Deadly Reunion (Hardy Brothers Security Book 20) by Lily Harper Hart Page B

arm up. “Give him to me.”
    Mandy cocked an eyebrow, unsure. “Are you supposed to hold him?”
    “The doctor said no,” Emma said, gripping her hands together nervously. “He said that Finn couldn’t risk carrying him for at least a week.”
    “Do you see me walking around?” Finn asked. “I’m laying on a mattress, which happens to be on the floor. I have no intention of getting up because I know you people are going to get me whatever I want. Now, what I really want is to snuggle with my son. I haven’t held him in forty-eight hours. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to spend five minutes with him.”
    Finn’s voice was sharp and Emma cringed at the tone.
    “Okay.” Emma’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’ll … um … get you something to drink.” She hurried out of the room, but not before Finn heard her sniffling.
    “Great,” Finn muttered.
    Mandy cast him a sympathetic look before kneeling next to him and positioning Avery on his lap. “James, can you please check on Emma and give me a minute with Finn?”
    James looked uncertain. “Why?”
    “Don’t do it,” Finn said, shaking his head. “She’s going to yell at me.”
    “I’m not going to yell at you,” Mandy argued. “We’re going to have a frank discussion about being injured and having everyone go out of their way to make sure you’re okay. James, do what I asked.”
    “You’re very bossy today, wife,” James muttered, although he turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the kitchen. “I’m going to use that to my advantage later.”
    “I’m looking forward to it.” Mandy waited until she was sure James and Emma were out of earshot before speaking again. “I know this is hard for you, but you’re going to have to take it down a notch.”
    “I just wanted to hold my son,” Finn said, rubbing his hand over the back of Avery’s soft head. “I missed him.”
    “And that’s okay,” Mandy said. “I understand about feeling helpless and frustrated. If anyone knows, I do. Trust me. You still can’t lash out at Emma. She’s struggling in her own right.”
    “I don’t know how you’ve done this so many times.”
    “I guess I got used to it,” Mandy admitted. “The thing is, I lashed out when I was injured after the explosion, too. James was hurt the worst. Do you want to hurt Emma?”
    “No.”
    “Then think before you speak,” Mandy implored him. “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”
    “I don’t ever want to hurt Emma,” Finn said. “It’s just … I don’t think she slept at all last night. I woke up twice and she was stiff as a board both times.”
    “And after the explosion James slept as far away from me as he could because he kept having nightmares about the incident and in every one I died,” Mandy said. “He jolted awake and worried he would jostle me in the process. I was the one hurt, but he’s the one who suffered.
    “He also suffered after I was drugged at that Halloween attraction, almost froze to death around Christmas, and got kidnapped in New Orleans,” she continued. “It’s harder for the people who aren’t hurt. I fully believe that. You’re going to sleep half the day away for the next few days. The people who love you are going to worry all of that time.”
    Finn let loose with a long-suffering sigh. “You’re smarter than you look. You know that, right?”
    “That’s impossible because I look like a genius,” Mandy said. “Just … be patient. That’s what you’re known for anyway.”
    “Thank you,” Finn said, surprising Mandy when he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “I also want to thank you for arranging this. Emma refused to leave me in the hospital, but I thought she was going to cry the entire day if she had to be away from Avery.”
    “My understanding is that the only thing she has to fear now is Ally’s wrath for stealing the baby back.”
    “Yeah, that was pretty funny,” Finn said, smiling at the memory.
    “How are things in