Chapter 14
I know I’ve had a shadow since yesterday morning. I’m positive it’s Finn’s men since I’m pretty certain I saw Joey as I walked into the hospital yesterday. But I had to make an emergency shift change to come out to my parents’.
“Papa?”
“In the living room.”
I don’t like how reedy his voice sounds. I dump my stuff on the entryway table and rush toward him.
“Papa! Oh my God!” I’m too stunned to move for a moment, then I’m kneeling beside the sofa as my eyes roam over him, taking in his injuries.
My mom called this morning to say he’d had a cycling accident yesterday afternoon. She’d taken him to the Emergency Room, but she downplayed it. It was a friend who was on rotation last night who called right after I hung up with my mom to ask how he was doing since he knew his patient was my dad. I could only stand there and listen as he said my dad’s injuries were serious enough to keep him overnight. They got home a couple hours ago. I was about to leave for work, but I called around to find someone to swap. It wasn’t easy, but there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I was going to work today.
“I’ll survive, squirt.”
“I can tell, but this is serious.” I pick up the prescription bottle on the table. “If Dr. Harding prescribed these, you must be in intense pain or will be.”
These are about as powerful as you can get outside an IV drip in a hospital. I put the pills down and scan my gaze over him from head to toe and back up again. He’s pale as fuck, and I can tell his skin is clammy.
“The doctor said as long as I take these on time, I shouldn’t have any problems managing my pain.”
If only it were that simple. His pain is only a fraction of what I’m worried about. My parents gave me access to their health portals years ago, so I could read test results and appointment notes. I saw it all before I left my place. He has a concussion, a sprained right wrist, and road rash on his face, side, and leg. He has bruising from shoulder to ankle on his right side. They suspected two broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, but it was the massive bruising that caused their suspicion. He got lucky. The CT scan didn’t reveal any trauma to his organs, but the notes recommend he follow up with an orthopedist for his wrist and a neurosurgeon for a possible herniated disc in his neck. Thank God he always wears his helmet.
“What happened?” My mom was evasive.
“I swerved to miss someone, and my front tire rolled over something that punctured it. I went flying over the handlebars.”
“Do you remember any of it? Did someone call an ambulance?”
“I don’t remember much until Mom arrived at the ER. I don’t know who called 911, but people stayed with me until the paramedics arrived.”
“Did the person you almost hit at least stay?”
He hesitates a moment too long. “Yeah, he stuck around.”
“Papa, was this one of Uncle Corey’s men? Tell me the truth.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I didn’t get a good look before the accident, and I’m not sure if my memory is real or something my imagination made up.”
“Did he threaten you before this happened? He obviously knows you lost your job because he came to my place, then went looking for Jamie. You know he won’t stop until you’re paying him weekly.”
I want to call Finn. I want to tell him everything that’s going on. I want to lean on him. I want him to fix this— and by fix, I mean make sure Uncle Corey is dead. I may have sworn to do no harm, but that doesn’t mean I can’t wish it on deserving people. Finn sure as hell didn’t make that pledge.
“I’m not giving him a penny.”
“Papa—”
“No. This isn’t the worst that’s happened to me because of him. Granted, I was thirty years younger, so I bounced back a lot easier. He knows he can try to bend me, but I won’t snap.”
“He knows he’s going to have to keep trying until he succeeds.”
“Not happening.”
I just nod. What else am I supposed to do? “Papa, did you just take a dose? You look like you’re getting sleepy.”
Did our argument— brief as it was —exhaust him?
“Yeah. About ten minutes ago.”
“Can I get you anything? I’ll watch TV in the other room. Sleep as long as you can. The body heals while it sleeps.”
“I’m good, squirt. Go find that housewives show you like so much.”
I like certain reality TV way more than I’ll admit. But that’s not what I’m doing as I leave the living room. I check over my shoulder to make sure he hasn’t moved before walking down the hallway to the front door. I ease it open and shut it quietly once I’m on the stoop. I look around until I spot the car I’m searching for. I make a beeline to it. I’m about to tap on the glass when a man in a charcoal suit winds down the front passenger window.
“I need to speak to Finn.”
“Dr. Galla?—”
“Someone hurt my dad.”
I lean forward and see a guy in the driver’s seat who looks just like Joey. The man right in front of me looks a lot like Finn’s driver, too. The men glance at each other as they reach for the door handles.
“He’s okay for now. He had an accident yesterday, and I’m certain I know who caused it. This is— this is —” I puff an exhale. “—shit Finn knows how to handle. I don’t.”
I give them a pointed look, and the driver nods. “Give me a moment. I can’t call him, but I can text him. Do you have your phone? I’ll tell him to call you. It might not be immediately, but he will call when he gets my message.”
“Thank you.”
