Chapter 15
Ronan
Ronan sat on the living room couch with Everly, Aurora, and Wolf. He’d talked them into watching The Goonies, and now, all three kids were heavily invested in One-Eyed Willie’s treasure. Ezra was spending the night with Cope and Jude. Tennyson was in the kitchen making popcorn.
“What did I miss?” Ten asked, handing out bowls to the kids and Ronan.
“Mouth is funny!” Everly giggled.
“And cute!” Aurora added, joining her giggles with Everly’s.
“I had such a crush on him when I was a kid,” Ronan whispered in Ten’s ear. “Did you?”
Ten shook his head. “No, I loved Mikey. He had braces like I did.”
Ronan wrapped an arm around Ten and grabbed a handful of popcorn.
It was hot and buttery, just what the doctor ordered after what they’d all gone through over the last few days.
Dorothy Planter had been in touch to let Tennyson know that she’d put the wheels in motion with the prosecutor’s office to have the charges against Ten officially dropped.
The attorney said it might take a few days before all was said and done, but Dorothy was confident Ten’s nightmare would be over soon. Ronan wasn’t so sure.
What Autumn had wanted from Ten had been simple enough in her mind, in reality, it was far more complicated.
Not only hadn’t Ten shown her a shiny new future with Elijah Logan, but he’d told the woman she was going to be sued and sent to jail, which had enraged her.
Ronan knew from experience that rage on that level didn’t simply dissipate.
It grew and snowballed until it could no longer be contained.
Fitzgibbon had ordered a patrol unit to keep an eye on Doctor Logan’s house.
He’d wanted a unit on their street too, but Ten hadn’t thought that was necessary.
Ronan had disagreed, so he’d made sure patrol units would make frequent passes through the neighborhood.
Ronan’s phone dinged with an incoming text. He handed the popcorn bowl to Ten and reached forward to grab the phone off the coffee table. Tapping the screen, Ronan saw the message was from Fitz. [Everything good?]
[As gold. Kids are eating popcorn and watching a movie.
] Ronan tapped the button to send the message to Fitz when he heard the sound of glass shattering and something hard crashing onto the coffee table.
Shards rained down on him, Ten, and the kids, who began to scream.
“Everyone get down!” Ronan shouted, as he heard the sound of screeching tires. “Ten, call 911!”
Turning around, Ronan saw their front picture window was destroyed. Lying on the coffee table was a brick. Now that the danger seemed to have passed Ronan’s attention was caught by Aurora.
“I’m bleeding!” Aurora screeched before gagging. “I want my Daddy!”
Ronan saw Aurora’s left arm was cut. Blood streamed down her arm. He scooped her up and carried her into the kitchen. “Help is on the way, honey. I promise.” Ronan grabbed paper towels. Wadding them up, he set them against Aurora’s arm. “Hold this here. I’m gonna go get Everly.”
“Don’t leave me, Uncle Ronan!” Tears streamed down Aurora’s face. She looked absolutely terrified.
“Cavalry is coming. I sent a message on our group chat,” Ten called from the living room. “Everly’s cut too.” He ran into the kitchen with Everly and Wolf in his arms. Everly was crying, while Wolf tried to comfort her.
“RONAN!” Fitzgibbon shouted from the front door.
“I’m gonna get your father, honey. I’ll be right back.”
“Ooooo-kay,” Aurora said through her tears.
Ronan ran into the living room, noticing how the broken glass glittered beneath his feet. He unlocked the front door and threw it open.
Fitz charged in like a raging bull. “What the hell happened here?”
“Someone threw a brick at the window.” Ronan pointed to where it lay on the now dented coffee table. “I haven’t touched anything.”
“Jesus. Ronan!” Jude raced into the house. “Is Wolf okay?”
“All of the kids are with Ten in the kitchen.” Ronan was about to join them when he heard the roar of sirens. It sounded as if the entire police force was headed his way. He stepped out onto the stoop to wave them down.
Cisco Jackson climbed out of the first car and raced toward Ronan. “Are the kids okay?”
