HAVING 13 - Johnny Kavanagh

17. Forever

JOHNNY
February 6th 2005

Melissa Lynch officially had me.

I walked her home, hesitating to let her go into the house I knew held the person hurting her.

But she wasn't mine, so I wasn't allowed to make that choice.

My adductor muscle was still not healed and my dick was still broken, being the hugest pain in my hole, but I ignored that as long as I could help Missy.

She asked for my help. If you knew Melissa, you knew that this was a very rare incident. She never asked anyone for anything.

But she asked me.

Which meant that she depended on me and she trusted me to some extent.

I did what she asked me to.

I got Gibs to drive over there with my car, and he was there in ten minutes, since he hadn't gotten far.

Just a minute after he arrived, four people spilled out the front door, huddled together. They were all tense and anxious.

Shannon stopped in front of me, her three little brothers staying behind, even though the biggest of the bunch had his chest puffed out.

"Hi, Johnny," Shannon muttered.

"Shannon." My eyebrows involuntarily creased. "What's wrong? Where's Melissa?" I questioned.

"Inside. Melissa says you're her friend and you can help us find a place to stay," Shannon explained.

"Friend, my arse," One of the three identical boys snorted. "They're definitely shifting."

I wish, lad.

"Tadhg," Shannon warned.

So, his name was Tadhg.

"Uh, you can stay at my place. I've got space," I offered.

No one could've missed how all three kids' heads snapped towards Shannon, expectantly waiting for her answer.

"Fine," The small girl sighed.

When I described her as small, I meant it.

She was 5'0 at most and she was pure skin and bones.

All of the Lynch siblings were thin, I realised once I got a good look at them.

Deep inside I knew it was their parents whom were hurting and neglecting them, but the barrister's son voice in my head told me that I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

But I knew that Missy's Da was hitting them.

Gibsie let them in my car, immediately chatting them up about how I was in love with their sister.

"Y'know, Kav's got it bad for Missy," He said.

The two littlest ones gaped at him, one of them asking a question. "How does you know? Who's Kav?"

"It's 'do you know', ya eejit," Tadhg complained.

"Tadhg, be nice," Shannon scolded.