The Devil You Know

Chapter 4: Home Late

I walked into the house, later than i expected. I took a deep breath opening the door quietly and walking in, hoping everyone was sleeping. I closed the door silently behind me, taking off my shoes and pulling off my grey hat.

"BRENDAN" pops raspy voice called from the living room, I winced, I didn't want to see him until the morning. "Brendan is that you?!" The older man walked out of the living room, holding a bottle of whiskey and stumbled over to me. "WHY YOU HOME SO DAMN LATE FOR?" He roared, I clenched my fists tightly, exhaling deeply and moving past him. "DONT YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME BOY"

"I was with Tess, pop" I said without looking back and walking up the crickety stairs and into Ma's room. She was curled up in a ball and I could hear her crying. I sat at the edge of her bed and she turned to face me. I could see her face was badly beat up, and I touched her face gently.

"Oh, Ma..." I whispered as her teary eyes met mine. Her hand was over mine, and she looked into my eyes. My heart sank and I went downstairs to grab some ice. pop was trying to talk to me again but I ignored him, putting the ice In a bag and going back to Mas room. I placed the ice on her swelling cheekbone and she sniffled.

"I'm sorry, Brendan" she sobbed  "I don't want you to see me like this" i kissed her head.

"Don't be sorry, Ma, I love you"I felt tears in my eyes but I shoved them back.

"I love you so much, Brendan" I kissed her again and headed out into mine and Tommy's room. Tommy sat awake, leaning against the headboard and drinking from his bottle.

"Oh Tommy, you're too young for that.." I sighed, sitting down on y bed right across from his.

"Shut up" he growled, handing me the bottle that I took a drink from. Jade crawled over to me sitting next to me as I pulled her into my arms.

"You doin' alright?" I asked, leaning back onto the wall and cradling her in my arms. She nodded closing her eyes as she leaned against my chest.

"What happened to ma?" I whispered over to Tommy. He drank from the bottle as made a low growling noise.

"What do you think happened, Brendan?" He whispered back harshly I sighed, looking down at Jade who was crying silently. Tommy took off his black hat, throwing it across the room and laid in his bed, turning away from me and Jade.

"You can sleep in here with us" I told Jade who moved to the side closest to the wall and turned her back to me, she felt safer in the corner. I laid back and stared at the ceiling, wondering if this shit would ever end.