Page 76 of Dark Succession
“Thank Christ.” He blew out a breath. “I’m on my way down to the jail. Your father and pretty much everyone he took with him to deal with the Hallorans are locked up.”
Locked up was better than dead. She wasn’t sure when she’d made that belief transition, but she didn’t see herself going back anytime soon. “What are the charges?”
“I don’t know yet. Do you need me to swing by on my way?”
As much as she was loath to stall him, she couldn’t keep walking around the hospital in bloodstained clothing. “If you have a change of clothes in the car, I’d appreciate it.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
She hung up and leaned her forehead against the wall. Papa was locked up, Teague was in the operating room, and God alone knew where the rest of his family and the Hallorans were. It felt like she was the last person standing.
It was a horribly lonely place to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Teague woke up to the steady sound of beeping. He opened his eyes, squinting in the low light and feeling like he’d been run over by a truck—several times. His gaze landed on Callie’s sleeping form, curled up in a chair next to his bed. “Angel.” His voice was so hoarse, it was barely above a whisper.
But she heard it. She sat up. “You’re awake.”
He lifted his hand, and she wasted no time coming to perch on the edge of his bed. “What happened?”
“Your… friends… at the FBI showed up right in the nick of time to save you and arrest everyone.”
The way she saidfriendsindicated that she knew exactly what devil’s bargain he’d struck with the FBI. So they’d shown up to save the day? It was almost enough to make him laugh—at least it would be if he didn’t get the feeling it would hurt a whole hell of a lot. So typical ofthem to ride in just in time to sweep up the mess. “No one knows.”
“I’m not particularly worried about it at this point.”
Something inside him relaxed. That was it. The air was finally clean between them. He had no more lies, and she… “Is Brendan’s death the only skeleton in your closet?”
“Yes.” She didn’t so much as flinch.
Fuck, he loved this woman. He reached for her hand and carefully laced his fingers through hers. “Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Honeymoon?”
“Don’t you think we deserve one after this?”
“Well, most definitely, but—”
“Then we’ll take one.” He glanced down at the bandages covering his chest. “As soon as the doctor gives me a thumbs-up on being able to do my husbandly duties.”
“There’s still quite a bit of mess to clean up here. Both our fathers are being charged with assault. Victor Halloran is being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, but I think the police are more excited about the evidence of tax fraud they found when they searched his house.” She shook her head. “It’s enough to make a cynical person wonder if they waited for the conflict to start solely so they could get access to the place.”
Since Teague suspected that was exactly what they’d done, he wasn’t about to jump to their defense. “And the rest?”
“I think they had their eyes on the prize, so to speak. Aiden and Carrigan are fine. They were able to slip away when the commotion started with the feds. Your mother and other sisters are back in town. They’ve all been in tosee you already.” She made a face. “Your mother wasn’t impressed by our eloping. I’m nearly one hundred percent sure she’s going to insist on going ahead with a giant wedding.”
That sounded like his mother. He noted the dark circles under Callie’s eyes. For all her attempts at being upbeat, she was obviously exhausted. “How long was I out?”
“Two days. They had a difficult time stopping the bleeding in your chest from the gunshot wound, and those bruised ribs are now officially broken, but they got you patched up.”
Shit. He frowned at her. “And how much of that have you been here?” When she didn’t answer, he tugged on her hand. “Angel, answer me.”
“I went home to shower and get a few changes of clothing.”
But she’d been by his side the rest of the time. “I don’t deserve you.”
“I think that’s up for debate.” Her smile was the barest curving of her lips, gone as quickly as it appeared. “I’m sorry I lied to you.”
