Page 70 of Guarding Salvation

Aoife was confused as to who the mystery man was but suspected he might be the Russian Bratva contact Lotus had discussed.

“So, we’re all set?”

Bram looked down at his phone and she felt him brace. “Good, because they’re here.”

“Everyone, take your positions and keep the comms open. Watchdog, you have control.”

Aoife took the gun Snow and Bram had taught her how to shoot and followed the man she loved up the stairs, with the man called Rykov behind them so they could slip into the walls of the castle where wars and battles had been won and lost for generations. It was time to end this.

Chapter 29

The silence was deafening as she waited beside Bram for the fight to begin. Her belly in knots, her hands shaking, not with fear but with anticipation of this being over, whatever the outcome and she prayed fearlessly that it would be in their favour. She believed for the first time in years that it would be, but whatever happened she knew this was her last stand. She had no more running in her and she had no desire to run either.

She’d stand and fight beside this man she loved and who by some miracle loved her, and if she went down then so be it.

“Target is in sight.”

“Let them through, Lotus. I want eyes on Doyle.”

Aoife had never worn a comms in her ear before and the sound of a voice made her jump. The feel of Bram’s hand on her back steadied her nerves.

“I have Doyle in sight. He’s in a vehicle behind the lead car.”

She thought that was Hurricane she heard but the comm unit made it difficult to tell between him and Watchdog, as they both had deep baritones.

Bram looked down at a small handheld device and she could see the four cars roll into view exactly where Bram wanted them. The lights on the castle had all been extinguished so it looked abandoned, which was what they wanted Doyle to think so he’d relax his guard and get out of the car.

Looking over his shoulder she saw shadowed movement as men got out of the back two cars and began to walk toward the castle, heavy semi-automatic weapons hanging from their hands.

“Bás, Snow, are you in position?”

“Yes.”

“Lotus, Hurricane, Titan, take out the tires on the cars.”

Aoife tensed as the pops from the gunshots took out the tires and her father’s men began to fire. Shadow returned fire, taking out her father’s guards with little fuss. Suddenly an explosion rocked the foundations under her feet and her hands braced against Bram.

“What the fuck? Sitrep, now.”

“Explosion on the north side of the castle.”

Aoife felt anguish roil in her belly at the thought of the beautiful ballroom being damaged.

Bram gestured to Rykov to head back up toward the bedroom. “We need to get out of the tunnels in case the explosion has done structural damage.”

Back in the bedroom, Bram checked the screen on his device. “We got eyes on Doyle?”

“Negative. We lost sight of him when the explosion blew.”

“Fuck, someone find him.”

Aoife could hear Watchdog directing people in certain directions with Bás interjecting instructions.

“Snow’s been hit.”

Bás words were like ice-cold water being thrown over her body.

“Get her to the library and we’ll meet you there.”