Page 71 of Cowboy
He will find us. And this time, Dylan won't escape justice.
As the car speeds away from the park, away from safety, away from Ciarán, I hold Saoirse tightly against me. She's crying, confused and frightened. I whisper soothing words; promises I'm not sure I can keep.
"It's going to be okay, love. Ciarán will find us."
Over her head, I meet Dylan's eyes in the rearview mirror. My brother—my flesh and blood—stares back at me with a coldness that chills me to the bone.
"He can try," Dylan says with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "But this time, the game is mine."
I say nothing, just hold my daughter closer. Dylan may think he's won, but he's forgotten one crucial detail—I'm not the same broken woman they dragged from that shipping container. I've changed. I've hardened. And if it comes down to it, I will kill my own brother to protect this child.
As we leave Dublin behind us, I make a silent vow. This isn't the end of our story. It's just another chapter. And I refuse to let Dylan write the conclusion.
23
COWBOY
I watch helplessly as the car speeds away, taking Caoimhe and Saoirse with it. Fury and fear battle inside me, but I force them both down. Emotions won't help now. Action will.
"Cowboy!"
I turn to see Pyro racing toward me, his face grim. He must have been nearby, watching. This is what the club does. What my brothers do!
"Dylan took them," I manage, my voice raw. "Black sedan. Heading east."
Pyro's already on his phone. "We need a lockdown. All roads out of Dublin. Now." He barks into the receiver, then looks at me. "The brothers are mobilizing. We'll find them."
But I'm already moving, sprinting toward my bike parked just outside the park. Pyro catches up, grabbing my arm.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" he demands.
"After them."
"You don't even know where they're headed."
I shake him off, my voice deadly calm. "I know Dylan. I know how he thinks." I pull out my phone, opening an app. "And I put a tracker on Caoimhe's phone weeks ago. For exactly this scenario."
Pyro's eyes widen slightly. "Smart."
"I wasn't taking any chances. Not after losing her once already." I check the phone. The signal is moving steadily away from the city. "They're heading toward Wicklow."
"The mountains." Pyro nods. "Perfect place to disappear."
I swing my leg over my bike. "Call Travis. Tell him what happened. And tell the brothers to hang back. This is personal."
"The hell I will," Pyro growls. "You're not doing this alone, Cowboy."
"I have to," I say, starting the engine. "Dylan's unstable. If he sees a pack of bikers coming, he'll panic. He'll kill them both before we can reach him."
Pyro curses, but I can see the understanding in his eyes. "At least take this." He hands me his backup piece, a 9mm Glock I know he keeps pristine. "And for fuck's sake, we'll be following behind you."
I nod, tucking the gun into my waistband. "Okay."
"The second you have them," Pyro emphasizes, "we'll be right there. Any sign of trouble, you wait. That's an order."
"Understood."
It's a lie, and we both know it. But Pyro lets me go anyway, watching as I tear out of the parking lot.
