Page 207 of Brutal Savage

CHAPTER 42

ELARA

Brody sits in my lap, sobbing against my chest as I try my best to reassure him that Tynan will be okay. That he’ll pull through the surgery.

But me? I’m dying inside. Dying slowly, trying my best to keep it together for this little boy. My boy. My arms hold him tighter while I stare at the doors of the hospital, waiting for someone to tell us something.

I haven’t even come to terms that Gran is gone. My mind hasn’t fully grasped it all. Who she really was. That she ran a gang for most of her life. That she knew Jerry and his family. That she had Mom killed.

My stomach forms tight knots. Can’t think about that now. I have to focus on Tynan and Brody.

“I can’t fucking wait another second!” Iseult’s hands curl as she paces, shoving away Gio’s arm as he tries to hold her.

“Babe, it’s Tynan,” he says. “He’s gonna be fine.”

Though Gio fails to convince me, let alone Iseult. She loves her brother. It’s easy to see how much by the look on her face. She doesn’t cry. But she’s hurting.

“Yeah,” Patrick says this time. “Our boy is gonna be fine, darling. You’ll see.”

Eriu, though? She’s quietly sobbing against Devlin, while he appears tense himself.

His brothers look worried too. They’re a close family, and I love that about them. I know in my heart none of them would ever betray each other like my family has.

We wait for what feels like hours until an older man walks out, removing his green plastic cap.

Brody and I jump off our seats, everyone approaching the doctor.

His pale blue eyes bounce between us.

Why isn’t he saying anything?

“Tell us how he is, Doc.” Patrick is the first to break the silence.

“Well, he lost a lot of blood and?—”

“Oh, no!” I snivel. “Please…”

Eriu comes to my side and wraps an arm around me, while I grip Brody’s hand.

“He’s alive, Mrs. Quinn. Tynan is alive.”

“Oh, thank God!” I slap a hand to my chest, my heart beating so fast I grow lightheaded.

“The surgery went well. The wound was shallow. The knife just missed his spleen. He’s very lucky.”

“Thanks, Doc. I owe ya.” Patrick slaps a hand to the man’s shoulder.

“When can we see him?” I ask.

“As soon as he wakes up, one of the nurses will let you know.”

“Thank you.” I wipe the tears fogging my vision, relief hitting me like a ton of bricks.

He’s gonna be okay.

We’re gonna be okay.

Brody cries, circling his arms around me, and I hold on to him even tighter than before.

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