Thy Kingdom Come

Yet another truth I keep from him.

As I ride home, I think about the mess I find myself in. The night I came to see Punky, I was going to tell him everything. But I bumped into his uncle first. Punky told me he trusted his uncle with his life, which is why I decided to tell him what I knew.

I wanted to tell Punky the truth, but his uncle assured me that he’d deal with it accordingly. With Punky’s temper, he was bound to act first and ask questions later, which would result in all of this being for nothing. I trust Sean because of Punky, so I hope I did the right thing.

Sean was very understanding, and when I started, it was like I couldn’t stop. He knows my entire life story. He knows who I am. He had every right to throw me out and tell me to leave his nephew alone. But he didn’t.

He promised me it would be all right, and that Punky would be safe. I just hope Punky understands.

Even though Sean has asked I don’t tell Punky the truth until he says it’s okay, I don’t feel right lying to him any longer. I told Sean in the belief that this would be over. But all it’s done is make me feel guilty for confiding in Sean and not Punky.

I find myself caught in a deeper web of lies, and I want out. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but two wrongs don’t make a right. She’ll forgive me. I know she will. But I won’t forgive myself, because I failed her…which is why I need to tell Punky the truth.

Maybe, just maybe, he can help me. I don’t know what else to do.

I chain my bike in front of my flat and make my way inside. There is nothing special about this place, but he rented it for me with a purpose. I needed to be close to the Kellys.

As I unlock my door, I see him sitting in my armchair, casually smoking a cigar. “Ack, finally, lass. Where ye been?”

Tossing my keys into the bowl near the door, I shrug out of my coat, playing cool. “Where do you think? Doing your bidding, that’s where. Where have you been these past few days?”

He ignores my jab. “Hugh’s dead,” he reveals, winding me. “Burned alive. But not before his face was painted like Aidan’s. When we got there, it was too late to save him. But we saw what was done to him.”

Face painted?

I remain calm, measuring my breaths because I think I know who’s responsible. I don’t think he is, however, because if he was, Punky wouldn’t be alive.

“He was a knacker, but he was a good boyo.”

I refuse to agree because Hugh Doyle was a sick motherfucker.

“Ach, what’s done is done. I’m here to tell ya, yer gettin’ yer wish.”

“What wish?” I ask, walking into the living room slowly.

“To go home. Now, in fact.”

I’ve clearly not heard him right. “W-what? Now? Like, right now?”

He digs into his i

The world begins to spin, but I quash down the urge to vomit. “But, what about—”

“Enough now,” he warns, his cool demeanor swiftly replaced with the monster who was merely sleeping. “I’ll not tell ye again. Pack yer things.”

This is happening too fast. I need more time.

“From the looks of ya, ya’d think ya didn’t want to leave.”

Is this a test?

Hugh’s death was just the begi

I need to warn Punky. If he said my job is done, then that means Punky’s life is in danger. They have everything they need to carry out whatever fate they think is owed to him. I don’t know what that is because they never told me.

But I can guess that it ends with his death.

All of this…because of a fucking name.

“Awesome,” I say, slipping into the character I’ve been forced to become. I need to get out of here before it’s too late for Punky. “I’ll just go pack. Make sure my mom gets what was promised to her.”

She’s the reason for this. She and my little sister are i

“Y’ve my word.”

Turning on my heel, I don’t run as I don’t want to make a scene, but my heart is bursting from my chest as I enter my bedroom and reach for my suitcase. My hands tremble as I gather my minimal possessions. All I can think about is warning Punky.

As I turn, I jump, startled to see him standing in the doorway. “You can go,” I say aloofly, gathering my cosmetics from the vanity. “I’ll catch a cab.”

I tell myself to keep calm because he’s watching for any signs of deceit. One wrong move, and everyone will pay.

“Naw,” he says with a sharp smile. “I’ll run ye over.”

“That won’t be necessary,” I counter, folding my T-shirts quickly. “I’m more than happy to—”

But he makes clear this isn’t optional, and that’s because he knows me better than I think. Punky’s life isn’t the only one in danger—mine is too.

“I won’t hear of it. Nothin’ but the best for my…daughter.”

Oh, fuck me.