CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
–FIERO –
My lungs are burning as I push my body to run faster.There are two people fighting in the hallway, one of Cillian’s men I presume and Micah.He’s punching away as I dodge and pass them to get into the room which holds my future, my life.The door is open and when I glance inside I only have a split second to act.
There’s only one option really; squeeze the trigger.I do.I squeeze the trigger while at the same time Cillian pulls Quinn up by her hair.The bullet hits, both crumple to the floor, and I lunge for my wife while my heart drops.Did the bullet hit her?Fuck.If it did then...
Another gunshot is fired and I see Floris standing over Cillian, gun in hand.There’s a bullet wound in Cillian’s forehead.
Floris gives me a tight smile.“Just making sure the fucker stays dead.”
My attention goes back to the woman in my arms.Her hair is sticking to her tearstained face.
I gently brush her hair back and croak, “Give me your eyes, little tempest.”
Her lashes stick together when she tries to do what I ask.Her light hazel eyes are filled with dullness.
I carefully stroke her cheek.“You’re okay.Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m not okay,” she grumbles and then those golden flakes spark her eyes.“Bri.Bri is in the bathroom.Tate.Oh my fuck, Tate.He’s dead.Is he dead?”
“Floris?”I grit.
“He has a pulse, doc’s on his way because he was still here.He’s...”
“Here, I’m here,” I hear the doctor state.
I scoop Quinn into my arms and carefully move her to the bed.“Don’t move.I’m going to check on Aubrielle.”
“Bri.She’s my friend and you should call her Bri.”Quinn swallows hard.
The look in her eyes is killing me.Leaning in, I brush my lips against her forehead.With this woman it comes so damn easy to show affection.The change she brought into my life, sparking my interest at first sight and only managing to draw me in more has given true meaning to living.
There’s not just the drive of motivations and goals I had in mind before she swooped in and simply overrode everything with new, unthinkable things life has to offer.A baby, marriage, starting a family...things that never crossed my mind.It’s her.I owe it all to her for wanting things I never imagined.
“You’re truly life’s magic.The spark touching a heart to make it beat for the first time, creating life to let you fill your lungs with a fresh chance.”I brush another kiss to her temple; it comes so damn natural now.“I’m becoming quite fond of you.”
Quinn makes a sound that’s probably half a sob mixed with a laugh.A scream rips our attention to the middle of the room where Bri is standing.Her gaze is terror-stricken as she looks at the doctor who is trying to save Tate’s life.
“Police and ambulances are on the way,” Buck states.
Micah moves past him, his clothes drenched in blood and his fists raw.He’s been helping us to fight Cillian’s men.
“Make sure they take Tate first,” I tell Buck.“Go wait outside to guide them up here as soon as they get here.”
He leaves while Micah is standing at the foot of the bed, the hole in his shirt and all the blood lets me know he has a bullet wound in his shoulder.Even if Cillian got past him, he fought hard and delayed him enough for me to get there in time to stop the fucker myself.
Quinn stares at him and I feel the need to say, “Micah helped.Cillian didn’t exactly leave him a choice when he got rid of the man you’ve called a father for all your life.”
She grabs my hand and squeezes it tight.Voices ring out down the hall.Police fill the room, disrupting everything once more.Hours pass in a blur between the hospital, giving statements, demanding updates, and eventually I’m able to get my wife into a bed.
Sadly, it’s not home due to it being a crime scene.I booked us a room at a hotel.Tate has been through hours of surgery and the latest update Bri gave Quinn gave us the knowledge that he’s gonna pull through.Micah was treated as well and they are keeping him overnight at the hospital.
I can only stare at my wife’s sleeping face, knowing she’s physically in perfect health.Our baby growing inside her belly is all good, and Cillian is no longer a threat to her, or to me.Archibald has let me know he’s honoring the deal we made.
The past has been cleared to create a path for the future.It’s wide open and all the new options are giving me hope.This woman before me has changed my life and showed me there’s so much more than a legacy, running a business, and everything else that used to be my main priority.Living is something we control, not the factors pulling at us at every turn.
