Page 46

I was reviewing invoices for the Crystal.

Revenue was down, which was expected given Clay’s current endeavor, although it could have been much worse.

I was distracted by Darragh, Rory, and Declan walking into my office.

It wasn’t unusual for us to do that, but we typically at least rapped our knuckles on the doorframe to see if it was okay to enter.

“What are you three up to? Shouldn’t you be working? Fuck off too much, and the boss will kick your asses,” I said, grinning.

Right as I said it, I noticed they were somber. Immediately, my thoughts went to Mama and Daid . Why else would these three be together? Next, my mind went to our sister. Siv wasn’t at the office today.

“What is it? Are Daid and Mama alright? Siv?” I asked as I came to my feet. By then, they’d reached my desk.

“Siv, Mama , and Daid are fine,” Darragh said.

“Don’t scare me like that, asses,” I reprimanded.

“Rian, we need you to listen,” Rory said softly.

“Tell me,” I demanded.

“Just take a—” Declan began to say, but I cut him off.

“TELL ME!” I hollered.

“It’s Gianna. She’s been shot,” Darragh answered.

The wind rushed out of my lungs, and my legs gave out. I would’ve landed on my ass on the floor if Darragh and Declan hadn’t grabbed me.

“Is she…” I couldn’t finish it.

“She’s alive and being flown by helo to the hospital. The surgical team is on standby. Dr. Keim is en route, but Dr. Dunn is on duty in the ER, and he’ll take care of her,” Dar added.

“What happened? They were chasing some jumper, weren’t they? Or a fugitive,” I snarled.

“We’ll explain on the way. We’ve got a car waiting to take us to the hospital. Daid is mobilizing the others, and they’ll meet us there. Let’s go,” Darragh ordered.

As the oldest and head of the family, he was used to taking command, and as his younger brother, I was used to following him, even though he was only two years older than me. It had been that way since we were toddlers.

I was in a haze as they hustled me out of the office and down to our private garage, where two cars waited.

I didn’t pay attention to who was in the other one.

Eamon, one of our enforcers, was in our front seat behind the wheel.

Declan got in the front with him while Rory and Darragh got me in the back.

“Tell me what you know,” I demanded as soon as we were settled and the car was moving.

“It’s not a lot. It seems she left work and headed toward St. Aug.

Reign and Marco followed her. Reign had taken Marco over to show him where the office and the neighborhood were.

He’ll be her guard until we get ours in place.

Somewhere between Elkton and Newton Heights, another vehicle opened fire on hers.

Whoever it was ran when they saw Reign and Marco coming.

When those two got to her, they discovered she’d been shot.

Marco called for a helo, then called me. That’s all we know,” Darragh explained.

I sat there trying to absorb what he told me, but I didn’t want to. All I kept thinking was that if she died, I’d never be able to stand it. But before I died, I’d ensure whoever was responsible would be found, tortured, and killed most painfully. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

“ íosa Chíost, I’ve got to call Alphonso. He doesn’t know,” I fumbled in my jacket pocket. A hand on my arm stopped me. It was Declan.

“ Daid is calling her dad and telling them to get their asses to the hospital. He thought of them as soon as Darragh told him we were coming to get you,” Declan said.

“ Daid also said to tell you not to become all dark and think the worst, either. She’s tough and courageous.

She’s not a quitter. Gianna will fight her hardest to stay here with you.

The two of you have plans. She hasn’t given you any hell yet.

I, for one, am looking forward to it,” Rory added.

I knew he was trying to lighten the tension.

The drive went on and on. Darragh was constantly on his phone, texting.

He would give us short updates. I knew when the helicopter had her in the air.

That Reign and Marco would meet us at the hospital.

He let me know when Alphonso was updated.

I was told when they landed with her at the hospital.

She was to be taken straight into surgery.

That told me she was in critical condition.

When we arrived, if they hadn’t had me caged in, I would’ve dived out of the vehicle while it was still moving.

I was impatient and had to force myself not to shove them out of the way when they opened the doors.

Other bodyguards surrounded us as we made our way into the ER.

That was the logical place to start, and then we’d go to where the surgical waiting room was.

