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When the gunshot tore through the room, I waited for the pain, but instead I felt a heavy weight slump against me. Metallic blood dripped over my face as I opened my eyes and looked at Hugh. Half of his head was gone. A mushy, red pulp with splintered bone greeted me.
I vomited at the sight.
Nicole’s hands shook as her arms remained extended from her body.
‘Fuck,’ she whispered, shaking her head. ‘Oh, fuck.’
‘Nicole, it’s okay. It’ll be okay,’ I said, feeling like everything was so far from okay. ‘I need you to get help. Logan’s hurt. Please help me?’
For a moment, I thought she would bolt, her face draining.
Then she pulled out her phone and pressed the screen.
‘Daddy,’ she sniffed. ‘I need you.’
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT
LOGAN
My crutch caught on the doorframe as I hopped inside.
‘God, it’s good to be home,’ I said as Valentina held the door for me.
‘Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here? I don’t want to crash your sibling thing.’
I pulled her to me with my free arm and kissed her softly. ‘Baby girl, it’s always okay for you to be by my side.’
I’d woken up in hospital two days after Hugh shot me, multiple transfusions and a surgery later. The first thing I’d done was try to leave, off of my tits on pain meds and screaming for Valentina.
The next time I awoke, she was by my side and had barely left since. I’d come so close to losing her I needed to keep her close.
‘Love you, Daddy,’ she whispered against my lips as I slid my hand down to cup her full arse.
‘They’re here!’ A shout echoed from the main sitting room as noise filtered through our gargantuan home.
‘Ready?’ I asked.
‘As I’ll ever be.’ Valentina smoothed down her dress and bit her bottom lip as a torrent of my loved ones emerged.
My niece Grace threw herself at me, nearly knocking me over as my crutch slid out.
‘Sorry Uncle Logan,’ she said. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay.’
Elais, my other teenaged nibling, awkwardly shook my hand before I pulled him against me. The two of them just kept growing, both standing almost as tall as the surrounding adults.
They were all there, Mac and Katie, Esther and Alec with their two toddlers, Maeve and Cam, and my brother Ewen.
‘Happy non-wedding day, bro,’ Mac said, passing me a glass of whisky as I took up residence in the armchair closest to the fire.
‘Thanks. Everyone, it’s about time you met my girl. This is Valentina.’ I took her by the hand and pulled her onto my good thigh, trying not to wince as she touched my healing one.
‘Welcome to the madhouse,’ Ewen said as she smiled at him, her hand gripping mine tightly.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘It’s nice to properly meet you all.’
‘What a way to come into the family,’ Ewen said with a grin.
‘Oh, we do like a dramatic entrance, a rite of passage,’ Maeve said with a laugh. ‘You’ll fit right in.’
