Page 16 of Quinn

“I think you’ll be fine. You obviously have an extremely high tolerance for pain. Anyone else with a gunshot wound would be laid out in agony.”

“I’ve had no choice.”

Barry frowned at my words and I wondered what he would think of me if he knew what I’d endured. He directed his next words to Tania and Natalie. “I’m going to set up an appointment with Doctor Denise Innes tomorrow at Popondetta Hospital. Normally I’d want Arabella to be seen in Lae, but I don’t think there’s anything serious so the closer hospital will be fine. I’d like one of you to accompany her, please.”

Natalie spoke up first. “I’ll ask Jake to take us, he’s got business in town tomorrow. He can drop us at the hospital and pick us up when we’re done, or when his business is finished.”

Tania took my hand. “Natalie will take good care of you, Arabella.”

“Connor will insist on you taking an army of men after what happened at the airport in Moresby. Don’t fight him on it, the men who had Arabella will probably be desperate to get her back and will stop at nothing.”

“I won’t,” Natalie agreed.

Tears bubbled over in my eyes. I hated knowing I was putting these people in danger.

Barry patted my hand and stood. “Get some rest and I’ll be back later tomorrow morning to let you know when Denise can see you.”

“Thank you for everything,” I murmured.

Tania escorted him out and Natalie sat on the bed. “I’m sorry about what has happened to you but Connor, Jake, and Quinn will take care of everything and make sure you stay safe.”

I only hoped those words proved to be true.

“Connor, Jake, and Quinn are brothers? They look very much alike.”

“Yes. Connor is the eldest, then Jake, and Quinn’s the baby, although he’d kill me if he heard me say that.” Natalie giggled. “Tania is engaged to Connor, and I’m Jake’s girlfriend.”

“Quinn’s single?”

“Very much so, he has no interest in women at all. In the short time I've known him he has professed his loyalty to bachelorhood about a thousand times.”

I was disappointed to hear Quinn had vowed to remain single, but why would he have the slightest interest in me even if he hadn’t?

“How old are you Arabella?”

“Twenty-three. Twenty-four next month.”

Tania gasped and Natalie’s eyes widened in shock. I was well aware my appearance was one of a girl in early puberty.

“I know…”

I left the rest of the words to hang in the air and neither of the ladies made a comment.

“You sound well-educated, where did you attend school?”

I sighed. “Sit down, ladies, and I will tell you something about me, but it won’t be much. I suspect the brothers will want much more, and I’m sure they will agree when I tell them about my past, that it’s not for your ears.”

“Bullshit.” Tania became annoyed. “Nat and I are no shrinking violets. We’re mafia for fuck’s sake, we are well aware of what evil goes on in the world. Hell, our men are responsible for causing it at times.”

Natalie pointed to Tania. “What she said.”

“Mafia?”

The two ladies glanced at each other and shrugged.

“Ooops. I have a tendency to say things I shouldn’t when I’m annoyed. You didn’t hear that, okay?” Tania didn’t look the slightest bit guilty about her obvious slip of the tongue.

For the first time in a very long time, I smiled. For the first time in a very long time, I felt safe enough to do so.