Chapter 41

AUGUST 13 – SATURDAY 3:00 PM

R en

Lip knew that something was up with the way he clung to Myles's neck. It was breaking my heart, and I knew that not too long from now, it would be my arms wrapped around him, not wanting to let go.

"What's wrong? Ya loved it here last year," Myles said as he coaxed the teary-eyed Lip from around his neck.

"I don't want you to leave," Lip said, and I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Ya know I have to go to school, too, and yer too young to come with me. But I promise that I'll visit all the time."

Lip looked at him skeptically. "Every day?"

Myles laughed. "Naw, I can't be comin' every day, but I'll try for every week. How's that?"

I had to cover my mouth to stop from bursting out laughing as Lip crossed his arms like a little tyrant negotiator. "Can Ren come?"

Myles glanced up at me and then nodded. "Aye, we'll try to make that happen, but I won't promise every week."

"Fine…I guess." The dramatic sigh and eye roll did me in, and I snickered and had to cover it up with a cough. "I'm fine," I said as they looked at me. Lip wrapped Myles up in a hard hug all over again. "I love you," he said, and I was back to tears.

"I love ya, too, Bud. Now, go see yer friends and have fun."

Lip held his arms out to me, and I gave him a big hug before he turned and sprinted along the path to the teacher waiting by the door. As Lip clasped the teacher's hand, he looked back, his small arm raising in the air in an exaggerated wave. We waved back, and just like that, Lip stepped inside the prep school that would keep him safe until summer once more.

"Fuck, that was harder than I thought it was gonna be," Myles said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. I tilted my head up to stare at him, his eyes finding mine. "And it's only gonna get worse from here."

"We gotta go," Nash yelled from the car, and Myles grumbled something under his breath.

We walked toward the four vehicles waiting for us. We'd decided it was safest to create as much confusion as possible for anyone possibly following us. I arrived in Nash's car with Myles but would be heading back in Blake's car with the blacked-out windows. Nash was taking Myles to the jet while Theo and Liam were going to act as decoys when we left the property. We'd seen a couple of police cars, but so far, none of them seemed to be interested in us.

"Gimmie two minutes, man," Myles said, and Nash looked as put out as Lip had but got into his car and closed the door.

Picking up my hand, Myles ran his thumb over the class ring he'd given me. "One day, I'll make that a real diamond," he said before dropping his lips to mine.

"How about we just worry about you coming back from wherever you're going in one piece," I said as we broke the kiss but kept our foreheads touching.

"I'll be fine."

"You still refuse to tell me what you need to do?"

He shook his head. "It's better that I don't. The less ya know, the safer for everyone. But remember that whatever ya hear…just…." I put my finger on his lips.

"I know, and I understand that you didn't have a choice. It was either this or death."

"Aye." He still looked worried. What did they task him with that would have him this nervous over what I would think? It was going to send me down a rabbit hole, chasing my tail and more stressed than I already was, so…I chose to trust him. Having him alive was all that mattered. "I'll come back as soon as I can, but it may not be until school starts."

"I'll be fine. Just be safe."

The wind picked up and blew my hair across my face. Myles smirked, the look warming me to my toes. He smoothed my hair back as his amber eyes bore into mine.

"A stór mo chroí," he said.

"What does that mean?"

He kissed my lips softly and stepped back. I had the same urge as Lip to wrap my arms around his neck and refuse to let go.

"I'll tell ya when I get back." Opening the passenger door, we stared at one another, sharing all the words that we wanted to without speaking. With a wink, he slipped inside, and my heart hammered as Nash pulled away. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I watched the car disappear down the long prep school driveway.

Sucking in a deep breath and rolling out my shoulders, I walked to Blake's car and got in. He didn't say anything, but as soon as my seatbelt was on, he held out his hand, and I linked my fingers with his. Glancing at his face, I knew that the contact was as much for him as it was for me.

