Page 67 of Stay, Swear.

She moves to the middle point from us to them and puts her hands out. “I’m halfway there, Robert. Let them go.”

Robert and David move in sync with Ryan and Carrie, who are protesting and begging Phoenix to turn back, to save herself. But if you know anything about Pigeon, you know that’s not her style. Once they’re within arms length distance of her they push their hostages in our direction. Robert goes to make a move for Phoenix, the same time David brings the butt of his gun down on the side of Phoenix’s head. That’s the catalyst that has everything happening at once.

Phoenix shakes her head, and pulls a gun out from her waistband. Where the fuck did she get that, and how the fuck is she still standing right now? She aims and fires, shooting Robert right in between the eyes. At the same time David aims and takes a shot, but I don’t see where it hits. In thenext second I fire off a shot, and David drops to the ground with a gaping hole in his chest. Because I’m not one to leave things to chance, I approach him slowly, kicking the gun as far away from him as possible. Then like the true cold and calculated made man I am, I double tap him, right between the eyes. Never take my preference of staying behind a computer for my lack of skills in action. I was trained just as hard as my brothers, by the same man.

A scream so piercing it causes me to have to holster my gun and cover my ears, has me turning around, to see something that will haunt me for the rest of my life. Kieran’s laying on the ground, blood seeping from his chest. Phoenix is kneeling beside him, her hands covered in his blood, while yelling for him to answer her and just repeating over and over again, “You have to stay, you swore!”

35

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kieran

I’m cold, shit. I have that same feeling I did when I laid on the floor of The Pit that night I was stabbed. Blinking my eyes open I look around. Where am I? What is this? I’m laying in my room but it looks different, everything is just a little off. The door to my room flys open and in walks my Ma. I have to be dreaming, right? There’s no way the five foot three, auburn hair, bright green eyed woman standing and staring at me in shock is my Ma.

She looks just as shocked as I do when she turns and yells over her shoulder, “Aidan? You need to get in here.” Turning her attention back to me she chokes out, “Kie?”

The same time I force out, “Ma?” I jump out of the bed and run over to her scooping her up in my arms. I’m not cold anymore.

We stand there embracing each other until the voice of myDa rumbles through the room, “A leanbh, what are you doing? You can’t be here.”

Untangling myself from my Ma, I turn to my Da who pulls me into a tight hug. After a moment he pulls back, confusion and hurt laced in his expression, “You can’t be here yet, my boy. You have to go back.”

“What are you talking about? I can’t go anywhere? I don’t know how to? I want to stay with you guys.”

My Ma smiles fondly at me, “Oh baby, you’ve grown so much. You have a sweet nephew, more to come, a soon to be wife, and eventually your own kids to get back to. You have the sweetest heart, you always have. You have to go love them the way Da and I would if we could.” I start to tell her that I don’t have any of that except a nephew but Da cuts in before I have the chance.

“You have that girl, Nix. You have to go back to her, she needs you a leanbh. We’ve seen you. You love her like Rowan does Clara, like I do your Ma. Go back to her son.”

“How? You keep saying to go back but aren’t saying how.”

“You know how, Kieran. Leave and go to her.” He grips the back of my neck and pulls me into his embrace again.

“What if I want to stay here with you guys?” My heart is torn, I’ve missed my parents so much, I can’t leave them again. At least I don’t think I can.

“We will never make you leave, this is your choice. We just want you to consider who you’re leaving behind to stay here with us.”

This is an impossible decision, and I don’t want to make the wrong one. Maybe I’ll just stay here a little longer, I’m not ready to be cold again.

36

Chapter Thirty-Six

Phoenix

The empty waiting room that the staff brought us to is freezing. Seats that are too hard line the walls, leaving the middle of the room completely bare. The three older Byrne brother’s have congregated along the back wall. Heads drawn down and low whispers exchanged between them. I’m too far away to hear what they’re saying and honestly I don’t care to know. My back is to the wall closest to the door, my mom on my left, and Clara on my right. One of Kieran’s hoodies dwarfs my body, and I sit with my legs drawn up and my head resting on my knees. My head is killing me, the lights hurt them, and I just want Kieran.

Rowan keeps looking over here. I’m sure it’s at Clara who’s holding a sweet sleeping Rhett. We haven’t been here long, but we know it’s going to be a long night. I know I’m in shock, the dead feeling in my heart tells me as much. My mom rubsmy back as we sit here like she used to when I first came to live with her and would have nightmares. God, how I wish this was a nightmare. Rowan’s head comes up again, this time his eyes lock with mine, making my stomach drop.

They’re talking about me, I’m sure about how all of this is my fault. What am I even doing? This is my fault, that’s his family. They don’t want me here. I should leave, but even as I think it I can’t force myself out of this chair. I just need to know he’s okay, I need to know he’s alive, then I’ll leave. Taking the hood of Kie’s sweatshirt, I pull it over my head and cry silently into my arms that are resting on my knees.

I’m not sure how long I stay like that, but eventually I feel warm calloused hands take mine and pull gently on them, looking up I’m caught off guard by medium green eyes, and shaggy hair. Allowing him to pull me into a standing position he wraps me up in his arms. They feel safe, not Kieran level safe, but safe enough to lose my composure. My hands fist Mac’s shirt as my knees buckle causing him to have to tighten his grip on me to keep me from crumbling to the floor. Feeling his tears begin to soak the top of my head, we just stand here and cry into each other. The only noise in the empty room is our sniffles and ragged breaths.

We’ve finally stopped falling apart enough for Declan to force Mac and I in a hospital chair made for two people. My head leans on his shoulder as I find the strength to murmur what I’ve been scared to voice.

“I’m so sorry.” It’s just loud enough for the three older boys to hear me.

Dec grips the back of my neck in a reassuring squeeze, “Sorry for what Pigeon? This isn’t your fault.”

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