“Didn’t realize it was a family trait,” I mutter, using my hand to help me sit up a bit more.
“That it is. So, what do you want to do about Asim?” Liam questions, and for a moment, I think I’ve misheard him. Did he actually ask me what I wanted to do?
“Keenan,” Liam speaks up.
“I want vengeance. I want the man who did this to me to suffer. Is that what you want me to say?”
Liam leans closer to me and looks into my eyes. “This isn’t a trick question, cousin. I’m asking you what you want because whatever it is, it’s valid. Whether you want retribution, bloodshed, or anything else, I’ll make sure it happens. My enemies don’t live to tell the tale, and they never will.”
I nod, understanding why he asked me. I’m the one who was attacked here, not him. Yet, at the same time, the attack on me was attacking the entire family.
Clearing my throat, I tell Liam about what I just learned a bit ago. “The doctor doesn’t think I’ll ever be able to hold a gun again. Something about the way the bullet went through my shoulder.”
Liam purses his lips together and looks back at me. “Is that what you believe?”
Seriously? How the hell am I supposed to know? “I have no idea,” I honestly reply, not sure where this is going to end up taking me.
“Well, this brings up something else we’d need to discuss eventually. The Defence Forces. I think it goes unsaid you can’t balance between two lives, Keenan. You need to pick one, and I won’t rush you . . . but given what happened, I’d make a decision sooner rather than later. You won’t be able to manage two drastically different lives. And as you said earlier, you don’t wish to struggle anymore, so I think the choice goes unsaid.” Liam rises from the chair, and I give him a curt nod, showing him I’ve heard every word he’s said.
He proceeds to walk toward the door but comes to a halt, turns, and looks back at me. “I hope you don’t believe the bullshite they’re spewing. They give you the worst prognosis because most people give up after events like you’ve endured. But I don’t think you’re going to give up, Keenan. You’re a fighter, and I know it.”
“Thank you. I don’t plan on giving up easily.”
“Good. I have big plans for you,” Liam says as he opens the door and stops in the doorway. “I’ll take the girls downstairs for some food, on me, of course. Then I’ll be back up so we can discuss a bit more.”
I nod, and Liam is on his way. It’s nice of him to be buying the ladies some food. I’m sure I scared the living shite out of them both. Fuck, when I saw Delilah, I almost didn’t recognize her. She looked so terrified, as if the life was literally sucked out of her.
I know she’s going to be nagging me about taking care of myself, but I’m going to keep a close eye on her too. I care so much about her, and the last thing I could bear is something happening to her.
CHAPTERTHREE
DELILAH
I’m standing in the hallway, wishing I could hear through the door the man unceremoniously closed behind me. I want to know who he is, how Keenan knows him, and why he’s here now. Basically, everything that I can know, I want to know. Hell, even though I look nice and sweet, I’ll make sure I get my answers.
After all, I know almost nothing about what happened to Keenan. I know he’ll tell me eventually, but being here in the hospital and not having one detail is aggravating. Hell, even after the doctor said he’ll recover, I still worry something else will happen, and he’ll get worse.
“What are you doing out here?” Keeva asks as she comes to a stop in front of me, narrowing her eyes on me and then the closed door.
“Some man came in and wanted to talk to Keenan alone.”
Her eyes widen in shock. “And you let him in there?”
“He was fine with it,” I defend myself. It’d been hard enough to walk out of the room earlier. I don’t know much about Keenan, but I do know he’s been connecting with his extended family. If the man was dangerous, he surely wouldn’t have insisted I allow him entry. Still, I don’t need Keeva giving me a hard time about it any more than I already am. “I wasn’t going to argue with him just yet.”
My words seem to placate her, at least for now. I’m a bit aggravated, though. Keeva’s words make me feel like she believes I wanted to leave the room. The hours between when Keeva had called me and the moment I walked into the hospital room and saw Keenan again had been the longest of my life. I’m not standing here ready to go through hell again, that’s for damn sure.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” I hear and spin my head around to see who the new arrival is, but she’s already taken Keeva into her arms. They obviously know each other.
It’s not until they pull apart that I’m able to see the new arrival. It’s none other than Keenan’s youngest sister, Delaney. Behind her is a man in a suit jacket. He has glasses on and he’s assessing the situation from where he stands. But I don’t pay too much attention to him. My eyes are focused on Delaney. She’s beautiful, as is their entire family, but her long copper red hair is breathtaking. It’s all natural too. Most have to dye their hair to make it even remotely look the same shade as hers.
“How’s he doing?” she asks as she hugs me the way she did with Keeva.
“As good as can be expected,” I tell her. “He’s in with someone right now.”
“Who?” Delaney questions, already going on the offensive like Keeva had.
“A man Delilah doesn’t know,” Keeva answers for me with a bit of sass in her tone. Whatever, I trust Keenan, and moreso, I respect him. He said the man was fine, so I trusted him.