“Should we pull into the driveway? Do you want whoever this is to know you have a security detail?” The guy near me isn’t looking at me, but at his side-view mirror.
“My mom isn’t home yet. She needs to pull in, and I don’t want her asking why there’re men sitting in our driveway. But there’s a spot a little closer. Could you park there, please?”
The driver starts the car as he speaks. “I’m Simon, and this is my brother, Fallon. We’re Joey’s big brothers. I’m going to call him to come over. He’ll bring our cousin Ted. I’d feel better if we have another car at the other end of the street facing this way. Are you spending the night?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Someone’s covering my shift today, but I don’t know if I can get someone to do it tomorrow.”
“Fallon and I will follow you home. Two other guys will relieve us at six regardless of where we are. Joey and Ted will stay here until midnight. They’ll have two guys relieve them. I’m certain Joey will insist upon being your guard tomorrow. Unless Finn tells us otherwise, Joey’s going wherever you go. No waiting in a car. If your parents go anywhere, we’ll have people follow them. Do you have brothers or sisters?”
“Two brothers, and they both have kids.” This conversation is reassuring part of my mind, but it’s clearly not easing all my fear because my heart is racing.
“We’ll call Dillan and arrange all of this. Let Fallon program all our numbers in your phone.”
I hand it to him and step back from the car. Simon reverses, then pulls out of the spot. I walk alongside them but on the sidewalk. He pulls into the new spot and parks. Fallon hands the phone back to me just as it rings. Oh, merciful saints.
“Finn.” I flash a smile at the guys and hurry back to the house.
“Cailín, what happened? Are you safe?”
I know no one can hear me. “Yes, Daddy. But my dad’s uncle tried to kill him.”
I don’t believe for a second that I’m exaggerating. Not with my dad that banged up.
“Corey attacked your dad?”
That grinds me to a halt. It’s not Finn’s deceptively calm voice. It’s his question.
“How do you know about him?”
“I’ve known Corey for years. I put two-and-two together about an hour ago. Whoever attacked your dad wasn’t Corey because I saw him this morning. It was one of his thugs. He’s headed back to the city in a couple days. I want you to stay with my parents. If it’s really dire, then your parents, brothers, and their families go there too.”
“Your parents can’t accommodate that many strangers. They don’t run a hotel.”
“Little one, my family is large and rich. My parents have an eight-bedroom home plus a three-bedroom pool house. You’ll all fit.”
I stop with my hand on the door handle. That’s a fucking mansion, not a house. I can’t imagine that. There are only three brothers and their parents. Four bedrooms for them and a guest room. That would be enough.
“Thea, they bought the house after my brothers were born. By then, there were seven cousins. We each have a room, plus my parents. Colleen’s bedroom is a guest room now. When my aunts and uncles stay over, they either stay in the pool house, or two of us give up our rooms, and we stay out there. No one in our family uses Colleen’s room. Since none of us live at home, there are plenty of places for your family to stay.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I pray it doesn’t come to that, but I’m relieved to know we have that option. Simon and Fallon are arranging for my parents and me to have guards tomorrow. He said Dillan would take care of my brothers and their families. Finn, Corey won’t show up alone. He goes nowhere without at least five guys with him. I don’t want to insult your men, but two of them won’t even be a speed bump.”
“Cailín, I need you to have faith that my guys can handle this. Joey and his brothers volunteered to watch out for you while I’m gone. If I had to choose men for the job, they’re the first ones I’d go to. They’re the ones who guard my mom and aunts. Fallon is usually with Mair these days.”
“Hold on a second.” I slip back into the house and down the hallway. I put my phone next to my thigh as I check on my dad. He’s passed out and snoring lightly. I spin around and head to the stairs. “I’m almost to my room.”
When I get there, I shut the door and sit on the bed I’ve slept in since I was five. I kick off my shoes and lie down.
“My dad’s knocked out with the pain meds. He’s sleeping on the sofa downstairs. There’s no way he’s making it up the stairs to my parents’ bedroom.”
“How serious are his injuries?”
“Bruises and road rash all over his face and body, sprained wrist, and a concussion. They suspected broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, but that was from the bruising. That’s with a helmet on. He probably would’ve died without it. At the very least, he’d have a serious TBI.”
“Thea, I can’t leave until at least tomorrow. I’m sorry.”
“No. I didn’t ask Simon to have you call me, so I could ask you to come home. I—I—Finn, you know the man Corey is. I don’t want him to come near my family ever again. I can’t make that happen, and neither can my dad.” But you can.
Those three words are silently dangling in the air. I pretty much just asked him to put a hit on a family member. But Corey’s never felt like an uncle, and he sure as fuck isn’t family if he could do this. I’m certain he was behind this, even if he wasn’t there when it happened.
