Page 70 of Vengeful Union

“Mr. Gallagher,the surgery was a success, and we expect Destiny to make a full recovery.”

I releasea ragged breath and my entire body deflates. Thank fuck I’m standing against the wall. I’m pretty sure I’d have sunk to the floor otherwise.

“I’ll takeyou to see her,” he tells me, and I nod.

I follow behindhim as he leads me through the hospital’s halls until we reach a room. “She may take a while to wake from the anesthesia, but it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Thanks, Doc.”I step into the room and take a steadying breath now that I can see her for myself.

She’s tuckedup in the bed. Her face has some color in it, and her lips are no longer blue, but she’s got severe bruising around her eyes from where that bastard broke her nose, no doubt using his fists on her. She looks so young lying there. I’m unable to tear my gaze from her; scared that if I do, she won’t be there when I look back.

I takea seat next to her bed and reach for her hand. It’s cold, but not ice-cold like it had been at the marina.

I pressa kiss to her palm. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. This should never have happened. I’m going to make him pay. I promise you that.” I keep her hand against my lips. “I can’t ever lose you, Dest. I love you too much to survive without you.”

I don’t get a reply,but the steady rhythm of her heartbeat is more than enough for me.

26

Finn

Three days later

“Are you ready for this?” Makenna asks as we walk up the steps leading to the house.

I think it's a bit morbid being back here when we know we're going to kill them, but Makenna thinks it's the perfect place—coming full circle, so to speak.

“Da would be turning in his grave at these two bastards,” Denis spits as we walk into my father's house.

Isn’t that the truth. If my father were still alive, and he knew that two of his sons had teamed up to bring down his only daughter, he would be the man to kill them. There is no doubt in my mind that if Seamus Gallagher were alive, he’d take his two sons out.

“What do you think?” I reply to my sister.

Anger and adrenaline are running through my body. The time has come for me to exact revenge. Everyone in this family knows what I'm like when it's time to take out the trash. I'm the man they come to when they want to interrogate people and torture them. I have never taken pleasure in it; it's just something I have gotten good at doing. But this… hurting the people who tried to not only take out my sister, but who beat and almost drowned the woman I love…. This right here is going to be the greatest kill of my life. I will enjoy every single minute of it.

Makenna glances at me. Like me, she's able to close her mind off. Able to compartmentalize. To be the boss but also be able to switch it off and become a mother, a wife, a sister. But right now, her eyes are void of any emotion, her steps are even, her head is held high, and she's gracious. Anyone would think it was just another regular day.

But it's not. Far from it.

“I think,” she begins, with a grin playing on her lips, “that anyone who knows you and goes after your woman deserves everything they're going to get.”

That’s just it. Pat and Cian, they’re my brothers. They know what I'm like. What I'm capable of. What did they truly think would happen when I found out they were the ones who took Destiny? That Pat was the one who tried to kill her? Did they think that becoming Boss would make up for it? I cannot understand their reasoning whatsoever.

“Did the doctor say when Destiny will be able to go home?” Denis asks as we walk through the hall, toward the basement.

She's awake, and she's talking. Her voice is still hoarse and rough though. It's due to almost drowning. She's sore everywhere, but she's breathing better. She's dying to go home; she despises hospitals, and I can't blame her. They're filled with death and despair.

“A week at least. She's in the best hands. I want her to recover enough so that when she comes home, she’ll not end up back in there.”

Denis grins. “By home, you mean your home in Philly, right?”

I chuckle. He's got me figured out. It’ll be fixed by the time she’s released. “Would you let her sleep somewhere else if you were in my situation?”

Denis and Callie had a rocky start to their relationship. My brother was still married when he met her, and he never told Callie about it. She ended up getting a surprise visit from Denis’ then wife, Zoe. The bitch loved telling Callie all about her and Denis’ relationship—all of which was a huge lie. It took Denis a while to get Callie to trust him again, but ultimately, they're stronger than ever and Zoe is dead. A win-win for everyone

“Of course not. I wouldn’t even give her a choice. I'd have all her shit moved in before she got released from the hospital,” he says with a wicked gleam in his eyes, and I smile, because that is exactly what I'm going to do.

Makenna shakes her head. “The two of you have no finesse. It's a wonder either of you have a woman who loves you.”

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