Page 28 of Run, Little Rabbit

Me:

I need help.

Sphinx:

I’ll put the kettle on

Chapter Twelve

Angel

As soon as Maxim enters the house, I know something is wrong. He’s covered in blood and… is that a woman he’s got slung over his shoulder?

“What the hell is going on?” I ask as he hands her off to Nikita. The large brute grins as he slings her over his shoulder.

“I’ll tie her up,” he signs, his grin concerningly wide.

“No. Nope. Not a chance. Tell me what’s happening.” I turn to Maxim. “Why is your nose broken, and why does Nikita look like it’s Christmas?”

Maxim laughs and removes his jacket, chucking it carelessly over the back of the armchair. “Love, Niki is grinning because it might as well be Christmas. And my nose is broken because she broke it.”

He points to the woman who is hung like a glamorous sack of potatoes over Nikita’s shoulders. I walk over to her and brush her hair back from her face. Recognition hits me, and oh fuck.

Shit. Fuck.Bollocks.

This is bad. Like really bad. Like, 'no way back' kind of bad.

“What the fuck have you done, Max?” I screech. “Take her back. Take her back, right the fuck now.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Max says, but I can’t take my eyes off the girl, whose gaze appears to be turning gleeful at every word the stupid man utters.

She knows me.

And I know her.

“I amnotbeing a drama queen,” I hiss.

Nikita taps my arm, grabbing my attention. “You kind of are.”

I point at the woman. “Do you know who that is?”

“Nope,” Max replies with a nonchalant shrug, and Nikita just raises a blonde brow.

Urgh, God save me from ignorant men.

“That is Echo Quinn.” I just get blank faces. Fuck my life. “Only daughter of Rory Quinn, leader of the fucking Irish Mob.”

Nikita snorts before turning and heading to the basement with Echo still over his shoulder.

I turn to Max, who looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.

“Angel, Rory Quinn doesn’t have a daughter.”

“Yes, he does. It’s just not well known.”

Max raises one of his dark eyebrows. “And how do you know she exists?”

I shut my mouth because I know he will definitely not like my answer.