Bronagh Chapter 12
I felt so embarrassed. Here I was, lying in bed, having a doctor, and now Cyndi and Aisling fussing over me.
And it was all my fault. I knew better than not to sleep, drink, and eat.
I’d been someone with low blood sugar issues since I was a teenager.
I’d learned how to handle them, and it had been years since I had problems. I assumed it was no longer an issue. I assumed wrong.
When the first dizzy spell happened, I should’ve known what it meant and gone to get something to eat right away.
But like everything else these past few days, it hadn’t registered.
My mind was consumed by Cathal, our breakup, and the plan to leave.
Shit, had Dad called while I was unconscious?
I patted the bed to see if my cell phone was lying on it.
“What do you need?” Cyndi asked.
She and Aisling were sitting next to the bed. The tray of food sat on a tray table over my lap. I’d been forcing down bites of yogurt and strawberries, with granola on top, along with a glass of milk.
“I need my phone? Do you know where it is?” I asked.
“No one brought it in here, I don’t believe. Did you have it in the study?” Aisling asked, standing.
“Yes, I did. It was on the desk,” I replied.
“I’ll get it. You stay here and rest, eat, and drink all of that,” she half-ordered before leaving the room. Cyndi smiled at me.
“She’s worried. We all are. That’s why we’re being bossy. Concern makes us that way. You scared us, Bronagh.”
Her tone was so warm. It made me feel special and warm on one hand and deeply sad on the other. I would be losing this.
“I didn’t mean to scare anyone. And I won’t do it again. I promise to eat, drink, and sleep,” I lied.
There was a long pause where she studied me, then she sighed.
“I have to tell you something. When we found you, Cormac called Cathal. He knew our son would want to know what happened to you. He did.”
My heart leaped. “What did he say?” I asked, though I wanted to pretend I didn’t care.
“As expected, Cathal rushed over here. He’s out in the living room with the others. He wants to see you.”
Instantly, two sides began fighting each other inside of me.
One wanted to see Cathal, and the other demanded I say no and never look at him again.
It was for the best. If I didn’t, the hole in my heart would close over.
I doubted it would heal, but it could seal itself off.
At that moment, Aisling rushed back into the room with my phone.
She handed it to me, with her eyes darting around the room.
I took it and went to deny what Cyndi said.
“Cyndi, I can’t—”
My refusal was cut short by Cathal’s voice. It came from the hallway.
“Bronagh, we need to talk. I’m coming in.”
“No! We have nothing to talk about,” I said loudly, panic hitting me. I scrambled to scroll my phone. Desperate to see that Dad had called or left me a message. Nothing.
“Yes, we do, and it’s overdue,” Cathal called back.
The next thing I knew, he came striding into the room.
His mom and sister were on their feet, looking at him, then over at me.
I noticed they seemed uncertain. I dropped my phone on the bed and shoved the tray with my mostly uneaten food away.
I refused to be trapped by it or him. I tossed back the cover and pulled my legs free. I swung them over the side of the bed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Stay in that bed,” Cathal ordered.
“Bronagh, honey, you’re weak. Please stay in bed and eat,” Cyndi pleaded.
“Please, don’t get up,” Aisling begged.
All three of their voices sounded together.
It was overwhelming. My head throbbed. My body felt like lead weights held me down, but I refused to lie there like an idiot.
Seeing him made my chest hurt. I hated that I felt worried for him.
His face was drawn, and underneath his eyes were dark.
That registered in the few seconds I glanced at him.
My feet slid to the floor, then I stood.
I swayed, so I grabbed hold of the headboard column.
Cathal’s bed was massive, made of dark wood, with ornate columns at each corner and a twisted metal framework supporting a canopy.
Or, in this case, draped in gauzy fabric.
That had been my addition when I saw the bed.
He claimed to love it. I hadn’t been cognizant enough when Alistair carried me after regaining consciousness to realize I was put back in the bed I’d shared with Cathal.
I’d been sleeping in one of the upstairs bedrooms.
“You’re going to fall!” Cathal shouted.
