Page 100 of Mob Knight

“We need to make a statement to the police and fire department.”

Everyone ignores my comment. Sean’s kneeling beside me in the back of the vehicle. The second and third row seats are down, so I’m stretched out. My vision’s blurry now, but I know I recognize automatic rifles in the back. There’s one laying on the floor beside Sean. I twist my head and wince, but I see men beside the passenger windows with rifles at the ready.

It’s only now that it sinks in.

That was a bomb.

A bomb in my apartment.

A bomb in my apartment meant to kill me.

“Cormac.”

“I’m calling him right now, Jocelyn. He’ll meet us.”

“Our place. He calls it ours.”

I hear one side as Sean explains what happened. It helps me to understand because I don’t have a clear memory.

“Cor, Jocelyn’s safe, but you need to meet us at Meredith’s. There was an explosion at her place. Opening the door triggered it…Yes, I was in front of her. Yes, I’m all right…I’m sure I’m fine. A few singed hairs, and my suit coat is worthless.”

I lift my hand to point to his forehead. Blood’s streaming down it. I know head wounds bleed profusely, but he should be unconscious.

“I’m going to talk to Seamus and see if Tiernan can get in there once it’s safe. She’ll know what happened.”

Tiernan?

My future sister-in-law. A fire inspector.

I feel like my brain’s slogging through mud, but it still works.

“Yeah. She’s awake. Here you go.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes,cailín. I’ll be at Meredith’s as soon as I can. I’m already in the car.”

“This is a lot worse than my shoulder and elbow.”

“I know, little one. But Sean doesn’t think it’s serious enough for the hospital if he’s taking you to Meredith. What do you think?”

“I ache all over. My head’s killing me, and my thigh’s?—”

I look down and realize someone’s wrapped a bandage around the wound, but the piece of wood’s still protruding from it. I don’t remember that. Did I pass out for a while?

“What about your thigh, Joey?”

“Don’t panic, Da?—”

“I’m not, Joey. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I’m trying to, but you interrupted me, Da?—”

“I’m getting impatient, Jocelyn.”

“Fine, Cormac.”

Oh fuck!

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