Page 37 of Vengeful Devotion
He never takes his gaze off me. The intensity of his eyes is mesmerizing. As we sway, I can feel the rest of my hesitation die off. It feels like we’re the only two people who exist on the planet right now. Until the chirping of his phone bursts our peaceful bubble.
He sighs, pulling it out of his pocket. “What?”
Declan’s face immediately changes, filling with wrath. I can’t hear the person on the other end. But whatever it is, they are saying, it’s not good. I barely wait for him to end the call before speaking.
“What’s wrong?”
He throws his phone to the ground. It shatters against the concrete. The sound echoing in this empty room. “Someone attacked my mother.”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Declan
Hysteria squeezes my chest.Anger and terror riding high as I watch blood drip from my mother’s head. This is not how I saw the night ending. If I’m being honest, this isn’t how I saw my life going. The thought of losing both of my parents so young never even crossed my mind. Tonight showed me how close that reality is. I would already be living it if the fucker had tossed that brick any harder.
The doctor finishes his exam. Setting his flashlight down on my desk. “Fran, you have a serious concussion. I’m going to need to send you to the hospital and keep you there under observation for a few days.”
“Don’t even think about it, Cian. I’m not staying in some strange place. I’ll be fine at home.”
The doctor looks over his shoulder at where I’m standing. He’s a few years older than me, but he doesn’t look as tired as I feel. “Declan, if she won’t stay at the hospital, I’m insisting that you let me send a nurse to stay with her.”
“Absolutely not, Cian McGowan. I will call your mother if you try,” my mother says. “No strangers. No strange places. I can take care of myself.”
She tries to stand, but she can’t find her balance. I’m right there to steady her.
“Mother, I think you need someone.”
“I can take care of her,” Gemma murmurs. Her voice is so low that I barely hear her. The three of us turn to look at her standing near the door.
“What healthcare training have you had?” Cian asks.
“None. Officially. But I have extensive experience in handling concussions and bandaging wounds.”
I growl. “Why do you know that?”
She glances towards me before looking away without answering my question. My first instinct is to pry it out of her. I’m tempted, but I can’t let go of my mother without risking further injury. The doctor walks closer to Gemma, handing out a paper of instructions and medication.
“Let it go,” my mother whispers.
I look down at her. “Have you ever known me to let something go?”
“No, I suppose I haven’t. I’m just saying she’ll tell you in her own time. Don’t push her.”
I scoff. That goes against every instinct I have. My father taught me to never ignore my instincts. And right now, my instincts say that Gemma is or was in some kind of trouble. They’re screaming at me that she knows real pain. That she’s seen the burning inferno of veritable hell. She has demons. If she only knew how prepared I am to cut their hearts out and deliver them to her on a silver platter.
“Alright, Fran, I feel confident Gemma can handle you, but I’ve warned her that if you get any worse, you are to come to the hospital immediately.”
My mother waves him off. “Nonsense, Cian.”
He rolls his eyes, taking her from me. “I’ll get her to her room. Gemma, you’ll need to check on her every hour.”
“Go with him, Balor.”
I say after the door is shut. He nods, following them out.
“Why are you sending him? Your mother said Cian has been your doctor for years,” Gemma asks.
“He has. Before him, it was his father, and his father before him. The McGowans are the only family that followed us here that we are close to.”
