Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Bryn
I can’t believe he broke up with me.
He’s ruined everything.
I knew this could never work out. I knew it. We come from rival clans. We’re star-crossed lovers, as it were, and no matter what, we can’t be together.
I know this now.
And yet…
The way he held me when he thought I was sick.
The way we’ve made love.
The way he laughs at my stupid jokes, holds my hand when I’m scared, the way he’s fought for me.
I can’t… it wasn’t all a hoax. I know it wasn’t.
I pace the chalet, acutely aware of the guard outside. I blindly swipe at tears that blur my vision, the knife in my heart twisting with every memory of what just happened.
I shake when I think about what I have to do. What will happen to him if he goes all the way to Paris without me?
Oh God.
Oh God.
My father’s expecting me to go. If I don’t… he’ll have someone take my place.
I have to stop him. I have to find him. If I don’t, Mac’s life is in danger.
Fuck, we’re all in danger.
How could he leave me?
I need to act, but I’m paralyzed with pain and fear.
He said he loved me. Then why would he do this? Why?
I’m not worthy of love. I feared it was true, and now I know it.
“He doesn’t love me,” I whisper to myself. “If he did, he wouldn’t have left me.”
Do I love him?
Can I love someone who doesn’t love me back?
Of course I can.
Of course I bloody well can.
I look around his chalet, the memories of everything he’s done and said while we were together playing in an endless loop, threatening to tear me in two.
I never knew what it was like to be loved. Not until Mac.
And if you love a person… you will do what’s best for them.
I need help. I have to save Mac, and I need help.
I walk to the door and grab the handle, only to find it locked.
He left me here.
I wring my hands, trying to think of what to do.
I shake, looking around me, and pull out my mobile. No texts. My father doesn’t know yet, then. If he sees Mac went to Paris without me, he’ll think I betrayed him. If he thinks I’ve betrayed him, he’ll send someone else after Mac.
I look out the window and see the men out there. Jesus, how can I get past them? I pace, looking about the room for a weapon, but there's nothing here I can use. I need help. I don't know who to go to. I don't know how.
Maybe I can sneak out through the bedroom window?
My phone buzzes. Another message from my father.
Dad: He’s expecting Mademoiselle Black to show at midnight at the bar. Mademoiselle Black will be dressed appropriately in all black with a silver bag. You’ll act this part. He’ll know it’s you when he sees you.
Easy enough, then. I grab a little black dress from a hanger and slip it on. My black heels will do as well. I grab a silver clutch and my mobile and peek out the window. No one’s there.
I pry it open as far as it goes, yank his end table over to me, and use it to give me enough height to get out.
It’s low enough to the ground I can make it.
I throw my heels out first, then quickly shimmy out the window and slither to the ground.
From here, I can run up to the main house. I need help. I hope the girls will be there.
I run up the hill, and when I’m halfway there, I hear a shout behind me. They’ve seen me. Goddammit, my time is so fucking limited I don’t know what I’m going to do next.
I run faster, get to the kitchen door, and pound as hard as I can on it, praying someone will hear me.
What if one of his brothers answers the door?
The door’s yanked open, and Islan stands there, her eyes wide with surprise. She sees the men chasing me over my shoulder.
She snorts. “Oh, God, love, what’d you do now?”
She yanks me inside and shuts and locks the door behind her. She rolls her eyes. “Won’t keep them away for long, but why are you here, love?”
“I don’t have time to explain everything, but you need to trust me.”
She looks at me suspiciously. It's then that I notice the women sitting at the large butcher block table in the kitchen. Flora, Nan, and Paisley hold steaming mugs, all eyes on me.
"Come over here, lassie," Flora says, unperturbed. “Tell us what the matter is.”
The door’s nearly being broken down by the barbarians chasing me. They’re pounding and yelling.
Islan rolls her eyes. “I’ll sort them out.”
She opens the door and one nearly shoves past her. She feigns falling back.
“Back the fuck up!” she shouts. “If I tell your Captain you knocked me over, there’ll be hell to pay!”
“She ran away!” one of the blokes says, wagging a finger my way.
Flora sets down her teacup and fixes him with a superior look. Her tone is haughty. “Ran away from what? You’re acting as if she’s a wee bird that flew the nest. But she’s hardly running away. She’s standing here in the Cowen Clan kitchen, plain as day.”
“Mr. Cowen said to keep her safe at his home, and she snuck out,” one of the lads says, frowning with a surly look on his face.
Flora stands with her hands on her hips. “She’s hardly going to harm anyone standing here in my kitchen. Now you two go on, we’ll take it from here.”
They give each other a look, and Flora scowls. “If you don’t leave here immediately, I’ll call Mr. Cowen and you can explain your disobedience to him.”
They still don’t leave, so she pulls out her mobile. “Fine, then, I’m sure Leith will love that I’m waking him up.”
“No, ma’am, we’ll go on, just need to make sure it’s alright with Mac is all.”
She rolls her eyes and starts to dial. “Mac’s on his way to the airport.”
“No, ma’am, we’ll take our leave, then,” one of them says.
They leave, and Islan gives her an approving look. “Oh, Mum, love it when you play hardball,” she says with a grin.
“Aye, so do I,” Paisley says.
Flora smiles and looks my way. “Now, Bryn, come over here and tell us what’s the matter.”
I have to trust them. I have to.
I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how to say it. In one rushed breath I blurt out, “You need to help me get to Paris.”