“Leanbh, I’ll make sure you and your family are safe.”
“What does that mean?”
“Baby.”
I close my eyes and breathe easier. I’m certain Finn needs to go. He’s not wherever he is for shits and giggles. But hearing his voice is calming me down.
“Thank you, Daddy. I’ll see you when you’re done.”
There’s a moment of silence, then his voice is practically a whisper. But it’s not quiet enough for me not to hear the hurt.
“That’s it?”
“Finn, you’re not on vacation. I know you have stuff to do.”
My mind flashes to the place he told me about. My head tilts to look at my bedroom door. Finn told me his phone will be off whenever he’s there. Simon said he would text him. He said Finn might not get it right away, but he called me a few minutes later. He’s not at that place.
“Thea, there will be times when I might have to go more than a few days without talking to you. I’m thankful that it hasn’t even been a full day. Do you have to go? If not, I’d like to hear your voice a little longer.”
“You say the sweetest things. I’d like to hear yours too.”
“Did you take today off? I know you’re supposed to be at the hospital right now.”
“I got someone to swap with me, but I’m not sure I’ll be so lucky tomorrow. I’ll call around in a little while. If I get someone to cover me, then I’ll probably spend the night here. If I can’t, then I need to go back to my place because my shift’ll start at six. I have scrubs and my clogs in the car just in case.”
“Thinking about you in scrubs with your white coat and stethoscope around your neck is hot. Do you wear one of those things on your head? Like a bonnet?”
I chuckle. “Yes, a bonnet. I just rolled right out of Little House on the Prairie and into labor and delivery. It’s called a surgical cap.”
“Does yours have like Snoopy and Charlie Brown, or whatever kids like these days?”
“Finn, my patients can’t even distinguish my face. They truly can’t see more than a foot in front of them. They don’t notice if I have cartoon characters. I have one with all different dogs, one with smiling suns, and one with flamingos. I like having something cheery on when I see parents.”
“I admire you so much.”
That sends a rush of warmth through me that makes my toes curl. “Thanks.”
“What color are your scrubs?”
“I brought lavender ones. I usually wear pastels for the same reason as the fun surgical caps.”
“Which cap will you wear?”
“The dog one. Why?”
“And your lab coat says Dr A. Gallagher, Neonatologist?”
“Neonatology.”
“What color are your clogs?”
“Black. Are you picturing me in my scrubs? I thought you’d picture me naked.” I’m almost offended that he prefers to think of me all covered up.
“I think about you naked all the time. Picturing you in your scrubs is fecking hot as all get out. You’re brilliant, and kind, and dedicated, and you use all of that as a doctor. Knowing you spend all day helping sick babies in those scrubs— it’s a turn on.”
“Daddy.” I sigh the word.
“Yes, leanbh.”
“You’re wonderful.”
“I want to be for you.” There’s a wistfulness to that.
“Are you in one of your right off the Milan runway suits or your version of casual?”
“My version of casual? What does that mean?”
“Even in jeans and a sweater, you look like you’re ready to make the panties drop off every woman who sees you.”
“The only woman whose panties matter to me knows she better not be wearing any.”
“I know. I’m not.”
I’m wearing yoga pants, so I’m quick to open my camera and pull the waistband out enough for him to see my pussy. I snap the pic and text it to him. A groan is my reward.
“Thea, I’m already hard just talking to you. I can practically feel being inside your pussy. I’m going to enjoy every part of you. I’m going to lock us away for three days when I get back.”
I can practically hear his teeth clack together when he realizes what he just said. Get back. He already told me he saw Uncle Corey this morning, but the piece of ass is heading back to the city in a couple days. Finn’s not here in NYC. It’s a gut punch. He left without telling me.
You can’t feel sorry for yourself. You knew this could and would happen. You knew he would lie to you about where he is.
“Thea, I had to go out of town. For this trip, I can’t tell you more than that. But Corey came up, and I figured out you’re related.”
Boston.
Uncle Corey might have influence in NYC and Boston, but I can’t imagine he matters anywhere else. He let it slip that he left the city, but he just reminded me my great-uncle came up in conversation.
“Are you angry I didn’t tell you about Uncle Corey when you saw my window?”
“I’m not thrilled, but you didn’t know half of what you know now, and that’s not even a thimbleful of what you will learn. I don’t blame you for being hesitant to tell me something like that. But I’m glad you called me. I will take care of it. Corey will understand you and your family are off limits.”
I fucking hope so. There’s more I should tell him, and I never planned to hide it. But it’s not something I want to discuss over the phone. It’s too complicated for that, and I couldn’t have imagined he’d know Corey or be anywhere near him right now. Just knowing I’m related to the piece of shit is bad enough. I don’t know what Finn’ll do when he finds out the woman I used to be.