There wasn’t anyone I trusted more to have Sloan’s or Fionn’s back than me.
“No one will try anything at the hospital. There are too many cops around.” Behind him, the sound of a high-pitched beep made me wince. The echoes of the ER waiting room made their way through to me, a harsh reminder of where he was. WhereIshould be.
I stared around the empty foyer, heartbeat creeping up into my throat. My hands shook and the wrist I’d broken in an explosion a few months ago throbbed to the point that I was reminded of my weaknesses. The cast had come off, but that didn’t stop the dull ache that pulsated through my arm. I’d been the only one to get hurt badly, the only one who needed to be dropped off at one of our city apartments while Sloan went to handle business, and the only one who had a doctor called for him. No matter what I did, I wouldn’t measure up to his soldiers, especially the loyal ones like Cillian and Aspen with their years of experience and the strength that came with it.
Finally, I swallowed all the arguments threatening to spill out of me. We’d talk later, when Fionn was healthy and Reyes wasn’t on top of us.
“Be safe.”I love you.
Those closest to us mocked us for not talking about feelings—my brother Terrance certainly didn’t let me forget about it—but despite being together for eight years, there never seemed to be a good time. Or maybe we were both too fucking stubborn to just say how much we loved each other. Everyone knew how we felt, so why was it so hard to tell him?
“Come home to me. All of you.” I paused for a moment before I smiled. “Because if you don’t, I’ll have to take over the Company and make every one of these men part of my personal entourage. They’ll be my consorts, naked all the time for my pleasure.”
Sloan chuckled, and I grinned wider because my teasing worked. “I can’t let that happen. The men will enjoy it too much, and then I’ll have to haunt their arses.”
“And we wouldn’t want that.” I pressed my lips together.
“Definitely not.” His tone softened.
Ronan approached from behind me, his blond hair brushed back and his blue eyes wide with concern. I held up a palm toward him.
“Keep me updated, Boss. Promise?”
“I promise, Pet. I need to go.Stay thereand be good for me.”
I had a million questions, but I stored them away for later. “I will. Bye.”
Ending the call was one of the hardest things I’d ever done. I wanted to stay on the phone, listen to everything happening on the other side, but I’d be a distraction.
“Sir?” Ronan’s uncertain voice dragged me out of my thoughts, and I turned toward him. His jaw twitched along with his fingers at his sides before he fiddled with the cuff of hisperfectly pressed dark blue suit, eyes intense and darker than usual. There were few I’d trust as much as Ronan in this mob.
“Fionn was shot.”
Ronan tensed, his hands curling into fists.
“It was Reyes’s men. That’s all I know. Tell our soldiers to be prepared in case Sloan needs us.” I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on a mental list of all the things that needed to be done. I steeled myself for the inevitable. Sloan would need us.Allof us. I could help by debriefing our men and reinforcing our defenses. If he didn’t want me at the hospital with him, then I’d be useful in other ways. Make myself valuable. “Call everyone in. I don’t give a shit if someone’s getting married or celebrating the birth of their kid.Everyoneshould get their arse here. This is war. Go.”
Ronan bowed and spun on his heel, leaving the foyer to do as I’d instructed.
I shook my head as I shifted toward the front door—that was my exit to get to Sloan. He’d ordered me to stay here, but at what cost? He was there and I was here, miles separating us.
The air in this house was suffocating without Sloan in it, as thick as molasses in my lungs. I brushed my fingers over the wood of the front door, the grain rough and textured. The knob gleamed under the chandeliers, tempting me to twist it and join Sloan. Anxiety weaved through my chest, strangling me until my breath stuttered. It wouldn’t take much to escape to the hospital, to find the room Fionn was in and sit on the chair beside Sloan.
But I couldn’t.
Wouldn’t.
Not yet. I’d seen Sloan in all kinds of circumstances, but this was different. More dangerous. He would never forgive me if I disobeyed him this time. I needed to be his strength and rally his army—I could do that for him.
Heaving a sigh, I turned and headed toward his office. I had work to do.
Hours and hours crept by, dragging too slowly. Each minute felt as long as a day. I had my head deep in paperwork—it was the only thing that kept my mind off Fionn and Sloan as I waited for answers.
Terrance had called, and I’d filled him in on what was happening. My brother was one of the people I relied on. He was the one who’d protected me against our father’s fists. Sure, he’d given me to Sloan, but Terrance had known I’d be living the high life as Sloan’s pet.
Ronan checked in on me a few times, worry lines creasing his forehead, but I’d waved him off. I was fine while in the company of two of my closest and somewhat newish friends, Vail and Lor.
They had both come to spend some time with me, as though they’d known I needed them as much as Vail needed me. Rowen and Fallon were dealing with business and Vail was staying here because of it.
