Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Erin
I never thought I’d be the kind of girl to demand to be invited to an execution, but here we are.
I guess I’m not as afraid of being a part of a mafia as I thought.
Maybe the trick is in which one you choose.
We’re back at the bar, and I’m outside, guarded by our military and Lucian.
He said he’ll let me watch close up.
Rory is going to die today. And like father, like son, no one will miss either of them. And knowing they’re both gone? I’ll sleep a little easier. No one will ever come looking for Ryan, and Ryan doesn’t need to know the kind of blood he carries—at least not on his father’s side.
The Hoax doesn’t realize we’re here. If they caught wind of any of us going into that bar, we’d be targeted. So, we’re hidden in the dark shadows among the thick trees.
Gregory is browsing a bookstore down the street. He has no idea that Bayne’s men are following him, keeping him safe. Lucian wanted him close by, but unaware of what was really happening here at the bar.
I’m not sure how much longer Lucian will be able to control what Gregory sees. When I look at his younger brother, I not only see a spitting image of Lucian, but I also see a man who, despite his education and intelligence, is lonely and longing for family.
For his brother.
Bayne holds one hand in the air. It’s the signal. Rory is leaving the bar.
Time to enact the plan. It’s complicated, yet simple.
We wait till the man has to pee, then abduct him.
Apparently, he has a thing about public bathrooms and only pees outside, out back of the bar, at the tree line.
Bayne signals to our right. Rory must be exiting from that door. We prepare to move closer.
Lucian grabs my arm, pulling me back.
“No. Not you.”
I stand in the woods beside him, watching as half move forward, and half remain back with us.
I turn to him. Slowly. “You said I could watch close up.” Some sick part of me wants to smell blood.
“No chance,” he says, teeth locked. “You can watch from here.”
“But I can’t see anything.” I crane my neck, waiting for the door to open, the sliver of light to reveal Rory.
I need to know they are both dead and gone.
“It’s enough that you get to be here,” he hisses.
“You lied,” I hiss back.
He turns to me, flashing a white-tooth smile in the night. “It’s about time. It was my turn to lie, don’t you think?”
“Fine.” He gives me a look, like I’m being childish. I quickly add, “I know you’re only trying to protect me.”
“Good girl.”
“And thanks. For doing this. Add it to the list of IOUs up there with saving me from the Morettis, Caleb and—”
“Yourself,” he says.
“Funny.” I admit, “but true.” I cross my arms over my chest, a sudden chill going through me.
Something doesn’t feel…right. I’m being silly. I’m attending a murder. Of course, things feel off. But the hairs on my arms stand on end under my coat.
I glance around.
“These woods are spooking me. Can we move in closer?”
He looks at me. Sighs. “Fine. But on the other side.”
We move towards the building, but to the left, away from Rory.
Bayne comes up from nowhere, whispering into Lucian’s ear. Lucian’s entire body tenses beside me.
“What?” I whisper.
His words are pained. “They can’t find Gregory.”
“No…” My heart sinks into my stomach. I grab his hand, holding it tight. “They’ll find him, Lucian—”
The side door opens. Rory steps out.
Gregory appears from nowhere. Coming around the left side of the bar, to the back, on the opposite side of us. He’s followed Lucian, putting himself in danger.
I elbow Lucian, whispering, “There!”
“Shit.” His voice breaks. “Gregory.”
Everything happens all at once, but also in slow motion. To the right, our men jump on Rory. To the left, there’s a slamming of a truck door. My head snaps toward the sound.
A man with a gun creeps around the side of the truck. Gregory, painfully unaware of his presence, walks towards the tree line, looking for us.
The man trains the barrel of the gun on him.
And I know what Lucian’s seeing. I know this part of his story by heart. He’s seeing Gregory standing where Isobel once stood, where he shouldn’t be.
Where he doesn’t belong.
And now he’s going to get killed.
And break Lucian’s heart all over again.
Just. Like. Isobel.
And in this moment, time stands still. The world shrinks.
I know what it feels like to see your sibling lying in a pool of blood, the one you’ve given everything to try and protect.
And I won’t let that happen to Lucian.
There is no other way. The time is now.
I cry out, drawing his attention as I run out from the woods.
And I throw myself in front of Gregory.
There’s a loud sound, an echo, shouts. Then, silence.
And I’m somewhere else.
The moors stretch out around me, showing their friendly summer face, all sunshine and warm grass.
Cass grins and tucks the final stem into the halo. She presses the flower crown onto my head until it stays, a purple circle of heather against my dark hair, then sets hers on her light brown, unruly hair that refuses to lie flat.
She slides her hand into mine.
“Ready?” she asks, eyes bright.
“Always,” I say, because I’m always up for a Cass adventure.
And then she stands.
We spin in the grass until the world smears into green and gold. Our skirts flare, showing off our bare, scraped knees. A bee bumbles past. I scream, Cass laughs, and it keeps flying,
We’re not worth the trouble today.
Cass laughs—a clear bell of a sound—and I hold her hands tighter, twirling harder to hear her laugh again.
Our crowns tilt and slide, askew on our heads. I stare up at her, adoring her.
“Don’t let go,” she orders, bossy as a queen.
“Never,” I promise, dizzy and delighted. “Never.”
Cass squeezes my hand, but when I open my eyes, she’s not there. When the darkness recedes from my vision, I don’t know how much time has passed.
“I won’t let go…”
“Erin? Erin!” Lucian’s voice breaks through.
The ground is under me, Lucian is over me, and it’s his hand holding mine. I’m not sure what's going on, but he looks worried.
I place a hand on his cheek to soothe him. “Lucian.”
“You’re hurt, but you’ll be okay. I’ll make damn sure of it,” his voice is steadfast devotion. “We’ve got help on the way.”
My right side burns something fierce. I look down. Blood soaks through my shirt, but not as much as I expected, considering the pain.
“Tis but a flesh wound,” I say, wanting to take away his worry.
“What?” He grabs my hand in his.
“Ask Cass.” I close my eyes, moaning in pain. “Yeah, you’re going to need more than the mafia to save you when my sister finds out.”
“So are you,” he says.
I try to laugh but it hurts. “True.”
“Now stop talking. For once in your life, please. Be good. Just lie still and be good.” He leans over, stroking my hair softly, kissing my lips like I’m a fairytale princess and his kiss will save me from all of this.
In perfect contradiction to his soft kiss, he shouts at no one in particular, “Can that damn ambulance get here any faster?”
Tired, I smile, closing my eyes.
“Erin. Stay with me.”
“I have been with you, Lucian.” My eyes flutter open. “Since that very first night I met you.”
“God—” his voice breaks.
“I’ve been with you,” I murmur, “as long as I’ve loved you. From the very first night.”