Page 178 of Three Irish Kings
Irene screams, and the sound fills me with regret.
Maybe there was another way to do this, but I’m desperate.
The guard outside drops his phone over the patio railing, his mouth open.
I try to ignore Irene’s whimpers and the tremor in my own voice. “Don’t move. Don’t call for help, don’t reach for your gun, or I’ll kill her.”
“Maggie, please,” Irene mumbles, and I grit my teeth, glaring at the guard.
He raises his hands, eyes narrowed.
I walk toward him, dragging Irene with me. She finally seems to realize what’s happening and tries to wrench away from me.
At first, I’m able to hold her, but I’m weak from the morning sickness and lack of sleep, and she manages to get away.
She sprints back into the house, and all I can do is pray she doesn’t immediately go to get her father. Or worse, Reese.
The guard reaches for his gun, and out of reflex, I hold out my hands
The letter opener finds its home at the throat of the guard, and I almost let it go as blood sprays all over my face and shirt.
I pull it out.
Blood spurts from the wound.
He claws at his throat, choking, and drops to the ground.
As he starts crawling down the stairs, I remain numb. Frozen.
This is my chance at freedom, but my body doesn’t obey me.
Run, Isla. Move.
I want to scream, I want to escape, I want to get the hell out of here.
But deep in the back of my mind a deafening mantra repeats in tempo with my heartbeat.
I just killed a man. I just killed a man.
Chapter Forty-Six
CILLIAN
I count downfrom thirty when we get Liam’s text.
We are parked in a hidden area close to the fence of Cormac’s property. It’s the easiest access point, though we are not quite at the back of the property, but rather to the side but close to the back.
We prepared for the cameras and sort of know the layout of the house, but we didn’t have time to get to learn guard rotations—when and where they go, who is where at what time, when the shifts change.
And the fact that I’m going in blind should worry me, should make me hesitate, but it doesn't. Because if I die today, it’ll be doing what needs to be done. It’ll be saving Isla and our baby, and that’s all right with me.
I just need to stay alive long enough to make sure she makes it out of that house.
Four… Three… Two…One…
I center myself and look at Dare.
Nodding, I open the SUV door and step out.
