Quinton: I’ll come up to stay with her.
McClure: I’ll meet you in the gym. I’m bringing Dillon and Gaines because I’m guessing you might need more than one of us to expend the anger. We’ll be there in ten.
Halligan breathed in, slowly pushing it out. How did a brother who should be taking care of his sibling order that done to her and then do it himself? Halligan couldn’t fathom hurting any of his family like that.
His front door opened. Quinton walked in and handed him a bag.
“I didn’t know if you’d already changed or needed clothes, but this way, you can change downstairs and then leave the clothes. She won’t know about the sparring unless you want her to,” Quinton said.
Halligan stared at his brother. This is what a brother should do.
“Thanks,” he said, heading downstairs.
He took the stairs because maybe he could start burning off this anger. He wanted to beat Franco until he couldn’t lift his head and could only crawl. But for tonight, he’d accept the help from his family.
He changed into the clothes Quinton had brought, grabbing the gloves and headgear. He’d rather not use them, but he wasn’t quite ready for Loni to see this side of him yet.
McClure, Dillon, and Gaines walked in, already dressed to fight. He warmed up while they got the gloves and headgear on. He kicked the heavy bag and hit it a couple of times.
“Who’s up first?” Halligan asked. McClure walked forward, and Halligan let out all the anger he’d been bottling up. Punch after punch landed, with a couple of kicks to McClure’s side. On some level, Halligan realized that McClure was only defending himself, but Halligan didn’t care. He wanted to batter something.
Gaines switched places with McClure. Halligan swung but Gaines wasn’t only defending himself. He was hitting back. Halligan took a leg to the side, returning the favor to Gaines with a hit to his facemask.
They danced around each other, trading punches until Halligan took the opening Gaines left and swept Gaines’ feet out from under him.
“Fuck, Halligan,” Gaines groaned from the ground.
Halligan cocked his head at Dillon, motioning him forward with his glove.
“Let’s do this, gas boy,” Dillon joked.
Halligan smirked. Dillon had teased for years that Halligan working with the oil and gas company was poetic because Halligan had a sensitive stomach sometimes and was gassy. Halligan had hated that nickname for years, and today, he could use his fury at Franco to teach Dillon a lesson.
Dillon sauntered to him, raising his gloves to protect his face. Ha! He’d realize today was not the day to add to Halligan’s anger.
Halligan let the last of the leash he’d had on his anger go, funneling it all into beating up Dillon. Double punch to his sides. When Dillon dropped his arms, Halligan let loose a one-two punch to Dillon’s facemask.
Dillon staggered back.
McClure and Gaines were sitting on the sidelines, laughing and jeering at Dillon.
“Knock him down, Halligan,” Gaines yelled.
Halligan waited to see if Dillon was still willing to spar. When Dillon didn’t immediately come back, Halligan couldn’t resist a jibe.
“Oh, is Dicky Dillon getting soft managing the apartments?” Halligan teased.
Halligan smirked at the growl Dillon made before charging back in. Dillon gave him exactly what he wanted. They threw punch after punch, neither one letting up until they were dripping sweat and breathing heavily.
“Uncle, you win. I’m done,” Dillon said after Halligan’s foot had connected with Dillon’s thigh.
Halligan patted Dillon’s shoulder with his glove. “Thanks, bro.”
Halligan hid a smile when Dillon just nodded because he was out of breath.
“Thanks, guys. I need to shower, change, and get back upstairs,” Halligan said.
“No problem. Promise me one thing,” McClure said.
