Page 140 of Broken Blood Ties

The relentless beeping of machines seems to punctuate the pounding in my head as I try to open my heavy eyes. A dull numb ache radiates down the length of my body, and when I try to move, my limbs don’t. Instead, a surge of pain makes me grunt.

My vision is hazy at first. Blurred white walls and bright fluorescent lights overhead. Slowly, the room comes into focus. A clutter of medical equipment is lined up on one side of me, and I shift my gaze from the digital display of numbers along the tubes running into my nose and stabbed into my arms.

Muted blue curtains are drawn shut, making it impossible to tell if it’s day or night. How long have I been?—

Aoife. My mind flashes to the video played before me. Her sweet smile beaming as she chased the wind, trying to get her kite in the air.

And Summer. The devastation on her face as she witnessed Riku beating me, and her screams that faded into nothing as I lost consciousness.

I need to get out of here.

Attempting to shift, the beeping on the machine grows closer together and my chest feels constricted and tight. Why is each breath a labored effort?

Memories come back in patchy fragments and disjointed flashes. The sharp pain, the cold ground, Summer’s screams, and then—nothing.

The beeping continues to get louder and, in a burst, doctors and nurses stream into the room. Expressions concerned, they poke at the machine and prod at the IV in my arm.

“Mr. O’Donnell? Can you hear me?” Their voices are muffled, but I can hear them.

I nod.

“Good,” a nurse coos. “Go back to sleep. Rest.” She adjusts something at the blob of machines, and warmth spreads through my body.

Rest? I don’t want to rest. I need to find Aoife. Is she okay? I need?—

A humming noise fills my head, lapping like the steady whirring of a spinning fan. It’s the last thing I remember hearing before everything goes black. Again.

* * *

The scraping of a chair across the floor beckons me awake. This time the pain is constant. Groggily, I shift, reaching for my face. There’s something on my nose.

“Whoa now, Boss. Don’t do that.”

I blink at what sounds like Cormac’s voice and then attempt to sit up, failing when searing pain in my chest burns like fire.

“Can’t do that, either,” he says, closer now.

Slowly, I allow my face to fall to the side, looking at him.

He’s worn down. Dark circles along with puffy eyelids—the man has no doubt missed significant sleep. What’s worse is the way he looks at me. Like I’m broken. I’ve been injured before, boxing made sure of that, but I have a strong feeling the damage done to me and the reasons I’m lying in this hospital bed make this the worst I’ve ever had.

There is a dryness in my throat, and it doesn’t stop there. My lips are rough, the cracks stinging as I lick my lips.

“Aoife …” It’s the only word I get out. My daughter. I need to know if she’s okay. The idea that Salvatore would use my little girl … I’m going to vomit. The queasiness in my stomach hits me like a truck, and I swallow down the bile.

“She’s safe,” Cormac says quickly. “After speaking with Allie and the guards, we felt it was best to keep them there for the time being, or until ye woke up. Everyone thought it best if Aoife didn’t see ye unresponsive.” He drags a hand through his damp hair. “There was no sign of Salvatore’s men when the guards inspected the perimeter. The property is secure. We figure when Salvatore didn’t give any further instructions, they left.”

If Aoife is safe, then …

“Summer.” I croak out her name, but all I want to do is scream it. If Aoife is safe, then Salvatore took her. He probably has her in a secure location waiting to hand her off to the Cartel for his own personal agenda.

A plan forms in my head. I’ll call Luka and demand he use his strings in the alliance for me. I don’t care how busy he is, he’ll do it. We’re stretched thin right now, I’m sure, but I’ll take any available men and go get her. We’ll need supplies and weapons. It’s better to fight the Cosa Nostra than the Cartel, but bleeding hell, I’ll go to war with nations to get her back.

I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got?—

Pushing up, I groan out in pain but am able to pull into a sitting position. The insistent beeping begins again, and from the corner of my eye Cormac bolts up, examining the machine.

“Hey, hey, Kieran. She’s fine. Summer’s fine, ye damn eejit.”