Page 127 of Mob Bride

“Let Lina in.”

Sean’s voice is a harsh whisper. Nikki—I thought that was her name—maybe Lina’s a Sean only thing like Carrie is only Shane’s—commando crawls between Seamus and Shane. She has a rifle set on a tripod. She tilts her head, bringing her cheek close to the weapon, so she can use the sights.

I watch her inhale before her finger squeezes the trigger with the practiced hand of someone who knows it doesn’t take as much force as people assume to fire a weapon. I watch my sister-in-law—the sniper—pick off men at a distance that practically defies the gun’s capabilities. She’s better than anyone I’ve ever seen. She spots men I couldn’t until I watch them fall.

“Come on, Carrie. We move now before we get pinned down and can’t get out.”

Shane helps me to my feet, and we’re all running again. I notice an SUV is gone. I spied it earlier among town cars, two limos, and another SUV. My parents, Ally, Ronan, Keiran, and Tate must have taken it.

Men run toward us, their guns drawn, but no one in my new family aims at them. One of them runs to Dillan, wrapping his arm around Mair as Dillan does the same.

“They circled us. We have a way out now, but that’s why we couldn’t come to you.”

“We know, Joey. Get Greta in the car with my mom. Take them home.”

“Dill—”

“No, Greta.”

Greta? Is that like Nikki’s Lina, and I’m Carrie?

“Dill—”

“No. You’re pregnant. You aren’t staying here.”

Mair squeaks. “Dillan.” She hisses his name.

“Woops. Now get in the fecking car.” He sounds utterly unrepentant. I guess that wasn’t something they were sharing yet.

“Mair, let’s go.” Siobhan pushes her daughter-in-law toward a town car.

“Only because you need to get to Tate, and it’s not about me anymore. Dillan, I swear.”

“I know. You aren’t raising our baby alone. I love you,cailín.”

I can’t keep up with what’s happening as I’m bundled into a limo with Breda, Nikki, Saoirse, and Tiernan. None of the men get into this one or any other.

“Shane!” I try to get out.

“Go, Carrie.”

“Shane!”

“Go to her.” Seamus calls out as he and Cormac step in front of Dillan.

My God. They’re not his cousins anymore—or maybe they’re not just his cousins anymore. They’re guarding their mob boss. I don’t doubt any of them would take a bullet for each other, but they’re purposely making themselves the target. I glance at Tiernan, who’s buried her face in her hands and won’t watch.

“Carrie, I need you to go with them. I need to know you’re safe. I can’t do this if I don’t.”

“I feel the same. Please, don’t make me go.”

“This won’t end here, Carrie. You can’t go where I likely will. I love you.”

He leans into the car and kisses me.

“I love you, too. What kind of frosting do you like?”

He grins. “Cream cheese, little one.”

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