Page 36 of The Havenport Collection

Liam

I n our postcoital bliss, Cece and I wrapped ourselves in my comforter and made our way to my deck.

We stood there, my arms wrapped around her, keeping her warm, as we stared out at the choppy ocean.

It was a clear night, and we had a gorgeous view of the lighthouse, perched on its rocky peninsula shining its light out to sea.

I could have stayed like this forever. She smelled like beer and sugar cookies, and her wild hair blew around my face.

She was so warm and soft in my arms, and I wanted this moment to last forever. I wanted her forever.

Just as I was getting up the courage to tell her, I heard a strange vibrating noise coming from inside my apartment.

“What’s that?”

It was coming from my jacket, which I had thrown on the floor in my haste to get naked.

I walked over and found my phone.

“That’s weird. I have a bunch of missed calls from my brothers. Hold on.” I gestured to her as I answered an incoming call and she wrapped herself up tighter.

“Callum, what’s up?”

“Where the hell have you been? Why didn’t you pick up?” He sounded distraught and out of breath.

“I was walking with Cecelia and didn’t have my phone on me. What’s going on?” I was beginning to panic. Callum was always calm and cool. Very little rattled him.

“It’s Dad. He collapsed at the festival and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.”

“Holy shit. Is he okay?”

“We don’t know. They haven’t said anything. Mom said the EMTs stabilized him. They said it was some kind of cardiac event.” The words “cardiac event” hung in the air. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I sank onto my couch, willing this to be a dream.

“Are you there? Where’s Mom?”

“She went in the ambulance with him. And she’s waiting at the hospital alone. Dec and I are driving right now. We’ll be there in five minutes. It’s hard because most of the streets are closed.”

I sat speechless. How did this happen? What could I do to help? I was spinning out of control.

Callum broke my panic spiral. “Get your ass to the hospital.”

“Okay, okay. I’m on my way.” I started to gather my clothes up off the floor and inventory what I needed.

After a minute of silence, I looked up at Cece. Her face was as white as a sheet and she was shaking. “Is he okay?” she asked, her eyes wide, blinking back tears.

“Callum doesn’t know anything yet. I’ve got to get to the hospital now.”

She nodded and wordlessly started getting dressed.

How could this happen? Nothing made sense.

My dad had a heart attack? My dad, the naval captain and fishing tycoon?

The self-made badass who could still probably beat me in arm wrestling?

He’s not some old, frail man. My dad was basically a healthy guy.

My mom made him eat vegetables, and he spent his life doing a physically demanding job.

He was only sixty-one. That was way too young for a heart attack.

Cece handed me my coat, face determined. “I’ll drive.”

I wasn’t going to argue with her. I was in no state to be behind the wheel right now.

She held my hand as we made our way down the stairs. I caught a glimpse of her beautiful face, and just the simple act of her touch grounded me, keeping me calm and levelheaded. “He’s getting medical attention. We just need to get you there,” she said.

My mind and body were reeling from the whiplash.

One of the best nights of my life had morphed into one of the worst. My mom, dad, and two brothers were my world.

We were the Quinns, and aside from the woman holding my hand right now, there was no one on earth I loved more.

The helplessness and fear consumed me. I was conscious only of her firm grip on my hand as we walked to where my car was parked.

No sooner had we pulled onto Main Street, than we were confronted by the street closures for the festival. The entire downtown area was closed off, and we had to get to the other side of town where the hospital was. I started to panic.

Cece squeezed my hand. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle this.”

She drove up to the next intersection where a police officer was stationed. She rolled down her window.

The cop peered into the car. It was late and I couldn’t make out his face. When he got closer, I let out an audible “oh shit.” It was Marcus Flint. There was no way that asshole would help us.

Cecelia turned on a megawatt smile. “Officer Flint. So great to see you,” she purred.

“Hello, ma’am, this street is closed for the festival. What can I do for you?”

Cecelia placed her hand on his forearm that rested on the windowsill. I wanted to get out and punch him for even being in close proximity to my woman. I hated this guy.

“Well, Captain Quinn had a heart attack. I’ve got to get Liam to the hospital as quickly as I can.”

Flint gazed at me in the passenger seat. “I’m so sorry to hear that, man.” He turned his attention back to Cece. “Say no more. Let me see what I can do.”

Then, the most extraordinary thing happened. He grabbed his radio and started talking to the other officers. He came back to the car and leaned in. “Okay. Take the next right onto Spring Street. Officer Mitchum will meet you there in his cruiser. He is going to escort you to the hospital.”

“Oh my God, thank you!” Cece gushed.

“No problem, ma’am. Liam, I hope your dad is okay.”

“Thank you.”

Huh. That was weird. I was too dazed thinking about my father to realize that Marcus Flint actually just did me a favor. I guess it was just another bullet point on my list of crazy today.