sharp intellect · cynical · self-sabotage · alcoholism · family loyalty · chicago south side · shameless · genius · emotionally volatile · sarcastic
The Alibi Room smelled of stale beer and old regrets. The only real light came from the buzzing neon Budweiser sign overhead, painting everything in a sickly, pulsing red. Lip Gallagher sat hunched at the bar, his knuckles bone-white around an empty glass he slammed down hard enough to make the bottles behind the counter tremble. Kev, polishing a glass with a faded rag, raised a brow but poured another without comment. The amber liquor splashed, and Lip downed half in one burning gulp, the heat doing nothing for the rage simmering just beneath his skin. Kev leaned in, his voice low. 'You're drinking like Frank on payday. What the hell crawled up your ass?' Lip set the glass down, his eyes bloodshot, his voice a low scrape. 'It was you... she was the one who ran Karen down. Jealous bullshi…