Page 211 of Play Dirty (Brooklyn Dawn 1)

Even if my light was strongest with Lindsey, I’d found some on my own. I just didn’t choose to see it before. The darkness was easier to hold close.

I stepped closer and Kyle’s arm flew out, knife slashing at me. Jamie took her shot. The knife wasn’t on Lindsey anymore. Jamie’s booted heel smashed into the back of his knee. “Don’t come any fecking closer. I’ll—” He screamed and pitched forward.

I dove for Lindsey, tucking her into chest. The arc of Kyle’s knife sliced through my leather jacket and shirt to skin. It wasn’t a deep cut thanks to my motorcycle leathers, but it was enough that I swore.

Jamie got up and delivered a downward punch that would do any Irish street brawler proud. But Kyle and I had grown up on the edges of Dublin. A single punch would never put us down for long.

Kyle came up with a scream, his mouth full of blood as he backhanded her. She went down in a pile of blue-tipped hair and leather. She shook her hair out of her face and gave a war cry, springing up after him again.

“Jamie.” Lindsey’s cry was enough to throw her off.

I lurched to my feet, but not fast enough. Kyle grabbed Jamie by her hair and hauled her around until he could get her in a headlock. Jamie wasn’t drugged and slow as Lindsey. She twisted and stomped on his foot to get free.

Kyle held her still. He was wiry, but it was all ropey muscle from constant physical therapy for his ruined tendons from the accident.

I glanced back at Lindsey to make sure she was okay, and the distant wail of a siren made Jamie a little too bold. I could see it building in her wheeling eyes.

“Cops are coming, asshole. Didn’t think this through very well, did you?”

He wrestled her tighter against him. “I did, actually. It will take them forever to find this fortress. Why do you think I picked it?” He tucked the knife along her jaw. “Now stay still, wildcat. I don’t want to cut this pretty face.”

“Do it, I dare you. I’ll shove those fake ass blue eyes into the back of your skull, you freak.”

He dragged her wrist up and flexed it enough for her to cry out. “Or I could break this. Maybe cut the tendons along your hands. Guitar, right? Think you could still play?” His voice was cold and cruel. “Physical therapy is quite the anatomy lesson. I know just what and where to slice.”

“Enough. This is about us, Kyle. Stop bringing them into it.”

Lindsey got to her feet behind me. She was still swaying, but she steadied herself with my arm.

“At this point, I’ll have to take what I can get. A life for a life is what I wanted. This little wildcat will do. Lindsey’s best mate is good enough. Maybe even better. I can watch Lindsey’s face as I do it.”

“No.” Lindsey’s horrified voice broke. “Me. It’s me you want.”

“All so altruistic. It’s disgusting. All of it is your egos talking.” He dragged Jamie farther through the greenhouse to my skylight viewing patio. The overhead was still open from when Lindsey and I spent the morning there together. “Come on, darling. Maybe we should fly.”

“What? No.” Jamie fought and the wail of the sirens got closer.

Kyle lifted her off her booted feet and tossed her up on the half wall where I had hardier plants in huge stone boxes bookending the ledge. He scrabbled up the stone steps and wobbled a little before pinning her to the ledge with his foot on her neck. “Don’t worry, I’m not heartless. I can break her neck first.”

“You’re not going to get away from here.” Lindsey’s voice was shaky, but strong. “Please don’t do this.”

We followed him to the ledge.

“Stay back.”

“Please.” I could hear the tears in her voice. It stripped me down to the bone. My heart hammered in my ears and the wind of the night seemed to be roaring around us. She clutched at my arm.

“The object never really was to get away, duchess.” Kyle’s voice was so final.

I didn’t think.

I couldn’t.

Or I’d never have done it.

I lunged. I jerked his ankle up before it could crush Jamie’s windpipe and he pitched back. The lapis color of his eyes burned into me as he fell back. I reached for him, but saw Jamie rolling with his momentum.

She screamed as she started to slide. I grabbed onto her jacket and twisted until the material was cutting off my circulation, but I didn’t let go. She was half off the ledge. The ground was so very far away.

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