Hope Restored (Gallagher Brothers Book 3)
Page 18
“You never should have slept with her. You never should have been her roommate. I finally found her after all this time, and she was with you? You’re just a poor excuse for a man who needs drugs to stay alive. The cancer should’ve taken you when you were a kid, that way, I wouldn’t even have to look at you and your helpless little face. You don’t deserve her. She’s mine.”
Then Hugh lunged. Murphy ducked out of the way, missing the edge of the knife by mere inches. If he got cut, even just a little, he could bleed out. His blood was far too thin thanks to the cancer and chemo, and he didn’t clot the way he should. But right then, he didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was Tessa.
Hugh swiped out again, this time leaning forward as he did. Protecting his face, Murphy grabbed the other man’s wrist and pushed. Hugh attacked again, and then somehow, they were falling. Murphy landed on his back, his head smashing into the tile floor, and Hugh landed on top of him. The breath was knocked out of Murphy, and his head ached something fierce, but he wasn’t sure where the knife had gone. Everything had moved so fast, and the adrenaline pumped through his system so quickly he didn’t even know if he was hurt.
Blood pooled around them, and Murphy heard Tessa scream.
And yet, neither Hugh nor Murphy moved.
It was over.
Forever.
“Are you sure the doctor said you were okay?” Liz asked, cupping Murphy’s face. She still wore her wedding gown with Owen’s jacket over her shoulders.
“I’m fine,” he mumbled, not feeling fine but not physically hurt either.
Tessa’s scream had been loud enough that others had come running into the house right after Murphy had fallen. They’d kept the children away, but the rest of his family had shown up to see what had happened.
Liz’s dress still had streaks of blood on it from taking care of Tessa. She’d been the only one with medical training in attendance and hadn’t thought twice about ruining her dress.
Everything had happened quickly after that with the police and emergency crew filling the house within ten minutes. They had whisked Tessa off in an ambulance along with her mother since Murphy had needed to be checked out on his own and there hadn’t been any time for any other decisions.
Once the paramedics had assured Murphy that he wasn’t in danger of a concussion, they’d sent him to the emergency room anyway because of his history.
Hugh had been pronounced dead at the scene.
It seemed that when they’d hit the ground, Hugh had somehow fallen on his own knife. It had hit him right in the side, probably slicing through his liver. He’d died quickly. Murphy’s hand had still been on Hugh’s wrist when the police had arrived, but after a quick statement and one look at the scene, they’d known it was self-defense.
All of that, however, had happened in a fog. Murphy could only think of Tessa and the fact that she was in surgery. The knife had gone deep into her forearm, and they needed to ensure that there would be minimal nerve damage. She’d have to go through physical therapy and would probably end up with some loss of function in her arm and hand, but she was alive.
Hugh, or Andy, or whatever the fuck the psycho had called himself, could have hurt her worse.
And Murphy wouldn’t have been able to stop it.
“How could I not have seen it?” he mumbled to himself, but the others in the waiting room didn’t hear. Though Maya and Border were back at their house with Rowan and Noah, the rest of his family, and Tessa’s parents were in the waiting room with him. Everyone was still in his or her wedding gear, but it all looked rumpled, bloody—like the scene of a crime.
“You weren’t with him long,” Jake said softly. “You hadn’t seen him in years, and when you meet up with a childhood friend, no one goes into it thinking that they’re meeting up with a stalker or killer. It’s not your fault, Murphy.”
“He went by another name. There was no way that you’d think he was the same guy who had been with Tessa in the past. And didn’t you say that she never actually told you her ex’s name?” Graham added.
“I knew Hugh was a different man than he was back in the day, but I thought it was because we’d grown up, grown apart, and liked different things.” Murphy rubbed his face, exhausted but needing to see Tessa. “There was so much blood…” He swallowed hard. “What if she lost too much?”
Liz sank into the chair next to him, resting her hand on her belly. “She did lose a lot of blood, but she has some of the best surgeons in the state working on her right now. I know these people, and Tessa does, too. They’re going to make sure she gets the best care available. She should be out of surgery soon, and then you can go visit her.” She gestured toward Grace and Chris. “Along with her parents.”
Grace held her husband’s hand, though neither of them had cried. It was as if they were in shock, but there was also a determination in their gazes as if they were willing their baby girl to be okay.
