Page 13 of The Celtic Resolution
“Fine. But you owe me.”
“Countless, yes I know.”
Cian presses a fleeting kiss to the top of my head as he passes. “I’m busy at the airport today, so don’t work too hard, Sis!”
“Take care.”
Cian leaves and silence descends in the kitchen. This penthouse used to be full of life. All four of us lived and worked here and it was amazing. Then, Brendan died and everything changed. Not long after, Cormac moved out to live with Evelyn, and now it’s just Cian and me. That won’t last forever, either.
Rather than wallowing in the growing emptiness of the penthouse, I retreat to my office and dig up all the CCTV from the warehouse last night. It doesn’t take long, and getting access to the surrounding CCTV is just as easy. Unfortunately, severalcameras up and down the street were on the fritz so the only clear angles I have of the stranger last night are the four in front of the warehouse and one at the end of the road on a traffic cam. It’s several hours of footage but if I’m lucky, one of the cameras will have caught a clear view of that man’s face.
Several hours later, I’m no closer to finding out who he is and the pain in my stomach is growing like embers are flaring with every breath. Maybe Cian was right.
I need a doctor.
Reaching for my phone, I stand—and immediately, the world tilts. I have only a few seconds of panic before clouds of black sweep across my vision and I collapse to the floor.
“Where… where am I?”Cracking open one eye, I’m met with nauseatingly white walls, repetitive beeping, and the blurry yet smiling face of Cormac’s wife, Evelyn.
“Saoirse?”
“Evie?”
“Oh, thank God.” She laughs softly and clutches at my hand. “I was not looking forward to talking to Cian if you hadn’t woken up.”
“Fuck.” Pressing one hand to my eyes, I massage until a flurry of colors explodes across my eyelids. The last thing I remember, I was in my office, and now I’m…
“You’re in the hospital,” Evie says gently. “Been here for about twenty minutes. I dropped by the penthouse to invite you out to lunch and found you passed out on the floor. Fuck, I was terrified I was walking in on another dead Gifford sibling.” Her nervous laughter is amused, but her worry is clear.
“What happened?” Lowering my hand, the hospital room comes into view and the fog fades from my mind as Evie talks.
“I’m not sure. They ran some tests while you were unconscious and one doctor ran a scan. Just waiting on the results, I think.” Evie clutches at my hand and while she’s smiling, her brow is pulled low with worry. “I was really scared.”
“I’m okay,” I assure her, tracking the line from my wrist to the morphine drip. No wonder my pain feels dulled. “I skipped breakfast, didn’t sleep last night, had a rough evening.” Shifting on the bed, I pull myself up into a seated position and give Evie the strongest smile I can muster. “I bet it’s low blood sugar. This happens all the time.”
She narrows her eyes. “I’ve never heard of you passing out like this before.”
“Well usually, I either catch it in time, or I wake up almost immediately and fix it. Honestly, I bet you anything that’s what the doctor says.”
Evie still doesn’t look like she believes me, but she pats the back of my hand. “Well, if that’s the case, I’m going to get you a soda, so I’ll be right back, okay?”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I insist. Plus, Cormac is on his way and I don’t want him to think I don’t take care of you.”
“Evie, he’d never think that.”
“I know.” She laughs. “I’m just trying to guilt you into letting me take care of you. So stay put.” She squeezes my hand and quickly leaves the room. Silence descends once again.
Fuck. My low blood sugar excuse isn’t entirely a lie as it has happened before. It’s just not as common as I made out. Did something happen last night? Did that bastard hurt me more than I realized?
“Miss Gifford?” A soft knock at the door is followed by a doctor walking in with a chart in her hand and a gentle smile on her lips. “It’s good to see you awake. How are you feeling?”
“Hey, Doc. Just grand. Evie filled me in about your doing some tests while I was out?”
“Yes. Given Evie’s role here at the hospital, we were able to get you seen to swiftly. The perks of your sister-in-law being the owner.” She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Years of practice, I presume.
“Hit me, Doc. What’s wrong with me?”
