Page 33 of How to Kill Your Rival

ELIZA

It pains me to see Dad looking so withered.

He’s in the armchair by the window of the snug, with the news on. When he lifts his cup of tea, it trembles. It’s like a twist in my gut to see him like this. He’s always been a force to be reckoned with. Clearly, the whisky the other night was doing more for his cheeks than I thought.

Selfishly, I’m scared. I still need my dad.

Do we ever not need our parents? If he goes, it’ll just be Maggie, Fraser and me. I’m not ready to be an upper-level adult in my life. Even if I like to pretend I am.

I straighten my face before he notices me, plastering on a smile. Dad is ill, and I don’t need to be walking into the room looking like someone’s pissed on my chips.

So I walk in, and I occupy the room.

‘The bloody politicians are at it again,’ he grumbles.

‘When are they ever not at it, Dad?’

Dad laughs as I take the seat closest to him. ‘Good point, well made, my dear.’

The snug room smells of old wood, woodsmoke and antiseptic. Old smells combined with the new one that I hate.

‘How are you feeling?’ I ask.

‘Like someone’s rimmed me with a chainsaw.’

‘Dad!’ I can’t help but giggle.

‘I feel like a pile of shite, but it’s to be expected.’

He mutes the television and turns to face me. Though his face is gaunt, his eyes still hold the same devilish sparkle as always. Whatever the chemo is doing to the rest of him, it hasn’t touched his eyes.

‘Tell me how the last meeting went.’

I absolutely don’t want to do that. Dad doesn’t need to know about my struggle to keep the men in order, and nor will he. Not about the disrespect. Not about the stolen contracts. Definitely not about the police.

‘It’s all good. A little bit of jiggery-pokery as I settle in, but nothing I can’t handle.’

‘And Hector?’ he asks. ‘Still banging on about that boy of his?’

‘Mmhmm.’

‘I don’t know why he thinks we’d know a thing about the idiot. He was too hot-tempered. Good for killing people. Not good for keeping it collected. Bad for business.’

‘You tried to marry Maggie off to him,’ I say, incredulous.

‘I did. There’s no arguing he would have kept the family business going.’ Dad doesn’t know that Hector’s son, Eddie, has become pig chow. ‘Do you know where he went?’

‘I haven’t the foggiest.’ Liar.

‘These men have been at that table since before you were in school. Don’t let them trample on you. You’re worth a thousand of them, my darling. I made every mistake you’re going to make and a few you haven’t thought of yet.’ He shifts in the armchair, wincing. I can think of a few mistakes I made that he didn’t. Like falling for one of my dad’s friends… ‘Keep your head up, kid.’

I look at him.

‘Be patient,’ he says. ‘Give them time to come around.’

‘What makes you think they are giving me trouble?’

‘I know them. You’d think they’re allergic to change.’