Just like Aoife

Mallory

I knew something was up the second I stepped into the house.

Mam was in the kitchen, pretending to be busy, but I could tell by the way she was gripping the dishcloth that she was listening in. AJ was nowhere to be seen, which meant he either didn't know what was going on or had chosen to stay out of it.

And Da and Uncle Darren were in the sitting room, voices low, serious.

I lingered in the hallway for a moment before stepping in.

Da was sat on the couch, elbows resting on his knees, looking as stressed as I'd ever seen him. Uncle Darren was pacing in front of him, arms crossed, his expression tight.

Neither of them noticed me at first.

"I'm just saying," Uncle Darren muttered, "you should be keeping an eye on it. The lad's got trouble written all over him."

My stomach twisted.

"What lad?" I asked, stepping further inside.

Da let out a sigh, rubbing a hand down his face. Uncle Darren straightened, his expression shifting into something more neutral, like he was already preparing to brush me off.

"Nothing for you to worry about, love," Uncle Darren said lightly.

I crossed my arms. "Then why are you two whispering like a pair of old women?"

Da shot him a look, like he knew that excuse wouldn't work on me.

I glanced between them, my heart picking up. "Is this about Kian?"

Uncle Darren's jaw twitched, and that was all the confirmation I needed.

I scoffed. "Seriously?"

"Gracie," Da said, tone warning.

I ignored it. "You're sitting here acting like he's some criminal—"

"Because he is," Uncle Darren cut in, voice sharp. "Or did you miss the part where he's selling drugs?"

My chest tightened. "You don't know anything about him."

"I know enough," Darren shot back. "I know where he's from, who his father is. I know he's up to his neck in dodgy dealings, and I know you don't need to be mixed up in that."

My hands curled into fists. "He works for you, Da."

Da sighed again. "That's different."

"How?" I challenged. "Because you think you can save him? Because you see something in him that reminds you of yourself?"

The words had barely left my mouth before I regretted them.

The muscle in Da's jaw flexed, his eyes darkening. Uncle Darren let out a low breath, shaking his head.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he muttered.

But I did.

I knew about Da's past, about the trouble he'd been in before Grandad Tony gave him a chance. Before he turned his life around.

And now he was sitting here acting like Kian didn't deserve the same?

I swallowed hard. "I thought you of all people would understand."

Da didn't answer. He just ran a hand through his hair, looking older than I'd ever seen him.

Uncle Darren was the one who spoke.

"It's not about understanding, Mallory," he said, voice calm but firm. "It's about protecting you."

I shook my head. "I don't need protecting from him."

Neither of them looked convinced.

I clenched my jaw, my chest tightening with frustration, with something close to betrayal.

"Whatever," I muttered, turning on my heel. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

I didn't give them a chance to respond before walking out, my heart hammering.

Kian was right.

They would never accept him.

I didn't make it two steps before Da's voice stopped me.

"Sit down, Mal."

There was something in his tone—firm, edged with something I couldn't quite place—that made me hesitate. I turned back, arms still crossed, defiant even as my stomach twisted.

"Why?"

Uncle Darren sighed, rubbing his jaw. "Because there's more to this than you know."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Right, of course there is. There always is, isn't there?"

"Just sit," Da repeated, this time softer.

I hesitated for another second before sinking into the chair opposite them, arms still crossed tight over my chest. "Fine. What is it?"

Uncle Darren and Da exchanged a glance, like they were deciding who was going to be the one to tell me. In the end, it was Darren who spoke.

"I'm his mam's solicitor," he said simply.

I blinked. "What?"

"Kian's little sister, Emi," he clarified. "You know she was taken into care?"

I nodded slowly. I didn't know all the details, but I knew it had something to do with their father.

Darren exhaled, leaning back against the couch. "His mam's been fighting to get her back. I'm handling the case."

I stared at him, my mind scrambling to catch up. "Since when?"

"Months now."

My jaw clenched. "And you're only telling me this now?"

"It wasn't relevant before."

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "But it is now?"

Darren's gaze hardened. "Now you're getting close to him, yeah. It is."

I scoffed, shaking my head. "You really think I didn't already know about Emi?"

Da sighed. "That's not the point, love."

"Then what is?" I demanded. "That you've been keeping this from me? That you've been sitting here talking about Kian like he's nothing when you know exactly what he's dealing with?"

"It's not about Kian," Darren said, voice calm but firm. "It's about you."

I clenched my teeth. "That's bullshit."

"Is it?" He leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees. "Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you're getting involved in something you don't fully understand."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I understand more than you think."

"You understand that if this case goes through, if his mam gets Emi back, it changes everything for them?" Darren pressed. "You understand that if Kian keeps going down the road he's on, it could ruin that chance completely?"

I swallowed hard, my heart thudding painfully.

"He's not a bad person," I muttered.

"I never said he was," Darren replied. "But the choices he makes? They matter."

I dropped my gaze, my chest tightening.

Da sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We're not telling you to stay away from him, Mal," he said. "We just don't want you getting caught up in something that could hurt you."

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to meet their eyes again.

"You don't have to protect me from him."

Neither of them looked convinced.

But I didn't wait for another lecture. I stood up, my mind still spinning, and walked out before they could say anything else.

The house was quieter after Uncle Darren left. Mam was still in the kitchen, tidying up even though everything was already clean. AJ had disappeared up to his room after getting an earful from Da earlier, and Da himself was sitting in the armchair, rubbing his temple like he had a headache that wouldn't go away.

I hovered in the doorway, arms crossed, chewing on my lip.

I didn't know why I felt so restless. Maybe it was because of the conversation with Darren. Maybe it was because I had walked away, but I was still thinking about every word. Or maybe it was because I knew exactly why I felt this way and I just didn't want to admit it.

Da must have felt me staring because he glanced up. "You alright, love?"

I swallowed. "Yeah."

He didn't look convinced. "Sit down."

I hesitated before stepping further into the room, perching on the edge of the couch. My fingers twisted together in my lap.

Da leaned forward, elbows on his knees, watching me carefully. "Something on your mind?"

I exhaled through my nose. "I—" I stopped, shifting in my seat.

His gaze sharpened. "Spit it out, Mal."

I hesitated for another second, then blurted, "I like Kian."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Da didn't react right away. He didn't shout, didn't slam his fist down like I might've expected from other dads. He just sat there, watching me, his expression unreadable.

I swallowed hard. "I know you don't like him," I said quickly. "And I know you think he's bad news or whatever, but I—" I shook my head. "I can't help it."

Da exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. "Does he know?"

I blinked. "What?"

"Does Kian know?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. "I don't know."

His lips pressed into a thin line. "And what exactly do you want me to do with this information, Mallory?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I said, lifting my chin. "I just wanted you to know. Because I know you've been talking about him, and I know Darren thinks I'm getting caught up in something I don't understand, but I do understand, Da. And I like him anyway."

His jaw tightened.

I braced myself for another lecture. For him to tell me I was making a mistake. For him to warn me, again, about Kian and his choices and his family.

Instead, he sighed. "You're just like your mother."

I frowned. "What?"

He shook his head, rubbing a hand down his face. "I knew this was coming," he muttered. "Should've known sooner."

I furrowed my brows. "So... you're not gonna tell me to stay away from him?"

He met my gaze, his expression serious. "I'm not gonna tell you who you can and can't care about, Mallory. But I will tell you to be careful. Kian's life—it's not easy. And if you're in it, yours won't be either."

I swallowed hard, but I nodded. "I know."

He studied me for another long moment, then sighed again. "You're really your mother's daughter, you know that?"

I let out a breath, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah, I know."