Chapters (48)
- Cover
- THEFEUD
- Dedication
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- PROLOGUE
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
‘No, he is not,’ Jessica said immediately. ‘He’s six years old, Eddie.’
Ignoring her, Eddie marched towards Joey and dragged him out of the circle.
‘Leave him alone!’ Jessica screamed, chasing after her husband.
‘Daddy, no, leave Joey alone,’ Frankie cried.
Vicki caught Jess by the arm and cuddled her. ‘Leave it, Jess. You won’t win. Men like ours, they don’t listen, love.’
‘Please, Daddy. I don’t want to box, I want to dance,’ Joey sobbed.
Picking up his son, Eddie marched him towards the boxing ring. ‘Stop crying else I’ll wallop you. Now, all you’ve got to do is get in that ring and land a few punches. Just hit him as hard as you can, Joey. You’re older than him, you’ll be fine.’
‘I don’t want to, Daddy,’ Joey said, trying to wriggle out of his father’s arms.
Eddie slapped his son gently around the face. ‘Like it or not, you’re doing it. Dancing is for girls, boxing’s for boys. Now get in that ring and make your dad proud of you.’
Jessica was hysterical as her son was lifted into the ring. ‘Do something, Raymond, please,’ she screamed.
Grabbing hold of her and Frankie, Raymond hugged them both. ‘It’ll be fine, Jess. I can’t do nothing, you know what Ed’s like. Just face me and don’t look. It’ll be over within seconds.’
Joey shook like a leaf as the boy stared at him. ‘Hit him, Joey, hit him!’ Eddie screamed.
‘I can’t. I don’t want to,’ Joey sobbed, as Jed lunged towards him.
As the punch landed on Joey’s chin, he hit the deck with an almighty thud.
Seeing Patrick Murphy wave his hands, Jimmy O’Hara jumped into the ring and lifted Jed up in triumph. He’d had £500 on his youngest, so at least he was no longer out of pocket.
Eddie dashed into the ring to tend to Joey.
‘Is he OK? I’m a first-aider,’ he heard someone say.
‘He doesn’t look OK,’ somebody else shouted.
Jessica pushed Raymond away and took in the pandemonium. Hysterical, she ran towards her son. ‘Joey, Joey, Joey!’ she cried.
Seeing her son’s limp body, Jessica screamed louder than she had ever screamed before.
FOURTEEN
‘I’ve just examined Joey. He’s absolutely fine, you can take him home now,’ the doctor told Jessica.
Relieved, Jessica repeatedly thanked the doctor and hugged her mum. ‘Ring Dad and get him to come and pick us up,’ she told Joyce.
Joey had come round five minutes after he’d been knocked out cold. Petrified that he might have concussion or suffered permanent brain damage, Jessica had brought him to casualty. He’d been kept in overnight as a precaution and Jess was thankful that her prayers had been answered and he was OK.