“Good.” Ronan’s nostrils flared. “If he wasn’t angry his sister injured his woman, I’d be worried.”
I couldn’t fight with him. I already had one domineering man in my life, I didn’t need to take on another. Plus, the adrenaline in my system that had been dulling some of the pain was ebbing, and the sharp ache took all my concentration to breathe through.
Ronan charged into the emergency room, securing me a bed faster than he should have been able to. Iris stayed with me as I spoke to the doctor and was waiting for me when I got back from my X-ray. It all went so fast, action blurring around me. I’d been to the emergency room before, and it was never like this. I didn’t mind the special treatment, though. Not in the least.
Fortunately, I didn’t need surgery even though my break was fairly serious. I was wrapped up in a hot-pink cast, given instructions and a prescription for pain meds, and sent on my way. All of this took several hours, getting dangerously close to the time Callum would pick me up from work.
Ronan loomed at our backs as we walked out of the hospital to Bill’s waiting SUV.
“Can you text Callum for me?” Iris nodded, poised with her phone. “Tell him I’m with you but I’m coming to his place.”
“Got it, honey bunny.”
I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. “He’s going to lose his shit.”
“Yeah.” Her eyes, which were a rich blue, found mine. “Do you want me to stay with you when we get to his place?”
“No, thank you. I’m not afraid of him. I’m just scared about what he’ll do.”
She canted her head. “You think he’ll go after them?”
My chin dropped to my chest. Dread rose within me. “Pretty sure he will. They’re his brother and sister, so I don’t know what he’ll do, but I don’t think he’ll see reason.”
Iris climbed into the SUV, and I followed. Ronan stood at the door, looking us both over.
“I’ll stay with you.” His nostrils flared. His mouth had gotten tight. “If he needs to go after them, I’ll go and make sure nothing gets out of hand.”
I nodded, and he closed the door.
As we drove, Iris leaned closer to me. “A few months ago, I was in that same hospital.”
I turned to her. “I remember reading you were attacked.”
“Yeah.” Her hand went to her stomach. “I still have the scars.”
“I’m sorry.”
Her smile was sweet and sympathetic. “I thought I was okay after. I’m a tough girl, you know? But sometimes it still haunts me. I picture the knife, my attacker’s crazed eyes, and I feel like I’m back there. I know your experience wasn’t the same as mine, but I’m here if you need to talk to someone who understands, honey bunny.”
My chin quivered. Iris was a beautiful, famous rock star. Shewasa tough girl, and she looked it. Her boyfriend was a massively suited bodyguard, walking intimidation. Both had been kinder to me in the last few hours than people I’d known my whole life.
“Thank you,” I squeezed out.
She rested her hand over mine, even as her chin quivered a little too. “Of course. You're Callie’s girl, that means you’re my girl too.”
I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek to stop my tears. I would cry later, and it would be a flood, but it wasn’t time yet.
Now, I had to get to Callum and make him believe I was going to be fine.