After all, what's a broken finger or two when she’s about to push two babies?
The door opens, and Ronan appears, looking surprisingly calm, probably due to the fact that we’re now surrounded by medical professionals, though his slightly messed-up hair gives away his nerves.
“You’re doing great, Tine Bhaeg.” He rushes to Ciara’s side and brushes back her hair. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Don’t lie to me,” Ciara hisses through her teeth.
“Never.” Ronan brushes a kiss against her temple.
It feels wrong to witness such a tender moment, so I go to try and extract my hand from Ciara’s iron grip, but it only makes her tighten her hold.
“Riley,” she warns.
“I’m going to be right outside.”
She shoots me a scowl. “You’re not going anywhere. I need you here for the birth.”
“What? But you don’t need me. You have Ronan?—”
“Ronan will be useless, no offense.”
Ronan nods.
“Seriously? You’re a Sullivan. You’re meant to be immune to blood and pain.”
“We are, but not when it comes to the women we love.” He gives me a knowing look that has me thinking of how on edge Kieran was when I was being looked over by Dr. Rogers only a few hours earlier.
“That’s not the point?—”
“Riley, you’re like a sister to me. Ineedyou here.”
“I am?”
Her words have my eyes welling with tears.
For Ciara to think of me in that way and to share that sort of bond with someone means more than I could ever put into words, considering I lost my own sister so many years ago.
Ciara groans. “You better not start crying, or I’m going to end up with Brennan as my birth partner.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
KIERAN
The house issilent as I enter through the front door, which immediately sets off alarm bells in my head.
Not again.
I draw my gun as I cross the foyer, checking the rooms as I go, but the house appears empty.
“Riley?” I call out, but there’s no answer. “Riley!”
My pulse spikes as I sprint from the lounge into the kitchen, trying to find any signs of life. But there is none.
“Ronan!”
I’m once again met with silence.
