Things We Never Said (Hart's Boardwalk #3) - Samantha Young Page 0,123

“I’ll see you soon, Wonder Woman.”

I rolled my eyes but nodded.

Vaughn surprised me by coming over to the bed to press a kiss to my forehead. “Glad you’re okay. I don’t know what she’d do without you.” He nodded at Bailey.

I gave him a fond smile of thanks.

Once the men—with the exception of Michael, of course—had departed, the girls pulled up seats around my bed. Once they had reassurances from me that I was okay, they chatted about the events of the last twenty-four hours. Their voices washed over me like a soothing bubble bath, and the comfort of having all my soul mates in the same room drew me into a healing sleep.

Whispers filtered into my subconscious, tugging me upward and out of the dark until my eyelids fluttered against the light.

My vision cleared and I took in the hospital room, remembering that Freddie Jackson had shot me.

Last time I’d been awake, the girls and Michael had been in the room with me.

Now I was surrounded.

I guess Mabel had lost her battle against the force of the McGuires.

An ache flared in my shoulder, but despite it, I smiled to see my family.

Dad occupied the chair Michael had when I’d first woken up, and he was whispering across the bed to Darragh, leaning against the wall with his ankles crossed. Davina was in the seat next to Dad, curled up with her knees to her chest, her head on her hand as she slept.

Dermot was sprawled across a chair on the other side of my bed, his head hanging back, his mouth open while he snored.

“How is anyone supposed to recover from a gunshot wound around here with that kind of racket going on?” I grumbled.

“Dahlia!” Dad was louder than I knew he meant to be as he pushed out of the chair to press his cheek to mine. “God, Bluebell, you scared me to death.”

“I’m okay, Dad.” I patted his back.

Awake now, Dermot and Davina took turns hugging me gingerly after Darragh let go.

“Krista’s with the boys in the cafeteria,” Darragh said. “They’ll be right back.”

“Astrid is out of town,” Davina added. “But she’s flying out here today.”

“I, uh … I told Mom,” Dermot hesitated to say. “She’s … she’s not coming.”

Even though I wasn’t surprised, it stung. My mother’s desertion would always be a wound buried deep in my chest.

“And I’m fuckin’ done with her,” Darragh bit out.

I flinched, not wanting that. “Dar, don’t.”

“No, Dahlia. Your kid gets shot, you get your ass on a plane to make sure she’s all right. I don’t want anything to do with her anymore.”

“Dar …” My dad shook his head. “Let Dahlia rest.”

My brother heaved an exasperated sigh. “Shit, I’m sorry, kiddo.”

“It’s okay.” The subject hurt too much. Instead, my eyes went to Dad. “Where’s Michael?”

Dad pressed my hand to his cheek, and I felt as well as saw him smile. “I forced him to go home for a shower. That was ten minutes ago, so my guess is he’ll be back in another ten.”

It was selfish, but I was glad. I wanted him with me. “I’m sorry I scared you all.”

“You did,” Dad agreed. “But I can hardly be mad about it when you saved a woman’s life and helped the cops apprehend a killer.”

The tips of my ears grew hot. “When you say it like that, it’s very cool.”

They laughed, and Davina nudged my leg. “I always said you had a hero complex.”

I let my family’s banter wash over me. Not too long later, we had to call for a nurse because I was in pain. She allowed my family to stay, and she didn’t say a word when Michael returned, adding to the numbers. He kissed me on the lips in front of everyone and didn’t even seem to care that I had hospital breath.

“You hungry?” he asked.

I was. A little.

Michael fed me spoonfuls of Jell-O, and I grinned between every bite, making him chuckle. Despite the pain, it was pretty great. I didn’t feel mad about the gunshot wound so much anymore.

I was alive.

I had my family with me.

I was in love.

And I felt strong, infused with the power of forgiveness and devotion.

Three Months Later

The soft sunlight filtered through the gauzy curtains Dahlia had hung over the bedroom window. It spilled down over their bed, and Michael rested his chin on his arm as he watched Dahlia sleep.

Her sling had come off yesterday, and it was the first time in three months he’d seen her look relaxed