Warrior

Violent Delights: Triumph

: there's something I can't confess, from all the truth that I've said, tell me what you want to hear :

Chapter 11 Part 1: Brother Brendan

I sat across from Patrick in one of the AA personal rooms.

'I'm sorry I'm late,' I took off my coat and unwrapped my scarf shooting an apologetic look at Patrick who just smiled, 'I was with someone.'

Patrick didn't ask who. I don't think he had to if the knowing smile was anything to go by. Tommy probably hadn't mentioned me unless he'd told his dad already that I'm joining them this weekend.

The clock read 2.34, I was 14 minutes late and therefore only had 16 minutes left to talk to Patrick about his drinking before we could officially delve into more social topics.

I took out his file and ticked a few boxes, behaviour was good, co-operation in meetings I'd been told is satisfactory, I saw a comment from Kelsie in one of the margins: he expressed to group he thinks it's only 'matter of time' before he drinks again - please discuss.

'It says here Mr Conlon that you think you'll slip back into old habits.'

Patrick didn't meet my gaze and put his hands out in front of him on the table. He twiddled his thumbs and my time in AA told me he was thinking so I didn't press. I just waited.

'Tommy isn't the best person to live with.'

Did Tommy drink?

'Does your son tempt you, sir?'

Even though I'd told Tommy I'd keep this strictly professional, the thought of Tommy waving alcohol in his fathers face made me uneasy. It sounded like something Tommy would do to get back at his dad.

'No,' he says gruffly and clears his throat, 'no he doesn't do that.'

Patrick put his hands on his lap implying he was uncomfortable with this subject. I moved on. 'Did you want to have frequent meetings during the week? At the moment you're scheduled for twice a week, we can-'

'Alana, I don't need AA.'

'If you believed that, you wouldn't be here. Besides, if you think you coulda done it on your own by all means, stop wasting our time and don't attend any more meetings. Next time you pass a bar, go in and order a whiskey. See how long it will take you to down it.'

What I'd said was probably harsh but when a client begins to think AA is unnecessary, it's up to us to convince them otherwise. I cared about Patrick more than any other old ex-drunk.

'I don't have much company.'

I crossed my leg over the other and tapped my pen on my pad, 'we can arrange out of office activities for you.' The professional talk was being to bore even me. Patrick met my eyes in a knowing look and we waited until the last minute clicked down and finally, we were able to talk properly.

'You know, you're always okay to drop in here when you feel lonely. You know I'm not busy anymore now that the phones aren't my problem anymore.'

'Working the phones made you busy?'

Like father like son.

Clearing my throat, I put my pad away and laughed softly, 'did Tommy tell you about this weekend?'

'Sparta.' Patrick nodded, 'he told you?'

'He actually invited me.'

The old man furrowed his brow and leaned a little closer to me, 'you sure you wanna go to something like that?'

What had I let myself in for? I didn't know much about this tournament at all - I hadn't even had the time to google it either. I was just so flattered Tommy even invited me.

'It's just a boxing match, right?'

'It's MMA.'

'Male Mating Academy,' I laughed but stopped when Patrick looked uneasy. 'Are you alright?'

'Alana, I don't think you should come this weekend. Tommy hasn't told you anything about it.'

'I was actually going to ask you.'

Asking Patrick wasn't probably a good idea anymore considering he looked as if my presence there would bother him. I hadn't thought it would be a really big deal. I'd watched boxing matches, karate, fighting in the Olympics, I'd seen Rocky a hundred times, I'd played Tekken, Dead or Alive - fighting didn't bother me.
'I've seen wrestling before...'

Patrick shook his head, 'it's not the fighting. I... Tommy isn't the same when he's in a cage. He's nothing but animal. I don't know what he's thinking inviting you.'

'Moral support, you're just his trainer after all.' I bit at him and Patrick looked a little shocked I'd even said that. I was shocked at myself. I was defending Tommy but at the same time defending myself for being so naive. Of course Tommy wasn't going to be my boyfriend in that cage, he was going to be pure, muscular fighter. He was probably going to terrify me.

'Brendan will be there. Tommy isn't even phased by the fact he might have to-'

'Who the hell is Brendan?'

Patrick looked as if he wanted to laugh but shout at the same time. 'He really hasn't told you anything, has he?'

I was getting angry now, uncrossing my legs I leaned across the table, 'well then enlighten me, old man.'

'Brendan is my eldest son.' Patrick held my gaze without hesitation, he'd obviously had it up to his neck with my retorts, 'Tommy's brother. He's also in the competition.'

Oh my God.

I leaned back in my chair feeling as I'd been deflated off my high horse.

'And he's...'

'Also in the fighting competition,' Patrick repeated slowly and stood up, gathering his jacket, 'I guess I'll see you this weekend.'

The comment was snarky and sounded strange coming from someone who is usually so calm and collected. I'd been put in my place, obviously. I ran a hand through my hair and put my face in my arms on the table.

What was I getting myself into?

~VD:T~

The next day, I was tempted to call Tommy and cancel our firework date but I didn't. Instead, I went through the day as normal and continued to get ready. Black skinny jeans, a white and blue stripey long sleeved shirt and a brown pair of flat ankle boots.

I wasn't in the mood to impress him and the way I was so eager to say something, the evening probably wouldn't end on glowing terms.

The buzzer sounding at 8 signalled he was here. 'Come on up,' I said and pressed the button to let him in. That woman obviously wasn't letting him into the building anymore. A part of me suspected it was a horny Mrs Shaplot.

Grabbing my black and grey jacket off the chair, I opened the door before he could knock. 'Hey.'

