bit in the wrong direction—” he pinched his fingers close, showing me what a small gap looked like “—he would’ve died. He is not out of the woods yet, but he will survive this. He has been stitched up and given something for pain. We will let him rest now. He had quite the fight.” He adjusted his glasses and looked at me, a kind smile on his face. “You saved him from the worst of it. He told me before what an archer you were, and I have to say, I did not believe it. Until tonight.”
Tito stood, but I stopped him before he went back to Cash’s “room.”
“You know him?” I said. “He talked about me?”
“I knew his father quite well. Father Flanagan, too. We have a beer and lunch from time to time. That’s how I ran into Cashel after your marriage.” He adjusted his glasses. “I’ve watched most of these men grow from boys. Father Flanagan takes care of their spiritual needs. I take care of their bodies. And yes, Cashel told me that if he were ever in danger, and you were close, he didn’t have to be concerned with his back. I’d say you were protecting his heart, ah?”
“I’d like to see him.” I stood. “Now.”
Tito nodded. “He is resting, but I am sure he will want to hear your voice.”
When I went in, the other doctor and the nurse left me alone with him. It smelled and looked just like a hospital would. Mari told me they had them all over the city, strategically placed, and some were better equipped to handle different levels of emergencies.
Cash was brought to the one that was one level away from an actual hospital, which told me a lot. He’d been just as close to death as the knife was to the artery in his neck.
I took a seat next to his bed, taking his hand, holding it as tight as I could. “You scared the shit out of me tonight, Kelly,” I said. “Once you’re healed, I’m going to kill you.” I sniffed. “What the fuck happened? I knew—” I had to stop myself from going on. I was babbling about trivial shit because I couldn’t even find the words to tell him how much I loved him. How all of my worst fears were played out like a nightmare.
As I leaned my head against his, a tear fell from my eye and ran down his face. The tears kept running until I kissed his lips and told him I’d be back in a few minutes. I hated that his blood still coated my hands, my clothes, and I could smell it in the room mixing with the antiseptics. When he opened his eyes, I didn’t want him to see it.
I was offered a room in the warehouse to sleep in, and I took advantage of the shower and a clean set of clothes one of my brothers had brought from home.
Sleep was the furthest thing from my mind, though I felt tired to the bone, so I paced the floor, wondering why I couldn’t get my heart to settle. Uncle Tito, since he was considered family now and insisted, assured me Cash was going to be okay.
All of our family had left. A few men lingered in a kitchen, eating and talking about trivial shit, in case someone else tried to attack during the night and finish the job.
Someone had tried to finish my husband off.
Was it Grady and his gang? The Scarpones?
I’d heard little things here and there about how Grady was trying to recoup what he lost, but before he did, the Scarpones had had him killed for what happened with the trucks.
Then the Scarpones had been taken out—or that was what had been reported.
So who the fuck wants my husband dead now? Scott Stone? No. He didn’t have it in him to kill, unless his life was threatened.
My mind was focused, but my thoughts roamed.
Why did my heart feel so empty? Even though he slept in the next room?
A minute later, reasons came to me.
Three.
Maureen, Connolly, Ryan.
I wanted them close. I knew they were home safe, but with everything that had happened, I didn’t want to take any chances. If Cash had enemies, and so did I, there was no telling what they’d do to get revenge. Especially after what I’d done to stop them from killing my husband.
The boys had brought my phone with my clothes, and a set of keys