Page 28 of Played By the Fool

“I’m down here!” I scream.

The next person I see is Ciarán. Relief washes over me and I start sobbing. He found me. Ciarán rushes over to me and unties my legs.

“Are you okay? What did he do to you?” Ciarán asks as he holds me.

“Nothing. I think he drugged me. It wasn’t John.”

“I know, baby. We got Paul, he’s upstairs. He won’t be hurting you ever again.”

“I knew you’d find me.” I sob harder.

“We need to get you to the hospital.”

“Frank. Please tell me he’s okay.”

“Frank is doing okay. He’s got a concussion, but otherwise he’s okay.”

The relief I feel overwhelms me and I pass out. When I wake up, I’m in a hospital bed and Ciarán’s holding my hand as his head rests next to me.

“I love you,” I whisper to him.

“I love you too,” He says groggily.

I smile and run my hand through his hair. There’s a knock at my door and Ciarán sits up fast.

“I have someone here who won’t stop grumbling until he sees for himself that you’re okay,” Zio Giacomo says as he wheels Frank into my room.

“Frank! I’m so glad you’re okay.”

I can see him looking at the bruises on my face and he has tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t protect you from him. I should’ve done more,” he says to me as he takes my hand.

“There’s nothing you could’ve done. I’m sorry you got hurt, but I’m so happy you’re okay. When I woke up, all I could remember was seeing John hit you from behind. But it wasn’t John.”

“What do you mean it wasn’t John?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you everything once we’re out of here. I promise.”

Frank gives me a hug.

“I love you, Emilia. You’re the family I always wanted.”

“I love you too, Frank. You’ll always be a part of my family.”

Chapter Fourteen

Ciarán

The relief I feel now that Emilia is back with me is incredible. It’s like an anvil was crushing my chest and now it’s gone. Emilia has to spend a couple of days in the hospital. She’s already grumbling and saying she wants to go home. I’m supposed to go back to Ireland tomorrow, but I don’t want to leave Emilia. Even though I know that Paul is in custody, that’s not enough for me. He shot Celestino in the arm and in return, Celestino got him in the leg.

We don’t know when his trial is, but Emilia has to be here in Starlight Bay to testify. And apparently in our family, all the women have bodyguards. Carmelo Marini has volunteered to be Emilia’s. It makes me feel better since even though I don’t want to, I have to go back to Ireland.

I’ll spend a few weeks packing up my stuff back in Ireland and then make my move to Lake Renegade. I’m hoping that Emilia will agree to go with me. I plan on asking her tonight.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her.

“I want to go home.” Emilia pouts at me.

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