Blake had shared how scared he was about what Lawrence would make him do. He was considered the soft one, the weakest link in Lawrence's eyes since the overdose, and he would find a way to try and tear him apart. Was it terrible that I hoped the man was dead long before that? Wrong or not, I found myself laying in bed at night and coming up with creative ways to kill Lawrence and Owen for the pain they'd caused and continued to sow. The guys wouldn't say much, but I knew…I didn't need them to give me the gory details to know the things that men like them did, and one thing was clear. Whatever Nash wanted to do to take them out…I was all in. My heart hadn't darkened coming here, but it had hardened, and no one was going to hurt anyone else I loved.

AUGUST 13 – SATURDAY 3:20 PM

Myles

"Are you going to do that all the way to the airfield," Nash asked, yanking me out of my thoughts.

He was glaring at me, then pointedly glanced at my bouncing knee. "I can't help it," I said but forced myself to stop the nervous twitch. "Are ya sure this is gonna work?"

Nash shrugged. "I got you the meeting with Mr. McBride, but the rest is up to you. You can't fail. Ethan made it very clear to me that unless you succeed, Owen will kill you. If that's the case, you might as well stay on the run and not come back."

"Fuck. See, that right there is what's worrying me." I crossed my arms.

"What the not coming back? You know I'll make sure you're taken care of financially and send you any info I can," Nash said, and I scoffed at him.

"Naw, I don't care about that. I could live on the streets and never be found, but the thought of never seein' Ren again…I can't do it." I could see Nash shaking his head out of the corner of my eye. "Don't shake yer head at me. I'm not blind. I've seen the way ya look at her, and whether ya want to admit it or not, you care. Ya don't want to see her get hurt, and that is like a declaration of love for you."

"Okay, I was going to agree with you until you said love. I don't love, not ever again, and especially not Princess. She's…annoying as fuck."

"Mhmm, say it a few more times, my friend. Maybe you'll convince yerself, but not me. I know what she's like. It starts with just a glance yer way or a smile that you know is only for you and no one else exists. Then she touches ya. It could be a hug or a kiss, but the feeling lingers, and her taste sticks with you, making ya crave more, never able to get enough. But the real kicker is…she sees into your soul. The warts and all, and she doesn't care. Ya are the way ya are, and she loves ya anyway." I sighed and bit my lip. I'd give up anything in my life except for three things…Lip, my brothers not by blood, and Snowflake. The world could take the rest, and I'd shrug.

"What in the ever-loving fuck? Did you just come on my seat? If you did, you owe me a detailing."

"Please…well, maybe a little," I teased, smiling at him because I knew it would annoy the shit out of him.

"She's not a witch. Nor is she some mystical unicorn or siren or sacred virgin sent from the heavens. She's a girl. Fucking hot…sure, but still just a girl with tits and a hole to be used. Get a grip, or your lovesick brain is going to get you killed."

"You don't get it, but you will." I looked out the window.

"What exactly don't I get?" We turned into the airfield, and Nash drove around the back of the hanger as I thought about how to answer his question. Parking, he turned in his seat to look at me. "Are you going to answer?"

I ran my hand through my hair. "If I make it back alive, it's because of Snowflake."

"Pfft. Bullshit." Nash snapped his fingers at me. "You need to snap out of it. You have a mission to do, and that is the only thing you should focus on." I grabbed Nash's arm before he could get out. "What?"

"I need ya to promise me something, and this is no joke. I'm being serious."

"Okay, what is it?"

"If I don't make it back for any reason. Please take care of her." Nash swallowed and rolled his eyes, and I gripped his arm a little harder. "I mean it. There is no one I trust more to keep her alive. Please, do this for me."

He let out a long sigh, his finger tapping on the steering wheel. "Fine. Yes, I'll do it. I'll make sure Princess is safe, but don't expect me to fucking fall in love or some crap."

"Thanks."

Pushing open the door, I got out and grabbed my bag. I looked at the jet sitting in the hanger, the pilot already doing his safety inspection. This was it. Kill my childhood friend and her family or be killed myself. Great choice.

Fucking great choice.