Page 49

After being shot and spending a week in the hospital, I was thrilled to be home with Rian.

He’d insisted that we hire a nurse to check on me daily.

I was still unable to get up and walk much because my leg was not yet weight-bearing.

Crutches were a nightmare to use. Rian insisted he’d work from home as much as possible, but when he had to go to the office, he wanted someone here to help me.

I argued it wasn’t necessary, but he wouldn’t listen.

However, I was in luck. Connie, who’d been with me most of the time at the hospital, could do it.

It seemed she worked as a home health and private duty nurse when she didn’t get called in to cover the private wing.

I liked and got along with her, so I was okay with him hiring her short-term.

While I began my recovery process, my family, Rian, and his family kept me entertained so I wouldn’t go out the window. Rian had told them the story Papà had shared with him, which the entire O’Sheeran clan thought was hysterically funny. They teased me about it often.

One of the ways they entertained me was when Darragh, Alistair, and a few others returned from Aspen after dealing with Clay.

It seemed that they’d gone in time. They arrived two days before his hearing for his arrest. Clay was facing a possible three months in jail.

They entered his house after dark. Clay was there with Keane. That had been a shock for the two men.

From there, the O’Sheerans outlined what they knew, including Keane’s real name and their plan to disappear after Clay was offered money to stop.

They’d recorded the entire thing for me and Rian.

There had been denial, threats, and more coming from Clay and Keane, but in the end, the O’Sheerans proved they had the proof and then laid out what was to happen to them.

Clay would cease all protesting and picketing outside the Crystal and issue a public apology, stating he’d lied about everything he said about the Crystal and the family.

He would show up for his hearing and accept the sentence, whatever it was.

While he was in jail, assuming he went, Keane would remain mum and not carry on Clay’s efforts while he was gone, which had been their plan.

Once Clay was free, if they heard a peep out of them or trouble started again, our information on them would be exposed to Keane’s wife and congregation.

He’d lose everything. It seemed that Keane’s wife had everything put in her name for some tax reason.

He’d have a hard time getting his share.

Colorado wasn’t an equal marital division state.

Judges were asked to divide the property impartially and fairly after considering the facts and circumstances.

They determined what was fair and impartial, which didn’t mean equally.

His chances of getting only a tiny share, if any, were high.

And it seemed he’d grown used to living beyond comfortably.

He counted on a considerable payout from the O’Sheerans to keep him and his lover.

It was rather anticlimactic, but they stayed until after Clay’s hearing. He was given three months in jail. Alistair and Darragh told us they highly doubted Keane would be waiting for Clay. Keane might have feelings for him that went beyond sex, but money meant more to him.

When they were there, one other mystery was solved.

It was why Harissa was helping Clay when it seemed they didn’t even like each other.

It was because of her husband. Her husband worked as the gardener for the pastor and several other wealthy congregation members.

When they dreamed this scheme up and needed to have someone to corroborate the story Clay would tell, they thought of Harissa.

They blackmailed her husband, saying that if she didn’t help, Keane would tell his parishioners that he fired her husband because he was stealing.

That would be a death sentence to his business and their ability to make a living.

They quietly met with Harissa and her husband and let them know they had nothing to worry about in that regard.

And the family, being the wonderful people they were, gave her another chance.

She’d be rehired on a probationary basis, and they’d see how she did.

Her inability to do her job was due to the stress she’d been under because of Clay’s ongoing harassment.

Harissa never spoke up because she feared she wouldn’t be believed, and she and her husband would lose their jobs.

They had three children. She and her husband cried when everything was explained.

Luckily, to keep from going stark raving mad, I could still work on my laptop and research for DeSantis Bounty and the O’Sheerans.

I’d miss being out in the field, but there was no way I could, and even if it were possible, Rian would’ve locked my ass up—his words.

Things between my brothers, Rian, and his family smoothed out.

They were able to speak to each other in a civil manner. I was happy about that.

