things of him, to lean on him to get me through this.
I feel like a burden to him.
We step outside of the hospital and Luca is there waiting, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth which is very unusual for him.
Aodhan stiffens a little but he doesn’t lunge at him and choke him out, so it’s not as bad as it could be.
I still don’t want to look at him, even after the hurried conversation with Atticus before—
Before.
“I need you both to come back to the Crow’s mansion.”
I flinch back and Aodhan snaps, “Absolutely not. What the fuck is wrong with you? I’ll put you in the ground right the fuck now, don’t push me.”
Luca puts the cigarette out on the ground, stepping on it and turning toward us both. He looks like he’s aged twenty years in the last week and I know exactly what that feels like. “There’s been an emergency Twelve meeting called. I’ve arranged for it to be at the Crow’s residence because it’s the most secure and your safety is still at risk. You need to attend, both of you.”
Aodhan takes a step toward him and when Luca widens his stance like he’s ready to have this brawl right here on the hospital steps, I have to stand in-between them. “Luca, I can’t do it tonight. I can’t be who they need me to be tonight. Postpone it or something.”
Luca glances over to me and the sorrow pouring out of him is suffocating. “Avery. Atticus left it all to you. Everything, his entire empire. If he doesn’t pull through this then every single thing that he’s worked so fucking hard for… it’s all yours. If you don’t come to the meeting now and stand your ground, who knows what will happen. This could spiral out of control faster than you can imagine and then there’ll be a whole new war to face. Do you want that for us all?”
I absolutely do not want that for any of us, not for the man I’m in love with up there in the ICU or the new family of three in the maternity wing who are living through the greatest night of their lives right now. Not for Lips who’s out there somewhere in a tour bus full of guys that she’s madly in love with and will throw herself into hell for without a second thought.
I can’t let my own personal problems affect the overall good.
Aodhan looks down at me and sees the decision in my eyes, already made for us all and nods. “Fine. We’ll head over there. Do you have enough security here to cover Crawford for the night?”
Luca nods at him like that’s a stupid question and reaches into his pocket, pulling out my phone. “I found this in your Rolls Royce, it must’ve been left behind there. Probably because they didn’t want us tracking you that way. It’s run out of battery, but at least it survived your ordeal.”
I take it and slip it back into my pocket, the weight of it familiar and a small comfort. Aodhan waits for a second and then walks me over to the Impala, helping me in and buckling the seatbelt around me while he clucks about my torn-up hands.
I’ve still barely even noticed they’re injured. I’m sure they’ll sting like a bitch tomorrow.
The drive over to Atticus’ mansion is silent, neither of us happy about where we’re headed but for very different reasons. Aodhan hates Atticus and fucking loathes Luca so going to that place will be the last thing he wants to do. I, however, need to stay strong to get through this and sitting in that house, surrounded by all of the Crow’s people and things, it’ll be too much for me. It’ll all make me want to sit and wallow in him.
Wallow in the pain and fear.
The men at the gate let us straight through with barely a glance inside the car, and we’re directed by the groundsmen on where to park. Aodhan grimaces and mumbles unhappily about the entire process but follows me up into the house without complaint.
I take the world’s quickest shower in one of the downstairs guest rooms.
Okay, it’s five minutes but considering how freaking disgusting I feel, it’s life-changing. Utterly freaking life-changing. I wash my hair twice in that time and scrub every inch of myself with a loofa. Aodhan offers to come in and scrub my back for me, but I feel far too disgusting for that.