Heads turned, and eyes widened as we invaded the ER waiting room. Darragh left me to check with the woman at the window. It wasn’t long before he was back.

“She’s been taken to the OR. We’ll go to the waiting room there. They’ll direct anyone with us where to go if they don’t see my message,” he whispered.

People were craning their necks to try to hear what we were saying.

I wanted to yell at them and say mind your fucking business.

My brothers recognized I was on edge because they grabbed my arms and hustled my ass to the other waiting room.

Thank God, it was empty. They tried to get me to sit, but I couldn’t.

As I paced, they kept a watch on me. Dar was on his phone, texting and having muted conversations.

Approximately ten minutes after we arrived, more people came in. They were those who had been at headquarters. We shared updates, and I was given hugs and kisses. I knew they meant well, but I wanted them to leave me alone. I needed to concentrate on willing Gianna to live.

I was relieved to see Reign and Marco when the door opened again. I hurried over to them.

“How is she? Did they say?” Reign asked anxiously.

“Not yet,” I answered. I saw that his hands, pants, and shirt were covered in blood. Her blood. “What the fuck happened? I want to hear every detail,” I growled.

Reign knew not to argue. He took me through it. Those in the room listened. I was furious that whoever it was got away, but I was thankful that Marco and Reign stayed with her. If they hadn’t, she would’ve bled to death.

I was about to tell someone to get Cody to work on seeing if he could find CCTV footage or something about the vehicle when Aidan told me he was already texting him.

I was about to resume pacing when the door swung open and hit the wall.

In came her brothers and dad. All of them were grim.

Not wasting a second, I went to Alphonso.

He held out his hand. I took it and brought him close for a hug.

He beat on my back. When we let go, he spoke.

“How is she? Tell me what you know. How did it happen?”

I told him, “Come sit down, and I’ll tell you what I know.”

The four of them followed me to a section of empty chairs where we could sit. As concisely as possible, I told him what we knew. When I was done, Alphonso sat there, not saying a word. I was about to ask him if he was alright when he spoke.

“She was coming to see you because she discovered something on that Clay guy. She didn’t want to wait or tell you over the phone. She asked to use my SUV since you dropped her off. I said yes. I never thought she was in danger. Who would do this? Why?” he asked.

“I don’t—”

Rocco cut me off. “I’ll tell you who did this.

It was him. He announced that she was his soulmate, and now, some crazy person is going after her.

It’s probably an obsessed fan or maybe a woman he slept with who he dumped, and she’s jealous.

No one has ever tried something like this until now.

If she dies, it’s your fault,” he snapped.

Fury hit me. I’d taken all I could take from this little shit. I let out a roar and came to my feet. Rocco was on his. I heard protests, and his brothers went to rise but were stopped by Alphonso. I got in Rocco’s face.

“I’ve taken all the whining asshole behavior I’m gonna take off you, Rocco. You’ve been allowed to say whatever you wanted. Well, now I’m telling you. If you say one more word, I don’t give a fuck if you’re her brother or not. I’ll shut that mouth for you. It’s been her holding me back.”

“Bring it on, O’Sheeran. I’m not afraid of you,” he smarted off.

I glanced over at his dad. Alphonse raised his chin.

I was turning back to face Rocco fully when he swung.

His confident smirk told me he thought he’d gotten one up on me.

The turn away had been intentional to make him believe it.

The shock on his face when I easily blocked his punch and countered with a jab to his solar plexus made me smile.

It knocked the wind out of him and caused Rocco to double over.

His hands went to his diaphragm. As it did, I followed up with a second punch.

This one took him in the side of the jaw.

I heard mutters of protest, mainly from the women, though I heard Siv tell me to hit him again. Then I heard his brothers.

“ Papà , you have to stop this. Or allow us to,” Luciano said.

“We can’t let them beat the hell out of each other,” Gerardo insisted.

“Your brother brought this on himself. It’s his battle, not yours. Maybe some pain will make him wise up, but I’d be quiet unless you want Rian to think he needs to do the same to you. He’s been more than tolerant of everything said about him and your sister,” Alphonso replied calmly.