Page 108 of Redeem Me

‘Not yet.’

Alexander beckons Damon into the corridor and I catch scraps from their heated, hushed words.

Cole is responsible.

Who the fuck is Cole?

It’s impossible to hear anything over Vivienne’s nervous chatter. The woman could talk for Ireland. ‘Where are the children? Where is Samuel? How many security staff are at the house?’

I do my best to answer while trying to eavesdrop.

Heavy footsteps thud along the corridor. My head snaps up expectantly. Please let this be the doctor with good news. Please.

But it’s not the doctor.

‘Dermot.’ I jump up and rush towards him. His familiar cologne wraps around me like a security blanket.

‘Ivy.’ he pulls me against his chest. ‘Any news?’

‘Not yet.’

He steps back to scan me, probably searches for injuries, but all my hurt is on the inside.

Dermot exhales heavily. ‘‘Rian called me,’ he explains. He greets Vivienne with a peck on the cheek and murmurs a few words of comfort.

‘I wouldn’t have thought you’d care if he lives or dies,’ I say.

‘Of course I care. I love Caelon like a brother,’ he snorts indignantly. ‘I just didn’t expect him to actuallybecomemy brother.’

‘I hope he lives to get the chance.’ I pinch the bridge of my nose.

‘He will.’ Dermot drapes his arm over my shoulders and pulls my head towards him. ‘He has to. Because I will never forgive myself for being so damn hard on him about you if he doesn’t. I just want what’s best for you.’

‘Caelon is what’s best for me. I know you want me to have a high-flying career and do something with my life, but there’s only one thing I’ve ever really wanted.’

‘And that is?’ Dermot lowers his face to mine.

‘To be a mother.’ I bite my lip. ‘I want a family of my own. A husband who loves me. I know it’s old-fashioned, and those women who burned their bras will be turning in their graves, but it’s what I want. And I want all of that with Caelon, Orla and Owen.’

‘Are you sure? You’ve always gravitated towards the most unsuitable, broken men, as if you could single-handedly fix them. Is that what this is?’

‘No! And I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. Iwant Caelon, whatever he’s done. I just need him to live long enough for me to tell him.’

More footsteps approach. I leap to my feet, expectantly. ‘Doctor,’ I hear Alexander say. ‘What’s happening?’

‘I have an update,’ he says, but his tone doesn’t leave a lot of room for hope. ‘Where’s Ivy?’

Chapter Forty-Eight

CAELON

I feel as if I’ve done twelve rounds with Conor McGregor in a boxing ring. Everything hurts. I have more tubes and wires than an electric switchboard. But the second I see Ivy’s face, all that evaporates.

‘Caelon.’ She flies into the room and launches herself onto my bed. The familiar scent of pomegranate surrounds me like a blanket.

‘Easy tiger,’ I warn her with a wince.

She scans me intently, taking in the tubes and the white sterile dressing over my stitches.

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