Two of Brennan's men drag her chair forward, positioning her right in front of me, close enough that I can see every bruise, every cut, every mark they've left on her. Close enough that I'll have a perfect view when they?—
No.No, I can't think about that. I have to focus and find a way out of this. There's always a way out. There has to be.
But I'm on my knees with a gun to my head and my best friend beside me in the same position, my wife in front of me about to die, and for the first time in my life, I don't see a way out.
I realize, with perfect, terrible clarity, that I'm about to watch my wife die. That I'm going to lose her.
That I failed her.
"Wait," Flynn says suddenly. "Wait, Brennan. You want to hurt him? Really hurt him? Then let me make you an offer."
Brennan pauses, a curious look on his face as he turns back toward us. "I'm listening."
"Let her go. Take me instead. I'm his best friend. Killing me will hurt him just as much, and you won't have the Council coming down on you for murdering an innocent woman. A rich one at that. They want her so they can marry her off to someone and control her wealth. They’ll be pissed if she’s dead, but me?—"
"Flynn, no—" I start, but he cuts me off.
"Shut up, Sean." Flynn's voice is hard. "This is my choice."
Brennan considers this, head tilted. Then he laughs. "Nice try. But no. You see, I don't just want to hurt Sean Flannery. I want to destroy him. I want to watch him break into a thousand fucking pieces before I kill him, too. And the only way to do that is to take away the thing he loves most." He chuckles. “I’m sure your bromance is lovely, but it’s not the same as the sweet touch of a woman, is it?”
He turns back to Maeve, that smile still on his lips.
“Let’s begin.”
29
MAEVE
My heart is breaking as I see Sean there, on his knees in front of where Brennan has me captured. I can’t look away from him, even to see how Flynn is handling this, the man who just offered himself up to get Sean and me out of here.
It stopped when I saw Sean come into the room. I think itactuallystopped for one impossible moment before it kicked back into gear, hammering so hard against my ribs I thought they might crack.
Sean.
He came for me.
My husband—the man who told me our marriage was punishment, who pushed me away, who said he didn't want me—walked into what has to be a trap to get me back.
I thought it would take longer. That he’d plan better. But it’s clear he rushed here the moment he found anything at all. And in this moment, I wonder if what’s happened between us in the last couple of days was real, after all.
He wouldn’t risk everything for a wife he didn’t want. He’d be more cautious. More controlled.
There was nothing controlled about him when he came in here. But he’s been overpowered. And now he and Flynn need a distraction. Something to give them a chance to find a way out of this for us.
My mind races, adrenaline cutting through the fog of pain and fear. Brennan is still talking, his voice smooth and confident as he addresses Sean across the warehouse floor. He thinks he's won. He thinks he has all the power here.
I can use that.
“Let’s begin,” Brennan says, turning toward me, and I feel a shudder of panic ripples down my spine. He pauses, then looks back at Sean as if disappointed.
"Nothing to say?" Brennan moves slightly away from me, his attention fully on Sean now. "No threats? No demands? You're just going to kneel there and?—"
"You know what's funny?" I interrupt, my voice rough but loud enough to carry. "I mean, really fucking funny?"
Brennan's head whips toward me, his expression darkening. "Shut up."
But I can't. Sean needs time, an opening, and I'm going to give it to him even if it kills me.
