Page 110 of The Thief
"I am family."
"Are you her husband?"
"I'm the man who'll burn this hospital down if you don't let me through."
Something in my voice must convince her, because she steps aside without another word.
They wheel Alastríona into surgery while I pace the waiting room like a caged animal. Every minute that passes is another minute she could be slipping away from me.
Danny and Makenna arrive an hour later, both looking grim.
"Any word?" Makenna asks.
"Nothing yet. She's been in surgery for forty minutes."
"She's strong," Danny says. "Strongest woman I know after Melissa. She'll pull through."
"And Trace?"
"Gone. Disappeared like smoke. But we'll find him."
"Not we. Me. When I find that bastard, I'm going to take him apart piece by piece."
"Freddie—"
"He stabbed her, Danny. He looked me in the eye and put a knife in the woman I love. There's no coming back from that."
"I know. And when we find him, you'll have first crack at him. But right now, focus on her. She needs you here, not out hunting ghosts."
He's right, of course. Revenge can wait. Alastríona comes first.
Always.
A doctor emerges from the surgical wing, still in scrubs. "Mr. Kinnock?"
"That's me."
"She's stable. The knife missed major organs, but she lost a lot of blood. We repaired the damage and gave her a transfusion. She should make a full recovery. Her arm is broken in two places but we’re hoping they’ll heal without needing surgery, but we’ll do another x-ray in around six weeks."
Relief floods through me like a physical thing. "Can I see her?"
"She's in recovery now. Give us another hour to get her settled, then you can visit briefly."
"Thank you."
When the doctor leaves, Makenna puts a hand on my shoulder. "See? I told you she was strong."
"Yeah. She is."
But strong or not, this never should have happened. I should have been there to protect her, should have seen the attack coming, should have killed Trace when I had the chance.
Next time, I won't hesitate.
Next time, I'll put him in the ground where he belongs.
For now, though, I wait. Wait for her to wake up, wait for her to smile at me, wait for confirmation that I haven't lost the best thing that's ever happened to me.
I wait, and I plan exactly how Trace Harrington is going to die.
