Page 194 of Three Irish Kings

“Dare, don’t try to talk.”

A hand brushes my hair back from my face.

My eyelids must have weights on them when I try to open them, but I push through and as I finally make some progress, my vision blurs and doubles as I look at Isla’s beautiful face.

“A ghrá?You’re here?”

“Where else would I be, silly?” She smiles, sitting on a chair beside my bed and gripping my hand.

I squeeze it, love and regret all mixed together rushing through me. I feel more emotional than I ever have. Must be the meds. Or maybe it’s just Isla.

“What happened?”

“You let yourself get stabbed in the liver, you idiot,” Liam pipes in.

Cillian snorts out a laugh, followed by a cough.

Liam chuckles. “Like you can talk, Cill.”

I look to the side and Cill is lying on the bed next to mine, Isla holding both our hands as she sits in between our beds.

“Hey, at least I didn’t have a gun when I was stabbed.”

Then, it comes to me. stabbing two men, shooting another.

God, I took a life. Why would Isla ever want me now?

My breath starts coming short, and my incision stings and aches, the alarms starting to go off.

Isla’s hazel eyes widen with worry, and she cups my face.

“Listen to me, Dare. You did what you had to do. You saved me and the baby. You all did.”

I take a deep breath, or as deep as I can, given my wound, and the alarms stop beeping.

I look at Isla, my vision finally not blurred.

“Who… who did that to your face?”

“Reese.” Cillian spits out the word. “He’s dead.”

I am quiet for a moment. “Good.”

I don’t feel a single drop of sympathy for Reese. He hurt Isla, put her in danger. I hope he died screaming.

Suddenly, my throat tightens.

“The baby?”

Isla blinks at me. “I thought you didn't care.”

I scoff. “I care too much. That’s why I was so angry. I’m so sorry,a ghrá.” I hold her hand in both of mine.

She smiles at me. “Nothing to apologize for.”

“I haveplentyto apologize for. First and foremost, for making you doubt how much I love you and the baby, no matter what.”

“You love meandthe baby?” Tears spring to her eyes.