Page 69 of Guarding Salvation

Aoife shivered, partly from cold but mostly from the thought of her father’s imminent arrival. She’d never become immune to the fear he could incite in her. He was the man who’d taught her to ride a bike when she was six, and then beat her the following day for skinning her knee and marring her skin. He gave affection out like scraps of meat and for so many years she yearned for his love until she learned he didn’t know how to love anyone. Now it was merely fear and hatred she felt for him. “What will we do?”

“My people are setting up at strategic points around the castle, but I could do with Bram’s help.”

“Two minutes and this will be done.” Bram’s voice was firm, but his touch gentle as he finished wrapping her wrists in gauze.

She touched his forearm, feeling his strength as the muscle rippled beneath her fingers. “You should go, nobody knows this castle better than you.”

“I will as soon as I’m sure you’re okay.”

The worry for her was mixed in with what she knew was his guilt and she hated that he felt that way and needed him to understand. Turning she looked at Bás as she saw Lotus and the mystery man talking in hushed whispers as they left the room.

“Can you give us a minute, please?”

Bás watched her for just a second before he nodded and stood, clearing the room, and leaving just her and Bram.

“Bram, do you blame me for this mess I’ve dragged your team into?”

His frown deepened across his brow. “No of course not, this isn’t your fault. Doyle is sick and evil, and his failings are his own. Why would you ask me that?” He paced in front of the fire, running his hands in through his hair, but still not looking at her.

“Bram, please come sit down a second.”

Bram stopped and came to sit beside her, his thigh warm against her own in the warm, dry fleece pants she now wore thanks to Snow. Angling her body toward him she took his hand in her own and laid it against her cheek, watching his features soften with his feeling for her.

“Boyd wasn’t your fault, Bram, just like my father isn’t mine. It was a horrible set of circumstances, but it wasn’t your fault.”

“I killed his brother in cold blood. I beat him to death with my bare hands and got away with it.”

She knew he was trying to shock her, to push her away and it wouldn’t work. “Why?”

“Because he raped Lana.”

“Oh, Bram, do you really think I’d love you any less for defending your sister from the man who raped her? That I don’t know what it is to want someone evil dead? You didn’t kill because you suddenly decided it was a fun idea, you protected your family and I love you for it. I love all of you.”

His eyes lit up with love and desire she knew was never far from the surface when they were together. “I love you too, Irish. I don’t know what I did to deserve a precious jewel like you, but I know I don’t deserve you.”

“You do, Bram. We both deserve to be happy.”

Bram’s lips found her own in a sweet tender kiss that had her body heating in a way the fire never could. His hands caressed her scalp, holding her still for his kiss until she sighed against him as he pulled away. “I love you, Bram. Now go help your team figure out how to end this so we can look forward not back.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet. “We do this together as a team.”

Aoife grinned as she followed him out of the room and towards the noise and commotion in what she knew was his father’s old office. Bás looked across at them holding hands and winked at her, making her blush and Bram growled, making Titan laugh.

“Okay, now the love birds have their shit worked out, can we make a plan, please? It’s way too fucking cold up here for me.”

Bram stepped in front of the desk and began to layout the best positions around the castle. “We don’t have as much firepower as I’d like, but we have the tactical and skill advantage. As we know from the men Doyle sent before, they aren’t highly trained, rather they’re paid muscle. We have eyes in the village that will give us warning when they hit the area so nobody can sneak up on us and we have a good defensive position. If we use the tunnels inside the walls, we can corral them into this area here and take them out.”

Lotus crossed her arms as she looked at the map. “You want me to go high?”

Bram pointed to a tower on the west side near the gatehouse. “If you position yourself here with Hurricane on the ground with Titan, we can get in behind them. Bás and Snow, if you loop in here, we can herd them towards the central point. Myself, Rykov, and Aoife will be in the walls here and block off any escape. Watchdog, you have full overview. Doyle doesn’t walk out of here.” Bram looked at her then Bás, who nodded and took over.

“That’s a solid plan. As for the others, take them alive if you can but don’t put yourself at risk to do so. Remember, these men are evil, and we have a green light from the higher-ups to take this down.” Bás glanced at Rykov. “Are your men ready to go in Dublin as soon as we pull the cord?”

“Yes, everything is in position, and they’re awaiting my word.”

“And Popov is under control?”

“My men have that situation handled.”