EVERLEIGH

The ride to the hospital was uncomfortable to say the least. I was ushered back down to the private section of the parking garage and into a black SUV with dark tinted windows. 

The one he called Connor was in the front driving while I was stuck in the backseat with the devil of the city.

How could someone so evil be so devastatingly handsome. And big.

Jesus, was this man huge. He has to be at least six and a half feet tall.

He sat staring at me with his head cooked to the side like he was memorizing every detail. Taking up most of the space in the back, making it hard to breathe.

It wasn't hot per say, but his intense gaze was giving the butterflies in my stomach butterflies of their own.

"So Everleigh, how long have you been working with your grandmother?" He asked me. 

Is he serious right now? Like he hasn’t investigated all of the vendors that have anything to do with this engagement party.

“Listen, cut the bullshit, I’m only allowing you to drop me off at the hospital. I will go in, alone, and I will leave alone.” I tried to give him my best death glare, but it didn’t seem to faze him at all. 

“I’m glad you think that, hellcat, but you got hurt because of me. And I would hate to think of what your Grandmother would do to me if I left you here. All. Alone.” The bastard had the audacity to wink at me. And that fucking smirk on his gorgeous face. 

It's infuriating.

Why am I letting this man get under my skin?

I just met him. Why does he affect me this way?

I shouldn’t give a shit about the way he looks at me. Men have been looking at me like this since I was twelve and developed boobs at an early age.

“So what? You’ll walk me in, hold my hand and then what? What’s in it for you?”

He closed the distance on the seat between us. Moving like the predator he is.

 I moved until my back was against the door.

“There’s nothing in it for me except knowing I helped a beautiful woman.”

“Yeah right. You’re the devil of the city. You don’t give a shit about women.”

“Well love, that’s where you’re wrong.”

We pulled up to the hospital emergency and naturally Ronan insisted that he went in with me. I could see through the glass door that the emergency waiting room was standing room only. So there was no chance of me getting in and out without being seen with him.

Connor the tank, seriously this guy was built like a brick shithouse, led me to a corner away from the majority of the people in the waiting room and just stood in front of me. 

Like a brick wall of muscle, blocking me from prying eyes. Because let’s face it, walking in with two beefcakes– one being the king of the city, had some very curious people looking at me.

Less than five minutes later, we were being ushered to the VIP wing of the hospital. I will say the exam rooms in this part of the hospital are pretty swanky. 

We passed what looked like professionally decorated hotel rooms on our way to check in. 

The nurse sitting behind the nurses station smiled brightly when we approached. 

"How may we help you today?" The nurse smiled.

"We'd like to see Dr. Callaghan, please." Ronan said.

" Oh, yes sir. He's waiting for you in exam room three. Down the hall and to your

left."

" Thank you." We left the nurse swooning with one of Ronan's sexy as hell smirks and a wink.

Inside the tiny exam room the doctor waiting was massive. It also wasn't lost on me that the doctor in question's name was Callaghan.

His back was to us when we walked in. But I could tell he was ripped by the way his scrubs pulled against his muscular back. 

He turned around when the door closed. The smile on his face was just as sexy as his brothers.

"Jesus Christ, there's another one." The sexy doctor chuckled and turned to his brother.

"She is a little firecracker isn't she?" 

"You have no idea." Ronan laughed.

He is a beautiful man that's for sure. The way his eyes crinkle at the corners is slowly becoming one of my favorite things about him.

Wait… Why am I thinking about my favorite things about this man? I literally just met him.

"Hi. I'm Doctor Callaghan. Would you like to take a seat up here so I can see what's going on here?" I have patted the exam table with very large, very well manicured hand.

"Rogan, do you have to flirt with all of your patients?" Ronan bristled. 

That's interesting. His brother flirting with me bothers him.

"Only when they're as beautiful as this one is brother." He said with a wink and a grin. Clearly he enjoyed pushing his brothers buttons. 

The fine doctor, yes -pun intended, turned his attention back to me.

"So, what seems to be the problem here today miss…?"

"Logan. Everleigh Logan."

"Ms. Logan..." I didn't miss the questioning look he gave Ronan. 

"What brings you to the hospital today? And in the care of my brother no less." I knew he was just trying to break the ice but I couldn't help but feel that there were some unspoken words being shared between the brothers.

"She beat the shit out of some guy in the hallway at the towers and fell through the door of my conference room. Connor thinks she may have a broken wrist along with that gash on her head that needs stitching." Ronan answered for me, earning himself what I like to think of as one of my death glares.

"Beat the shit out of a guy you say. Is that something that you make a habit out of?"

"Only when they try to rape me." The sarcasm in my tone couldn't possibly be mistaken for anything other than that. "That's kind of like the pot calling the kettle black isn't it, Mr. Mob Doctor."

After the initial once-over was complete, I could honestly say that I liked Dr. Callaghan. He was a whole lot less intimidating than his brother. 

Or brothers I should say. There are four of them in total. Their poor mother. Having to deal with that many over inflated egos. That takes a brave woman indeed.

After the doctor confirmed that my wrist was indeed broken, he stitched up my head and ordered all kinds of tests and scans to make sure everything was truly okay. 

Better safe than sorry he said. 

The fine doctor left us in the examination room while he went to check on my test results.

He and Ronan chatted almost nonstop filling the awkward space in the room, so when he left, the unease of being alone with his sinfully delicious brother was in the room once again.

"I have a confession to make, little hellcat." 

"Well this should be good." I mumbled. I may have said it loud enough for him to hear on purpose.

"When I told you I didn't want anything from you, I lied." The intensity of his gaze should have been a little troublesome. But it wasn't and the fact that it didn't bother me the most.

"Of course you did." I sighed. "So what's it to be, Ronan Callaghan, what is my payment?"

The door to the tiny exam room opened before he could answer, bringing in the other Callaghan brother, with an iPad and a smile. 

"Scans are good. No real damage to your head. Just an extremely mild concussion. If someone could stay with you tonight just to be on the safe side that would be great." He smiled at me as he helped me down from the exam table. 

This one handed thing is gonna be the shits for sure. Especially since it's my dominant hand. I'm not very ambidextrous so this may prove to be a challenge. 

"Thank you Doctor Callaghan. I appreciate your kindness"

"Please, call me Rogan. We'll be seeing more of each other I'm sure. No need to be so formal." He chuckled and gave his brother a knowing look as we walked out of the room. 

Connor was waiting for us at the front of the hospital with the SUV. 

Ronan, acting the gentleman, opened the back door and helped me in since I couldn't help myself up.

Once he was in, we were making our way through the traffic of the city.

Ronan turned to me, sliding his arm across the back of the leather seat. I could feel him playing with the end of my ponytail.

"So about that payment you owe me..."

I sat frozen in the seat as I trailed a finger down my arm.

"I was thinking that I could stay and keep an eye on you tonight, so your grandmother didn't have to cancel her plans for the night."

"That's it? That's all you want?" I could feel my eyebrows almost touching my hairline. 

I couldn't help but feel there was an ulterior motive behind his proposition. He's the leader of the Irish Mafia. The biggest crime family in the city. How could he not have an ulterior motive?

"That's all I want. And to prove to you that I'm not this devil of the city that you think I am.