Then, he was right there, standing in front of me. His hands reached out, and he captured my upper arms to steady me. I tried to shake him off me.
“Let go! I don’t need your help. I’m fine. I can do this on my own. I’m going back to my room. You need to leave. If you won’t, then I will,” I demanded.
As I told him that, I saw that Aisling and Cyndi had left the room. When had they done that? I barely looked away from them when I worked to stand up.
“You’re not going anywhere but back into that bed where you’re eating and drinking the rest of your meal. Then, we’re talking,” he insisted.
“You aren’t the boss of me, Cathal. They should’ve never called you. I’m not your concern. And soon, I won’t be theirs either,” I snapped.
His expression changed to speculative. “What does that mean? Darragh told you, and so did I. We don’t go back on our word. This family will protect you and hide you until it’s safe for you.”
“Cathal, I need to talk to you,” Cormac’s voice came from the doorway.
It was like a bus station in here. People coming and going. I noted Cormac was frowning.
“Daid, not now, please. I need to speak to Bronagh alone. Will you take the rest of the family and give us privacy?”
“Mac, I will, but you need to know. She’s planning to leave. And the plan is in play. Faolán is setting it up. He’s sending someone to pick her up today.”
My mouth dropped open. “How do you know that?” I gasped.
“Aisling saw it on your laptop. And before you accuse her of snooping, she saw it when she went to fetch your cell phone. Your email was open, and it was right there. She intended to ask you about it, but Cathal interrupted, so she came and told me. You can’t leave, Bronagh.
It’s too dangerous. Faolán should know better,” Cormac explained.
“My dad is doing what we believe is best. Your help is no longer necessary. He’s arranged for me to go to one of his safe houses. Whoever is doing this hasn’t harassed him. They don’t know where he is. The safe houses are secure. Who is he sending for me?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter who he sends because they won’t be allowed entry. You’re not leaving the compound,” Cathal growled.
I glared up at him. “You can’t keep me prisoner here. I’m not your hostage. Now, let go of me. I have to get ready.”
I watched Cathal’s eyes shutter. His expression became unreadable. He kept hold of me.
“Daid, lock it down—no one in or out. Get on the phone with Faolán. Have him call this off. If he doesn’t, then have Darragh tell him what it’ll mean.” His tone was harsh. Fear slithered through me. My mouth went dry.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” his dad asked.
“Yes.”
“Alright, let me get Darragh and Faolán on the line. Bronagh, please listen to my son. We’re doing this for your own good, and his. We care about you,” Cormac said before he left the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
“What did you just do? What does it mean if Dad refuses?” I demanded.
Cathal pressed me down until I sat on the edge of the bed. He moved the tray out of the way before lifting my legs onto the mattress. I didn’t fight because I was scared of what had just happened.
“Cathal, tell me.” This time, my tone was less demanding, more of a plea.
“We have contingency plans in place if the compound is in danger of being besieged. We can ensure that if anyone gets in, they won’t be able to capture anyone. And they’ll be damn lucky if they survive it.” His voice was icy.
“You can’t kill them! Oh my God, have you gone insane? You said you wouldn’t coerce me, but you do this,” I whispered hoarsely.
“I promised I wouldn’t coerce you into marriage.
I’m not. But I won’t allow you to throw your goddamn life away!
Not when I can protect you. I know that you’re angry with me.
That you hate me, but I love you. You can’t fucking ask me to let you go and then live with the agony of knowing, if you’re killed, that it’s my fault.
Or are you so spiteful that you hope to do that to me?
To leave me to live that way? If so, I have news for you.
I won’t continue breathing if you’re gone,” He ground out between his teeth.
Astonishment swiftly changed to horror. “You’d kill yourself?” I gasped.
“I’d have no choice. I wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt and anguish of it. I don’t think I can stand not having you in my life if you live, but I know I can’t if that were to happen,” he said with finality.
The raw torment on his face was real. He meant it. My whole body began to shake. I couldn’t let him kill himself. Despite everything, I loved him, too.