Chapter 9: Tonight

"Shhh," Murphy told Kinley as they climbed the fire escape to where they could get in to his apartment above McGinty's.

"Sorry," she whispered back, "I didn't exactly wear the right shoes to be climbing up fire escapes."

"But those do make your feet look mighty cute," he remarked, eying her black stilettos.

"Yeah, but they hurt some after a while."

"I can only imagine," he said as they reached the open window into the MacManus's dark apartment. "I don't think they're here yet. Let me help ya in so you don't trip on anything." Murphy climbed into the open window first and then once he was in he offered his hand to help her off the fire escape and into his territory. "Wait here 'til I get the light on."

As she waited she inhaled deeply, and felt a sense of peace and safety; another thing she hadn't felt in a while. Brightness almost blinded her the next instant as Murphy flicked on an overhead light. As her eyes adjusted she saw an old pool table and several broken pinball machines. "So is this your fort?" She mused.

"We like to think of it as more of a hideout actually," he smiled. "If ya need it, the bathroom's just around the corner."

"Great, thanks!" She said, making her way in that direction trying not to stumble on any of the piles of clothes blocking her way. Kinley could tell that she was in an apartment full of men just by how unkempt it was as well as what she saw on the counter in the bathroom; male deodorant, shaving cream, razors, aftershave, as well as an almost overflowing ashtray. The ashtray made her smile and giggle a bit to herself as she could only assume why the ashtray was there. While she splashed water on her face, she heard several lively voices in the living room, one she recognized as Romeo's as she caught snippets of a few Spanish words thrown in here and there.

As she came out of the bathroom and back in to the living room she saw not only Romeo and Murphy, but Connor and an older man she didn't know speaking what she presumed to be Gaelic to Murphy.

"Ah, senorita Kinley," Romeo slurred, obviously drunk. "'Ave you had a loco time with this senor or what?"

"Oh Romeo, if only you knew," she said glancing at Murphy and winking. "You, my friend, are drunk. I think you need to rest."

"Ya are more than welcome to rest here," the older man said turning to face her. She recognized him as what the papers called 'Il Duce' better known as the boys' father.

"That'd be great," she said, "Romeo's had too much to be able to drive all the way back to the docks and I don't trust myself driving his car."

"S'no problem," Connor slurred. "Kinley can sleep in my bed and Romeo and I can sleep out here on the floor."

"Actually," Murphy cut in, "She can have my bed. Connor, ya are gonna have a monster of a hangover in the mornin' so you need to rest up for that. Ya as well Rome. I'll sleep out here."

"Great, shanks," Connor slurred as he stumbled in to his room with Romeo at his heels.

"I hope there's more than one bed in there, or Romeo will be trying to prove he's straight in the morning." Kinley mused, smiling her pearly white smile.

"Oh yah," Murphy said. "Bunks actually, it'd probably be funny to watch a drunk Irishman try and climb up the ladder."

"I'm sure, but I'm pretty beat." She said as Murphy showed her in to his room. As he made his way to leave Kinley's voice stopped him. "Could you stay for just a bit, I'm not good being alone in new places just yet."

"Absolutely lass," Kinley shivered because of the way he sounded so caring if not concerned. And the way he said "lass" didn't help much either.

"Thanks," she said as Murphy turned out the light. She crawled under the blankets and he lay atop them.

"Would it be wrong to ask for a good-night kiss?" Murphy asked in the dark. Kinley turned toward him and even though it was pitch black he could swear her green eyes shimmered as she turned toward him.

"Not at all," she whispered. Murphy moved closer and as gently as he could, placed a small kiss on her lips. He made to move away before she held him where he was, snaking one hand in his dark hair and placing the other just over his heart. To Murphy, she tasted like sugar and of someone who'd come back to life.