“Daddy!”
Tavish’s eyes widen, and his hand slips from mine. He bounces down the steps, turning to look back at Samuel, kicking out at him, trying to get away.
“Tavish!” I yell, my heart jumping into my throat as I watch him disappear from sight.
“Draven, you can’t save him,” Maeve says. “Samuel won’t stop.”
I push her behind me, unable to wrap my head around her words. Surely she didn’t think I would leave him behind?
I rush down the steps after Tavish, determined to rescue him from Samuel’s clutches. Maeve’s pulling at me, trying to get me to stop. Shaking her off my arms, I keep going, jumping down the last few steps. She’s following me, begging me to leave him behind. Telling me she needs me to help her.
I drag her behind me as I stalk toward Samuel. He’s holding Tavish in front of him, a gun held to Tavish’s head. Blood pours down his face from a cut on his temple. He seems a little dazed, but his eyes bore into mine as I step closer and closer.
“Draven, leave him!”
I dinnae bother to look in her direction, but I say, “There are several men on this boat dressed just like I am, Maeve. If ye want to leave. Leave. But I’ll nae leave Tavish behind. He’s my lover. My partner. The missing piece of my soul, and I love him.”
Tavish’s face crumbles at my words. Tears mix with the blood on his face, and his mouth drops open in an ‘o’ as he gasps.
“If I cannot have him, then no one will. He is mine. I claimed him. I won’t let you take him from me,” Samuel states.
Studying Samuel’s hold on Tavish, I pull my axes from my back, circling him. He turns, keeping his hold on my boy. Hisback now faces the stairs we all just came down. Maybe iffn he’s nae cornered, he’ll realize his best chance is to run.
My plan disnae work. His eyes flash with fear as he focuses on my axes.
Adrenaline surges through me, lifting me onto my toes and bending my knees and body into a slight crouch, preparing to pounce. My eyes meet Tavish’s. They’re still glistening with tears. I duck my chin, and he does the same.
I step forward, and Tavish stares at me, chin trembling, nostrils flaring, and tears rolling over his lashes. Samuel raises his gun, pointing it at me.
“Stop. I mean it. I’ll shoot.”
I laugh, ignoring him as I take another step forward. Time slows to a crawl, and the twitch of his finger moving to the trigger catches my eye. I ken I need to move, to attack, but I’m frozen in place, watching in horror, unable to respond. From the moment he wraps his finger around the trigger to when the gun goes off feels like years, nae seconds.
A blur flies past me.
“NOOOO!” pierces the air. The sound coming at me from all sides, and I dinnae ken if it’s because it’s echoing off the metal hull o’ the ship or because more than one person screams at me.
A second shot rings out, and Tavish and Samuel collapse to the floor.
Time speeds back up, and my heart thunders in my head as my eyes bounce. There’s blood everywhere and I havenae idea where it’s coming from.
“Daddy!” Tavish yells, snapping me out of the what the fuck moment o’ shock I’m stuck in.
I rush to him. Tavish is face down on the metal floor, Samuel’s body covering his back. Bloody chunks cover him. His face and hair, even his shoulders and neck. Rolling Samuel off him, I see where the blood is coming from, and it isnae my boy.
A gaping hole takes the place o’ Samuel’s forehead. The front part of his skull is missing.
Pulling Tavish into my arms, I ask, “Pojke, are ye okay?”
He’s sobbing and hiccuping, and on the verge of hyperventilating.
“Draven…” a raspy breath says from behind me.
Turning, I see Ghost leaning over my sister, putting pressure on her chest. He looks up at me, but I dinnae need the look on his face to tell me it was hopeless. The pool of blood covering the floor under her was enough.
I kneel beside her and dash away the tears that blur the sight o’ her. I cannae believe I found her after all this time, only to lose her.
“Maevy. Stay with me.”
