Watched
Adrian handed his grandfather a cup of tea and slice of cake before sitting on the armchair in the living room. It had been a very strange time. He knew his oldest brother was being targeted by his cousin but he didn't know why. He initially thought he had been targeted because Martina had chosen Joey over Shifty. But then he remembered the attack had happened before they had got together. The old man frowned slightly as he watched the younger man.
"You need to stop thinking so much."
"I do think a lot Grandad. I do."
"Aye." The old man slurped his tea. "And where does that get you eh? I used to think about things a lot. When I was with your Granny I did think a lot."
"You did love her? Granny?"
"Oh did I? I loved the ground she walked on. When she had our boys I thought she was the most amazong creation on God's earth. Shame they turned out like they did. One with his head permamently in the clouds, the other a waster and scoundral. No wonder Shifty ended up the way he 'as."
"Its not your fault." Adrian took a sip of his own drink. "It isn't. Uncle Bill and Dad are their own men. Shifty, well he is on his own path."
"Aye." Grandad nodded. "And that path ends up one of two ways. The prison or the mortuary. Neither a place I wanted my grandchildren to be. You need to settle down. All this nasty business. You can't keep expecting our Joey to bail you out. What if e had died in that car crash."
"Don't say that." Adrian closed his eyes.
"Aye, not a thought I like either but it could have happened. What would have happened to your Mam then? To the rest of you? You have all relied on that boy too much. It's not fair on him. Now." The old man paused. "I am not saying you lot are incapable. Far from it. Jack lived in America. Billy managed to father a child, Aveline has carved out a life and family of her own. You lads need to stop thinking that Joey is invincible."
"We don't. I don't"
"You take that lad for granted. Stop it. You're young men now, look after yourselves." He shook his head as Adrian fell silent. He knew he had hit a nerve, he hoped for Joey's sake the younger Boswell brothers took his words to heart.
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Martina sat in the front room of her flat, glad that she had asked Jack to take her back there. She needed clean clothes, a shower and her own bed. She hadn't expected Joey to want to come with her. She rested her head on his shoulder as she felt the exhaustion catch up with her.
"Jack is a good lad." She sighed. "It was good of him to collect us and ferry us around."
"He's a good soul." Joey agreed. "I am going to ask him to be my best man. Billy will moan and Adrian will be disappointed not to come up with some flowery speach but Jack ha always been there for me." He rested his head on the back of the settee. Martina nodded.
"True." She felt her eyes close slightly. "We haven't set a date yet. Only told your parents after the crash."
"I need to get you an engagement ring."
"No you don't." She paused. "You need to get a car and get well again. We were in a terrible car crash and they still haven't arrested Shifty. That's the priority."
Joey had to agree with her. He kissed her hair as she fell silent. "You're right."
"Usually am."
Joey raised an eyebrow as the cordless phone on the coffee table began ringing. He leaned over, retrieving it. "Hello?" His blood ran cold as he heard the voice on the other end of the line. "What do you want?" Martina raised her head as she realsed his tone had become more menacing. "Say when and where." He listened for a moment longer before ending the call. Martina frowned.
"Shifty, he wants to see me."
She shook her head, fear gripping her. "No. Joey, no."
"I have to." He felt his resolve harden. "This has to end."