But then I think of Ciara and our child and know that I would do whatever I could to keep them safe.
My eyes flick to my right, where Ciara is standing, huddled next to Brennan with her blood-stained hands resting on her abdomen.
The baby.
“Why were you going to the hospital?” The edge in my voice has nothing to do with Stephen now.
Ciara blinks, like she’s forgotten where she is. “I… I had some cramps earlier tonight.”
My gut twists. “Are you still in pain?”
“No, I feel fine now.”
I’m not buying it.
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Really, they’re gone.”
Even if she truly was feeling no pain, I have no doubt it’s because of the adrenaline coursing through her body. But I don’t want to argue with her about this here, not when I’m pointing a gun at someone’s head.
“Brennan, take her to the hospital.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Ciara snaps before Brennan can even move an inch.
I turn back to her, my jaw clenched as I try to keep a lid on my anger.
“Ciara—”
“I said I’m fine. I’m not in pain anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter; you shouldn’t be here.”
“Ineedto be here, Ronan. You’re not doing this alone.”
I stare at her for a moment, but the fire in her eyes doesn’t dim, and I don’t have time to waste arguing with her.
“Fine. But the second something changes, you tell me.”
She wraps her arms around her body. “I promise.”
I take a breath and look back down at Stephen.
His eyes are still fixed on my gun, but I can see that he’s in a lot of pain. It wouldn’t take much to just leave him here for Declan to take care of, but the reality is that I need him to lure Declan to me.
I want to finish this. Tonight.
I nod at him. “Fine. Your family won’t be harmed. I give you my word.”
His relief is immediate, but I don’t lower my gun, even as he reaches into his jacket with a trembling hand and pulls out his phone.
All of us wait in tense silence as it starts to ring.
The first call goes to voicemail.
“Try again.”
He dials again, but Declan still fails to answer.
I grind my teeth.
