Page 7 of Dublin Debacle

“No... ambulance,” he said, his voice nothing more than a whisper.

“But you need to see a doctor,” Emily said. “Those men beat you up pretty badly. You could have a concussion.”

“No... ambulance,” he repeated and tried to sit up. “I’m all right.” He winced and dropped back to his side.

“You’re not okay,” Emily said. “You need to see a doctor.”

“I’ll be...fine,” he said softly as if it hurt to talk. “Just...need a... minute.”

“I don’t like that he was unconscious for so long,” Jack said, a worried frown pulling his brow.

Emily nodded. “Me either. They were pretty rough with him.” She knelt beside her uncle, her brow creased in a deep frown. Emily glanced up at Jack. “Thank you for coming to our rescue.”

He dipped his head. “Glad I could. For a moment, I thought they’d already gotten away with you until I saw your hand poking out from beneath the big guy who had you pinned.” His lips pressed into a tight line. Jack usually kept tight control of his emotions and actions. But when it came to men overpowering and abusing women, he didn’t want to hold back. He wanted to pound the life out of them. He wanted them to feel powerless, like they made the women they abused felt.

“Emily?” a voice called out from the back door of the pub. The red-haired waitress ran out. “Oh, dear Lord. What’s happened?”

“Oh, Daphne, someone attacked Uncle Paddy.” Emily frowned down at her uncle. “And he won’t let us call an ambulance.”

“I’m fine,” her uncle said.

The redhead marched across to where the old man lay on the ground. “And when did you become a doctor, Paddy O’Brien?”

“I don’t want any more trouble,” the old man said.

Daphne planted her fists on her hips. “Well, trouble will be if you don’t see a doctor.”

“Please…” Emily’s uncle scrubbed a hand over his face and winced. “They can’t know they got the better of me.”

“They?” Emily’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know who did this?”

Her uncle groaned. “No. But I have an idea.”

“Then share,” Daphne demanded. “My cousins and I will have a come-to-Jesus with them.”

“No,” Paddy said. “Leave it. There’s more to the situation than you know.”

“We’d know more if you’d let us in on what’s going on,” Emily said.

“I’ve already said too much,” her uncle said softly. “I just want to go back to my place.”

“If you won’t go to the hospital, you’ll see my cousin Aoife,” Daphne said. “And there will be no arguing with me.”

Paddy frowned up at her. “The pediatrician?”

“Don’t turn your nose up. She’s used to dealing with stubborn children.” Daphne cocked an eyebrow in challenge. When Paddy didn’t comment, her voice softened. “She also helps Dublin’s homeless on the side.” Daphne’s gaze met Emily’s. “I can take him or stay and man the pub. You know where my cousin lives.”

“Are you sure you can handle the pub on your own?” Emily asked.

Daphne tossed her red hair. “I come from a big family that likes to sit around at night and on weekends, getting drunk and watching football. If they get rowdy, I’ll kick their bloody arses out and lock up early.”

Emily gave Daphne a weak smile. “Thank you, Daphne. I’d like to take him to see your cousin myself.”

“Understandable,” Daphne said with a crisp nod. “I’ll be gettin' back to the bar before they start helpin’ themselves. And I’ll give Aoife a call to let her know you’re on your way.” The redhead hurried back into the pub and closed the door behind her.

Emily dug into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “My car is in the alley beside the pub. Could you bring it around so that we don’t have to carry my uncle any further than we have to?”

Jack nodded, took the keys and hurried to the side of the building where he found an older model four-door Mercedes that had seen better days. The exterior had numerous scrapes and dents, but the engine fired up as soon as he turned the key in the ignition. Fortunately, Jack had been in the UK prior to his assignment to Ireland and had sufficient practice navigating a vehicle on the opposite side of the road than he was used to in the States. He eased the car around the corner of the building and pulled as close as he could to where Emily waited with her uncle and shifted into park.

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