Taking a deep, elongated breath, I nod and mumble a small, “Okay,” before I let Seamus take my hand again and lead me down the corridor. It doesn’t take long for the three of us to reach the end of the hall, where a set of creaky wooden steps leads to the topside of the stables, where the actual livestock are kept. Kiernan goes first, the gun in his hand at the ready as he slowly ascends the stairs.
Before he has a chance to turn the handle on the door, it swings open, the cocking of a gun filling the void of quiet. I make to scream, but Seamus’s hand lets go of mine to cover my mouth. His own gun points at the top of the stairs.
“Christ, Da,” Kiernan mutters as he lowers his gun. “What the fuck were you thinking just opening the door like that?”
The man at the top of the stairs raises a brow at Kiernan, his face stern. If I had doubts about the twins being related to me, I don’t anymore. They’re nearly a younger carbon copy of their father. Same shining emerald eyes, strong cut jaws, and a head full of ginger hair.
Liam just happens to be older, his fiery red hair graying slightly at the edges and along the stubble that graces his chin. He holds a black rifle in his hand, his stern gaze drifting from one twin to the other before landing on me.
“You’re late and we’re behind schedule,” he scolds them, his eyes still on me. “We need to move.”
Seamus huffs, pulling me along behind him as he ascends the stairs. “Blame the damsel here.” He shakes his head and sighs. “Decided to dig her feet into the ground when she thought we’d stolen the girls to sell.”
Liam chuckles darkly as we move past him and into the dim light of the open barn. The air is fresh, tinted with the smell of hay. I can feel my biological father’s eyes roaming over my blood-stained body, taking in the splatter across my face and my dress. His face twists in anger and disgust, and for a moment, I think he might be furious at what I’ve done.
Murderer.
His hand sweeps up from his side, and out of instinct, I whimper and meld slightly into Seamus. Hurt and concern flash across Liam’s face as he lowers his hand.
“He dead?” He turns his attention to Seamus, whose hand I’m currently gripping for dear life.
“Yep.” Seamus full-on grins. “She took care of him all by herself.”
Liam nods. “Good.” Then he strides away. “Let’s get the hell out of here before word gets back to Ward.”
The twins nod as they follow him, eyes searching, guns ready. Everything is quiet, even their footsteps on the harsh dirt floor. They remind me of Matthias’s men.
Trained. Quiet. Deadly.
They’re a force, the three of them. A silent, lethal hurricane, and for the first time in a long time, I feel safe with someone other than Matthias. The large swinging door to the barn is already stretched wide open, two men with rifles—one with his back to us—waiting dutifully on guard.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
It sounds like a broomstick snapping. My heart lurches, and a scream catches in my throat as the two men at the entry drop like flies.
“Fuck,” Seamus curses as he ducks us behind one of the barn’s large wooden pillars. “Keep your head down.”
I don’t need to be told twice. My hands go to cover my ears as he releases a few rounds from his gun, the sound echoing in my ears with his closeness. The smell of gunfire wafts around me as screams and shouts rend the air.
The sobs catch in my chest as the scenery around me fades away until all I can hear is the steady thrush of my blood rushing through my ears. My heart works overtime as I struggle to control my breathing, my gaze darting around the space, taking everything in.
Seamus has his back turned, so he doesn’t notice the odd shadow sneaking up from behind us. He must have come in through one of the horse stalls.
The shadow doesn’t see me crouched behind the pillar at Seamus’s feet, nearly eclipsed in the darkness myself. My eyes widen as the man steps out, a wicked smile on his face as he raises his gun, pointing it at Seamus’s back.
The fucking coward.
His finger goes to the trigger, steadily beginning to pull.
My body moves of its own accord, never once hesitating when I tackle Seamus to the ground as the man’s gun fires.
All that matters is that I save him.
Even if it ends me.
seven
Freedom has never tasted so damn good.
