Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
I have to get to Blaine. If I can stop the device in his hand, I’ll be able to control myself better. I can scream for Cormac. Cormac will come.
How will I get to Blaine? Then I remember the teasing words Cormac spoke to me not thirty minutes ago.
“The way to bring a man to his knees is always through a solid kick to the bollox.”
I make my plan.
I turn to him and start to speak in a placating voice.
“Blaine. I’m your sister. I know you hate me, but—”
“Shut up.” His face is red and blotchy with fury.
I’m slowly edging closer.
“I know that you—”
“I said shut up!” he’s on his feet, the device in his hand. I lunge at him. Pain explodes through my body, but I’ve met my mark. I’m at his feet. With a savage scream, I butt him between the legs with my head. With a howl of rage, he topples to the floor, clutching his bollox, but I’ve got him now. He can’t cause pain anymore without the damn device. I step on his hand until I hear bone crunch.
The man on the other side is howling in rage. I have seconds. I turn to Blaine and kick him one more time. He’s clutching himself in agony, unable to chase after me. I run to the woman bound, but she shakes her head at me.
“Don’t worry about me. Break the mirror. He can’t hide behind it anymore, and Cormac will hear.” She jerks her head at the table. “Get the bar. Smash it!”
I look wildly about the room and see the table with tools. I lift the bar, run to the mirror, and slam it. The glass splinters into web-like lines. I have to hit harder. I hit it again, and again. But before I can take in details, someone grabs at my ankles. Fucking Blaine. I kick at him, when the wall of the mirror topples fully to the ground. I was right. We aren’t alone.
Dermot sits on the other side, his eyes narrowed on me.
“I thought you were dead.”
“Would’ve been convenient for you, wouldn’t it?”
I freeze. He’s pointing a gun at me.
“Not another word,” he says. “You bought it all, didn’t you? The bumbling fucking fool without a brain?”
What?
“You didn’t know Martin had promised you to me. Told me if I found you, you’d be mine, and McCarthy could fuck himself. But no. You thought you could manipulate me, just like you manipulated everything else, didn’t you?”
He’s out of his mind. I knew nothing about this, and yet he blames me. How will I escape?
“Thought I answered to your fucking brother, you slut.” His hand shakes on the gun.
I hear shouts in the hallway, and my heart gives a jolt of hope. Is it Cormac? Has he heard anything?
“Now, Dermot,” I say, trying to distract him. “You know it was nothing personal.”
His eyes narrow on me.
“Call his name, and I’ll shoot,” the man says in a voice of deadly calm. “Go ahead. I dare you.” He heard them, then.
I don’t speak.
Someone’s at the door. They’re pounding on it, trying to get in. Blaine grabs my feet and I kick at him, but it’s no use. He’s got me.
“Fucking bitch,” he growls, dragging me to the floor.
“Let her go, Blaine,” Dermot orders. “She comes to me unharmed. Let her go or you get nothing.”
“Fuck you,” Blaine says. “Fuck your blow. I’m not letting this bitch get away.”
I scream when he pushes the device and pain shoots through me. I’m panting with fear and pain, the world around me dim and hazy. A gunshot rings out as the door breaks down. I see Cormac and Nolan and Tully enter the room.
“Cormac!” I scream, when gun shots ring out again and bright red blossoms across his chest. “Cormac!”
Tully lunges at the mirror, and Nolan throws his body at the woman in restraints. It’s confusion and red-hot pain as Blaine pulls the trigger relentlessly. I reach for him, but can’t get to him.
Cormac’s stumbling toward me. Oh God, oh no. He’s hurt. My husband. Shot.
He falls to his knees but cocks the gun in his hand.
“Let her fucking go.”
But a gunshot rings out before he does. Tully slumps to the ground, shot by Dermot. Cormac takes the opportunity and pulls the trigger on Blaine, who screams and twitches on the ground. More men rush into the room, men with badges and uniforms. There’s pain and confusion, blood and screams. I’m in Cormac’s arms, and they’re tight around me. He’s covering me like he did in the greenhouse, his body over mine.
“Lay still,” he whispers, his voice contorted in pain. “Stay right there.” Blaine lies on the ground, unconscious, in a pool of blood.
“Brave lass,” Cormac whispers in my ear. “Such a good, brave lass.”
“Someone help me!” I scream, my voice tattered in pain and fear. “Please, help me. My husband. He’s shot! Nolan!” I look to see him holding the woman in his arms, covered haphazardly in a blanket, tucked up against his chest.