“I don’t know.” Ronan shook his head. He felt as if his brain was wading through quicksand. “Both girls were cut. I’m not sure about Wolf.”
“You’re bleeding too.” Cisco pointed to the back of Ronan’s head.
He touched his hand where Cisco had indicated and it came away bloody. “I didn’t even realize I’d been cut.”
“Detective O’Mara? I’m Captain Ross Daniels, from Salem EMS. Where are the kids?”
Ronan motioned the captain though his destroyed living room and into the kitchen where all three kids were crying. Tennyson held bloodied paper towels to Everly’s left arm, while Wolf did the same for Aurora. Ten had a gash on his left shoulder.
More paramedics raced into the kitchen as Ronan stood there unable to move or speak. What the hell had happened? One minute he was having a fun movie night and the next, the kids were hurt and chaos reigned.
“We’re taking the girls to the hospital,” Captain Daniels said. “They don’t want to be separated, so we’ll take them in the same ambulance. You both need to be checked out.” He pointed between Ronan and Ten. “One parent can come with us.”
“I’ll go,” Tennyson said. “Ronan, bring a change of clothes and shoes for Everly. Same for Aurora.”
Ten’s voice snapped Ronan out of his head. “You’re going to be okay, Everly. I promise.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I want you to come with us!” Everly wailed.
“I have to talk to Cisco and the other cops. Uncle Fitz and I will be right behind you.” Ronan’s heart broke as his daughter continued to cry and reach out for him.
“We’re on the move,” Daniels said into his radio.
Ronan watched stunned as a stretcher with his daughter and niece was wheeled out of the kitchen. He wanted to collapse and cry himself, but there was work to be done.
“What happened, Ronan?” Cisco asked, walking into the kitchen.
“We were watching a movie and without warning, a brick flew through the window. There was no warning. Ten didn’t see it coming.
Neither did Everly. I heard the glass smash, then the thump of the brick hitting the coffee table, then the girls started to scream.
If I live to be a hundred, I’ll never forget that sound.
Can you ever forgive me for getting your daughter hurt, Fitz? ”
“There’s no forgiveness needed,” Fitz said. “We had extra patrols in the neighborhood. Let’s get you to the hospital. You’re bleeding too.”
“What about the house?” Ronan looked around the room. There was glass everywhere and with temps still getting down into the thirties at night, the front window needed to be boarded up.
“I’ll take care of it,” Jude volunteered. “I’ll take Wolf home and then I’ll get to work here. Go to the hospital and get checked out. Kiss Everly and Aurora for me.”
Ronan nodded. Thank God for Jude.
“I’m sending officers to the hospital, just in case. Who do you think did this?”
Ronan sighed. He felt as if hours had passed since the brick came through the window. “Autumn Miller or Dutch Vance. Ten told Autumn she was going to be arrested for stalking Elijah Logan and that Vance was going to be fired in connection with Ten’s arrest and the warrants he’d sworn out.”
“Jesus,” Cisco muttered. “I’ll take care of everything here.”
“Thanks, Cisco.” Ronan dashed upstairs and grabbed an outfit for Everly to change into along with shoes.
Last, he grabbed her favorite unicorn and shoved them into her pink ballerina bag.
Seeing Aurora’s backpack, he opened it, saw that it had clothes and her comfort items, slung it over his shoulder before running back down the stairs. “I’ve got Aurora’s stuff too.”
“Good plan. You might want to change out of your slippers before we leave.” Fitz pointed at Ronan’s feet.
Ronan felt like he was moving in slow motion as he changed his shoes and pulled on his coat. He stuffed his keys and phone in his pockets and followed Fitzgibbon out the door. Officers were busy collecting evidence and dusting for fingerprints.
It was obvious this attack wasn’t random. It was targeted against him and Tennyson. With Everly and Aurora as collateral damage. As soon as everyone was taken care of at the hospital, the hunt for whoever had done this to his house and his family was on.
Ronan was going to find the people behind this attack, come hell or high water.