There are non graphic scenes of an attempted rape in this chapter.

Chapter 1

Murphy almost missed the scream as he slouched along the street, cursing the cold Boston rain that dripped down his collar, making him shiver. He cursed his brother Connor, picturing him sitting warm and dry in their shared apartment, feet up as he lounged on the lumpy couch, yelling at the TV as he watched some crappy daytime TV quiz. Mostly he cursed himself for once again letting Connor talk him into doing something he didn't want to. He didn't even want the damn snacks his sibling had sent him out to buy from the convenience store five blocks from home and it wasn't even his turn to do the daily shopping trip. He swore again as he realised the cigarette clamped between his lips had gone out once more. Annoyed he hurled it to one side, just as a brief movement ahead caught his eye.

A man dressed in dark clothes stepped out of the mouth of an alleyway; he saw Murphy and ducked back out of sight, at once rousing the young Irishman's interest.

"Now what could you be trying to hide, I wonder" he thought to himself, reaching under his coat, reassuring himself his gun was still tucked into his waistband. It was then he thought he heard the muffled scream. At once he picked up his pace, pulling his silenced gun as he reached the entrance to the dark alley.

Two men were struggling with a woman, trying to pin her against the side of a filthy dumpster as she fought desperately. As he approached Murphy could see her straight skirt was ripped from the hem almost to the waistband. A fat, greasy looking man was mauling at her exposed thigh as she tried to fight him off. The second, smaller man grabbed the front of her blouse and tore it open, exposing her bra and bare stomach, his hand reaching for her breasts.

"Hey, assholes!" Murphy yelled "You might want to step away from the lady"

"Don't think so" the bigger man commented as his hand continued to slide under the torn shirt, moving up the woman's leg. She turned her tear stained face to Murphy, and he couldn't help but notice her startling green eyes as she implored him to help her.

"Please" she begged as she tried to push both men away from her.

"Best you just piss off and pretend you didn't see anything" the smaller man sneered as he pawed the struggling woman.

Without bothering to reply Murphy raised his gun and shot him straight through the head. The woman gave a squeak of shock and the fat man jumped away from her, hands raised, a look of terror etched on his face.

"Please don't shoot" he begged "We was just gonna have a bit of fun, weren't gonna hurt her"

"I'm sure the lady didn't think it was fun" Coldly Murphy pulled the trigger for a second time and the man dropped next to his companion.

"You okay love?" Murphy lowered the gun, moving closer to the terrified, shaking woman. He'd barely taken three steps when a weight barrelled into him. He lost his grip on the gun as he fell, the third man pinning him to the wet pavement, his arm wrapping tightly round Murphey's neck, forcing his head back and cutting off his airway.

He bucked and twisted, trying to get the man off his back but he was heavy and strong. He choked, gasping for breath as the man's vice like grip tightened. His vision was starting to go black when suddenly the weight was gone and he could breathe again. Rolling onto his back, drawing in great gulps of air, he saw man that had attacked him face down, blood pooling from a wound back of his neck.

A shadow fell over him and he looked up to see the woman standing over him. She clutched a bloody knife in both hands, her eyes wide as she stared down at him. Her ripped blouse hung open and he could see splashes of blood on her exposed stomach, several more on the lacy white bra he couldn't help but notice. Her hair had fallen loose from the clip held it in place and now tumbled down her back in a wild, wet glorious mess. He noticed it was a stunning shade of red that somehow went perfectly with her green eyes and made him think of the Irish girls back home. He found he couldn't stop staring at the sight above him. Knife gripped in front of her, rain soaked and bloody, half naked and trembling, her long, shapely leg almost fully exposed he found only one word coming to mind.

"Magnificent"

He had no idea where it came from but it was the only one that seemed appropriate and he was suddenly glad Connor had talked him into being the one to go to the store.

The knife suddenly fell from her unresisting hands and the clatter it made as it hit the floor pulled him out of his trance. He scrambled to his feet, pulling his coat off and wrapping round the woman's shoulders, feeling her body shake as she leant into him.

"I killed him" she mumbled "I killed that man" her eyes filled with tears and she buried her head into his chest, her hands grasping at his sweater, clinging to him desperately. Murphey stiffened, unsure what to do, finally settling for patting her awkwardly on the back a couple of times before gently pushing her away.

