Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Ciarán
The relief I feel now that Emilia is back with me is incredible. It’s like an anvil was crushing my chest and now it’s gone. Emilia has to spend a couple of days in the hospital. She’s already grumbling and saying she wants to go home. I’m supposed to go back to Ireland tomorrow, but I don’t want to leave Emilia. Even though I know that Paul is in custody, that’s not enough for me. He shot Celestino in the arm and in return, Celestino got him in the leg.
We don’t know when his trial is, but Emilia has to be here in Starlight Bay to testify. And apparently in our family, all the women have bodyguards. Carmelo Marini has volunteered to be Emilia’s. It makes me feel better since even though I don’t want to, I have to go back to Ireland.
I’ll spend a few weeks packing up my stuff back in Ireland and then make my move to Lake Renegade. I’m hoping that Emilia will agree to go with me. I plan on asking her tonight.
“How are you feeling?” I ask her.
“I want to go home.” Emilia pouts at me.
“I know, but you’ll be out soon. Hey, I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure.”
“So…when I get back from Ireland, I’ll be in Lake Renegade. And you’ll be here in Starlight Bay. What about if you moved to Lake Renegade with me?”
We’ve already started to organize everything we need to open our dental practice in Lake Renegade. Sebastiano has also been helping us with all the paperwork needed to be able to move here. It’s made the process a whole lot easier than if I had to do it alone. Aisling has decided to apply to stay here too. I thought our parents would be sad, or mad even, that we won’t be taking over for them. They were a little sad, but also really happy for us. And áine decided that she wanted to continue their practice for now. One day she might want to join us in Lake Renegade.
“You want me to move with you?”
“Of course I do. We could even ask Frank to come with us. I know he doesn’t have any family besides you.”
Emilia sniffles. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You’re a good person and you deserve the world. I plan on giving it to you.”
The smile that lights up her face is one I want to see everyday.
“I love you, Ciarán. Yes, I’ll move to Lake Renegade with you. And I love the idea of asking Frank to come with us.”
“I’ll talk to Frank and see what he thinks. I already talked to my family about it. They all love the idea of you and Frank coming with me. And don’t forget, Carmelo will be with you from now on. And when I get back, he’ll be with you when I’m not.”
“It’s so weird to think that I’ll have a bodyguard. You only hear about them for like, celebrities, and I’m far from being famous.”
“Yeah, but you’re important. To me and to my family. I don’t ever want you to worry, your safety is too important.”
“What about you? Don’t you need one too?”
I chuckle. “No. I can take care of myself.”
Emilia frowns at me. “You could be in danger too and who will protect you?”
“I’ll be okay, baby. I’m safe in Ireland and when I get back? You’ll protect me.”
Emilia sighs. “I hate that you’re leaving tomorrow.”
"But three weeks will fly by and we’ll talk everyday.”
“I still don’t like it.” She pouts.
I laugh and lean down to kiss her. In such a short time, she’s become everything to me. And I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. Carmelo walks in as we’re kissing.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He smiles at us.
“You’re fine. I’m just complaining about Ciarán leaving tomorrow. I wish I was going to Ireland.”
Carmelo chuckles. “No shit. Me too.”
We all laugh as someone bursts through the door. All I see is a gun, and I watch Carmelo turn in slow motion, pulling his gun from his holster. I grab Emilia and pull her off the bed and down behind it. I hear a loud pop and there’s a burning sensation in my shoulder.
“Get down!” Carmelo yells as I watch him aim and fire a shot.
Before I can take shelter, I see Paul’s face as he points the gun at me again. Carmelo fires another shot and I see Paul drop to the ground, a red spot blooming in the center of his chest.
“Is—is he dead?” Emilia whispers.
“He’s down. But I need you to stay there. I’ll get a doctor,” Carmelo says as he hands me a sheet from her bed. “Put pressure on that shoulder.”
“You’re shot.” Emilia starts sobbing.
“Don’t cry, baby, I’m okay,” I say as I press the sheet to my shoulder.
There’s a rush of nurses and doctors coming in. A few stop to check on Paul and verify that he’s dead. The rest come to check on Emilia and me.
“Seems like the bullet went straight through. But I want to get a better look at it before I confirm that,” the doctor says to me.
“Go. I’ll stay with Emilia. And I’ll call Salvatore,” Carmelo says.
I nod and kiss Emilia. “Thank you. I’ll be right back, baby.”
“I’m Doctor Carmichael. Let me take a look at your shoulder. Just as I thought, it’s a clean shot. I’ll stitch you up. It will help you heal faster. And I’d like it if you didn’t use this arm for at least a week or two so it can mend.”
“That’s going to be hard. I’m on a plane back to Ireland tomorrow to pack my stuff for the move.”
“I’d advise you to find help. You won’t be using this arm for at least three weeks. You will open up this wound if you don’t let it heal and you could do some real damage. What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a dentist.”
“Well, you’ll probably need that arm, then. So please, let it heal.”
I sigh. “I’ll hire people to help me pack.”
“Thank you. And when will you be back here?”
“I won’t be. I’m headed to Lake Renegade, Illinois.”
“You’ll need a follow-up in a month to make sure it’s healing properly. And you’ll need to change the dressing three times a day. If you notice more bleeding, make sure you get to a doctor. And don’t get it wet for a few days.”
“Okay, Doc. Thank you. I’ll make sure I get it looked at when I get back to Lake Renegade.”
“I’ll have one of my nurses print you out some instructions. And a prescription for some antibiotics. I’m sure you want to get back to your girlfriend. I’ll have them bring you the papers.”
“I appreciate that. Thank you.”
When I get back to Emilia’s room, I’m told she was moved to another room down the hall. When I get to the new room, Salvatore and his partner, Mac, are there talking to her and Carmelo.
“How did Paul get out?” I frown at them.
“From what I’m told, there was a mix-up here in the hospital. He was supposed to be handcuffed with an officer posted outside his door. But someone fucked up. I’ll find out what really happened. Don’t worry.”
“Is Carmelo going to get into trouble for this? He was only protecting me and Ciarán.”
“No, there are cameras in the hospital and I’m sure we will see Paul on them searching for you. And we already know what he did to you.”
Salvatore’s answer seems to calm Emilia down a little.
“How’s your shoulder?” Carmelo asks.
“Doctor said it was a clean shot. I need to be careful and take some antibiotics. But I’m okay.”
Emilia scoots over on her bed and pats it, inviting me to sit with her.
“Are you still leaving tomorrow?” she asks.
“The sooner I leave, the sooner I get back.”
Emilia scrunches up her face. “Fine.”