I nodded in gratitude but regretted it immediately when a bout of dizziness hit me. Damn it. I hated this illness so fucking much. How did I not see what it was?
Sloan and I sat in silence after the nurse left again with the used vomit bag, and it took at least twenty minutes for my stomach to settle. Sloan helped me brush my teeth by using a bowl of water and I hated it. Hated how weak my body felt right now. I blinked hard, pushing back tears that threatened to spill as Sloan retreated to the attached bathroom to get rid of the water and return moments later. Exhaustion took over and my shoulders felt like they weighed five hundred pounds each.
“You’re tough on Fionn,” I repeated from the discussion before.
Sloan stared at me for a long moment, gaze assessing. He didn’t ask me if I was okay, but I suspected he knew I wouldn’t like it. Not right now. Finally, he nodded resolutely, his mouthpulling into a tight line. “I’ve been too hard on him, but this world isn’t easy. I won’t have him killed like his father.”
I brought our hands to my chest, hugging them. “It’s been eight years, and you haven’t told me much about him. You don’t talk much about any of your family except Fionn. What was Eoin like?”
His eyebrows dipped in thought and his lips curved, a softness taking over his face. “Fun. He was always fun. He loved life and life loved him. He managed to charm everyone he met. They weren’t scared of him like they are of me. They genuinely thought he was great to be around.”
I watched the way his expression flickered, caught between love and sorrow, and my heart gave a painful throb for him.
“I looked up to him. While my father wanted me to be tough, Eoin taught me to let loose. He was the complete opposite of me and Father. That’s why he never wanted to run the Company. He knew he’d have to change his entire personality, and he didn’t want to give that freedom away. He never liked killing and he trusted too easily.” Sloan’s jaw twitched, and I hugged our hands closer to my chest, wincing slightly at a twinge in my neck. “It’s what killed Eoin, that trust. That’s how he was kidnapped and tortured. He didn’t realize those men were there for him, to take him. He was at a club and drank a beer that someone bought him. It was drugged. They dragged him right out of there without anyone being the wiser. I can’t let that happen to Fionn. I promised Eoin that if anything happened to him, I’d protect his sons. I’ve already failed with Diarmuid and Bellamy. I can’t let anything happen to Fionn.”
“You can do that without hurting Fionn,” I whispered, closing my eyes briefly as another wave of dizziness hit me. “I know you’re trying to make him strong, but you’re only making him feel rejected. He’s smart,reallysmart. You need to trusthim to make the right decisions. You’ve done your part of being his boss, Sloan. Now be his father.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to my lips. I moaned, leaning into the warmth of his mouth. He tasted of fine cuisine, with hints of sage, and I wondered what he’d been fed while I wasn’t awake. I was sure the chefs took care of him. They’d be hearing from me if they hadn’t.
“You scared me, Pet.” He stroked a thumb over my temple and down my cheek, and I exhaled, leaning into his touch. His fingers were soft yet rough, a man who both enjoyed luxury while getting his hands dirty.
“I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know I was this sick. If I did....” Hell, I didn’t know if I would’ve done anything different. I’d been so invested in keeping the business running and missing Sloan that thinking about myself wasn’t an option. It didn’t matter how many times I apologized, it wouldn’t change what happened. “Fuck, I probably wouldn’t have cared.”
His eyes flashed dangerously. “So, I do need to have an in-house doctor to check your health every morning?”
I laughed and dragged him down for another kiss because I was obsessed with his taste and the sensation of him against me, even when I wasn’t at one hundred percent. Sloan always made me feel better just by being around.
“No. I’ll take care of myself. I promise.” A spark of mischief glimmered inside me. “And if you get an in-house doctor, he might be hot, and then I’ll fall in love with him and leave you to be with him.”
“We can’t let that happen, can we? I think there’s bad luck about killing a doctor.”
“I think that’s a man of God, isn’t it?” I laughed. “And you’ve never had a problem with that.” I sat up straighter, ignoring the twinges in my neck and down my spine. “Which reminds me, that doctor? Dr. Goodheart. What a name for a doc.” I cackled.“Is he good with hearts? Or maybe he’s actually a heartbreaker? Does he break all the hearts?”
Sloan rolled his eyes, his mouth curling in amusement. “Pet.”
“Come on, it’s hilarious. It’s like having a killer withkillin his name. Oh wait.” My grin widened. “That’syou. Oh fuck. You’ve got kill in your last name.” I cackled so hard I thought I heard a rib snap.
He merely shook his head. “Pet, tell me again how I ever fell in love with you.”
“I’m a fucking catch, that’s how.” I waggled my eyebrows at him, but it was ruined by a yawn that ripped out of me when I hadn’t expected it. “Good in bed, too. A hole to die for. Or should I say, a hole tokillfor. That should be the title of a Bond movie.”
Sloan pinched the bridge of his nose, the tension in his shoulders releasing. “I think you’re still high from whatever drugs they gave you.”
“Nah, I’m just funny.” I poked the tip of my tongue out at him. “It’s why you keep me around.”
“Your humor isnotwhy I’ve kept you.” The smile on his mouth told me another story. He loved meeeee. Despite the lightness that had taken hold of him, an edginess lingered in his eyes and dimmed the joy that bloomed inside me. The emotional turmoil had been there since I’d first seen him after jail, but it’d grown since. Sloan kept his emotions behind a facade, but something new was rising inside him.
Another yawn. Damn it. I was wrecked. As each minute passed, the heaviness in my eyelids grew as exhaustion took over.
Sloan’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket before answering. “What?” He listened, and I watched him, taking note of the hardened lines on his face and his furrowing brow. “Bring him back to the mansion. Take himto the basement until I’m ready to deal with him. Good job.” He ended the call and smirked at me when I cocked my head.
“Which one is it?” I asked, grinning.
“Lorcan.” He nuzzled my hand, clearly proud of his men. “Aspen tracked him down. I guess they made a game of it and wanted me to know he was the winner.”
“How did the men find out Lorcan was your half brother?”
He kissed my knuckles, moving from one to another. “Is that what they said?”