"We need to clear up here, before somebody comes along and sees this mess" he told her as he recovered his gun, tucking back into his waistband, pulling his sweater over it.

"Where'd you get the knife?" he asked as he picked it up, wiping the handle on the corpse's shirt.

She sniffed, swiping her eyes with the back of her hand as she appeared to pull herself together.

"It was his" she indicated the bigger of the two men that had attacked her "he used it to cut my skirt" absently she pulled at the fabric trying to pull the edges together as her eyes drifted to the man she had killed. He saw the tears start again.

"We should call the police" she started "I need to hand myself in"

"No" Murphy's voice was firm as he gripped her arms forcing her to look at him.

"These men were rapists, they might have even killed you after to stop you IDing them. The man you killed was going to kill me. You saved me. You don't need to lose any sleep over these scum. They don't deserve to live, they certainly don't deserve you to wreck your life because of them" He released her arms and moved away, double checking there was no trace the two of them had ever been there.

"Come on" he took her arm again, this time gently. "Let's get you home, a hot bath and a good nights sleep, you'll be fine"

With a final glance behind her she allowed him to lead her out of the alleyway, where he waited for her to point him in the right direction for her home.

"Name's Murphy by the way" he told her "What's yours?"

"Erin" she told him and he couldn't help the smile.

"Course it is, with hair and eyes like that it had to be a good old Irish name" he joked

She returned the smile.

"On my mother's side, my father was Italian" she told him. Her building was only a few blocks away and it wasn't long before she was unlocking the door to her apartment.

They both hesitated on the doorstep, both suddenly nervous.

"Will you come in and have a drink with me" she asked, not looking at him "It seems the least I could do after what you did for me" He briefly thought of Connor sitting at home and waiting for him, worrying and wondering where he was but then she moved slightly and he got another glimpse of creamy soft thigh and found himself thinking to hell with his brother.

"I'd like that very much" he told her as he followed her into a small but tasteful room. Erin nodded to a small table in the corner.

"There's whiskey and glasses over there. Help yourself while I go clean up and change" She headed for a door on the far side of the room, stopping in the doorway.

"Pour one for me as well please" she asked "I don't normally drink whiskey but I think I need one today" She closed the door behind her and a few moments later he heard the sound of running water.

Murphy tried and failed to push the thoughts of Erin in the shower out of his mind as he cracked open the seal on the only bottle of whiskey on the table. He poured himself a generous measure and swigged it back quickly before refilling his glass and pouring a second glassful for Erin.

He wandered around the small apartment, sipping his second drink as he waited for her to return. He flipped through her music collection, cringing at her choice of 80's pop music albums before moving to the bookcase, surprised to see several books on organised crime and the Mafia nestled among the mainstream fiction novels.

He began to feel a little light headed so he moved to the couch and sank down onto the plump cushions. His eyes felt heavy and he wondered if he'd smacked his head when the heavy man had knocked him down in the alleyway.

Murphey was fighting to keep his eyes open when he heard the door open and Erin came back into the room, now wearing skinny jeans and a crisp white shirt. She moved to stand in front of the couch, her hands on her denim covered hips as she gazed impassively down at him.

"I guess you're feeling a little weird right about now aren't you? Dizzy maybe, a little sick and like all you want to do is sleep. Am I right?" she asked.

Confused all he could do was stare back. Through rapidly failing vision he saw brunette hair instead of red and angry brown eyes not striking green.

"Who… ?" he managed before words failed him once more.

"My mother was pure American through and through" she told him "Her name was Anita and she was beautiful. My father fell for her, he couldn't resist her even though he was already married and had a family. She tried to fight it but she loved him too much. They only ever spent one night together and I was the result. Even though he could never acknowledge me publicly he made sure I wanted for nothing. He loved us both right up until his death" her voice trailed off and she moved closer. Murphy was aware of her hand gripping his jaw and pulling his head up but could do nothing about it as he fought to stay awake.

"My name isn't Erin it's Angelina. My father used to call me his Angel; it was his nickname for me"

As Murphey drifted into unconsciousness he heard her final words and felt the chill slip down his spine.

"You probably know my father best by his nickname, I'm sure you remember him. His name was Pappa Joe and you, your brother and your father murdered him in the courthouse, right in front of me and my mother"

Thanks for reading

Chapter 2 will be up in a day or so.

Not going to beg but comments would be lovely, especially nice ones

xx