Page 51 of Hooked

Adrenaline propels me back to my uncle’s house. I run upstairs so my uncle doesn’t have to see me like this and curl into a ball on the bed and cry. Shuddering sobs wrack my body, and it’s agonizing to keep myself from wailing. I don’t want anyone to hear me.

I cry myself into a dreamless sleep, like a child, and wake up feeling like I have a fever. Someone’s sitting on my bed, a light hand rests on my forehead.

“You sick, Sia?”

My eyes feel heavy, but I pry the lids open and try to focus.

“Molly?” What is Owen’s girlfriend doing here? Am I hallucinating?

“Yeah, honey,” she says. “You feel warm. Did you catch something on your high sea adventures?”

I uncurl and sit against the headboard, still confused. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s Christmas Eve. Nowhere else we’d rather be. Your cousins are all downstairs.” She has a wicked glint in her eye. “When Murphy found out the boys had decided he was too sick to travel, well, he didn’t like that and read them the riot act. Told them he’s not dead yet and to stop hurrying it along. He and Danny are already in a heated cribbage match.”

“Oh.”

I do feel sick, but I think I’m just dehydrated.

And heartbroken.

“You don’t look good. I’m going to bring up some water, okay?”

“Thanks.”

I’m still processing this turn of events when Kieran returns with the water instead of Molly. He’s got a bruise forming under his eye.

He sits on the bed, which creaks angrily under his weight, and hands me the water.

“Kieran, are you okay?” I ask, setting the water on the nightstand.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen him with a black eye. Probably won’t be the last, either. He gets beat up more than his brother Owen and Owen’s an MMA fighter.

I’m sure whoever is on the other side of Kieran’s fists fared much worse, but I don’t like seeing him hurt.

“Fine,” he says. “Molly says you weren’t feeling great? I’m sorry, Sia. I really am. We all love you.”

“I know you do,” I rasp. I clear my throat and take a sip of water. “I’m okay. Just thirsty.”

“You’ve put so much work into keeping us all together. You always make everyone feel warm and included, no matter what.”

Where is this coming from? My eyes well up.

“He told me what he said.” Anger chokes Kieran’s voice. “I went over to say hi. Thank him for having your back when I thought we couldn’t make it here.”

Oh. I hug my knees to my chest.

He clenches his fists.

“I wanted to fucking kill him, Sia. The only reason I didn’t is because he helped you get off that boat.”

Kieran’s always so happy, ready with a terrible joke or ridiculous story. Seeing him this angry is unsettling.

He stares off into space for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

“Drew loved you even when he was at his most fucked up.” Kieran sighs. “I don’t know if telling you this is the right thing or not, but he was trying to get clean. Said he was tired of seeing that sad look in your eyes. He said if anyone else had made you feel like that, he’d have beaten the shit out of them. Like I just beat the shit out of Vinny.”

I don’t miss the hint of pride in his voice.

---