Ailish and I help Finn through the front door of the house, our arms hooked under him to keep him upright. His weight slumps heavier with each step, and I have to fight to keep the panic at bay. The doctor Ailish called follows behind us, moving with calm urgency that suggests he's done this before. She said he's someone we can trust, and right now that's all I hold onto.
We manage to get Finn onto the bed, and my heart races violently as the doctor drops his bag on the floor and immediately begins working, cutting away fabric, checking his pulse, and examining his ribs.
I take a step back, my eyes locked on Finn's unmoving form. The adrenaline from earlier crashes out of my system like a wave breaking against rocks, and suddenly everything feels too real, too loud, too much. My body starts to tremble, uncontrollably. Fear surges through me in a hard current, my breathing becomes shallow, and a sharp pain cuts through my chest like a blade. My vision starts to blur. Seeing Finn lying on the bed, not moving, does something to me. It unlocks a new fear in me, a different kind I haven't felt before.
Ailish's hand lands on my shoulder, grounding me. "Are you okay?" she asks. Her voice sounds far away, but I manage a small shake of my head. Sweat beads along my hairline, and my hands go cold. She doesn't wait for a response; she grabs my hand and pulls me gently but firmly out of the room.
But the hallway doesn't help. My chest is still tight. My knees threaten to buckle under me. "Hey!" she says louder now,forcing me to meet her eyes. "Snap out of it. He's going to be fine, and you're going to be okay."
I blink. Once. Twice. The world starts to focus again. My breaths come in short, shaky bursts, then finally stretch out, deeper. My chest loosens slightly. I nod, still trying to anchor myself. I was having a panic attack. Ailish slowly takes her hand off me, giving me space.
"Fred is a good doctor. He'll take care of him," she reassures me.
"Thank you," I answer. I don't even know how to explain what she just helped me through, and I couldn't have saved him without her. She doesn't say anything and nods before walking away.
Minutes pass, each one feeling like an eternity. When Fred finally comes into the living room, I shoot to my feet. His hands are stained faintly with blood, but his face is calm.
"There were a few broken ribs, but he'll be fine." Instant relief hits me so hard I have to sit. I needed to hear the words come directly from him. "I added pain medication to his drip and applied bandages to the cuts," Fred continues. "He'll need rest, lots of it, but he's stable."
"Thank you," I whisper, my voice barely audible, and Ailish nods to Fred. "I have to return to the estate before Declan suspects anything," she says, already moving to the door. I nod at her, my eyes showing how much I appreciate her help.
Fred follows her out the door, and I gently close it behind them, locking us back into the fragile bubble of safety we've created. I turn and walk to the room, my heart sinking further with every step. The stillness in the air is terrifying. He looks pale, too quiet. Machines beep, and the IV drip ticks in steady rhythms.
I sink into the chair beside the bed and reach for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his. Slowly, I rub my thumb over his knuckles. The warmth of his skin is still there, thank God.
"This is all my fault," I whisper, my voice cracking as tears brim in my eyes. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this." The guilt I've been trying to suppress finally breaks loose, and tears fall freely. My vision blurs, and I lower my head, haunted by the image of Declan's fist slamming into Finn's face, by the sound of his body crashing against the wall, by the blood.
The ache in my chest twists deeper with the realization that I could have lost him.
Sniffing, I reach into my pocket and take out the recorder. I raise it to my eye level, staring at the small, simple device that now holds so much weight. This is our ticket to freedom, the only thing that could bring Declan down and end this nightmare. I squeeze Finn's hand one last time before letting go. Reaching for the burner phone on the bedside stand, I dial Vito's number. It rings once and then twice before his voice comes through.
"We need to meet," I say plainly. I don't bother with pleasantries or explanations; there's no room for them anymore. A part of me that should feel fear doesn't. After all I've been through, courage is no longer a choice; it's the only way forward.
"When?" he asks, his voice clear and precise as always.
"Tomorrow. 10:00 A.M. at the greenhouse."
The call ends. I set the phone down gently, then return my gaze to Finn. His chest rises and falls, each breath shallow but steady. I pull the blanket up around him, brushing the hair from his forehead.
"Please, wake up," I whisper, swallowing back the emotion rising in my throat. "I can't do this without you."
CHAPTER 32
Gianna
Ailish dropsme in front of the greenhouse, and memories of Finn and me being here the last time flash across my mind. Finn is still unconscious. I didn't want to leave his side, but I wanted to get this over with before he wakes up. I squint my eyes under the harsh burn of the hot sun and run my hand through my hair before walking towards the greenhouse.
I step inside, and like before, the beauty remains, but it feels like more flowers have been added to the collection. I like flowers, but really don't know names except for the popular ones like roses and tulips. The ones here don't look common, and because of that, they look even more beautiful.
I step deeper into the greenhouse, checking my watch. We agreed on ten, why isn't he here yet? Finn could wake up anytime, and I want to be by his side when he wakes up.
I tap my foot on the floor as I wait, chewing on my bottom lip. "Still impatient as ever," Vito's voice comes from behind some plants, and I stop fidgeting.
"You're here," I say, feeling no fear.
"You asked me to meet you, here I am," he says, looking behind me and around the greenhouse.
"You didn't come with the Irish boy," he says with a smirk. "You two looked inseparable from what I gathered last time."
