That got River’s attention. “Please, Thomas. I don’t want to go to the hospital. My skin already feels better. Just let me take a shower and see how it feels after that. Please.” River wanted to cry alone.
MacGregor stared at her for a long minute, probably thinking of the pros and cons of taking her out of the secure room into the chaos of an emergency room at night.
“Fine. But I will cut the back of your shirt so that you can slip it off and not take it over your face.” Jo was already rummaging through the kitchen drawers for something Macgregor could cut with. “Room temperature water. We don’t want your pores to open.”
“Okay. Thank you.” River heard the quaver in her voice. Tonight had been a tough blow to her self-esteemandher new relationship with Patrick. “Before I forget to tell you, Rowan gave me the box with Triskelion’s mail Saturday after we left Nan’s. So, it had been mailed to our office.”
He nodded, his face grave. Sam Delton made a big mistake going to Dublin with so many of MacGregor’s men there. But then, Delton wasn’t mentally stable. He probably thought he was untouchable, and up until now, he had been.
Jo found scissors. Thomas took them from her, holding her hand for a moment longer than necessary. “We will find him.” He waited for Jo’s nod before adding, “Jo, please make sure River gets in the shower without incident.” When River started to protest, Thomas cut her off. “You’re shaken, lass. And I don’t think it’s all because of the rash.”
Thomas made quick work of cutting the shirt. As Jo led the way to River’s bedroom, he dropped what felt like another bomb. “While you shower, I’ll call the O’Faolains and Mr. O’Connor. We won’t fly back to Dublin until morning. It’s late, and we still need to pack. Shower and rest. But River, if that rash worsens, I want to know immediately.”
“I understand.” The shower was going to be a short reprieve. River knew that Patrick would be wanting to speak to her before she went to bed.
Jo was fiddling in the shower, making sure the temperature wasn’t too warm. River leaned against the bathroom counter. “Did you see what the photos were?”
Turning, Jo eyed her with sympathy. She’d seen then. “I’m sorry you had to see those pictures again. I’m sorry they make you feel less somehow— though you are a woman without equal. I’m sorry that sick bastard won’t leave our families alone. But you know what I’m not sorry about?”
“What’s that?” River was crying but couldn’t use her hands or shirt to wipe the tears away.
“Patrick changing his life around. You giving him a second chance. Delton not winning. Now get in the shower, Riv. Nothing’s going to fix your wounded heart tonight except for Patrick. So, stop dreading it and recognize how fortunate you are to have a man who loves you so much. So much, in fact, that his brother and father are probably having to physically restrain him from coming to you now.”
* * *
Dad,Bran, and Patrick were at the bar downstairs when MacGregor called. Dad immediately put the call on speaker. “Are Bran and Patrick with you?”
The hair on Patrick’s body stood on end at the guard’s grim tone. “They are, and I have you on speaker,” Dad responded.
“Where’s River?” Pat asked the most important question first.
“Showering. Jo’s with her. River is safe, but something did happen.” All three men stood, drinks forgotten, ready to leave immediately. “I would appreciate silence until I give you the rundown of this evening. I’ll answer questions and discuss our next play after that. Agreed?”
Dad squeezed Patrick’s arm. “Tell us everything.”
Once MacGregor finished, Patrick was furious, desperate to get to River, and totally sick that River had to see that. On top of the photos, she’d been hurt. Would she break things off? Would she give him athirdchance?
“One of my contacts will be here within the hour to take the package for analysis. Delton might think he’s untraceable, but I think the motherfucker’s luck is about to run out. This reeks of desperation.”
“I’m coming. Now.”
“I understand, Pat,” MacGregor sympathized. “River is shaken up, but she’s a fighter. She needs to sleep. Josephine will be with her, and I won’t sleep tonight. I’ll monitor the property until we leave. The pilot will have us landing in Dublin no later than eight in the morning. Call her in a bit. My man will dispose of her clothes and clean whatever the album was covered in.
“I can’t stop you from coming, Patrick, nor would I try. I just think she needs the oblivion of sleep. She will never be alone.”
Patrick could barely think. The only thing he did know was that whatever was best for River, he would do it. Dad and Bran were still asking MacGregor questions when Patrick wandered to the opposite side of the room. He had hoped River would text him when she was out of the shower, but she hadn’t.
She didn’t want to talk to him. It was as simple and as devastating as that. He called her anyway. He had to hear her voice one way or the other.
“Hello.”
“River, baby, please tell me you’re okay. Are you in... physical pain?” Heknewshe was in emotional pain.
“My hands and lower arms have red patches, but the burning and itching are almost gone. Jo had some cortisone cream, and it’s done wonders.”
He heard covers rustling, like River was moving into a more comfortable position, and Jo’s voice faint in the background. She didn’t offer anything else. Patrick’s eyes were hot. He was man enough, at least to admit to himself, that the prickling sensation behind his eyes was tears.
“Riv... can I... do you...”
