“Why are you crying?” I ask.
“Because I’m not dead.”
“You’re here with me. You’re ok. Alive.”
“Cormac?” she sniffles.
“I’ll let your dad tell you that. Ciara, you need to know something. I was so scared when I thought I was going to lose you. I choose you. I… love you.”
Her eyes widen through her tears before she starts crying harder.
“I didn’t expect you to cry when I told you that,” I say, smiling softly.
“I love you too,” she sobs. “I do. I didn’t realize at first but I wouldn’t have stepped into my brother’s path if I didn’t.”
I press a gentle kiss to her forehead. “You’re ok, baby. I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
She continues to cry out everything she went through and I continue to hold her hand, offering her comfort.
Patrick comes back with the nurse, who checks in with Ciara, making sure she’s ok. After Ciara tells her that she feels fine, the nurse leaves to give us some space.
“Cormac?” Ciara asks her dad.
He sighs, running his hand down his face. “I… He came by the hospital. I had to disown him.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry, Ciara. He shot you.”
“He didn’t mean to.”
“I know. But the fact that he wants your husband dead so much means he’ll never stop trying to kill him which will always put you in danger. And I can’t allow that.”
“So where will Cormac go? What will he do?”
“I’m not sure, my darling.” Patrick tries offering her a smile but it’s weak. “I’m not sure. But you’re safe. That’s all that matters. I gave Cormac a choice. And he chose to leave.”
Ciara cries for an entirely different reason. “I can’t believe this. Cormac, you idiot.”
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“It’s not your fault. My brother is too stubborn for his own good.” She wipes at her eyes. “But I have you. I have you.”
I kiss the back of her hand. “You have me. I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
It’s a promise I can keep this time because I feel it in my entire being.
Me and Patrick continue to offer Ciara comfort as she cries but it’s a sad day for everyone. Despite that, I feel the tiniest bit of hope that me and Ciara can find happiness.
Chapter Twenty
Ciara
Amonth goes by and my arm heals in that time. That’s the one positive. The downfall is that I haven’t heard from my brother at all. I don’t know where he is or what he’s up to. He’s just… gone. He could be dead for all I know.
“My own brother doesn’t want anything to do with me,” Marco says when we snuggle on the couch together. “He wants to keep his daughter safe.”
“I didn’t even know you had other family.”
