They stayed long enough to watch Pip’s first set, then guiltily crept back to the pub.
Sending Aydin and Dave home early and taking clean up themselves, before falling into bed too exhausted to do any more than snuggle.
-X
Aydin was enjoying the following afternoon.
Connor had gone with his aunt and family to the funeral of a neighbour, so it was just him and Luc.
The contractors were in for their lunches, and looking at the smorgasbord of high-vized, sweaty, muscled deliciousness was not something anyone would ever hear Aydin Flanagan complaining about. No, Sir!
Even the three ladies on the crew were cute. Being teeny compared to everyone else. But, Jesus. Could they ever curse.
Gently had popped in early for lunch, and was sat with one of their regular groups, ‘The Debaters’. Who basically just liked to chat and argue in comfortable surroundings and to a regular schedule.
Aydin had learned so much from eavesdropping on their conversations over the years.
Everything felt right with his world.
Or it would be if Luc ever got back from his break, his tummy was rumbly.
The contractors started to arrive and leave as they shifted over their lunch break. Like a sea of yellow.
One guy came towards the bar, but paused as one of his colleagues entered the pub and hailed him.
“Hey, Ben. You just finished?”
“Yea, heading back. Wanted a quick word with Aydin.” His shoulder’s dropped a little as his friend headed over.
“Right. Hi, Aydin.”
“Afternoon. What’s up?” he asked Ben.
“Um.”
“Aydin,” the other guy interrupted. “I thought I heard a rumour that Connor’s idiot brother had been kicked out?” Liam had inflicted himself on the contractors groups his first day. Assuming them to be more his sort of guys. He had not made a good impression.
“Yea. Good riddance.”
“Huh.” The man scratched his head. “It’s just, I just saw him heading down the back passage. I was worried about Connor’s car, looked like he had a baseball bat, but the car isn’t there.”
Aydin’s heart thumped a warning. “Luc,” he whispered. Then, “GENTLY, MIND THE BAR.” Turning and sprinting for the door. Even as he did, there was a crash from the kitchen.
“With me,” Ben told his friend, following close behind Aydin.
Luc was just rinsing his plate when he heard a tap at the back door.
It was a little early for their usual delivery, the lunches for tomorrow, but he headed over.
He blinked in reflected light as he opened the door, and then doubled over, the breath leaving his body in an agonized grunt as the business end of a baseball bat was rammed into his stomach.
As he started to fall, he felt his lunch rise to his throat. Dizzy as hands grabbed his shoulders, dragged him out the door and threw him to the ground.
Winded, half sick, his ears ringing, he was barely aware of the kick to his thigh. His body was locked up. But then he was dragged up and slammed against the opposite wall and the same hands closed around his throat.
Aydin raced through the kitchen and into the alleyway. Liam had Luc against the wall. Luc’s feet were kicking, unable to reach the ground and his hands were batting weakly at the arms holding him. His face was a deep red.
With a kind of war cry, Aydin simply launched himself at Liam. Ramming him and causing all three of them to fall in a heap.
Liam landed on top of him and twisted like a cat, trying to reach his neck. Aydin kicked and punched, struggling with the heavier man. Then he saw stars, as a blow landed and slammed his head against the concrete.
He felt a knee pressing into his stomach and hands on this throat, but then, blissfully, the weight disappeared.
Aydin rolled and dragged in a few breaths. He was shaking from head to foot and giddy. He tried to get to his hands and knees but couldn’t quite make it. Then he felt arms around him.
“Stay still a minute, your head’s bleeding.”
Aydin recognized one of the lady contractors. “Where is he?” he managed.
“We’ve got him. Police are on their way.”
“Luc. Where’s Luc?”
“We’ve got him too.”
“Where?” Aydin lifted his head and squinted across the alley. Everything was dancing around in his vision. “Fucking eyeballs,” he cursed, but then spotted Luc.
He was with Ben. Curled up and vomiting.
“Luc,” Aydin tried to get up again, but his vision greyed out. “Fuck!”
“Stay still.”
Aydin looked again and saw Gently now also crouched with Luc. “Please, is he okay. Is he breathing, can he breathe?”
Another yellow lady joined them and he yelped as she pressed padding to the back of his head.
“I’ll check if you stay still,” the first lady said and moved over to Gently. Bending over and talking to him quietly, pointing back at Aydin.
Gently looked over. Well, there were three blurry Gently’s at the moment, but Aydin had bigger concerns. “He’s okay, Aydin. He’s breathing fine, stay there.” Gently called over.
Reassured, Aydin closed his bouncing eyes and let himself be taken care of. Wishing the ringing in his ears would shut the hell up.
Oh, wait. Sirens.
-X
When Connor got back from driving his aunt and cousin to their neighbour’s funeral. A long healthy life, well lived, so it had been more a celebration than mourning. He turned into his street to see a police car and an ambulance half stopped in his alleyway.
They looked like they had both tried to drive in at the same time and become jammed, but as he halted behind them and hurried out of the car, his heart was pounding.
He slipped through the small gap.
“You can’t stop there. Sir, you can’t come in here.” The cop blocked his way with determination. “You need to move that vehicle. This is a crime scene.”
“But, please,” Connor couldn’t get his tongue to work.
“Please move your car, Sir.”
“It’s okay, James.”
Connor looked up and recognized one of the cops that had attended when Luc had been drugged. He wasn’t in uniform today though.
“Thanks, James. This is Connor O’Nally. One of the owners.”
“Oh, okay.” The cop nodded and moved away.
“Do you remember me, Mr O’Nally? Leo.”
Connor nodded, and tried to speak, but Leo took his arms.
“No one’s dead. Everyone is going to be okay,” he said quickly and smiled at Connor’s rush of air, rubbing his arm. “Always good to get the important bit out as fast as possible.” He tugged Connor towards the door.
“Thanks, but what’s happened.”
Leo gave him a dark look. “I’m sorry, Sir. Your brother happened.”
“What?”
He heard Aydin’s voice as they entered the kitchen. Connor blinked to help his eyes adjust to the lower light, and saw him arguing with an EMT.
“I can’t leave. We’re still serving. Connor isn’t here so I’m the licence holder.”
“You have a concussion.”
“A little one you said, and there’s only one of you now. So it’s getting better.”
“Aydin?” They both looked up as Connor moved forward. The EMT moving aside. “What the hell happened?”
“I’m okay, just a bump on the head.”
“You’re bleeding.”
“No it’s stopped. Ouch!” Aydin slapped Connor’s hand aside as he tried to see the wound. “Con, stop.” He gripped Connor’s wrist. “Luc’s in hospital.”
Connor felt a wave of fear go through him. He glared up at Leo. “You said everyone was alright?” he accused.
“No, I said everyone was going to be okay.” Leo clarified, but not without sympathy. He sat on a chair next to Aydin, who was dragging in deep breaths, too emotional to speak. Placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.