I sit up, and my head aches.
“Stay in that bed, or I’ll call my brother,” Fiona says sternly.
I roll my eyes at her. “Keep your knickers on, I’m fine.”
“Okay, then, so. Well, the crash. Tully lost control in the rain. Hydroplaned, and couldn’t stop. He hit the car full on and wrecked both of them.”
“Mother of God.”
“You injured your head as did Tiernan. Lachlan broke an arm and several ribs.”
I’m sick to my stomach.
Her eyes water. “Tully was hurt pretty bad…” her voice trails off. I look at her sharply. Already, these men are like brothers to me, every damn one of them. And even if I don’t know them well, I know they did this all for me. And if anyone’s hurt because of me...
“Oh, God, no… where is he?”
“He’s at the hospital,” she says. “And they’re touting the men as heroes.” Her voice lowers. “And they bloody well are.”
I wait for her to tell me the rest. She takes in a deep breath. “When the cars crashed, the plan was for you to be taken away, and for the woman they hired to take your place.”
I nod in silence, a lump forming in my throat.
“You were pinned in the car, and… well, it was hard to get you out, but there was smoke and a fire, and only a few witnesses far off in the distance.” She breathes out. “So they did what they had to. My brother was able to extricate you, but as he did, there was an explosion. He’s okay, though, Ais. I swear to God, he is. He’s just injured.”
I look around and realize I’m not in a hospital like I thought, since I recognize the garden outside this room. “Where am I?”
“Infirmary wing we’ve made right here at the house. It’s on the uppermost floor.” She sighs. “There were enough of you injured Keenan thought it best.”
“And the girl?”
She nods. “Everything went as planned. She took your place. Megan’s contact pronounced her dead when she arrived at the hospital.” Her eyes go wide at the panicked expression on my face. “It was the plan, Ais, she’s fine. Shanna’s got the articles in the local papers.” She sighs, looking older than I remember her looking in recent years. “There’s even a quote from the Prime Minister.”
“Already?”
“Carson made sure to work with Megan and Sheena to get word out as soon as possible. And Ais...”
“Aye?”
She winces. “Your funeral’s day after tomorrow. Keenan’s notified your mum…”
I look out the window, suddenly aware that I don’t want to hear this. Those are words no living person should ever hear.
Your funeral’s tomorrow.
“Yes?”
Fiona doesn’t look at me but stares at her hands. “I don’t think she’ll be here.”
I nod, accepting this. It stings like a fucking spur to the gut, but it’s not anything new to me.
“I helped plan your funeral arrangements,” she says, her eyes looking past me now.
“Ack. I’m sorry, Fiona.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t be. I think it was the smartest thing to do.” She smiles. “And now I’ve got another friend, see?”
I squeeze her hand. “Aye.” The need to see Tiernan’s gotten stronger with every second that passes. “Fiona. Can I see him?”
She nods. “Yes, of course. Just beware he doesn’t look himself, alright?”
I nod, and shove out of the bed. The room reels, and she takes my hand.
“Easy, now. You’ve been in there for a day or so, and you’ll likely be a little dizzy.”
“Aye.”
I look down and realize I’m wearing my pajamas. I wonder who helped me get into them. I wonder many things.
My funeral’s tomorrow.
“He tried his damnedest to get down to see you, but I swear to God Keenan almost chained him to the bed. I’ve never seen Keenan and Cormac so serious. Thought they’d put a detail on Tiernan just to keep in him bed. He broke a leg, had to have it set.”
Another wave of nausea hits my belly.
“Come to think of it, they may have actually put a guard on him…”
I could believe it. Something warms at the knowledge that he wanted to see me.
“Did they, now?”
“Well, he was quite desperate.” She gives me a small smile. “You’ve bewitched my brother, haven’t you?”
I shrug and give her a mischievous smile.
I walk down the hall with her. I’ve never been on this floor of the mansion. Above me are large, brightly-lit skylights, casting vibrant sun on us from above. I bask in the sudden light and warmth, as we continue down the hall. Pretty vases of flowers sit on little tables, and voices are hushed. It smells vaguely of antiseptic.
She leads me to a room at the far end. Inside the door, deep voices are rising and falling, until Fiona gives a tentative knock.
“Who is it?” I recognize Keenan’s voice.
“Fiona and Aisling.”
The voices on the other side of the door are suddenly silent. Footsteps sound, then the door’s yanked open.
Keenan looks at me with concern, and I think he’s got more gray in his beard than he had the last time I saw him.
“You be careful,” he scolds me. “Fiona, you shouldn’t have let her get out of that damn bed.”
Fiona gives him a haughty look. I have to admire the girl; it takes bravery to face Keenan the way she does. “With all due respect, Keenan, there’s no keeping these two apart. She hardly went out for a jog, but basically toddled down the hall holding onto my arm. Now, if you’d step aside, I’d be very much obliged.”
Someone chuckles at the other side of the room. “Feisty, sweet girl.” Lachlan.
Lachlan’s in one bed, and Tiernan’s in the other. His eyes go wide when he sees me.
“Jesus,” he mutters. I can’t get to him fast enough.
One eye’s swollen shut, and one arm’s in a sling. He’s got bruises and lacerations along the length of his face, and his leg’s extended in front of him, stiffly wrapped. I wince.
“You look terrible.”
“Do I?” he asks, giving me that grin that makes my heart skip a beat. “You look lovely as a picture.”
I bury my head on his chest, and tears flow freely.
We’re okay. We made it. We’re banged up some, but we bloody made it this far.
He holds my hand. “Thought I lost you for real,” he says. “You were knocked out cold, and blood was pouring from your head. Christ, I’ll never get that out of my head.”
“Never saw a man lift a car like that,” Lachlan says. “Superhuman strength, I’m telling you.”
I look at him in surprise. “You didn’t, Tiernan!”
He only shrugs. Jesus. My fierce boxer of a man took the literal world on his shoulders.
“Did what any of my brothers would’ve done. Did what I had to.”
Keenan crosses his arms over his chest and looks on.
“Tell me, Tiernan. How’s Tully?” I ask.
“Sustained a pretty bad head injury. He was unconscious and we thought he might be in a coma, but I’m told he’s revived and ready to go.”