When he got up to make the arrangements, I moved closer to Dean. “I’m going to have to leave after I see Penn. My guys found Lorcan, and I need this to be over before Penn wakes up so I can tell him it’s done.”
Dean’s gaze softened. “Of course.”
“Will you sit with him while I’m gone? I don’t want him to wake up alone.”
“Gid, he’s gonna be out for a while—they put him in a coma, but yes, of course, I’ll stay with him.”
“Thanks.”
“Mr. Hendrix.” A nurse smiled at me. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to your partner.”
I didn’t hesitate. I followed her through the doors I hadn’t been allowed through earlier. I passed stations and a few other ICU bays. She stopped in front of a large bay with no curtains—it was all glass to watch every flicker of movement he made.
His leg was in a cast and elevated. He had a bandage covering one eye, and was riddled with bruises. His chest was exposed but also wrapped up. He was more mummy than man.
“You can sit with him. His right hand is fine to hold.”
The nurse was sweet, patient. I stepped into the room and sat in the chair beside his bed. Slowly, as if I were about to touch an active bomb, I slid my hand into Penn’s.
“Oh, baby.” I leaned down and pressed my lips against the back of his hand. “I’m so sorry, Penn.”
My eyes followed all the wires, tubes, all the blinking stats. The only saving grace was that I knew he wasn’t in pain. He was asleep and I hoped dreaming of something wonderful.
I’d told Penn he wasn’t a monster, that I was. I promised I’d be his monster, and I’d keep my word by tearing Lorcan to shreds. I’d killed too many people to count in my life. I was under no illusions—I wouldn’t be joining Ella in heaven. Or Penn, for that matter. But I’d happily burn in Hell knowing that all the demons responsible for breaking my Penn had suffered and died screaming.
“I’m going to make him pay, baby. I’ll be the monster I promised to be. Just hold on, you fight. I want to see those green eyes again; I need to. So don’t you give up, you hear me?”
I sat there for half an hour just talking. I told him about the drawings Olivia and Owen had made. How Dean was here and that if he hadn’t come, Rita would have stormed the castle. Then I told him what was going to happen after this was all over.
“I want you in my life, Penn. In Owen’s and Olivia’s. I haven’t felt this way about anyone since Ella, and my heart breaks to say this, but it’s different with you. Stronger, I don’t know. Losing you isn’t an option for me. I want and need you, and can’t wait to make memories with you. I…” No, I wasn’t going to make some cheesy—well, cheesier—declaration when he wasn’t even looking at me.
I wanted to see his expression as I told him what I’d discovered. Penn had run into that burning house not realizing he’d been running into something else. My life, my family, my forever. I’d spend the rest of my life proving to him that there wasn’t a limit to what I’d do for him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Gideon
LeavingPenn’s side was insanely difficult, but knowing Dean was with him settled me. I had to focus on the task at hand. Toni’s connections with the TSA Director had paid off. They were holding Lorcan in an office at the airport. We would be taking him off their hands, and whatever men Lorcan had with him.
Originally I was just going to have my guys bring Lorcan to one of my warehouses, but the beast in me craved seeing the look on his face when I entered that office.
Danny parked and he, Toni, and I got out. A van with four other guys idled in the spot beside us. There was no way we were getting more than three of us into the airport without raising suspicion. So, we’d bring Lorcan and his crew out here and toss them into the van. Alex was at the hospital with Dean and Penn, along with a few other men.
“Hey, Tone.” A security officer greeted us as he opened the employee-only entrance.
“Hiya, Vin. How’s Donna and the kids?”
“Great, thanks. If you’ll follow me, we gotta go a different way so the cameras won’t pick up on your arrival.”
“I appreciate that.” I thanked him.
The four of us took a long corridor all the way to a green door. Once inside, Vin told us to wait a moment—we’d be called in.
Sure enough, two minutes later we were waved in by security. I placed my hand on Danny’s arm. “I’ll be going in first.”
He grinned and stepped aside.
The door was ajar, and I could hear Lorcan complaining. “You can’t hold me here. You’ve found nothing suspicious, so what’s the meaning of this?”
