Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“Your doctor will be here tomorrow to check on your progress. You’ll start physio in a few days,” she said quietly.
“Good. Then we can put this behind us.”
She didn’t reply. I reached for her hand with my good one, frowning at how cold hers was.
“Una,” I said, waiting until she met my eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what you went through.”
“You almost died trying to protect me. Two men died.” She shook her head. “That is exactly why I didn’t want to be in your world, Finn.”
“I know.”
“I swore I would never get involved with a syndicate man. I believed you when you said it was different.”
“It is—usually. That was an anomaly, not the norm. I swear to God it was. He was a drugged-up hothead and made a stupid decision.”
“And next time, he might not miss.”
“I will never allow anything to happen to you.”
She slid from the bed, shaking her head. “Not me. You, Finn. If you had died protecting me, I would never forgive myself. I refuse to be your vulnerability. To be used against you.”
“Don’t, Una. Don’t say it.”
She sighed. “We both know it, Finn. I can’t stay. I won’t leave you until you’re on your feet, but I can’t stay. I need to be what we were before my father died.”
“Strangers?” I snapped. “That is impossible.”
She smiled, even as tears glistened in her eyes. “Polite acquaintances.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You have to. And you will.”
“What makes you so sure?”
She paused, a tear rolling down her cheek. “Because I’m asking you to do that for me.”
And she left the room, the silence deafening in its stillness.
Because she was right.
The pilot announced that we would be landing, pulling my thoughts back from the past.
From one loss to potentially another.
I wasn’t sure how I would handle this one.
I had never gotten over the other.
All hospitals smelled the same. Medicinal. Underlying bleach fumes covering the stench of decaying walls and illness. I hated them with a passion.
And knowing what was waiting for us made it even worse.
Roisin was a silent form under the blankets and machinery. Pale and waxen, she looked older than I had ever seen her appear. Vulnerable and small.
Niall sat beside her, taking her hand in his and pressing it to his forehead. I stood behind him, my hand on his shoulder as he wept.
Her specialist came in, and we spoke of results, prognoses, possibilities.
None of it good.
I arranged a room close to the hospital, and Niall and I agreed on a schedule so she would never be alone. I had a feeling getting either of us away from her bedside would prove fruitless, but in theory, it worked.
We sat in that dim room, forcing ourselves to talk. Speak to her. Hoping she knew we were there.
Our cousin Sullivan, ten years our senior and a barrister in Edinburgh, came when we called, looking somber and sad.
“Sully,” I greeted him with a handshake and a backslapping hug. “Good to see you, although I wish not under these circumstances.”
He hugged me back, staring over my shoulder at my aunt. “Jesus, I only saw her two weeks ago when I came to Dublin for the office. She was right as rain. Fussing over me, telling me I needed a wife and I worked too hard. She refused to let me take her to lunch and insisted on cooking a Sunday roast for us.”
“And no doubt sending you home with the leftovers.”
“Aye. I ate like a king for a week.” He wiped his eyes. “How’s Niall?”
“I finally got him to rest.” I snorted, shaking my head. “In the room across the way that was empty. The hotel room is sitting unused. Neither of us has been there.”
“Any change?”
“Well, she isn’t worse. She muttered a little yesterday and squeezed Niall’s hand, so we’re taking that as a good sign.”
“Go get a coffee or take a walk. I’ll sit with her, man. You look like death warmed over.” He lifted one shoulder. “Pardon the expression.”
“I’ll take you up on that. I’ll only be gone a short while. I have my phone with me, and Niall will be back in a minute. I heard his alarm go.”
He nodded. “Off with you.”
The fresh air felt good on my face, and I inhaled it deeply, ridding my lungs of the scents of the hospital. I walked the block, needed to feel the stretch in my legs and arms as I swung them. I got a coffee and bun from a local shop and sat on the bench outside, checking my phone. I saw a missed call from Roman, and I returned it, waiting until he picked up.
“Costas.”
“It’s Finn.”
“How are things?”
“About the same. My cousin arrived, so I’m out on a walk to clear my head. Is there a problem?”
He paused. “Not sure if you’ll think it’s a problem or a solution.”