Alright then.
“And what exactly are you planning?” I heard what Nolan and Keenan said inside.
“I’ve got some matters to set to rights,” he says with a sigh. “The Stone City mob is responsible for Eve’s death. I know that now.”
My stomach clenches, and it feels as if someone’s glued my mouth together. I try to open it to speak, but no words come out. Tears blur my vision.
“And there’s… more to the story as well,” he says. “But you need to know something, Megan. I can’t put you in harm’s way anymore, lass. Do you know that, love?”
I shake my head slowly from side to side. Is this a prelude to a break-up?
He continues, cupping my jaw in his large, strong hand, holding my gaze with his. “I want you to know that I love you. No matter what happens, I love you. Never forget that.” He leans in to kiss me again, silencing the questions that play on my lips. “Stay here. Stay safe.”
He opens the exit door to the garden, shoves me through, then shuts the door. I hear a lock click. I try the knob, but it won’t budge. He’s locked me out of the garage.
Oh my God. Where is he going? What’s he going to do?
I hear a car start and the garage door open, but by the time I run to the exit, he’s already gone, tearing down the driveway.
My phone.
I dial Nolan with shaking fingers, but there’s no answer. Keenan next, and it also goes to voicemail. I shake my head from side to side, trying to clear my brain. I call Lachlan next. Thank God, he answers.
“Megan? Y’alright, lass?”
“No,” I tell him, my voice trembling. “It’s Carson.” I tell him everything.
Moments later, Lachlan, Boner, and Tully meet me at the exit to the garage driving one of the Clan’s quiet cars. “Get in,” Lachlan says. He sighs and raises a hand when the others protest. “We’ve not time to secure her, will have to keep her safe.” His jaw firms. “And let’s be honest. Carson will cooperate if she’s with us.”
I slide in. I can tell by the way they’re dressed they’ve got harnesses with fully-loaded weapons tucked under their clothing.
“Tell me everything,” Lachlan says. I tell him what Carson said to me. The men look at each other and nod.
“Where are the rest of the men?” I ask.
“Tracking down Maeve. We haven’t been able to get in touch with her, and she’s watching wee Breena.”
Oh no. Oh no.
“Are you… are you serious?” I ask lamely. I don’t know what to say or what to think.
Lachlan nods his head grimly. “Aye,” he says with a sigh. “Wish I wasn’t. Carson would be the one who’d know, but with him MIA as well…” Then his eyes narrow, and his brows draw together.
“What the fuck is Fiona doing out by the gate?”
Shite.
No.
“Oh, probably just saying hello,” I say with a nervous giggle. Lachlan’s stern, serious eyes swing to mine.
“Just saying hello,” he repeats, and his eyes are narrow on me as he drives toward the gate. Ah, crap. He for sure knows I’m somehow involved in this now. “The hell she is.”
But by the time he gets to the guard at the gate, Fiona trots away.
“What business did Fiona have here?” Lachlan asks.
“Ah, nothing, sir,” one of the men says, not looking at me. “Just misplaced something is all, thought she’d check with us.” He shifts uncomfortably, as if he’s just made every word up.
“Right,” Lachlan says. It seems he hasn’t made the connection between the looks that could kill and the way everyone clams up around him quite yet. He really ought to tone it down, I think to myself, when I remember where we’re going and how imperative it is we get there.
“Lachlan, can we leave this for later?” I ask. “Carson’s got a few minutes head start on us, you know.”
He nods with reluctance. “Aye,” he says. “I’ll track her down when we get back.”
We drive faster than I’ve ever driven before, until we hit a bump in the road. The car spirals wildly out of control and slams into a telephone pole to the right. Lachlan curses, and Tully mutters under his breath.
“Y’alright?” he asks everyone.
We’re all fine, but the car isn’t.
“Fucking hell,” Lachlan says. “I can’t believe I just fucking did that.”
“Not your fault,” I say with a sigh.
The men get out, and Tully nods. “Need to fix the flat,” he says. “Out you come, Megan.”
I want to scream and shake my fists in the air, but I keep myself under control.
“We need backup,” Lachlan mutters. He makes a few calls and we wait. Every minute that ticks by seems like an eternity. What’s happening in Stone City? Finally, a backup car arrives, and we drive into the city, but by now Carson’s at least thirty minutes ahead of us.