“No…oh God, no.”Quinn kicked off Collin’s boots and lifted her skirt to run along the base of the cliff, up the incline, and toward the driveway. The cars from earlier were gone. Only a few remained, along with an ambulance. Her lungs felt as though they were on fire before she reached the castle doors and burst through them right into Ian’s arms.
He spun with her force. “Whoa there.”
She slapped at his hands. “Let me go; let me go. Collin’s been shot. I’ve got to save him.”
“He’ll kill me if I let you go running into harm’s way. Where is he?”
Quinn blinked through the tears forming in her eyes as one slipped free. She didn’t have time to explain. Fear knotted her insides as panic stabbed at her heart, twisting and turning, making it difficult to breathe.
“Let me go,” she demanded through gritted teeth and wiggled free. Grabbing the hem of her skirt, she lifted it past her knees and ran, ignoring the questioning stares from the staff and lingering guests. She took the stairs two at a time. The sound of Ian’s boots against the stone echoed behind her, but she wasn’t stopping, not for him or for anyone. She ran into the old library and straight to the shelf. Grabbing a nearby chair, she pulled the book to open the secret passage and jammed the furniture in its way to keep it from closing. Ian stared, watching her, speechless.
“Well, don’t just stand there. If this door closes, we’ll be stuck,” she said while climbing over the chair and into the cave. She paused. “If anyone comes out but Collin or me, then beat their ass.”
She left Ian while he was demanding he be the one to charge in and she be the one to wait. Typical. Without the light, she slowly made her way in the dark around the corner to where Collin had been.
Collin’s white shirt was covered in blood as he slumped against the cavefloor. Ramsey stood above him with a gun pointed at Collin’s chest.
Quinn slipped the dagger from the sheath and inched closer, hoping that Ramsey wouldn’t hear or see her approach. Collin met her gaze, and his eyes widened, tipping Ramsey off to her presence, so she did the only thing she could. She stabbed him in the side with the sharp point of her dagger and dropped her shoulder, tackling him like she’d seen linebackers do on TV.
He hadn’t expected the move and misfired, shooting the bullet into the cave walls. Ramsey pulled the dagger free and he dropped the gun to try and push her off. They both flew toward the cave entrance. Quinn was intent on making sure Ramsey never harmed another soul, and in that second, she knew she was going to die.
Ramsey latched onto her leg and was prepared to take her with him as he went out the opening. Her fingers caught the steel beam as she tried to hold up both of their weights. Her slick fingers were losing their grip as death knocked on her door. There were no flashes in her mind of events from her life. The anguish in Collin’s gaze held her in a trance. She barely knew him, but she loved him, and she couldn’t have picked a worse moment to figure it out.
“You willnae die.”
He must have mistaken the look of confusion on her face for resignation to let go. Collin grabbed the gun and her arm at the same time. He fired a shot into Ramsey’s body, and his weight instantly released.
“I’ve got you, Quinn.”
She struggled to pull herself up, knowing his shoulder wouldn’t hold out long. The pain alone could send him into unconsciousness, and then they’d both be screwed and sleeping with whatever animals filled the sea below. She crawled over the edge, thankful her dress didn’t catch on the rocks, and pressed close to his side.
His face was pale and sweat covered his forehead as he held her gaze. His heartbeat was slowing as he battled to keep his eyes open. He tried to give her a reassuring smile.
“Collin Menzie, you better not die on me. Just hold on, baby. Please. Ian, help me,” Quinn screamed, and within seconds, Ian crowded her, thrusting a flashlight into her hands.
“Collin, just hang in there.” Ian hoisted Collin over his shoulder and carried him out of the secret cave and into the library.
Ian eased Collin down on one of the old couches. “You need to apply pressure while I go get my doctor.”
“Hurry, please hurry.” Quinn fought through the tears as she ripped her dress and pressed the fabric to his wound to staunch the blood flow.
Collin cried out in agony from the pain. He struggled to catch his breath before placing his hand over hers. “Quinn, you were so brave.”
“Shut up. Don’t you dare act like you’re going anywhere.”
His gaze softened as he reached up for her face and cupped her cheek. “You came back for me.”
“You save me; I save you back. That’s how we work.”
“Aye. That’s how we work.”
Within minutes, the doctor was moving her out of the way as a stretcher and paramedics entered the room. Thank God, they were already here.
Quinn’s stomach was tied in knots as they wheeled Collin from the room and into the waiting ambulance, where Mavis was already waiting. Quinn went to climb in, and the paramedic stopped her.
“There’s no room.”
“I’ll bring Angus and her,” Ian said. “We’ll be right behind you.”
