“Luc took a blow to his torso, but the worst is your brother tried to strangle him. He’s got severe bruising around his neck, but when they took him in, he was breathing well, so they don’t think there was too much damage.”
Connor looked at Aydin. “Is he on his own?”
Aydin shook his head and started to cry. “I had to stay here. I’m sorry.” The rest of the sentence was lost in sobs.
Connor pulled him into a hug. “Don’t. It’s okay. What?”
“Luc’s sister is with him. Maria?” Leo said quickly.
“Okay. That’s okay. Should Aydin be in hospital?”
“Yes,” the EMT said bluntly.
“No,” Aydin sobbed.
Connor looked up when Gently came in from the bar, quickly pre-empting his questions.
“Erin is on her way. Dave, I haven’t gotten hold of yet, we think he’s in a movie, but it doesn’t matter. We can hold the fort as long as Aydin stays on site and I’ve plenty of experience with concussion. I can keep an eye on him.”
“We can close, Gently. We should close. He’s a stubborn idiot,” meaning Aydin.
“No need. I’ve got Wacky Ned from the diner and Father Michael behind the bar,” he paused as the door opened. “And look, here’s pretty Erin to keep them in line.”
Erin hurried over to Aydin and performed an assessment more thorough than the EMT’s had been, before pressing a kiss to his brow.
Her youngest boy, Kelly, recently turned four. Crept forward and stroked Aydin’s leg, concerned by his tears.
“Mama, why Aydin cry?”
“He’s upset and worried about Luc,” Erin told him, before adding. “But Luc’s going to be just fine. Here,” She lifted Kelly up and plonked him on Aydin’s lap. “Give him a cuddle.”
Kelly wrapped his little arms around Aydin’s neck and gave him a sweet hug, while petting his head to comfort him.
It didn’t do the egg sized lump any good, but Aydin didn’t care, as the hug felt wonderful. His sobs quietened to healing tears as he held the little boy. “Oh, you sweet angel,” he murmured. Pressing his cheek against soft hair, the same flaming red as his Mom’s.
Erin had her arms wrapped around Connor, letting him go as Gently’s phone rang. “I’ve got the bar. Gently’s got Aydin and Kelly. You go take care of Luc. Gently will settle the boys down upstairs. We don’t need Aydin to be awake, he just needs to be onsite.”
“You’ve got Wacky Ned behind my bar,” Connor said, vaguely horrified.
Erin laughed. “More worried about Father Michael,” she admitted. “At least Ned’s got experience!”
Gently finished talking quietly. “That was Maria.” Everyone turned to him. “She’s bringing Luc to his grandparent’s. He’s been discharged. He wanted to come here, but they need to see him and fuss a little to settle themselves. I said you just got back, she asked if you can meet them there.”
“Yea, of course.” Connor just stood and looked completely lost.
Erin took charge. “Kelly, you remember Gently don’t you? He’s going to give you a ride upstairs and sit with you while I’m working.”
“I’m being care of Aydin, Mama.”
Aydin figured that was it. No more blood was getting pumped around his body, as his heart melted into slush. Kelly’s arms tightening protectively around him.
Gently just stood and grinned at the little boy who was approximately the size of his head.
“And you’re doing a grand job, but you’ll need to continue it upstairs, and Connor’s going to help Aydin up and tuck him into bed, before he goes to see Luc.”
“And then I do the cuddle.” Kelly insisted, releasing Aydin and holding his arms up to Gently, who plucked him up effortlessly.
“Then you do the cuddle,” Erin agreed, giving him a quick kiss.
“And we get a story?” Kelly’s eyes were huge on Gently’s face. Adding quickly, and smartly, “Coz Aydin needs a bedtime story.”
Gently’s laugh boomed out. “As many stories as you want,” he agreed as he carted the boy up the stairs.
“Are we sure he’s eighty-plus,” Aydin wondered. “Maybe he just looks really old!”
Connor hauled him up and steadied him. As Erin reassured the EMT that Gently knew what was what, when it came to concussion.
The EMT relented and collected his stuff. Taking one last look at Aydin and then nodding at Connor. “I hope your partner feels better soon. He’ll be okay. Cold compresses and lots of cool water.”
“Thank you.”
Leo moved forward. “Mr O’Nally?”
“Con, please.”
“Sorry. Con, if you give me your car keys I’ll let the ambulance and police car move, and bring your car back into the alleyway. I’ll run you over to Luc’s place. I know there’s not much parking over that way.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Get Aydin settled and grab what you need, I’ll be outside.” He turned to Erin. “Ma’am, I can leave a unit on site if you need?”
“That asshole’s in custody isn’t he?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“That’s fine then. We’re fine.”
Leo nodded, hooked the keys and left with the EMT.
Twenty minutes later, having grabbed his toothbrush and a change of clothes, plus a quick whizz around the pub. And settling down a now sleepy Aydin, under the very watchful and surprisingly intimidating eye of young Kelly. Connor let out a shaky breath as Leo pulled away from the pub.
“Doing okay?”
“I need to see Luc.”
Leo nodded. “I just got an update from David. Detective Morris.”
“Your work-husband,” Connor smirked. “I’d forgotten you’d been promoted. Congratulations again.”
“Ha” Leo laughed briefly. “Yea, thanks. Anyway, Liam’s not denying anything. But attempted murder won’t stick. He wasn’t trying to kill.”
“Just beat the hell out of?”
“Pretty much. But, well.”
“What?”
Leo stopped at a light. “Liam admitted he knew it was just Luc and Aydin working this afternoon. He didn’t care which one opened the door. Either would have done.” He flicked a sympathetic glance at Connor before he pulled away.
“Jesus.”
Leo pulled over outside the apartment. “We’re going to push for aggravated battery.”
“Seriously? That’s a felony.”
“Yea, well. He wasn’t going to a baseball game was he?”
Connor just sighed.
“Sorry, you’ve had a shit day.”
“The funeral wasn’t terrible. Huge character, amazing life, wasn’t even sick. It was mostly a celebration.” He cracked the door and looked at Leo. “Thanks for the ride,” he said wearily.
“We’ll be in touch. Couple of days, you concentrate on Luc. Give him my best.”
Connor nodded and headed for the door.
-X
The door opened as he walked up and Luc’s grandfather was there.
“Come in, come in, Con.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here, Sir.”
“Don’t be foolish,” Mr Giotto trembled slightly as he hooked an arm around Connor’s waist, leading him into the ground floor apartment. “You’re not to blame for any of this.”
Connor looked around the large main room.
“Connor,” Nana Giotto pulled him down for a hug. “They’re not back yet. Be here soon. Here, sit. I’ll get you some minestrone. You’ve had a difficult day.”
“Nana,” Connor felt bad. He knew feeding people was one of Nana’s coping mechanisms. “I don’t think I can eat. Not until I’ve seen Luc.”
“Of course. You sit. I’ll get you a nice iced cappuccino.” She patted his cheek and bustled into the kitchen.
“Thank you, Nana.” Connor said softly and exchanged a sad smile with her husband.
“Aydin called Maria,” Mr Giotto sat on the chair opposite. “He wasn’t making much sense, but then Wayne came on the line and explained what was happening.”