Page 70 of Cowboy

"What do you want, Dylan?" I manage to ask, my voice surprisingly steady.

He chuckles softly, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Family reunion, of course. Now, when I tell you, you're going to call Saoirse over. You're going to smile and act normal. Then we're going to walk—very calmly—to the south exit where a car is waiting."

"Dylan, please?—"

The gun presses harder into my back. "No discussions. No heroics. Or the girl dies first, then you, then your boyfriend over there. Understood?"

I nod, bile rising in my throat.

"Good. Now call her over."

I take a deep breath, forcing a smile onto my face. "Saoirse! Time to go, love!"

She looks up, pouting slightly, but begins to make her way over.

Ciarán is still approaching, his face shifting from casual smile to concern as he draws closer, sensing something's wrong. I want to scream, to warn him, but Dylan's gun remains steady against my back.

"Ciarán!" Saoirse calls out, spotting him.

Dylan tenses behind me. "Change of plans," he mutters. "We move now."

His hand grips my arm painfully as he steers me toward Saoirse. When we reach her, he scoops her up with his free arm, keeping the gun hidden between us.

"Who are you?" Saoirse asks, her voice small and uncertain.

"An old friend of Caoimhe’s," he says, his voice sickeningly sweet. "We're going on a little adventure."

"Caoimhe!" Ciarán calls, picking up pace.

"Start walking," Dylan hisses. "South exit. Now."

With Saoirse in one arm and his gun still pressed against me, we begin moving. My mind screams at me to fight, to run, to do something, but with Saoirse in his grasp, I can't risk it.

"Ciarán!" I call over my shoulder, my voice strained. "Dylan has a gun!"

The warning leaves my lips just as Dylan shoves me forward, breaking into a run while gripping Saoirse tightly. I stumble but keep my footing, spinning around to see Ciarán sprinting toward us, his face a mask of fury and fear.

"Caoimhe!" Saoirse screams, reaching for me as Dylan carries her away.

I lunge for her, but Dylan turns, aiming the gun at me now, no longer hiding it. "One more step and I shoot," he warns.

I freeze, my hands raised. "Dylan, please. She's just a child."

"She's coming with us," he says, backing toward the exit where I can now see a black car idling. "And so are you."

Ciarán is closing the distance, but he's still too far. Dylan reaches the car, yanking the back door open and tossing Saoirse inside. Her screams tear through me like physical pain.

"Last chance, Caoimhe," Dylan calls. "Come with us, or I leave with her alone."

The choice isn't a choice at all. With one last glance at Ciarán, I rush toward the car.

"Caoimhe, don't!" Ciarán shouts, but it's too late.

I slide into the backseat, immediately pulling Saoirse into my arms. Dylan slams the door shut and jumps into the front passenger seat.

"Drive," he orders, and the car peels away.

The last thing I see through the rear window is Ciarán's face, a mixture of rage and helplessness as he watches us disappear. But beneath it all, I see a promise—the same one we made when we swore to end this nightmare.