I just forced a smile at him and caught his slightly baffled look as I didn't even invite him inside and just walked out into the hall. 'You okay?'

'Yeah.' I said and started walking, 'why wouldn't I be?'

Tommy shrugged and took my arm in his hand linking it through so we were arm in arm. It was a cute gesture and totally unlike Tommy but I couldn't let myself be happy or woo'd by it. It seemed my mood with Tommy nowadays was becoming more and more hostile.

'Where's this firework show?'

'Just down here,' I said but before I could go through the gate which led to a field, Tommy stopped and was looking at something. He nudged my arm and I caught that soft smile before he looked down at me, he had an idea.

'Follow me.'

The firework show was a part of the church's way to convince people to attend religious meetings on Sunday mornings - most people in my neighbourhood though just went to enjoy the show. The field was filled with people and boxes and boxes of various fireworks were stacked on top of eachother. Tommy led me through the crowd towards the small church.

I stopped in my tracks, 'Tommy we can't go in there.'

He looked so hot when he was being mischievious. 'Technically, we won't end up inside.'

Before I could question it, he opened the door with ease and pushed it open, the darkness inside suggesting it was empty. I'd never been inside and I'm guessing neither had Tommy yet somehow, he made his way through the darkness, me clutching his arm to my chest in an attempt to keep him as close to me as possible, and he reached a set of stairs.

'Come on,' he whispered into my ear, he turned me so I could go up first and he kept himself pressed to me, his arm around my stomach as I slowly went up the stairs.

'I'm going to jail,' I whispered and laughed as Tommy chuckled under his breath. 'Tommy, what are we doing?'

'I saw a rooftop.' He said as we stood at the top of the stairs. It was cold, dark and there was a set of doors that looked to lead to different places. 'I wanted to watch the fireworks from there.'

A firework outside made me jump and Tommy pressed me him as he laughed. 'We're lost.'

'We're not,' I said heading towards the door where the stairs were, 'we just have to-'

I tugged on the door and when it didn't budge, I looked desperately at Tommy who went from amused to confused. 'What?'

'Tommy,' I said and tugged on the door somemore, 'it's not opening!'

We were still using hushed whispers just in case but I was starting to panic. 'Tommy!'

I felt Tommy come up behind me, he was still laughing a little and tried the door, even with his brute strength, the door wouldn't open. 'Maybe it locks.'

'Or you're not strong enough,' I rolled my eyes, the dim light in this tiny hallway we were in making the atmosphere a little cosy but the air was freezing. Obviously one of the three doors led outside. I tried pushing them all but they wouldn't open. We were trapped.

Tommy tried the door again and then turned to me, a cocky look on his face.

'I'm glad you seem okay with this.' I shivered and hugged myself as I sat on the cold floor, 'we're trapped in a creepy cold church and there's fireworks going off that I can't see and to top it off, I'm kinda mad at you.'

'When are you not mad at me?' Tommy made a joke. Hallelujah, Tommy made a joke. He crossed the hall and sat beside me, he used his jacket as a kind of blanket and we both hugged it to us.

'Why didn't you tell me your brother is in this Sparta competition?'

Tommy's face fell and he shifted. 'I didn't think you needed to know.'

'I'm going to this tournament this weekend with you. A tournament I don't know anything about let alone probably enjoy just because you asked me to. And you couldn't tell me that your brother is going to be there?'

There was silence and I rested my head back on the wall behind me. If I wasn't so cold, I would've moved away from him. The confined space we were in forced us to communicate, perhaps that's what it takes. Tommy began to speak.

'Me an' Brendan don't talk much anymore,' Tommy was looking ahead of him and I moved my head slightly to watch him seem to struggle with the words, 'me an' ma made a plan to take off. Bren didn't come.'

'Why?' I whispered.

'Met a girl. A fuckin' girl.'

'Don't curse my gender if you please.' I said trying to lighten the mood, 'you still hold it against him?'

I sensed Tommy leaving me, he was distancing himself from me emotionally. Bringing my hand up, I stroked him gently down his spine, he breathed and leaned into my touch a little bit.

I drew words, pictures and patterns on his back and it seemed to work. His breathing went steady again and he continued, 'ma turned into my responsibility instead of both of ours. He stayed with drunk Pop and left me to watch her die.'

Closing my eyes, I bit my lip, I couldn't begin to imagine what that would be like. But I know what it's like to be abandoned by family. I ran my hand up around his neck and into his hair.

'If you don't wanna come this weekend anymore, I get it.'

Scoffing I leaned my head back on the wall, letting my hand fall from Tommy's warm skin, 'I'll come this weekend, Tommy.'

Tommy turned towards me and caught my smile, he pressed his lips to mine and I deepened it just to savour the warmth. His arms went around me and he leaned back backwards, his weight not fully pressing down on me. The fireworks outside continued to shrill and explode and although I couldn't actually see them, Tommy's presence right now was making me see fireworks and stars in my head.

Moving his lips to my throat and neck, he nipped and sucked the skin there, resisting a moan, I heard a bolt. I sat up with Tommy and we both stood quickly before the door flew open.

A man stood there, a broom in one hand and a set of keys in the next, 'you two lost?'

Tommy and me exchanged a look before we ran out of there like a pair of teenagers, laughing and making it outside just as a red and blue firework exploded into the sky.

Alright, so this is part 1 of Chapter 11. The next chapter will be part 2 and then after that will be a jump in time. So, the weekend that Lana is joining them on is indeed Sparta.
Anyway, thank you so much guys for all the reviews. I love updating quicker if it will get me more feedback.
Song is Secrets by OneRepublic.