Page 162 of Tangled in Knots

Kane, Damon, and I nod, while Jed grunts, “Yeah, do it.”

Duncan stands to take a picture of Adira’s face and hand, which is swollen enough to be seen on the camera before sending. Cian is quiet for long enough that the pause feels as if it’s gaining a life of its own.

“Duncan, you told me one of these men escaped?”Cian asks, the barely restrained anger crackling over the phone.

“Yes, Sir. Adira killed the other two, Sir,” Duncan responds.

“She’s right handed, isn’t she?”Cian asks. “I don’t think she’ll need to carry a gun tonight, but I don’t want her unarmed.”

“Adria can fight well either way,” Damon chimes in. “The Kelly brothers and I have been working on her ability to use a knife with both hands, which is what saved her last night. We need to work on her ability to shoot with her non-dominant hand now.”

“Thank God for small miracles. She needs a hospital, boys. Aisling has an acquaintance she works with who may be able to help,”Cian says. “I’ll call you right back. If I didn’t need to drag her into this mess the way she feels, I wouldn’t.”

“I appreciate that, Mr. Sullivan,” Jed says respectfully. “Last night was a shock to us all. Thank you for any help you can give us.”

“Adira is important for many reasons, but as the daughter of a man my father once respected, I feel as though she slipped through the cracks of our protection,”Cian says. “I’ll be in touch.”

As the phone line goes dead, I sigh. “Does Cian Sullivan scare the hell out of anyone else?” I ask.

As the men in the room raise their hands, I nod. “Awesome,” I mutter.

“While I wish Adira would get some time to heal, it’s not going to happen,” Callum says. “What did you bring back, guys?”

“It’s all comfortable clothing, unscented toiletries, and ice cream,” Damon grumbles. “There’s nothing there that says ‘mafia princess’.”

“I’ll get it handled,” Duncan says standing. “I’ll text you, Callum if anything comes up. Adira needs to make a statement. Did her knife holster survive?”

“It’s covered in blood,” Kane says, glancing at the kitchen where he was trying to get it clean. “I’ll keep working on it, but it won’t be ready for tonight.”

“I’ll buy her another,” Duncan says easily. “The knife she has is difficult to open, especially left handed. I’ll pick up a switchblade. I refuse to make her fumble to open a knife when it counts.”

“How difficult?” I ask, curious. Damon finds the knife, handing it to me, and I grunt as I pull the blade from the handle. It’s wickedly sharp, created for maximum destruction. “This is ridiculous, Duncan. How did she get this open in the first place?”

“Adrenaline,” Adira whispers. “I also knew you’d never let me live it down if I couldn’t get my knife open with my left hand. Lurch slammed my right hand into the building so it felt numb and tingly.”

“Lurch from the Addams Family?” Duncan asks, smiling down at her.

“Uh-huh,” she whispers before drifting off again.

“That explains things,” Duncan mutters. “She’s so drowsy. Caffeine isn’t good for her stomach, though.”

“I can probably figure out what the coffee shop owner puts in his protein drinks for her,” Damon offers. “I’m also terrified I’m going to fuck it up and make her sick though.”

“Let’s not do that,” Duncan says with a snort. “I’ll add a protein drink to my list, and see if I can get the owner to tell me exactly what’s in it. She may be nauseous with her possible concussion.”

“Okay good,” Damon says, his eyes still worried.

Adira is adored by so many people, she can’t possibly know how her fierceness draws people to her.

“It’s going to be a long one, boys,” Duncan mutters, leaving the apartment.

That may be true, but maybe we’ll have allies by the end of the day.

ADIRA

“This feels like overkill,” I murmur, gazing at the mirror in the dim light. My eyes are sensitive on a good day, but any kind of light feels as if I’m getting stabbed by an ice pick in the eyeball.

I went to the hospital today, and Dr. Adrian Royal quickly and quietly admitted me into the emergency room under a pseudonym to run tests.

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