Love Thy Neighbour *editing*

"What's so special about March?"

"Evie, what the hell's going on?" Niall thundered, whipping around to face me. I bit my lip, leaning back in my seat. Malachy, Declan and Auntie Francis all stared at me, waiting for me to answer.

I had managed to put the lid back on the box before Mattie or any of the other children had seen the remains of the bird, but not fast enough to stop Niall spotting it. He had literally pulled me to my feet and ushered me into the kitchen, closely followed by his brother, father and my nosy auntie. Hence the reason I felt like I was facing a firing squad.

"I'm sure it's nothing," I sighed, standing up. I picked up the box and walked swiftly to the back door, opening it and then dumping the box in the wheelie bin. When I turned back, Niall was shaking his head at me, his eyes pained.

"Evie, who the fuck sent you that bird?" he snarled. I leaned against the now closed door, wishing that the ground would swallow me whole. This was going to be one hell of a conversation stopper. I shut my eyes, running my hand through my hair. The smell of the bird still lingered in my nostrils; a putrid, disgusting odour that existed even after it had cleared the air.

"Denny," I mumbled, opening my eyes again. Auntie Francis had a hand clapped to her mouth, while Declan and Malachy were looking confused. I didn't even want to know what Niall's reaction was.

"Denny?" he seethed, "as in your psycho ex-boyfriend Denny?" I nodded, looking at my feet. I had unintentionally and indirectly put a dampener on everyone's Christmas.

I felt someone take hold of my hands and when I looked up, Niall was standing in front of me, his eyes fixed in a hard stare.

"I'm going to kill him," he whispered. The tone of his voice scared me. It was icy and cold; everything that Niall wasn't. I shook my head vigorously.

"No," I croaked. "Don't you dare, Niall. I don't need you going up on a charge." Right now, Niall didn't look like he could even comprehend the next day, let alone the future. But I could. I knew that, as soon as Niall found out who Denny was, I could kiss goodbye to the safe haven we had built together. And besides; Denny was the dictionary definition of trouble. If Niall picked a fight with Denny, then there would always be someone to finish whatever they started. It was an unwritten law of the estate; you choose a side and you pledge your loyalties. That was that. No arguments.

"Evie, the guy's a total nut job," Auntie Francis said. "You need to go to the police."

"And tell them what?" I snapped at her. "That I think that he sent me a dead bird but I can't actually prove because there's no proper evidence? They'll just laugh in my face.

"Besides," I added huffily, "his family'll probably just supply him with an alibi."

"What the hell have you two been dragged into?" Malachy demanded, glaring at his sons. "I thought you left Ireland to get away from things like this."

"Shut up!" Niall and Declan shouted in unison. Declan was glaring at Malachy.

"You're in no position to speak," he hissed. "How many severed hands have you passed on?" I raised my eyebrow and looked at Niall, who just rolled his eyes and shook his head. Severed hands? And my life was screwed up?

"Look," I sighed, "let's just speak about this tomorrow; it's Christmas." Everyone looked at me but decided that, yes, although it was a rarity, I was talking sense. Auntie Francis walked to the door, followed by Declan and Malachy, leaving Niall and me on our own in the kitchen. He was still holding his eyes, his head tilted to the side, looking at me.

"Why're you protecting him?" he murmured. "After everything he's done and you still don't want him to get punished."

My head jerked up and hit the door with a clatter. I ignored the pain and looked Niall straight in the eyes.