“Six came in, three left.” Tiernan grins, blood on his teeth. “Not bad for an old man.”
“Not bad at all,” Da agrees.
The medic straightens, wiping his hands. “This is beyond me. He needs a hospital, surgery. That bullet's too close to?—”
“I don't need a fucking hospital,” Tiernan says. “Just give me a stiff drink and a nap.”
“You need surgery, you stubborn bastard,” my father insists. “Or you'll bleed out here on the couch.”
“Fuck that.” Tiernan shakes his head. “I'm meaner than this. Aye, a few bullets aren't going to put me down. We're McCarthys. We fight.”
“And sometimes fighting means compromise,” I mutter. “Means getting the help you fucking need.”
I've seen Tiernan survive worse than this. He'll make it. Hehasto.
But I can't stop thinking about Bianca, and that makes me feel like a fucking traitor.
Is she scared, wondering where I went? Is she peaceful, safe in my bed?
Fuck. It's useless.
“Why'd they hit us?” I ask.
“Message,” Da says grimly. “They're pushing back on thedocks territory. Want to remind us they haven't forgotten about us, eh?”
“Right. Lovely.”
The medic looks at my father, then at Tiernan. “I'm calling for transport. You need an operating room, or you won't make it through the night.”
“Don't you fucking dare—” Tiernan starts.
“Or what? You’ll get your sorry arse out of bed and kickmyarse?Doit,” Da says firmly. “Call them.”
Lorcan reappears in the doorway, his phone in hand. My younger brother looks fucking wrecked—hair mussed, jacket askew, his eyes a little wild. “Ambulance is on its way. Seamus is coming too.”
Tiernan promises a swift and painful death to all of us, but he’s not in a position to be issuing threats.
“Good lad,” Nolan says. “Thank you, son.”
I should feel something. Relief that Tiernan's going to make it. Rage at the Russians for coming at us.Something.
But all I can think about is whether Bianca's alright. How's her ankle? Is she warm enough? Does she need me, and I'm not fucking there?
Guilt eats at me. Tiernan's lying here bleeding, and I'm worried about a girl who's perfectly safe in a locked cabin in the middle of nowhere.
A girl I havenobusiness being interested in. A girl I should probably let go.
But I can't.
I fucking won't.
Is she safe? Did she stay?
The thought hits me like a punch to the gut.
She promised she'd stay. I looked her in the eye. Shepromised.
But what if?—