Murphy stood up then and passed his family to kneel in front of the Stones. “I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”
Grace shook her head and cupped his face while Chris gripped his shoulder. “You saved our baby girl. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”
Chris let out a huffed breath. “And I know that one cut could have hurt you, son. I know you risked everything for her. So I’d better not hear you blame yourself anymore. Do you hear me? My girl is going to need you to be strong and whole when she comes out of this. Don’t make her worry about you, too.”
“Listen to them,” Owen put in, his voice low. “She’s not going to blame you, Murph. She loves you.”
Murphy let out a breath. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to fully forgive himself for not seeing Hugh for whom he was, but he’d try for Tessa. First, however, he needed to see her, needed to make sure she was truly okay.
He ended up sitting next to Grace and held her other hand while his family talked around them. He didn’t know what he’d do without them and was thankful that he didn’t have to find out anytime soon. The Gallaghers never gave up, never walked away. And for that, he would always be grateful.
And when the doctors came in to tell him that Tessa was out of surgery and resting, he buried his face in his hands and finally let the tears come.
The love of his life was alive, and she would be okay. Thank God.
I won’t take this for granted, he told himself. He wouldn’t take her health or his for granted again.
They were both alive, and that meant he would do everything in his power so they could live.
When they finally let him back to see her, her arm was wrapped up past her elbow, and she looked pale in her hospital bed, but he’d never seen anyone look so beautiful. Before he’d even stepped fully into the room, she fluttered open her eyes and gave him a small smile.
“Murphy,” she rasped.
He quickly went to her side and gently touched her free hand. “Tessa.” He squeezed his eyes shut, overcome with everything that had happened and trying to keep calm.
“Love you,” she said with a sappy smile. He knew she was on some good pain meds, and he was just grateful they’d let him come back to see her at all.
“Love you, too, baby.” He shuddered out a breath. “I’m so damn sorry.”
Her eyes filled but she blinked them back. “Thank you for saving me.”
He shook his head. “I’ll always be there for you, just like I know you’ll be there for me. Always.”
She sighed, her eyes closing, and he knew he should go and let her sleep. “Stay,” she whispered. “Stay.”
So he sat down on the chair next to her bed and gripped her hand, watching her sleep as she healed.
He’d known he loved Tessa Stone, but it wasn’t until then that he realized the depth of that emotion.
Tessa Stone was his for now and forever, and he’d spend the rest of his days proving that.
No matter what.
After
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Murphy gripped Tessa’s hips, pounding into her as she wrapped one arm around his neck, meeting him thrust for thrust. Her other arm still had her wrap on it, so he made sure he didn’t touch it. She might be mostly healed, but he’d be damned if he hurt her at all.
Over the past few weeks, they’d learned to take special care when they made love, but their enthusiasm and vigor hadn’t waned a bit.
Hence why they were fucking on the bathroom counter right next to the place where they’d seen each other naked, felt each other naked, for the first time. He hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her, and there was nothing better in the morning after a shower than having Tessa squeeze his dick with her pussy.
Seriously.
Nothing. Better.
Tessa arched her back again, and since her nipples were right there, he sucked one into his mouth, biting down gently. Her legs tightened around his waist, and he knew she was on the verge of coming, so he increased his speed and let go of her hip with one hand to flick her clit with his thumb.
“Murphy!” Her whole body shuddered as she came around his cock, and he sped up again, sweat pouring down his back. When his balls tightened, he grunted, the release flowing through him as he came hard inside her, filling her up.
Sweating and panting, he leaned forward and cupped the back of her head so he could steal a hard kiss. “Good fucking morning.”
She licked her lips, her eyes dark. “I think we need another shower since we didn’t use a condom and now I’m all sticky.”
“I like you sticky,” he teased.
“Oh, yes, you’d rather me smear you all over my body so everyone knows I’m yours like some caveman.”
He grinned widely. “Sometimes, I’m crude, what can I say?”
“Sometimes?” she said softly, fluttering her eyelashes.
He shrugged and pulled out of her slowly, handing over a washcloth as he did. “All the time. But, Tessa baby, do you see the scratch marks and welts all over my back and shoulders? I’m pretty sure you mark me up more than I do you.”
She shrugged though he saw the blush on her cheeks. “What can I say? You make me lose my mind.”
He kissed her then, needing her taste. “That’s what I like to hear.”
“And now we’re going to be late, you know, because we do need another shower. I can’t go over to Liz and Owen’s covered in your man juice.”
