Page 91 of Redemption

Finn

Carysispaleagainstthe white sheets in the hospital room. She lost a lot of blood, but they were able to stitch her up and give her a transfusion. Thank God, she’s going to be okay.

When she passed out in the car, I thought I screwed up again by holding her too long and letting Jade talk when I should have been ending her. I should have rushed Carys out of there and straight to the hospital. Now I’m sitting here, staring at her as she sleeps off the pain medication they gave her. At least she doesn’t have to stay here overnight. As soon as she’s awake and not too groggy, we can go.

Kim stands in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest. “I negotiated a day and a bit for you. You’ll have to turn yourself into the local police, not tomorrow morning but the next morning at nine a.m.”

“Didn’t I save the world?”

She rolls her eyes. “Wedid, yeah. They caught Pierre-Jacques in Chicago with a crew. He’ll never see the light of day. The other bombs were found and dismantled in the locations we pinpointed, including the one in Cork. The bomb with Carys was a decoy. The real device was in the next room. Who knows what Jade intended to do? In the Chicago office alone, hundreds of lives were saved. Probably a few thousand overall with the detonation times.”

“I saved the day, and they’re still going to put me away?” I eye her, annoyed, even though it’s not her fault.

“You did the crimes, now you serve the time.”

“I get tomorrow night too?”

“It was the best I could do. I realized you’d want to be sure Carys was fine before you went back.”

“I need to check in with Semyon.” I rise from my seat.

“Jay called the Volkovs.” Lorcan appears at Kim’s side. “He’s organized Carys’s plane. Everyone will be at Thomas’s house tomorrow night for one last hurrah.”

My chest tightens at the realization I’ll get to see Lucas before I return to jail for another three years. Bittersweet. At least everyone will be there for what I want to do for Carys.

I stare at Kim for a beat, debating whether I can or should bridge the gap. “Once I get Carys settled at Thomas’s house. Can you run an errand with me?”

Kim raises her eyebrows. “Just me?”

“Yeah,” I say. “I promise it’s nothing bad. I want to do something for Carys, and I’d appreciate some guidance.” What do I know about girly shit?

Kim and Lorcan exchange a glance, and he gives a nod of approval. “Okay,” she says. “I can do that.”

Every ring looks the same. We’re on our third jewelry shop in Dublin, and Kim hasn’t seen one yet that she thinks Carys will like. Part of me expected her to pick the first decent-looking one, so she didn’t have to be alone with me. While I wouldn’t call her talkative, she’s been very thorough in her examination of any ring she’s considered suitable. I don’t have a clue, so it’s comforting she has an idea of Carys’s taste.

“Not sure if Lorcan mentioned it,” I say as we wander down another row of rings, peering into the cases. “I suggested he come to Cape Verde for a beer or two when you’re both done working.”

Kim stills beside me. “A beer or two?”

“Or however many you want. Carys and I will have a hotel and casino to run. Lots of jobs if either of you wants to semiretire on the island.”

“You’ve got another three years before you need to worry about that.” Her tone is acidic.

Normally, I’d bite back, but I understand her conflicted response to me. “I realize that. I appreciate the extra time out you negotiated.” We pause by one of the glass cases, and Kim searches my face.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive you for what you did to my family. To my brother. Sometimes I wish I was the type to sweep it aside, but I can’t.”

“I’m not the type to brush it aside either,” I say. “I’m actually impressed you didn’t drive a knife into my back during this assignment.”

Her dark eyes turn sad. “I could never do that to Lorcan. Despite everything, he loves you. And while I can’t forgive you, in the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen the reasons why he loves you—why Carys loves you. You’re not all bad, Finn Donaghey. Maybe someday you’ll even be good.”

“I’m working on it.” I smirk. “I’m not going to be the father to Lucas that my father was to me. I’m going to raise him better. I’m going to be better. I can guarantee that.”

“I won’t stand in the way of you having a relationship with Lorcan, or from him having the chance to be an uncle to your son. So, if he wants to come for that beer, then we’ll be there.” She turns to peer into the case and then points to a ring. “There,” she says. “That one.”

I stare at the diamond she’s selected, and though I don’t understand cuts or settings, a calmness settles over me. I can imagine this ring on Carys’s hand. “I’ll take it,” I say to the saleslady when she wanders over.

“Would you like it sized?” the saleswoman asks. “We can have it ready for you in an hour.”

---