Page 35 of Cowboy
I grit my teeth. Being away from Dublin means being further away from intel about Caoimhe. But this is my brother. I need to be at his side in case things go south. I don’t want to go, but thankfully, Travis will keep trying to find her. “When are we heading out?”
“Tonight,” he says. “Pack a bag, Cowboy. You and Tank are heading to Spain.”
Fuck.
"Alright, I'll pack a bag and we'll head out. Do we have any more intel on The Revenant yet?"
Py shakes his head. "Not a fucking thing. These fuckers are sneaky as hell. I'm hoping this poker game will shed some light on it." He pulls in a ragged breath. "I know you'd rather be here, trying to find Caoimhe's whereabouts, but I need you with Bozo."
I nod, understanding the importance of going. "I'm on it, Py. I'll pack a bag and be ready to roll in an hour."
Pyro claps me on the shoulder. "Good man. And Cowboy? Keep your head in the game. I know you're worried about Caoimhe, but we need you to focus on The Revenant right now."
"I know," I say, trying to push down the guilt and worry. "I won't let you down."
As Pyro walks away, I head inside to pack. My mind races as I throw clothes into a duffel bag. I have so much to do but no time to get it done. I quickly send a text to Travis, letting him know I’m out of commission for a while. I know that while I’m gone, he won’t stop searching for her.
An hour later, I'm on my bike, following Tank as we head toward the airport. The night air is cool against my face, but I barely notice it. My mind is already in Spain, trying to anticipate what we might find there.
As we board the private jet Jer has arranged for us, I can't shake the feeling that this trip to Spain is going to change everything. Whether for better or worse, I'm not sure.
The plane takes off, and as I watch Dublin fade away below us, I silently renew my vow. I will find Caoimhe. I will bring down The Revenant. And God help anyone who stands in my way.
12
CAOIMHE
SIX WEEKS AGO
The sun beats down mercilessly on me as I watch Saoirse play. It's been almost a year since Saoirse and I were brought to this mansion that feels like a prison. It’s been hell. Absolute hell. I’ve been used and abused to the point I no longer recognize myself. I’m at the lowest I’ve ever been. There have been many times I’ve contemplated ending it all.
"Caoimhe," Saoirse calls, her voice bright as she runs toward me. "Look what I made!"
I force a smile as I turn to her, pushing down the ache in my heart. She's adapted to life here far too easily for my liking, but I can't blame her. She's just a child, and compared to her life before, this place must seem like heaven. She’s the reason I haven’t ended my life. I’m worried what’ll happen if I leave her behind. I’m not stupid; I know that once she gets older, she’ll end up just like me, and that’s not something I’ll ever let happen.
I’m still trying to find a way out of here, trying my hardest every damn day to come up with an escape plan. I almost made it out once, but I was caught. I was beaten so badly, I couldn’t see Saoirse for almost a month because I wasn't able to move.
"It's beautiful, sweetheart," I say, admiring the flower crown she's made. “Are you hungry?”
Saoirse was brought here to become a child for Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, but Saoirse wasn’t happy to leave my side, so during the day, I would be the one to watch over her, and when she went to sleep, that’s when Mr. Blackwood and his friends would have their fun.
Four months ago, Mrs. Blackwood died from a heart attack. Since then, the air in this mansion has changed. It’s tense and unsettling. Mr. Blackwood has become more volatile, his moods swinging wildly from one extreme to another. He's drinking more, becoming more violent. I've felt his rage, being on the receiving end of one too many of his violent outbursts. The rape is even more disgusting and violent than before. It's hard to pretend it's not happening, especially when he's leaving me with tears and in so much pain when he's done.
"Yes," Saoirse replies, her gaze darting between me and the house. Even though she's untouched, and she's in a better place than she was with her mam, she still feels the tension in the air.
"Well then, let's go get some lunch," I tell her, taking her small hand in mine. As we walk back to the main house, I scan our surroundings, always on the lookout for potential escape routes or weaknesses in security. But as always, the guards are vigilant, their eyes constantly roving over the grounds.
In the kitchen, Maria is preparing sandwiches. Her movements are stiff, and I can see she's favoring her left side. My heart aches for her, but I know there's little I can do to help.
"Here you go, little one," Maria says, handing Saoirse a plate with a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "And for you, Caoimhe."
As I take the plate, our eyes meet. I wish I could do more for her, for all the women trapped here. She's had four children during her time here, all of whom are boys, which was a relief for Maria, but it does mean that once they're old enough, they'll be taken from her. For right now, all I can do is focus on keeping Saoirse safe and finding a way out.
After lunch, Saoirse goes down for her nap, and I'm summoned to Mr. Blackwood's study. My stomach churns with dread as I make my way there. I know what's in store for me. I'm the one he comes to the most, the one he uses and abuses most often.
As I enter the room, the smell of whiskey hits me like a wall. Mr. Blackwood is slouched in his chair, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused.
"Ah, there you are, my dear," he slurs, gesturing for me to come closer. "I've been thinking about you all day."
