Page 76 of Guilty as Sin

My wife doesn’t leave my side. She doesn’t give up her spot in deference to Mam or Da. We all wait for the nurse to wheel out my IV, then Liam closes the door behind her.

No one speaks. Finn crosses his arms, glaring at Cora. She couldn’t care less.

I push myself more upright in bed. This isn’t my first hospital stint. I’m not at my best, but with every moment of consciousness I’m feeling more like myself.

Mam’s hair is uncharacteristically frizzy as she goes to the other side of my bed to adjust my pillow. Cora doesn’t move or let go of my hand. The two women share a look, and Mam ends it with a nod of encouragement. Beside her, Da looks down at me, stoic as ever.

“You good?” he asks.

“Good,” I confirm, and he turns his attention to Cora.

“You saved my son.”

“I saved my husband,” she says. The woman’s as possessive as I am.

“Aye,” Da says. “And he’s an O’Sullivan.”

“That makes me an O’Sullivan too.”

I’m no longer attached to the monitor. But I can almost hear its beeping, faster and faster as my heart swells with everything I feel for this woman. I try to remind myself of who I am. Of what I’ve put her through.

I don’t deserve her trust or affection.

I have to remind myself who she is too. Clever and calculating with a penchant for violence and power. If she’s calling herself an O’Sullivan, it’s because it’s the right tactical move.

Da holds her gaze. Then he nods once.

To her credit, Cora does exactly what she’s supposed to. She bows her head in deference to Da. The gesture itself is a half second too short. But that’s Cora, always skirting the line.

Mam dismisses everyone, including herself. She’s first out the door, but Finn lingers behind. He doesn’t say anything, he just stares daggers at Cora while she stays by my side. He has no right to look at her like that.

“You got a fucking problem, Finn?” I ask.

“You lied,” he says to Cora. She seems wholly unconcerned by his contempt.

“I did,” she says. “I lied right to your face.”

Finn’s jaw falls open, and I almost laugh. I don’t know what Cora told him, but no one can lie the way she can. And no one else can detect her lies the way I can. My younger brother looks at me, incredulous as he points to my wife in accusation.

“She lied. She knew exactly where to find you, but she told me and Liam that she didn’t know where you were. She sent us off on some wild goose chase.”

“I don’t see the problem,” I say. Finn’s pissy attitude is the last thing I want to deal with right now.

“She lied to me! And Liam,” he adds.

Cora gives him a patronizing smile.

“But that’s not what you’re upset about, is it?” she asks. “You’re mad at yourself for falling for it.”

She’s brutal. Cold and unapologetic, so much like myself that pride stirs inside me. I’ll back her every word. Even against Finn, who’s spitting with rage.

“I’m mad at⁠—”

“Shut up, Finn.” I am all out of patience for this. “And get the fuck out of my room.”

Finn grits his teeth at me, and Cora, which I ought to punch him for. She just blinks at him, disinterested. As if he’s not worth the effort of her acting smug. With a wordless snarl, he storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

“That’s Finn for you.” I’m not going to apologize for my idiot brother’s behavior. Cora shouldn’t have lied to my brothers. But she must’ve had a calculated reason. If she sent them off on a goose chase, it’s because she wanted to come for me by herself. I don’t like the pang that causes in my chest.