Chapter 55: You'll Never Be Alone Again

(Justice)

She read about the courtroom killing in the papers, as it made the news even back in her home country. She was proud of them for finishing what they had started and for avenging Rocco. She was happy they had done that with their father; she knew what it must have meant for them to have him by their side. She was relieved he was with them when she couldn't.

Yet all she truly cared about was that they were alright. It said they hadn't been hurt; they hadn't been caught; even though she hadn't had a single other news, that was just enough for her peace of mind.

It was unnerving enough to remember the state she had left them in. Each time she reminded herself how they looked that morning, their bruised, broken faces, their dispirited, hagard eyes, tears welled up in hers. She couldn't believe she had closed that door without a hug, without even a smile.

She had seen Smecker only once, almost three months ago, and understood that they were trying to keep her in the states as long as possible. However in the end, she was sent back to her father's home anyway.

She hadn't gone down without a fight. And when he had picked her up at the airport, she had even tried to fight him. Though, as it had happened when she was younger, every move she made seemed to make it even worse.

Now, she was locked up in her old room, in that house in Naas that she hated, planning her escape. She would walk all the way to Annabelle's house if she had to. This time, she wouldn't hesitate. If the boys had followed their plans, they should be around New York at that point. And they would find a way to call their ma, no matter what; as they always had. That was how Aideen would get back to them.

The only thing she needed right now was to manage to push the little key all the way out of the lock, outside of her bedroom door. She had slid a piece of paper under it on the ground; she'd seen that trick in a show, or a cartoon maybe. She just needed to make the key fall on it, then she'd simply pull it back under the door, into her room. No problem.

Except, when the key finally fell, she heard it bounce and clatter away. And the piece of paper came back empty. Fuck.

She slouched on the floor, her fists hitting the wood in raging defeat. Even during her years with questionable acquaintances, she had never learned how to pick a lock. That would have come in handy. Now, she'd have to try and break the door, which wouldn't be an easy feat.

Suddenly, she heard noises downstairs. She couldn't believe he was already back! He was always there… Tonight, he was supposed to be at a veteran reunion, the only people that could still bear him, as far as she knew. But maybe he had been thrown out of the association; it wouldn't be that surprising.

Aideen had sadly realised that, since his wife had died, her father had become even more hateful than he used to be. The tiny part of her that didn't completely loathe him felt sorry for this lonely old man. Still she wanted nothing more than to break free of him. And she couldn't do that while he was always watching her.

Except, she didn't hear a voice, she heard voices. Surely he hadn't brought friends back. He had no friends. There were whispering voices… Two not-so-discreetly bickering voices! She jumped on her feet. She couldn't believe her ears.

"Connor? Murphy!"

"Tine!" - "Ye there?"

Jesus Christ, she loved those voices.

"I'm up here!"

It seemed so unreal. They were not only back in Ireland for her, but here in her father's house. Here where she had lived in hell for so long. Here where she did not have a single happy memory, only of a violent father and a dying mother. She heard them bundle up the stairs and to her door.

"Christ! Ye alright love?" she heard Connor call.

"Get away from the door, Tin', we'll smash it!" Murphy warned.

"Wait!" She couldn't help giggling. "The key's somewhere at yer feet Murph…"

"Here-" Connor said, but then she heard them fight for it.

When the door finally opened, they elbowed each other happily to be the first to engulf her in the warmest embrace. And Murphy finally swept her off the ground. She was weeping with joy.

While clutching her in a crushing hug, he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry Tin', I'm sorry…" came his muffled voice, breaking with a sob.

"Don't, Murph, I'm sorry too." She tried to soothe him.

"Why would ye be sorry, love?" Connor asked, and she extended an arm to hug him too, even though Murphy was not letting go.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for ye when ye needed me the most; I'm so sorry I left and-"

"Will ye fucking stop! None of this is yer fault." Connor wasn't angry, but he was adamant.

"Jesus Christ, I fucking missed ye," she wept, and Murphy kissed away her tears.

Connor grabbed her chin to make her look at him: "Tell me, are ye alright, love?"

"I'm perfect now," she managed a watery smile.

"That ye are!" Murphy jested while still peppering kisses on her cheek.

"Ye knew we were coming, right?" Connor's serious tone told her he, on the other hand, was waiting for an honest answer.

"I- Em…" Her voice quavered.

"Fuck, Tin', we'll always come for ye, ye have to know that now," Murphy reprimanded her.

"We're not letting ye get away that easy, love," Connor's softer tone and smile alleviated the quibble. Then his nose brushed with hers, before his lips captured hers fiercely.

Her right arm was still around Murphy's shoulders, while her left arm clutched him. She felt his tongue seek entrance at the same moment Murphy's mouth nipped at her neck. And electricity ignited her whole body.

She felt wetness pool in her own panties and immediately scolded herself: this was not the time nor the place.

But the second Connor broke the kiss and stepped away, Murphy had turned her head towards himself. His lips trailed to hers, tenderly, taking their time.

"Pack yer bags, now, we're out of here." Connor tried to be the responsible one.

"They're packed," she managed to utter between Murphy's laughing ministrations.

"We should go now," she heard Connor say pointedly.

Though Murphy wouldn't stop; he returned to attack her throat with teeth and tongue and make her moan. There was no way she was fighting against this.

"I kinda had other plans…" the darker twin breathed out while continuing his assaults on her skin, raising goosebumps and blush.

Aideen's right hand was grasping his hair; her body was already writhing with want, when her left hand flew to grab Connor's shirt in a fist and pull him closer.

"Ye two are fucking sick," she heard him say with a chuckle lightening his words.