Page 81 of The Twins

Another gunshot.

I jumped in Cillian’s arms. The sound abused my eardrums.

Cillian flicked his head around the stable door.

I tried to see across the yard, but it was so bright and I blinked rapidly struggling to focus.

“I’m gonna get you to the van, it’s not far.”

“But…?”

“It’s bulletproof,” he said, hoisting me up against his chest. “And this stable isn’t.”

And then he was running with me, racing past another stable and a wheelbarrow and then around the corner of the whitewashed wall into the shadows. Distant shouts rang out. Something was going on in the main farmhouse.

A large black minivan with dark windows sat facing the yard. The side door was open.

“Quick, scoot in.” Cillian sat me on a seat, and over his shoulder, he checked out the yard. He withdrew a handgun.

“Don’t leave me.”

“I…I’ll lock you in. I have to give Finn backup. Just lie down, I won’t be long, I promise.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah, we’ve got to get these scumbags, all of them.”

I couldn’t agree more.

He slammed the door, and a beep told me I was locked in. I hoped to hell it was bulletproof as I closed my eyes and curled into a ball.

* * * *

Finn

“What’s going down, Jamie?” I slammed my shoulder into the wall next to him and pulled up my mask.

He had his weapon poised on a closed door.

“Some asshole just fired at me and ran in there.”

“Just one guy?”

“Yeah, but there’s at least one more.” Dalton and Phil went after a big motherfucker.”

“Which way did he go?”

“Around the back, toward the barn.” He scoped the yard again. “You find her?”

“Yeah.”

“She okay?”

“She will be.”

“Good.” He jerked his head. “Let’s go.”

We stepped forward, guns aimed at the door. My heart was beating unusually fast for this kind of situation. I guessed it was from pure fury. These people had thought it was okay to take Rebecca—our beautiful, pure, delicate Rebecca who would never hurt anyone. I was incandescent with rage and I hadn’t had enough revenge yet.