Chapter 51

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

DECLAN

Two days later…

"Declan Cathal Evans!" Quinn exclaims. "Get your ass back in that bed."

After leaving Emil's apartment, I apparently lost consciousness as we were going down the stairs of the adjacent building to get back to the Tahoe and Suburban. My recollection is fuzzy, but between everyone who has come to repeatedly check on me, I've managed to put the pieces together.

Liam and Tristan carried me down the stairs and a half block to the SUVs. When I was unceremoniously loaded into the back, they drove me to the nearest twenty-four-hour animal hospital, where some poor veterinarian was threatened at gunpoint to perform surgery on me. Losing blood faster than he could work, Liam, Tristan, and Finn all literally pumped their life into me to keep me alive.

Rud ar bith do mo dheartháir.

I continue to get out of the bed, pained. "If you're going to bark orders at me like that, mo chéadsearc , you better plan to be climbing into it as well, fully prepared to ride my cock. If not, I'm not staying in this fucking bed."

She throws her hands in the air, very aware that she is not going to win this argument with me. "At least let me get someone to help you downstairs."

"I can do it myself." I wince as I bend down to slide on a pair of pants. Being careful to not tear my stitches, I fumble through, pulling a Henley over my head and eventually working my arms into the sleeves.

"Seriously?" Tristan scoffs from the doorway. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Something that needs to be done."

Something that should've already been done.

"You are a stubborn fuck."

"I need to go see Rory," I half-lie.

I'll get there eventually.

"You aren't going by yourself," Quinn grumbles as Tristan helps me down the stairs. "Someone is going with you."

"You're all fucking coming with me."

"I'll drive." Finn jingles the car keys in his hand.

Finn drives us all toward New York General, where I've heard Rory is making a remarkable recovery. He pulls off the FDR a few exits too soon, which surprisingly doesn't draw anyone's attention until we pull to a stop.

"What are you doing?" Quinn questions as I open her door and help her from the car.

"Something I should've done fifteen years ago," I slip my fingers into hers and walk her toward Our Lady of Grace.

"Dec. I'm not dressed for this."

"Quinn O'Brien, you could be wearing a fucking bin bag, and I wouldn't care. I am not waiting another fucking minute to marry you." Cupping her face, I pull her lips up to mine and kiss her. The type of kiss I have gone days too long without. I claim her mouth and lose myself in her until she's whimpering into my mouth.

"Now, are you going to get your arse inside that church and become my wife? Or do I need to have Finn throw your ass over his shoulder and carry you inside?"

"I guess we're going inside." She smiles as she squeezes my hand.

"Fuck yes! Let's get fucking married!" Finn shouts.

"Uncle Finn," Fiona chastises, rolling her eyes.

"Shit. Sorry, peanut. Uncle Finn forgot we don't say that."

We all laugh as we walk into the church. Flowers from our day gone wrong still hang from the ends of the pews, just as beautiful as it was four days ago. Father O'Flaherty stands at the altar, waiting for us.

"Did you?" Quinn huffs as I walk with her toward him, arm in arm.

"They did." I gesture at Finn and Tristan.

Quinn scoffs, "Finn got Father O'Flaherty to perform a last-minute Tuesday morning wedding for a couple dressed in sweatpants?"

"Let's just say I'm not allowed to miss a weekly confessional and leave it at that, okay?"

As always, I don't want to ask…

Father O'Flaherty pronounces from the altar as Quinn and I stand before him. I'm so lost in Quinn's eyes and the fact that she is finally becoming my wife that I barely hear him.

"I promise to love and cherish you all the days of my life." Quinn slides the platinum band around my finger as she speaks. "To love you with my whole heart, the way that I have loved you my entire life."

" Mo Chéadsearc ." I slide the platinum band around her finger until it presses against the princess-cut diamond ring nestled at the base. "I plan to spend every day with you, making up for the time that we have lost. I want to build a life with you that brings you unmeasurable happiness and love."

Tears trickle down her cheeks as I give my vows to her. I wipe one away with the pad of my thumb, only to realize that tears of my own are forming in my eyes.

"You are my first love, and you'll be my last." Quinn reaches up to swipe her finger over my cheek. "I promise to love and cherish you all the days of my life and in every lifetime that follows."

My lips are on hers before Father O'Flaherty finishes saying, "You may now kiss the bride."

I have kissed Quinn O'Brien thousands of times before, but I could not wait a second longer to kiss Quinn Evans . To kiss my wife.