Free Catch Your Breath by Shannyn Schroeder

night.
    “Are you going to be at the Lincoln Park Zoo fund-raiser thing next weekend?”
    “Yep. It’s one of my favorites. I go every year.”
    Conversation across the street drew Moira’s attention. Sean O’Malley was talking to
     some guy. While Sean’s voice was low, Moira read his body language. Something heated
     was going on.
    “Hey, why don’t I introduce you to Jimmy’s younger brother?” Moira hoped the interruption
     would cool things down. Having a fight break out during the block party was never
     a good thing. Most years they were fine, but every now and then, someone got drunk
     and belligerent.
    Drunk and belligerent meeting an O’Malley would never end well.
    When they crossed the street, Moira said, “Hi, Sean. This is Gabby, Jimmy’s partner.”
    Gabby raised a hand in greeting, but Sean didn’t notice.
    “Who the fuck do you think you are, asshole?” Sean’s voice was tight and controlled.
     He wasn’t drunk.
    The other man—Foster?—from down the block wove in place. “Shut up, jagoff.”
    Gabby tugged her sleeve. “Go get Jimmy.”
    Moira looked at Gabby, who was well on her way to buzzed. “You get Jimmy. I know these
     guys.” Moira pointed her in the direction where she’d last seen Jimmy sitting with
     Liam.
    When Gabby took off at a stumbling jog, Moira stepped between the two men. “Hey, guys,
     how about some more food?”
    “Moira, step out of the way.” Sean stood a foot taller than her, like all the O’Malleys.
     His right hand was already bunched in a fist.
    “Sean, please. Don’t ruin the party with a fight.”
    Foster stood behind her and slurred, “Listen to the little lady. You don’t want to
     get your ass kicked.”
    From the corner of her eye, Moira saw Jimmy running over. Two seconds, that’s all
     she needed to stall, but even as she had the thought, Sean reached past her.
    “Sean,” Jimmy yelled loud and sharp.
    Sean turned his head slightly. It was enough of a distraction that drunk Foster thought
     he’d get in a cheap shot. He stepped around Moira, and when he pulled back for the
     punch, his elbow smacked into her head, knocking her on her ass.
    Moira wasn’t sure if he connected with Sean because that boy moved fast. Sean was
     on him and pounding away. Jimmy yanked Sean off like he held a kitten by the scruff.
     Foster scrambled back like a crab. His lip was bleeding.
    Jimmy barked orders. “Liam, walk Bradley home.”
    Liam helped Bradley Foster stand, practically lifting him under his shoulders. As
     they passed her, Liam asked, “You okay?”
    She nodded. A throbbing pain beat on the side of her head, but she was okay.
    Jimmy continued yelling. She assumed he was aiming for Sean until he lowered himself
     to meet her face. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
    From behind him, Sean said, “It wasn’t her fault, man. She was trying to defuse the
     situation.”
    Jimmy barely glanced back, but snapped, “Stay out of this.”
    “I sent Gabby to get you. I was trying to stop them before it got physical.”
    “How? With your face?” His fingers traveled along her jawline.
    She swatted him away. She couldn’t hold on to being mad at him if he was gentle. Her
     head might explode if she saw both sides of Jimmy at once. Pushing up from the ground,
     she felt the throbbing worsen.
    Jimmy grabbed her elbow to help her stand. “You’re a damn menace.”
    “Everything was fine until you distracted Sean. That gave Bradley his opening. Sean
     wouldn’t have thrown a punch with me standing in between them.”
    “Hell, no, I wouldn’t. The O’Learys outnumber everyone.”
    “But you didn’t account for the drunk in the equation.” He held her chin and tilted
     her head to see if there was damage.
    “I said I’m fine.” She yanked away from him. What she really needed was some ice and
     another beer. Her cup had been a casualty of the brief fight, the red plastic cracked
     in multiple spots.
    As she walked away, she saw