“You were shocked and upset and you still got the right information to the right people.”
“I guess.” She checked her watch. “I’m not even sure how long it’s been, but I should call Rafe.”
“It couldn’t hurt.”
She clicked into her phone and put it on speaker, so he heard, “Hayley.”
“Do you know anything, Rafe?”
“We got to the hospital as soon as we could after Megan called us, but Seth was already in the ER treatment area. A doctor did let us know Seth was going into surgery.” Her cousin’s voice was strained with worry.
“I was hoping for better news.”
“Sorry. Meg said you listened to the whole thing, honey.”
“It was awful, Rafe.”
“I bet. I’ll let you know when I hear anything more.”
“Are you kidding? I’m on my way out there.”
“You’re coming to Hidden Cove alone? You gotta be upset. Maybe traumatized.”
“I’m not alone.”
“Is Finn with you?”
“No, he’s out of town, but coming back in tonight. I’ll leave him a message. I’m with my friend, Paul.”
“Then I’ll see you soon.”
When she clicked off, she turned bruised eyes on Paul. “I don’t feel any better.”
“You shouldn’t, not until we see how the surgery goes.”
She grasped his hand. “Thanks for being here.”
“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, sweetheart.”
* * *
He walked into the emergency room at Hidden Cove Memorial Hospital wearing non-descript jeans, a navy t-shirt and hoodie, with a ball cap on his head. Glasses perched on his nose. One hid his trademark dark hair, with a bit of gray in it now. The specs he didn’t need. He still hadn’t decided if he’d let his presence be known. He’d wait till Hayley and Finn arrived to decide. He also didn’t know what the family had heard yet, but since he couldn’t ask them, he dropped down into a vinyl chair about thirty feet away and reviewed what he already knew.
Seth was in surgery.
A client’s husband had stabbed him.
Fifteen minutes later, Hayley walked into the waiting room. His heartbeat escalated as he stared at his little sister in the flesh. She was with Paul Covington. He knew she’d been seeing him. They both crossed to the Casella clan.
Rafe, the titular head of the family, hugged her. Said something in her ear. Gideon, the next to oldest, took his turn. His gruff policeman cousin had a soft side, the reports he’d gotten told him. Alessia, who’d become a beauty, was next. She and Hayley held on extra tight.
Though he wondered where Finn was, at least Hayley had her cousins and her aunt, Carmella. She seemed to be stoic now, like he remembered she was when Bridget insulted or slighted her all those years ago. Carmella was with a young woman who seemed familiar. Maybe a friend of Seth’s?
He focused in again on Hayley. She was incredibly upset. He could help with that.
It was time, he guessed.
Standing, he crossed to his relatives. They all turned to see who the stranger was. He took off his hat and glasses and said, “Hi, everybody.” He focused on Hayley. “I came for you, honey.”
Shock made her face white. “Ronan?”
“It’s me, baby. Come here?”
He held out his arms and she threw herself at him. And he hugged her tight for the first time in twenty years.
* * *
Ronan, her long lost brother, sat with Hayley apart from the others. Paul had stayed back from the family but knew all about Ronan because Hayley had told him what happened, that he’d abandoned her twenty years ago.
Just like you did. It was a dagger in the heart to him to have that in common with him. But Paul was here for Hayley now, so he dismissed the comparison.
She looked stunned, but happy to see her brother. Deciding to be happy for her, he sat back in his chair and pulled out his phone. He’d call Finn to make sure he got Hayley’s message.
Someone dropped down next to him. “How’s it going, Covington?”
He wasn’t surprised that the family knew of his relationship with their cousin. “I’m, um, I’m concerned for you all.”
The big guy sat staring ahead, his arms crossed over his chest. He was still wearing his uniform. “I’m Gideon.”
“The second oldest, I know.”
“I’m also a cop.”
“I could tell.”
“That’s how I know who you are. I wanna tell you I’m watching you with Hayley.”
“Good to know.” He glanced over to where she sat with Ronan. “She’s a wreck.”
“I’m glad Ronan came. He could always make things better for her and Finn.”
“I’m glad, then, too.”
While he had the chance, he studied Hayley’s cousin. Gideon had a world-weary look to him. His light-blond hair was peppered with gray with incredibly light brows. But by his bearing, he could tell this man was tough.
“How are you holding up, Gideon?”
“I feel like hell I wasn’t there when she called.”
“She got him help, though.”
“Yeah, our little cousin has a will of steel.”
“Tell me about it.”
Gideon laughed. “I don’t have to. I saw you go up against her in court.”
* * *
“I can’t believe you’re here, Ronan.” Hayley hugged him again, awkward though it was sitting down this time. Her emotions were bouncing all over the place. Down so low over Seth she thought she’d never climb out of them. Then reaching heights of joy when her oldest brother appeared today.
“I am here, Red.” He brushed his hand down her hair. “Though you’re more auburn now.” He frowned.
“What?”
“You must have been beating the men off with a stick all these years.”
“How did you know about Seth?”
“I’ve kept track of you and Finn.” He gestured to the group. “And them.”
“How? There are privacy laws, you know.”
“I, um, get alerts.”
“What kind of alerts?”
He glanced over her shoulder. “Look, Hayley. A doctor came out.”
Abandoning the topic for now, she stood and they both hurried over to the rest of the family. She held Ronan’s hand because she was afraid he’d disappear in a puff of smoke. “I have some news about Mr. Casella. Is his wife here?”
“He’s not married. We’re his brothers and sisters.” Rafe fudged the truth a bit. “And this is his mother.”
Julianne Ford held Carmella’s hand. Huh. What would Seth think of his long-lost girlfriend showing up?
“I’m the surgeon, Dr. Joe Manson. Your brother or son is stable now.”
“But he was stabbed.” This from Ali, who held Rafe’s hand.
“Let me explain. Abdominal injuries are classified by the organ that is damaged and how the injury occurred. They can be blunt or penetrating.
“Most concerning is when the object enters the abdominal cavity. Gunshots usually cause significant damage. However, stab wounds that don’t hit organs cause less damage. That’s what happened to Mr. Casella. He had internal bleeding, but we stopped that with surgery to the blood vessels. An artery was nicked but reparable.” He smiled. “Quite frankly, it’s a miracle that the stomach, spleen, and liver weren’t affected.”