Chapter 33

Tag

The night air is filled with the roar of our engine as Aiden pushes the Navigator to its limits through the winding streets of Dublin. The urgency is palpable, thick as the tension that hangs between us.

They've gone after Rose.

They'll pay for it, too.

I check my gun and my extra clips as we close the distance to Rose's quaint row house.

Aiden's grip on the steering wheel is iron-tight, his jaw set. As we approach Rose's house, the scene ahead spikes my adrenaline even higher.

There's an SUV idling in the driveway, likely planning to take Rose away in a quick snatch and grab.

Aiden's maneuvering becomes even more aggressive as he swings the truck into the driveway, blocking the other SUV from escaping. We don't even fully stop before I'm out, gun drawn, and racing toward the house.

The driver of the SUV scrambles out and makes it two steps before Aiden, calm and precise, takes him down with a single shot. The thud of the body hitting the pavement is sweet music to my ears as we press forward.

This won't go unnoticed.

The sound of gunfire has already alerted the force inside of our arrival.

Doesn't matter. They're all going down, anyway.

Aiden and I move through the shadows, our formation practiced and precise. The front door is open, the house dark. Our boots on the entrance floor are the only sound until the gunfire erupts again.

Aiden curses, aiming for the point of light flaring as guns discharge in the darkness. I do the same.

"Two in the living room!" I shout.

"Footsteps upstairs!" Aiden responds.

Without knowing how many are here, we hold our cover the best we can and take them down, one by one. Aiden curses, staggering to the side. A pained grunt escapes him as he clutches his shoulder, blood blossoming across the fabric.

Fucking hell.

I move to cover him when I'm knocked back by the impact of two shots to the chest. One minute I'm racing forward to cover my best friend and the next I'm flat on my back and trying to breathe past the crushing pressure of being shot.

My body armor absorbed the bullets, but the pain is intense. I gasp for air, trying to refocus as the shooters, thinking me down for good, move in to finish the job.

They're close now and when they move to stand over me, I lie still.

With a deep breath, I brace against the pain, my hand steady as I raise my gun. Two shots, quick and sure, and the threat is neutralized.

Silence falls again, heavy and absolute, broken only by my labored breathing and Aiden's low curses as he leans against the wall, his face pale but his eyes fierce.

"Are we clear?" I get out, my voice rough.

"I think so." Aiden pushes away from the wall to move the dead bodies off me so I can get up.

I curse when pain flares in my chest and take a moment on my hands and knees.

"Did your vest catch the lead?" Aiden asks.

"Yeah. Two to the chest. I'm whole. You?"

"I'll have a new scar through my shoulder, but I'll live. We need to get out of here."

Agreed.

With a firm hand gripping the banister, I pull myself up the stairs, my heart pounding. Focused on the back bedroom, I don't stop moving until I'm outside the door to the small panic room we installed for Rose.

"It's me, Rose. We need to get you out of here." I keep my voice as calm as possible, not wanting to spook her any further. There's a brief pause before the sound of locks disengaging, and then the door swings open.

Rose's face is pale, her eyes wide, but seeing me seems to bring her some relief. "Tag, are you all right, lad?"

"I've been better, but I've also been worse. Come on, let's get you to safety." I gently guide her by the shoulder, feeling her tremble slightly under my touch. We move quickly but cautiously down the stairs, the house now silent as a grave.

As we step outside, the flash of a dozen motorcycle headlights is momentarily disorienting. But then, Sean is off his bike and running up the lawn. "Are you all right, Rose?"

"Aye, lad. I'll be fine."

He hugs her, lifting her off her feet before setting her down and kissing the side of her head. Then he looks at me. "You're taking her back to the house?"

"Aye, until Mattie is taken out, that's the safest place. In the meantime, leave a couple of men here to clean up the bodies and identify as many as you can. I want to know if this was solely a McGuire hit or if any of the other families were involved."

Sean points to two of his men and they start with the guy on the driveway.

"The rest of you, back to the fight," I say. "You have a green light to take out anyone who causes trouble or even looks like they're going to cause trouble. I'm sick of this."

Sean lifts his chin. "What if it's one of the McGuire boys in person? How do we handle that?"

"If they're armed or acting out, take them out. Apparently, attacking family is a line they're willing to cross—so why are we playing nice?"

Sean turns to make sure the men from the MC heard that, his face set in grim determination. "You get Rose home and locked down. We'll take care of everything else."

Turning back, I guide Rose to the SUV, her steps faltering only slightly. Opening the passenger door, I help her inside, making sure she's secure and as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

Aiden is already in the driver's seat, and I circle around the back to get in beside Rose.

As we pull away, the scene behind us feels surreal. Rose has always been our family secret. Our godmother that stayed in the shadows and became our mother figure when Mam died.

How did the McGuires peg her as a target?

Did me bringing Laine here last week do this? If this is on me, I'll never forgive myself. Dammit. Why can't we catch a break?

At least we're going home, and I can spend a relaxing night with Laine, after all.