Page 143

He keeps moving, dragging me behind him like dead weight.My heels sink into the loose dirt, the uneven ground biting at my ankles, yanking me off balance.I stumble hard, hitting the ground with a jolt that rattles through my bones.

Ronan jerks me back to my feet with a vicious pull like I’m nothing more than a rag in his hands.“Take off the fucking shoes,” he growls in frustration.

I crouch low, my hands shaking as I force each movement to stay slow and deliberate as my mind races for a way out.

Then, a gunshot.

A sickening thud.

Something warm splatters across my skin.

Ronan jerks violently, his grip loosening a fraction of a second before his full weight crashes into me, slamming me hard into the ground.

The impact knocks the breath from my lungs.I choke on a gasp, shoving at his dead weight, blood slicking my hands as I scramble backward.My heart hammers, and my eyes scour the dark.

And then I see her standing there, frozen in the silver wash of the moonlight, the gun still raised, her hands trembling so badly it’s a wonder she hasn’t dropped it.

For a heartbeat, all I can do is stare, stunned, unsure if she’s even real—or just another ghost conjured by the madness of this night.

"Bridget?”I call, but she doesn’t respond.Her eyes pass right through me, unseeing.

Pushing up to my feet, I move carefully toward her.Her whole body trembles.Her eyes are wide and unblinking as tears stream down her face.

“It’s okay, Bri,” I say softly.“It’s over.”

She doesn’t react.Doesn’t blink.She’s in shock.Gently, I reach for the gun and pry it from her fingers.

As soon as I take it, her eyes snap to me and widen in horror.

"Oh my God—" her voice is a shattered breath."Aoife, you… You're covered in?—"

Her hands fly to her mouth, her whole body shaking.

"I'm okay," I assure her, cupping her face, forcing her to meet my eyes."You saved me."

She’s still shaking her head.Still staring at the blood.

“Is Ruairi here?"

Swallowing hard, I nod.“Yes.”

Her hands grip my arms, her voice desperate."Take me to him, please."

Before I can move, I hear my name ripped raw from his throat."Aoife."

I turn as Eamon barrels toward me, his face blanched with fear, his eyes locking on the blood smeared across my skin.He grabs my shoulders hard enough to shake me, his hands trembling.

"Are you—" His voice breaks, and he has to swallow before he can force the words out."Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine," I rasp, though the lie trembles on my lips."But we need to get Bridget inside.Now."

Eamon glances between the two of us.There are a thousand questions in his eyes, but he doesn’t ask a single one.

I nod.Silent.A promise I’ll explain later.

"Come on,” I say, taking Bridget’s hand in mine.“Let’s get you to Ruairi.”

Ruairi