Rian had made me rest most of the morning, but now I was up. I refused to meet someone in my pajamas, with my hair looking like a bird’s nest, and without makeup. Rian had told me I was silly and beautiful, no matter what. Thank God he was blind.

“ Leanbh , let me introduce you to Cody, our master IT mind. Cody, this is my Gianna. The family appreciates your help with any direct family-related matters more than you know, but you need help. And you better not dare argue. You can’t say she’s not trustworthy,” Rian warned the man before me.

“I had no intention of arguing, Rian. I’ve been waiting for you to find me someone like her, that’s all.

And can I say he did an excellent job finding someone I hear is very talented?

And someone who is also stunning. I’ll love working with you, Gianna.

May it be often and for days,” he said, winking.

I giggled as I took his outstretched hand. “And I, with such a charming, handsome man,” I said.

A low growl came rumbling out of Rian. He was glaring at Cody, then frowning at me. I held on for several heartbeats. Then I couldn’t help it. I laughed, followed by Cody.

“What the hell is all this about, then, the laughing?” Rian asked.

“We had to do it. Reign told me what he told you. He said I had to poke the bear. When he told me Gianna was willing to go along with it, I couldn’t resist,” Cody said. He was shaking my hand.

“Let go of her hand before I turn into a bear and rip your head off. You’re lucky I didn’t shoot you,” Rian muttered.

“Gianna, it is a pleasure to meet you, and I meant what I said. You are stunning,” Cody said as he moved to sit across from us.

“It’s a pleasure for me, too, and you are charming and handsome,” I replied.

“Where are the others? I need to get you out of here before I forget we’re friends, and I’d hate to kill you,” Rian said. He made his voice sound disgruntled.

“You know you’re the only man I love and that no one can compare to you, Rian, so settle. I can find other men handsome and charming, and it doesn’t mean I’m leaving you for them. I think your brothers and cousins are, and you’re fine with me around them.”

“I was until you told me that. Now, they’ll all be banned from our lives.”

Cody and I were laughing when most of the O’Sheeran men came striding into the house. I lumped Alistair in as one of them, even though he technically wasn’t. After exchanging greetings, they sat wherever they found a spot, which included the floor for some. I glanced over at Rian.

“ Miele , why is your family here? I thought this was just a chance for me to meet Cody.”

“Give me a minute, and I’ll explain. We’re waiting on a couple more,” he said.

I heard footsteps when I was about to tell him to hell with whoever was lagging.

When the people who those footsteps belonged to entered the room, I knew this was major.

My family was there. I sat there, trying not to scream.

They were told hello before they took a seat. Once they were seated, Rian explained.

“Now that we’re all here, you’re right. It is more than you meeting Cody, though he’s wanted that.

It’s about who shot you. Cody has been working on it since you were hurt, Gianna.

It took him a long time to piece things together and watch all the videos.

You know how it is. He called this morning to tell me he had an update for us.

I knew you’d want to hear it, along with the families, so I asked them to come here.

I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to stress. ”

I shook my head, but I didn’t chastise him. I was learning how my man thought. “Okay, you got us here,” I told Rian. “Tell us what you found?” I directed Cody. While Rian explained to me why everyone was there, Cody brought a tablet out of a backpack he had with him.

“The area you were in at the time you were shot had no cameras, as you would expect. However, the shooter took off toward Newton Heights rather than back toward Hastings when he ran. I started there, and I was able to find a vehicle matching the description Marco and Reign had given us. It arrived in Newton approximately ten minutes or so after you were hit. From there, I obtained a license plate number, but I didn’t get a glimpse of the driver.

“Running the plate, no surprise, it was bogus.

Stolen from a sedan and placed on the truck.

This prompted me to go back and watch footage from the last camera before you left Hastings.

I had no idea how long that SUV had been out there.

Or how he knew you would be coming that way.

It was too risky to be there all day waiting for you, even if he knew you rode that each day with Rian.

What if someone noticed and called the law?