Page 56 of Guarding Salvation

“No problem.”

His old friend slipped into his role of doctor, one which he’d wanted since he was a boy and got to work. Aoife didn’t even flinch when the needle went in, he was the one that looked away when Marcus made the small cut and removed the chip. Marcus popped it into a little test tube and glued the wound closed before putting a small dressing over it.

“There you go, all done.”

Bein shook his hand. “Thank you, friend.”

“My pleasure, and it was nice to meet you, Debbie. Make sure you keep this one on his toes.”

Aoife beamed and you had to be dead not to feel the effects of her smile. “I will and thank you again.”

“No problem. Don’t be a stranger, Bram.”

“I won’t.”

Bein knew that was a lie. Not because he didn’t want to stay in touch but because he couldn’t, and he sensed Marcus knew it.

Marcus drew the curtain as he left, and Bein helped Aoife pull her joggers up to cover herself.

“Ready to get out of here?”

“Hell yes.”

Bein pocketed the test tube, knowing they’d need to analyse everything they could to find out where they stood and how much information Doyle had received.

Snow and Titan met him at the exit and flanked them as they walked to the car with Aoife moving slower because of her crutches. That she used them so proficiently made him furious. The only way a person was an expert with crutches was if they’d used them a lot, and he knew the reason she had was her evil father.

When he got his hands on him, there’d be no mercy. Men like him didn’t deserve it. He’d thought long and hard about what Titan had said and he was at peace with ending her father’s life to free Aoife from his hold.

When they got back to the castle, he helped Aoife up to the room they were now sharing and settled her on the bed. He left Lana and Mrs Murrel fussing over her and with a kiss on her head, went to brief his team.

The small, dream-like respite they’d had was over and instead of hiding, he wanted them to go on the offensive and hunt Doyle down. Snow and Titan were waiting for him in his father’s old office which still had the lingering scent of cigar smoke. This time though, it didn’t cause him upset but made him more resolute in what he had to do. It was time to be Bein, not Bram.

Chapter 23

Bram pulled away from the kiss with Aoife knowing that if he continued, he wouldn’t leave. He was loathe to leave her already, but he had no choice, the team needed to meet face to face and have a proper plan in place to end Doyle. He knew from the information he had that Doyle was safely in Ireland and the castle was protected.

Rory had assured him he wouldn’t leave Aoife unprotected and Bram trusted him with his life and the lives of those he loved. After all, nobody loved harder than Rory and Lana.

“I need to go or I’ll crawl back into bed with you.”

It was early, only four in the morning, and the cover of darkness would work in everyone’s favour for the four-hour journey.

“Be safe, Bram.”

“Just say inside the castle.”

Aoife lifted her leg tempting him and he let his hand run over the silky skin. “As if I can do much else.”

He’d learned over the last twenty-four hours that Aoife didn’t like being cooped up and was a terrible patient. “It’s a good job you’re sexy because you’re a pain in the arse as a patient.”

Aoife huffed but he could see her smile in the light from the fire. “Be gone. Stop bothering me and go be manly and save the world.”

Bram left, taking the stairs silently to meet Snow and Titan at the back door.

Rory was waiting with them, and Bram shook his hand. “Thanks, brother.”

“We’re family, Bram, that’s what we do.”