Murphy threw his head back and laughed. “Man juice?”
Tessa winked and then swayed her hips on the way to the shower. His dick stood at attention once again, watching her ass move from side to side. He figured they were going to be even later for the family BBQ that afternoon.
Oh well, it wasn’t as if it was the first time.
Tessa let out a sharp giggle when he followed her, pressing her to the tile, and Murphy fell that much more in love. Damn, he loved this woman and everything she made him feel.
He wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Owen gave Murphy a knowing look as he and Tessa walked over to his brother’s house a good forty minutes late. Considering the flushed look on each of the women’s faces in the room, however, Murphy figured he and Tessa hadn’t been the only ones taking advantage of a lazy morning.
Blake and Liz were both nearing their due dates and were comparing pregnancy cravings, and Murphy just had to smile. He couldn’t wait for more Gallaghers to be brought into the world, and honestly, he couldn’t wait for one—or four—of his own.
Once he and Tessa were married next spring, the two of them were going to start trying for children. Since he’d gone through so much chemo in his life, though, they knew it might not happen, so they were also looking into adoption. Knowing them, they’d probably end up doing both, and that would be just fine with him. He couldn’t wait to see Tessa as a mother, and knew that her parents were aching to be grandparents.
Maya, Jake, and Border were huddled on the love seat, grinning at one another as their son Noah played with Rowan on the floor in front of them. He’d never thought Jake would find his happily ever after with not one, but two people, but he knew that they’d found the perfect people for each other even if it seemed unconventional to some.
Graham sat next to Blake and fed her from his plate, his attention and care to her funny and heartwarming to see. Murphy knew his brother had gone through hell twice over in his life, and having Blake pregnant with his child had to be a lot on him, but he couldn’t wait to see Graham with an infant in his arms once again. He was already a fantastic dad to Rowan, and Murphy knew Graham only got better with age—like most of the Gallaghers.
Owen came back into the house from the back deck where he’d been setting up the grill for the rest of the meal, and Murphy had to hold back a smile. His brother had clearly been running his hands through his hair over and over again as he went through all his mental lists. Murphy had a feeling Owen would have to loosen up a bit as a dad, and Liz would help him along. After all, no amount of lists could ever prepare you for fatherhood—at least Murphy assumed.
Tessa leaned into him then, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “What are you thinking about over here?” she asked, her voice low.
Murphy kissed her forehead and sighed. “Just how much our family has changed over the past few years.” He looked around at each brother once more and smiled. “We’re better off with all of you. I mean, we were doing okay before, but with you guys? You made us better men.”
Her eyes brightened, and she kissed his jaw. “I do love the Gallagher brothers. Y’all were sexy before, but now with children and wedding bands on your fingers? Oh, boy.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I hope you only mean one Gallagher in particular.”
The love of his life laughed, and he melted at the sound. She’d been laughing more and more since the accident, and was now finally back to her old self, though he even loved quiet Tessa. He loved all of her moods.
“You’re my favorite Gallagher, Murphy. I promise.”
“Damn straight, I am. And I can’t wait for you to be a Gallagher, too.” He brought up her ring finger with her engagement ring and kissed the sapphire they’d gone with instead of a diamond. “Love you, Tessa.”
“Love you, too, Murph.”
He held her close and laughed at something Jake said, sinking into the couch and knowing that today was one of those perfect days he would never forget. Nothing particularly amazing had happened, and yet it was perfect.
He had his family, his woman, and his future.
And after everything he’d lost and feared he could never have, he knew that he’d found the one thing he’d been missing all along.
Hope.
A Note from Carrie Ann
Thank you so much for reading HOPE RESTORED. I do hope if you liked this story, that you would please leave a review! Reviews help authors and readers.
The Gallagher Brothers series is now complete and though I’m sad to say goodbye to the Gallaghers, they might make an appearance in the rest of the Montgomery Ink world with the Montgomery Ink, Whiskey and Lies, and Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs series!
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The Gallagher Brothers Series:
A Montgomery Ink Spin Off Series
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
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About Carrie Ann and her Books
Carrie
Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
The Montgomery Ink Box Set (Contains Books 0.5, 0.6, 1)
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 8: Inked Memories (Coming Oct 2017)
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink (Coming Apr 2018)
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
A Montgomery Ink Spin Off Series
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
The Whiskey and Lies Series: