Page 10 of Dublin Devil

The doc sighs. “Aye, that’s no surprise, but I promise I’m only here to confirm there’s no internal bleeding or serious concern. The cuts and bruises don’t worry me. You dying tonight in your sleep is more of a concern. What do you think it would do tothe state of tension between the two families if the Quinns end up with Mattie McGuire’s daughter dead in one of their safe houses?”

“It would start a bloodbath.”

“Aye, that’s the truth of it. And the people of Dublin deserve better than that—especially if it’s preventable.”

Well, I don’t want to be responsible for that.

“You’re a real doctor, right?”

He dips his chin. “Got the diploma and everything.”

“And you can help with the pain?”

He winks and pats his bag. “I’m ready for anything.”

It doesn’t look like I have much of a choice. Still, I’m not sure how long Sean will wait in the kitchen, and I don’t want him to see me in my underwear, all broken and bloody. The way he was clutching his gun a moment ago made me think he might stalk the streets of the south side looking to kill my attackers.

I can’t let that happen.

Vladmir and Arkady are representatives of the Bratva. Me refusing sex with them is one thing. If they get gunned down in my father’s territory during their stay, my entire family will be wiped out.

I need to diffuse this situation and the only way Sean will be satisfied is if the doc assures him I’m okay. I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath before nodding my consent. “All right, then. Make it quick. And I don’t think I can raise my arms to get my dress off.”

“That’s fine. I’ll cut it off and get you set up in this snazzy sweatsuit when we’re done.”

Despite my doubts, Doc Kelvin is remarkably professional. He probes my side, listens to my chest, examines all my gashes, and then wipes most of the blood away before helping me into an ugly gray tracksuit.

Moving around is hell, and by the time it’s over, I’m sweating, dizzy, and ready to collapse.

Doc Kelvin gives me some space and goes over to push the kitchen door open. “Sean, the patient is ready for her tea now.”

Sean returns to the sitting area carrying a tray of mugs and a creamer and sugar set. If I wasn’t ready to pass out, I would make fun of the mean MC gang leader hosting a tea party.

“And here’s your reward for being a good patient,” Kelvin says, putting two white and one blue tablets into my hand. “These will ease the pain and help you sleep through the night so your body can heal.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

He winks at me and smiles. “Glad things weren’t worse.”

Sean hands me a cup of tea with milk and then focuses all his attention on Kelvin. “She’s okay, then?”

“For the next week or two she’ll have to accessorize to match black and blue, but she’ll survive. The swelling to her face will likely get worse before it gets better, but her ocular bone is intact, and her vision doesn’t seem compromised. A couple of her ribs are bruised, but I don’t think anything is broken. Without x-rays, it’s impossible to know for sure, but she would be in much greater pain and the treatment would be the same.”

Sean offers the good doctor a cup of tea, but he declines, saying he’s got a busy day tomorrow and should get some rest.

I swallow down my medication and lay back against the arm of the sofa. “Good night, Doc.”

“Good night, sweetheart. Have Sean call me if anything crops up and you feel worse.”

“Aye, thanks again.”

Sean walks him to the door. The two of them share a few whispered words of goodbye, but I don’t care. The tea is warming my insides, and the pills will soon drag me into a blissful slumber.

Then I can wake up and this will all be a bad dream.

If only that were true.

When it’s just the two of us once again, Sean locks the door and turns off the overhead light. It’s late and he must be as exhausted as I am. But when he moves to the fireplace to poke the flames and set another log on the fire, I realize he’s not ready to call it a night.

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