Page 20 of Three Irish Kings

I stalk toward the cottage and look up at the fairy lights strewn along the top of the door.

It’s a strange safehouse, the cozy home. Maybe they’re planning to kill me here.

My breath catches in my throat as I walk into the house, and I hate that I’m trembling.

I cross my arms over my chest, fighting back the tears that threaten at the backs of my eyes. I willnotcry in front of these lunatics.

“A-are you going to kill me?” I hate the stutter in my voice and hug myself tighter as the three men surround me, like predators coming in for their prey.

“No,” Dare says, while the other two remain silent. It doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.

“Then what do you want from me?”

Liam scoffs. “Cut the act, Maggie. We know who you are and what you’ve done.”

“Didn’t you hear me before? My name isIsla.”

“This is a waste of our time.” Liam doesn’t even look at me. “Get her back in the trunk. We’re taking her straight to Da.”

Dare holds his arms up. “Come on, man, think about it. You know what will happen the second we walk in there with her. Can you live with that?”

“I’m starting to think I can.”

Dare lowers his arms and shakes his head. “Why don’t we just keep her here for today? We can interrogate her.”

“Interrogate her? What else do you need to know other than she is atraitor, Dare?”

Dare huffs out a breath.

Oh. I’m indeepshit.

“The code, man. Remember?... Even Cillian abides by the code.”

Code? What code? AndevenCillian? What does that mean?

I glance over at Cillian, and he’s just standing there, shoulders stiff, looking into space. It’s like he doesn’t even know I’m here.

I scan my surroundings, trying to get my bearings.

I was in that trunk for what felt like hours, but it couldn’t have been. The moon is still high outside, and it was nearly midnight when I was taken.

The house is small, it looks like two bedrooms. There are two exits—the front door, which Cillian is standing near, and the back door where Liam and Dare are.

Essentially, there’s no way out.

They keep arguing, going in circles.

It appears Dare wants me to stay here. He doesn’t want me harmed or killed.

Liam wants me dealt with as soon as possible.

I guess I know where he stands on me retaining the ability to keep breathing.

And Cillian? Well, he clearly doesn’t give a shit about any of it.

I want to scream at them, tell them I’m Isla, a reporter. That I was only even at the stupid gala because of my story.

But would that help or hurt my chances?