Page 74 of Playing By Their Rules

“Angel,” Ethan says when he reaches us.

Chance frees his arm from my waist so Ethan can hold me. With the two of them here, I feel safe, like this nightmare is truly ending.

“What were you going to tell me, baby girl?” Chance asks.

“Um…” I don’t want to say it. I eye the other man, who seems familiar. It takes me a moment. Viking god comes to mind, and then his name pops into my head. Roman. “Hi, Roman,” I say. “It’s been a while.”

He nods. “I’m glad you’re okay, Maisie.”

“Is Ironwood on their way?” Chance asks.

Roman shakes his head. “I don’t think we need anyone else. Squid is on his way to pick us up, I pinged him with the walkie.”

“Who’s Ironwood?” I ask.

“It’s a security firm where I work,” Roman says. “We offer bodyguard and protection services, and we’ve been trained for situations like yours.”

“Mina needs us,” I say. “She’s not well. We cannot hurt her.”

Roman nods. “I understand.”

The headlights of a car illuminate the road next to us. I start toward it with the guys, forgetting that my leg is injured. The pain nearly causes me to stumble, but Chance and Ethan both reach out, steadying me. They don’t let me go for a moment after that.

“What happened to your leg?” Ethan asks as we get into the car, his voice a low growl.

“I had an accident on the porch,” I say. “The boards are rotten.”

Chance says, “Roman, where’s the first-aid kit?”

“Mina already cleaned and bandaged it,” I say. “She had bandages and antiseptic.”

Chance’s expression is dubious, but I hold firm.

“I’m one hundred percent getting a tetanus shot when we get back to town,” I say. “I promise. But let’s get Mina, first.”

Squid, a guy with red hair slightly lighter than Bradley’s, is driving. I give him directions to the cabin. When we pull up, he shuts off the engine. I open my door to go to Mina, but Ethan puts a hand on my knee.

“Wait, Maisie.”

I frown at him.

“You’re not going in there,” he says.

“Um, yes I am.”

As we sit there, both of us frowning at the other, the cabin door bangs open. I flinch and spin in my seat to look at what’s going on. Mina stands on the porch, facing the car, hands on her hips.

Her face crumples, mouth twisting in sorrow. “Maisie!” she screams. “Why?!”

Before I can do anything, she steps back inside the cabin and slams the door closed.

“Mina—” I start to jump from the car.

“Maisie, no,” Chance says.

“I’ll go in with Squid, and we’ll bring her to the car,” Roman says. “I promise, we’ll do it as gently as possible.”

“Let me,” I say. “Let me go in and talk to her.”

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