Declan Murphy sat in his newly stolen pre-2021 year Kia, the kind whose ignition locks were still vulnerable to a USB hack. He watched the snow fall on the quiet street. The brownstone house was just down the block, but he didn’t dare go closer. He had seen a man in a heavy winter coat walk past him, lingering just a moment too long in the night with a predatory stillness that Declan recognized from one predator to another.
He watched the man round the corner of a fence and vanish, but Declan, as curious as he was to follow the man, knew a trap when he saw one. He had already screwed up at the hospital and wasn’t about to do it again. Even now, the police scanner channels told him they were still on the lookout for him.
But Declan had learned what he wanted to know.
Kara GallagherwasKara O’Brien.
He was certain of it based on the man’s reactions. Declan pulled out his burner phone and called Jim O’Leary.
“Go,” Jim said as he answered.
“It’s her. Tell the boss I found her. She’s the one.”
“You took out a cop.” It wasn’t a question.
“I didn’tkillhim.”
“You know how the boss is about unwanted attention,” Jim warned. “After what you pulled at theChicago Sun-Timeslast month when you killed that journalist you were supposed to silence? If you get this wrong, he’ll kill you.”
“Trust me. It’s her.”
“We’re at the airport in Dublin now. We’ll be in New York a few days, then we’ll head your way. Keep your eyes on her, but don’t make a move until we get there.”
“Got it.” He hung up and leaned back in the heated car seat to watch and wait.
Chapter Eight
Kara held her breath as Dante and one of the nurses helped Angelo slide off the hospital bed and onto his feet. He winced a little, clutching his abdomen as he straightened up. Kara’s belly tightened in sympathy and anxiety. His face looked strained, but as soon as he noticed her concern, he flashed her a warm smile as if reassure her. In a moment of blinding clarity she understood something about Angelo that she doubted others knew. He constantly did as much as he could to prevent others from worrying about him. She tried to smile back, but inside her heart was fracturing in places she didn’t know it could.
We’re alike, he and I.
“Kara?” he spoke her name and his eyes were warm and welcoming. It reminded her all too easily of that kiss he’d stolen, the one that had changed her world with the brush of his lips. She remembered tasting his smile, feeling the curve of his lips against hers and being overwhelmed and delighted by that intimacy. A kiss that hadn’t been because of the morphine, but because he’dwantedher.
“Yeah?” she finally realized she hadn’t answered him.
“I’ll take the pants, socks, and shoes.” Angelo nodded at her arms where she held a pair of dark gray sweatpants. The hospital had cleared him this morning, and Angelo was eager to get home. She’d dug through his drawers and managed to find pants, a soft t-shirt, a sweatshirt, running shoes, and socks.
She handed him what he asked for, and when Dante tried to follow him into the restroom, he waved his brother away and shut the door to change.
The rest of the family had agreed to stay at home to make things less hectic at the hospital, which Kara was thankful for. She was nervous enough about Angelo leaving the hospital so soon after surgery, and didn’t want to balance that along with pretending to be his fiancée.
The nurse called Kara over. “Now, you’ll be using something called island dressing for him. It’s an all-in-one sterile bandage with an absorbent pad that covers the wound, surrounded by adhesive material. The bit in the middle creates a protective environment without tape or gauze. It’s ideal because it allows for light drainage of the wound.”
Kara nodded as the nurse showed her the box of bandages. When Angelo came out of the bathroom, the nurse showed Kara where to place the bandage over the stitches. Unfortunately, she had trouble paying attention. It was difficult not to get distracted by Angelo’s sculpted bronze chest and smattering of dark hair. Kara had the sudden urge to kiss that skin, to press her cheek against it and?—
The nurse cleared her throat and Kara forced herself to focus.
“We’ll remove the staples in about ten days,” the nurse continued. She took the T-shirt and sweatshirt Kara had been holding and helped Angelo into them. “There you go. You’re ready for discharge.” The nurse patted the wheelchair that she set the corner of the room earlier.
“Is that really necessary?” Angelo asked the nurse with a mortified expression.
The nurse patted the back of the wheelchair with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, hon, hospital policy.”
“Okay…” Angelo sank into the wheelchair with a sigh. Then before Kara knew what was happening, he’d hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her right down onto his lap. She squeaked in surprise.
“Mr. Vertucci!” The nurse gasped. “No extra guests in your wheelchair!”
“Oh my God, let me up!” Kara struggled to get up not because she didn’t want to be on his lap, but because they had an audience. Angelo held her fast a moment longer, brushing his lips over her ear.
