me screamed, Wrong, wrong, wrong.

But what could I do?

I couldn’t exactly force his mother and brother out of the hospital, and if Joey wanted to speak to them, then I couldn’t stop him. Even if I really, really didn’t want him anywhere near these people.

“I love you,” I said, ignoring his family as I leaned in close and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll be back.”

74

I’m Your Brother

JOEY

“Where is he?” I asked the moment my girlfriend was gone, as a million thoughts were rushing around in my mind. While my heart was demanding answers to even more questions, only one question stood out in my hazy thoughts. “Where’s Dad?”

“The Gards haven’t been able to find him.”

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