Page 105 of Godless Saints

I left the bike in the trees and moved fast, phone already in my hand. Lorcan answered on the second ring.

“Two SUVs at the cottage,” I said. “Tell me it’s you.”

“Nope. Not me, brother. Fuck. I’ll send whoever’s closest right now. I’ll be there soon. Do not go in alone, Cillian—”

I hung up. There wasn’t time to wait. Moon was inside with them.

I slipped through the trees, gun already in my hand, rain soaking through my jacket, every thought narrowing to Moon inside that cabin.

If they touched him…

The front door was hanging off its hinges. I stepped inside and the world went dead silent.

Moon was on his knees in the middle of the room. Naked. Wrists zip-tied behind his back. Fresh red marks on his jaw. The bruises I’d left on his hips and thighs last night were still dark and glaring under the harsh light. Ronan Carrick stood behind him, one hand resting on Moon’s bare shoulder. Four of his men spread through the cabin, guns lowered but ready. Everything else disappeared. Ronan smiled when he saw me.

“Well, if it isn’t the Ashbourne pup,” he said. “Come to collect your little Korean toy?”

Moon’s head snapped up. His eyes met mine. He looked terrified, but alive.

I raised my gun and shot the guard on the left in the shoulder. He dropped screaming.

The second guard lunged. I met him halfway, elbow smashing into his face, knee driving hard into his ribs. He swung back, fist cracking into my side. Pain exploded through my ribs. Something cracked. I didn’t stop.

Headbutt. His nose shattered. Spin. Fire. Grazed his leg. He went down.

Ronan pulled his gun.

“Get the fuck off him!” I roared.

Two strides and I reached Moon. Knife out. I caught his bound wrists and sawed at the zip tie. Ronan grabbed my collar and yanked me backward. The blade slipped. Moon hissed. Blood welled along his side. Fuck.

Ronan’s fist cracked across my jaw mid-struggle. The world tilted. He shoved me straight into the next guard. Pain exploded across my ribs. I drove an elbow back, fighting to keep Moon in my sight. The second his hands were free I shoved him toward the back door.

“Run!”

But Moon didn’t run. The stubborn bastard snatched the knife I’d dropped, eyes wild, and staggered back toward the fight, still completely naked except for those stupid black socks.

“Cillian, behind you!” he snapped.

A gunshot cracked. Pain seared across my left arm, a burning graze. I spun and tackled the last guard, smashing his head into the floor until he stopped moving.

Ronan had his gun trained on me now, smile gone.

My shoulder was already screaming. One more second and he was going to take the shot.

Then the cavalry arrived.

Four Ashbourne men burst through the broken door. Guns up. Ronan’s remaining man was disarmed in seconds.

Ronan’s face twisted with fury.

A moment later, Lorcan stepped inside, rain dripping from his coat. Taller than me. Broader. The kind of face that made people step aside without being told. He took one look at the scene and laughed.

“Well, isn’t this fucking embarrassing,” Lorcan said. “You brought two cars and four men to terrorize a naked college kid because Cillian hurt your little brother’s feelings? Pathetic, Ronan. Even for you.”

Ronan’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t over, Ashbourne.”

Lorcan stepped closer, towering over him, voice dropping to a whisper.