Page 126 of Mob Bride

“Tatum, I’ll kill you if you die on me. You fecking promised me a trip to the Maldives. I want that fecking little pod room in the water with the hammock. You promised.”

“I know,cailín. Finish killing them, then we go home. I’ll make it up to you while I book the trip.”

I glance at Shane before looking at Dillan. Their faces are fuchsia, and I don’t think it’s from running. I look at the other guys my age, and they’re all blushing. Ronan and Kieran don’t seem to notice, and neither do Breda and Saoirse. It’s only now I notice they have guns, too. Their purses are open beside them with half the contents of both on the ground.

I’m unprepared for Breda to spin on her toes and drop her weight on top of Shane, who virtually crushes me as I land on my back.

“Mom!”

Shane tries to twist, but I see a well-manicured hand on his head push it down. Then I hear a gun fire right above us and a casing falls next to my right shoulder. Another three land beside it.

“Stay down, Shane. Do as your mother says.” Ronan is brooking no argument from his thirty-two-year-old son.

“Mom, I’m squashing Carrie.”

The weight lightens, but only enough for me to take a deep breath. I can’t move.

“Pumpkin?”

“Yes, Dad. I’m all right. You? Mom?”

I try to turn my head to see them because they’re now behind me.

“Fine.” It’s my mom. Thank God.

I hear her speaking quietly to Ally. They’re talking about keeping pressure on Tate’s wound while Ally packs it with her sweater.

“Ronan, Kieran, get your brother out of here. Take Meredith and Ally.”

“Siobhan—” Tate’s voice sounds reedy.

“Exactly. Can you just do as you’re told for once,mo fhíorghrá?”

Shane whispers to me and explains. “My true love.”

The way he translates it. It makes me think…

“Ronan, do it. My sisters and I are fine. We’ll take care of the weans. Siobhan won’t stop yelling at him if you don’t.” Breda hasn’t moved from blocking Shane and me.

I sense the hesitation before Kiernan and Ronan crawl to their brother’s side because none of them want to leave their wives and children. Everyone knows the younger men won’t leave their wives, even though I’m certain Dillan wants to help his dad. I’m the only one trained to stand a chance defending us in this. Tate can’t move on his own, so he needs men strong enough to lift him. That means his brothers.

“Mair, take my spare.”

It surprises me how strong Tate’s voice suddenly sounds and that he’s telling his daughter-in-law to take his gun.

“Sean, we need to get the rifles.”

“Lina, stay down and let me cover you until we get there.”

Everyone shifts to fill the gaps as Kieran and Ronan pull, then lift Tate. My mom and Ally follow, and my dad goes with them. It shocks me to see he has a gun, too. What kind of fucked-up world have I entered?

Shane moves off me, and I sit up. Mair, Tiernan, and I are still inside the circle. Breda, Saoirse, and Siobhan are the ones most exposed. They’re shielding the rest of us. I watch Dillan take an elbow to his gut from Breda. All three of them will die before they let their children, nieces, and nephews be targets before them.

I roll onto my knees with Shane now facing away from me. I peer past him, scouting for movement. It’s quiet, but none of us believe it’s over.

“Seamus.”

Tiernan barks her husband’s name as I watch her raise her gun over Seamus’s shoulder before she pulls the trigger, lettingoff four shots in a row. Glass shatters, then a horn blares. I shift to look around Seamus, who’s easing his wife’s arms down.

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