Page 34 of Severed Rivalry
I open a new browser window on my computer and begin typing
Cian: And it bears repeating. It’s. Not. You.
A quick search of the first few keywords brings up a police band hit that has all of them. Dead diplomats in a MurphyEnterprises owned building, drug trafficking, and near fatal injuries. SWAT, multi-agency police and sheriff units, along with multiple ambulances dispatched to a crime scene yesterday legitimize the not-New-Mexico-south thought.
I can dig in more when I get home, but for now I need to know two things.
Me: Two questions: Were any of those ambulances for you? And why would you think something your dad did would jeopardize us?
I watch the bubbles vibrate in their oval bounce house before stopping only to start again. This happens on repeat before I can’t take it anymore.
Me: Give me the truth. It’s Renée’s safety we’re talking about.
Cian: 1. Yes and 2. Because he’s a piece of shit who thinks he’s way smarter than he is.
Cian: 2 continued. Because my sister got dragged into something unrelated to her, and I’m coming to think it’s because some sinister people were keeping tabs on my family. I don’t know when that started or if it’s over, and since I barged into your house on Friday night and went back on Saturday, I’m worried I led them to you.
Well, I asked for the truth.
Me: Is there any more you can tell me that helps me protect her?
Cian: I don’t know anything more. I don’t know that it happened. It claws at my gut that it *could have*, and it’s one reason (not the main one) I want a few days. Basically, to watch and wait.
Waiting is terrifying.
Waiting is vulnerable.
Waiting is the thing I’m absolutely the worst at.
Me: And the ambulance part? How bad is it?
More bubbles come but it’s a shorter moment before I get the response that has my jaw dropping.
Cian: I have a concussion, a broken eye socket, and several missing teeth. I managed to avoid a shattered jaw, but that’s a miracle. It has a slight fracture and is currently wired shut. My wrists are sliced, and I lost a good amount of blood.
Cian: That’s the sanitized, basic version.
Cian: I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the best possible scenario after a day I didn’t think I’d survive. I’m not real interested in you or your daughter seeing me beat to shit, and, frankly, I don’t want to see you and not be able to kiss you. And kissing is out right now.
And that could be coming for me?
Me: I don’t know what to say.
Cian: Say you’ll be diligent and watchful. Say you’ll call me or Liam if you suspect anything or even have a weird feeling anywhere or anytime. Say you’ll give me a little time so you don’t see me looking like that character in The Goonies.
Cian: {Liam’s contact}
Me: Like you honored the “little time” I requested.
Cian: Touché. But I really wanted to kiss you. Does that make it better?
11
layers of worry
Cian
She doesn’t answer.
