Page 112 of The Apprentice
Sloan stared at me, a tic in his jaw and his eyes burning. I was on a roll.
“He thinks he’s failing you, and I get it. Niall taught you to be emotionless. Cold. But Fionn’s a different kind of boss. He can be a good one, but you need to stop and look at what you’re doing to him. You and Eoin had each other growing up. You had support. Fionn has no one. His brothers and mother abandoned him. His dad is dead. His uncle is too busy being a mob boss to stop and be family. For a long time, he was alone. EvenIfailed him. I used him, and I can’t take those years back, but I can make up for them. I can spend every minute of our future treating him like the most important person in the world because he is to me. But I know you love him, too.”
I hadn’t finished. There were a million things I wanted to say to Sloan—like how he set Fionn up to fail by smothering him in bubble wrap, then getting frustrated when he hadn’t hardenedup enough—but Sloan knew what he’d done wrong. I didn’t need to throw it in his face, even if he deserved it.
Silence fell between us.
Despite all the crying and yelling happening around us, only the two of us existed right now. I didn’t miss the sheen in his eyes and it was new. I didn’t dare speak anymore, though, because I’d said what was necessary.
Sloan swallowed and turned his gaze toward the doors where they’d taken Fionn. “I didn’t know the first thing about kids when Annabelle gave him to me. I had maids. I thought they could raise him. But when he arrived, he looked so much like Eoin. He had the same twinkle in his eyes. This. . . hopefulness. He was so innocent, and I didn’t want to ruin that. Eoin would never forgive me. So, I wasn’t going to let him join the Company.” His mouth twitched. “I thought I could raise him the way my father raised me and Eoin, but you’re right. He was softer than us. Gentle. And so smart. He made me laugh in ways no one but his father had. When I came home to him, it wasn’t just a house, it was a home.”
I sighed and scratched at the dried blood on my palms.Fionn’s blood.
“And then, he asked to be my apprentice. Eoin would never have wanted him to be a mob boss. He would’ve hated the idea. But Fionn begged me. I couldn’t say no.” Sloan’s mouth quirked and there was a softness on his face that I didn’t feel right looking at, so I watched the sobbing lady again. “I was okay having him work under me until Conall was taken. It reminded me how easily I could lose someone I loved. Fionn. My pet. I needed them to be safe.” He cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair. “You’re right, though. I should tell him how I feel, and I will.”
“Good.” I licked my dry lips as the doors opened and a doctor walked out. He caught my eye and headed over to us, and I straightened immediately.
“Are you Fionn Killough’s family?” The doctor wore blue scrubs and a white coat with a badge attached.
Dr. Julien D’Antona.
Sloan and I both stood. I winced at the sharp pain that shot through my thigh.
“We are,” Sloan answered.
He had a young face and was probably in his early thirties. With vibrant blue eyes and dark hair swept off his forehead, he was handsome with dimples in both his cheeks. He gave us a grim smile. “Fionn was very lucky. Only one of the shots managed to hit an organ which was punctured. Two of the bullets were clean through his chest, but the third caused issues. We performed an emergency surgery, and his spleen needed to be removed. It was successful. He bled a lot and needed a transfusion, but he’s in recovery right now. We have him in ICU to keep a close eye on him for the next twenty-four hours. If all goes well, he’ll be transferred to a private room tomorrow.”
Relief was like a punch to the stomach, and I nearly collapsed. I would’ve landed on my ass if Sloan hadn’t grabbed my elbow to keep me upright. Dr. D’Antona frowned between us.
“Now that Fionn is in a safe spot, you need to have a doctor check on you.” He gave Sloan a pointed look. “My nurses informed me you refused help multiple times despite their insistence. You’re injured, and I won’t let either of you see him untilyouhave been examined.” He raised his chin. “Now, you can follow me.” I opened my mouth to argue, but he glared. “Do you want to see Fionn? I only allow healthy visitors. Come with me.”
I glanced at Sloan, and he returned the stare. I went with him for an examination.
A few hours later—too long if you asked me—Sloan had his bullet graze cleaned. Dr. D’Antona led us to staff showers, much to my surprise, and he ordered us to wash up while he attained some scrubs we could use as clothes—the cops hadn’t shown up yet and any missed evidence wasn’t our problem. Actually, their incompetence worked out perfectly for us. Clearly they had too many witnesses to deal with.
I’d never met a doctor like D’Antona, and because of how badly I wanted to see Fionn, I wasn’t in the position to argue.
Once we were clean and dressed in the scrubs, Dr. D’Antona led us to the ICU. He stopped right outside the doors and turned to us, a serious expression on his face.
“I know this shootout was the consequence of a mob war. I’ve seen my fair share of injured men and women because of organized crime. It’s not my job to judge you, even if I wanted to.” He pursed his lips. “But I will say this. This hospital belongs to me and every other doctor and nurse and personnel. It’s a safe haven, a no-go zone if you will. We heal here, not hurt. I will let you into this ICU, but I expect that you understand and agree to keeping your drama away from my patients.”
Sloan inclined his head. “We agree. We’re only here to see my nephew.”
The doctor nodded sharply and opened the doors. We washed our hands before he led us into Fionn’s room with its glass walls. Fionn’s breathing was even, his chest rising and falling with strong movements despite an involuntary wince every now and then. A face mask covered his nose and mouth, helping him get air.
I swallowed as a wall of emotion smacked into me and stumbled over to a chair beside his bed. I grasped his hand, not too tightly, but with the desperation I needed for myself. He was here, alive, and all was right in my world because of that fact alone. I kissed his hand again and again.
“Fifi. Fuck, boy.” I laughed at how ridiculous I sounded, but if Sloan heard me, he didn’t say anything as he took the other side. The doctor left us alone.
Machines beeped around Fionn, sounds that reminded me he was breathing.
Fionn’s lashes fluttered and he let out a sigh. I held my breath, and Sloan leaned forward, the face of a man as desperate as me for Fionn to wake. He reached for Fionn’s other hand, and I saw Fionn squeeze it.
“Fifi, are you awake?” I asked. “Boy?”
Fionn’s tongue poked out and he turned his head slightly. Lashes fluttering again, he slowly opened his eyes. When I caught sight of those hazel gems behind his eyelids, I couldn’t stop the wretched noise ripping from my throat.
“Hey,” I whispered gently.
