spoke up.
“As I’ve already said, Mr. O’Day, I never meant to cause you any problems. I’m here to seek safe sanctuary for my nieces, nothing more. It’s been my intention all along to turn myself over to the authorities once I knew the girls would be taken care of. I’m done running.”
She looked the vampire straight in the eye, something few men had the guts to do. “You have a reputation of being a man of your word. I’d be awfully disappointed if you were to go back on your promise to allow Maggie and Rose to remain here.”
Conlan wanted to shake some sense into her. It was never smart to challenge a vampire, especially one as aggressive as Rafferty. At least his boss didn’t immediately go on the attack.
“Don’t presume to question my honor, Miss Karr.” Rafferty leaned in closer. “You’ll find that I don’t push easily, nor do I respond well to threats from anyone. Not even a member of the Council, like Cyrus Eddington.”
Conlan edged closer, ready to step between the vampire and Kat. Rafferty shot him a brief look, making it clear that he’d noticed and hadn’t liked it one bit. Rather than push the issue, Conlan held his ground but didn’t say anything.
Rafferty picked up where he’d left off. “I told him that you’d been badly injured in the attack and would need several days to recuperate from your wounds before you could travel. I also informed him that we’d already processed the paperwork absorbing the girls into my clan.” He paused. “If he wants to question the legality of the adoption, he’ll have to wait until the Council is back in full session next spring. By then, one way or the other, your situation will have been resolved.”
Then he glanced toward Seamus. “I’m assuming you’ll have no qualms about backdating the necessary forms. I want them completed and filed before morning.”
Seamus nodded. “I’ve already started filling them out. All I’ll need is the name of the family who’ll be adopting the girls.”
Rafferty considered the matter for all of two seconds before answering. “Under the circumstances, I think it’s best if I claim them as my wards for now, so use my name. I don’t want anyone else mixed up in this mess. We can transfer permanent custody later when the dust settles.”
As the doctor left the room, Kat slumped back in obvious relief. “Thank you, and I apologize for doubting you. I’ve been on the run for so long now that I can’t remember what it’s like to trust someone.”
Okay, that seriously pissed Conlan off. If she’d trusted him three years ago, none of this would’ve happened. Hell, he’d done everything he could to protect her, risking his reputation, his career, even his life. He wasn’t the one who’d broken that trust. That had been all her. No matter how she’d spent the past three years, it couldn’t have been much worse than the time he’d spent in prison for a crime he hadn’t committed. The only thing he’d been guilty of was believing Kat’s lies.
But that was then, and this was now. He’d do his job and do it right this time.
Speaking of which...it was time to mend fences with Rafferty. He should’ve known that the vampire wouldn’t let anyone force his hand.
“If it’s all right with you, boss, I’ll call Ambrose O’Brien and make him aware of the situation. I’m sure he’ll want to know about the councilman’s interest in Kat’s case.”
Rafferty clapped Conlan on the shoulder a little harder than necessary, but it still signaled that all was forgiven. “Do that. Keep me posted on how he wants to handle the situation. I’ll be in with Seamus taking care of the necessary paperwork.”
Rafferty turned his attention back to Kat. “Miss Karr, I suggest you get some rest. I might have bought you a few days, but that’s all. You’ll need all your strength when you leave here. Won’t she, Conlan?”
With that cryptic remark, he walked out.
Conlan stared at the empty doorway. Okay, what was that all about? What difference did it make if Kat was back to full strength, when they both knew all that was waiting for her was an execution order? Not for the first time, he wondered if they’d done her any favors by saving her life.
Rather than think about all the things he couldn’t change, Conlan dragged a chair over next to the bed. Then he pulled out the small notebook he kept in his shirt pocket