Page 32 of Dead Sure
“I’m Ronan O’Mara, Ten’s husband and Everly’s father.”
“You’re next.” Kerry motioned for Ronan to sit on the edge of the gurney. “What happened to you all tonight?”
“Someone threw a brick through our living room window,” Ronan said softly, as the nurse began to examine his injury.
“Why would someone do that?”
“Long story, but it has to do with my work as a detective.” Ronan sighed. “We danced a little too close to the fire this time.”
Kerry hummed under her breath and continued working on Ronan. “Okay, you’re good to go as well. You all need to take it easy tomorrow. I’ll get started on the girls’ release papers and take home instructions.”
“Thank you,” Ten, Ronan, and Fitz chorused together.
“It’s my fault, Daddy,” Everly said, her eyes glassy. “I shut my gift off. I just wanted to be a normal kid watching a movie with my family. I didn’t see the brick coming.” Tears flowed down Everly’s cheeks.
“Honey, it’snotyour fault,” Ten said quickly, reaching for his daughter’s hand. “I didn’t see it coming either. I was so tiredand worn down from everything that happened over the last few days. I can’t even tell you who it was who threw the brick.”
Aurora gagged again. “I can taste blood! Ick! Ick!”
“I’ll go get you a bottle of water, honey.” Ten got out of his seat.
“Want me to come with you?” Ronan asked.
Ten shook his head. “Stay with the girls. There’s a vending machine in the hallway by the ER entrance. I’ll be right back.”
He hurried out of the room and through the door leading from the ER to the waiting room. Ten took a deep breath. The first in what felt like the longest time. Even though his gift hadn’t told him who threw the brick, he had no doubt; Dutch Vance. There was no way Autumn Miller would have had enough strength to throw the brick as high and as far as it went. He’d texted Cisco Jackson who he thought the culprits were. All they could do now was wait for the Salem Police Department to catch up with Vance and Miller.
Ten sighed, digging in his pants for his wallet. He knew he’d stepped over the line in laying out what Autumn’s future held in store for her. Not to mention adding what was going to happen to Vance. He’d been angry and full of pride, making sure Autumn knew that her life was about to hit the skids. Now, not only was Tennyson paying for his hubris, but Everly, Aurora, and Ronan were too.
The vending machine had cold bottles of water and ginger ale. Ten fed the machine two dollars and pressed the code for water. He watched as the bottle dropped into the slot. Repeating the process with two more dollars, Ten pressed the buttons for a bottle of soda for Everly and Ronan to share.
A shadow appeared behind Ten as he bent to retrieve the drinks from the machine.
“Surprise, asshole!” a familiar voice said.
Ten turned to see Dutch Vance dressed in a pair of blue scrubs with a surgical cap and mask. If Vance hadn’t spoken, Ten wouldn’t have been able to recognize him, which he knew was the point. When the security film was reviewed, no one would be able to say who it was that assaulted Ten and he had absolutelynodoubt in his mind that he was about to be assaulted. Ten opened his mouth to shout for help when something hard and cold pressed against the back of his head.
“How does it feel to be moments away from having your future stolen from you? First, I’m gonna shoot you, then those little brats. I’ll leave Detective O’Mara alive. He’ll know the meaning of pain when I take away his entire family. Now, stand up slowly and don’t make any sudden moves.”
Ten didn’t need his gift to know the person standing behind him with a gun was Autumn Miller. He did what she asked, his eyes on the security camera bubble over his head. “You’re not going to get away with this, Autumn Miller and Dutch Vance!” He knew the cops who’d examine the camera footage would be able to read his lips at the very least. Ten might die, but his killers would be caught and punished.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Vance slammed Tennyson against the wall. “Just for that, I’m gonna kill your daughter slowly, while her father watches.”
Ten’s head connected and he saw stars. Giving his head a shake, he blinked until Vance came back into focus. “Fuck you, Vance!” Ten lifted his left knee and rammed it into Vance’s balls. He shoved the wailing man toward Autumn, who crashed into thewall behind her, dropping the gun in the process. Both would-be assassins fell to the floor.
“Tennyson!” Ronan shouted from down the hall. His footsteps thundered as he ran.
“Gun!” Ten shouted, pointing to where it had fallen.
Vance moaned and rolled onto his stomach as he reached for the gun. His fingers grazed the grip.
Ronan’s foot on top of his hand stopped Vance in his tracks. “Don’t fucking move.”
The doors to the emergency room slid open and half a dozen armed police officers stormed inside the building. Two burly officers cuffed Miller and Vance and read them their Miranda warning as they were marched down the hall, through the doors and outside.
“Thank God Jude had those officers on standby.” Ronan asked, setting his hands on Ten’s shoulders. “Jesus, Ten, are you okay?”
Ten nodded, even though his entire body shook with excess adrenaline. “How did you know I was in trouble?” It was a much closer call than Ten wanted to admit. He could still feel the ghost of the gun barrel pressed against the back of his neck.
