He nods, relief washing briefly over his face, but the tension is still there.
“Thanks, Riley.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” I turn to Ciara. “Keep those babies inside for a bit longer, okay?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
I give her hand a quick squeeze before darting toward the door. But before I pass Ronan, he grips my elbow, halting me in place.
“Are you okay?” he asks under his breath. “You know, after…”
“Right now, Ciara and the twins are the priority.” I pat him on the arm. “Now, don’t let her push even if she tells you she’s ready, okay?”
“Have you ever tried saying no to Ciara?”
“What was that?” Ciara demands.
“Good luck,” I mutter under my breath before sprinting down the hall to my room to grab my phone.
I take it downstairs to avoid the sound of Ciara wailing in the background and find Elena in the kitchen dressed in her pajamas, boiling water and folding towels fresh from the laundry. Her hair is a mess and her eyes too wide.
“How is she?”
“Progressing quickly. I’m calling the ambulance now.”
“Good. And is Ronan okay?”
“Other than going out of his mind, he’s fine.” I dial 911.
Elena bundles the towels into her arms and grabs the bowl of hot water before hurrying out of the kitchen, leaving me to deal with the paramedics.
I do my best to give them the precise details of Ciara’s condition as well as the quickest way for them to enter the property. After I hang up the call, I rush outside to fill in the newguards so they can guide the ambulance through without any delay.
Once they are all briefed, I race back upstairs to Ciara’s side.
Ronan is kneeling beside the bed, clutching his wife’s hand as she groans through the pain, looking as if he’s being ripped apart himself.
“Where’s Elena?” I ask.
“Getting the hospital bag from the nursery,” Ciara pants.
Ronan’s eyes are bugging out of his face. “Is the ambulance on the way?”
“Yeah, it should be here any minute.”
He bows his head as he breathes a sigh of relief.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ronan Sullivan look so helpless. It’s unnerving.
Ciara groans. “Can someone please talk about something to distract me?”
I think of the note Kieran left me. “Is Kieran okay?”
“What?” Ciara blurts. “What do you mean, is Kieran okay? Is he hurt? If he is, I’m going to kill?—”
Ronan shoots me a look that has me cringing. “Ciara, Tine Bhaeg, you need to stay calm.”
“Sorry,” I mouth.
