“The phone call you’ve been waiting for?”
“Aye.”
She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. “I’ll start warming myself up.”
“Now that’s something I’d like to see.”
“You can if you hurry.” She ran into the turret. Before I answered my phone, I made sure she wasn’t within earshot.
****
A few hours later, outside the castle grounds, I leaned against a stone wall dressed in running gear. The excuse I’d given Tessa about needing to go for a run was a lame one, but I needed to disappear without raising any suspicions. More lies, but I could justify them—to myself at least.
Thanks to another heavy snowfall, the cleared roads were rapidly turning white, and since Shane hadn’t contacted me in over an hour, I didn’t know if he was on his way or if he’d even make it to the castle. But desperation made people do ridiculous things like drive on ice-covered roads or jump on planes and pretend to be someone’s fiancé.
Since I didn’t know from which direction Shane was coming, I continuously glanced from left to right. Who knew what kind of trouble I was walking into, but this was about saving Tessa. I smiled to myself. It seemed she’d gotten her very own wedding-planning superhero after all.
In the distance, the dim lights of a car lit up the road, and excited anticipation squeezed my stomach. Shane had taken the bait. The car drew closer. Niall, who watched from a neighboring farm, should arrive any minute.
The car slowed and crunched to a stop, and the passenger door opened. Shane got out. An unkempt graying beard covered his jawline, his eyes were sunken and lined, and his wrinkled clothes looked as if they’d been slept in more than once. This wasn’t the man I knew. The man I knew had always been clean-shaven, never had a hair out of place, and wore designer suits.
A smirk filled his face. The smarmy shite would smile on the other side of his face soon enough and then on the other side of prison bars. Stale nicotine and booze oozed from his pores.
“From what I hear, you’re shagging like rabbits.” Shane leaned against the open car door.
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Friends in low places. The stupid bitch didn’t vet anyone she hired. My man was in and out in a few hours. Told me all I needed to know. A few euros gets a lot of answers.” He rubbed his hands in glee. “She’s mental in bed, isn’t she? Not as good as your sister, mind you.” He rolled his shoulders. “I can still feel her nails on me back. I have a few scars to prove it.”
“Hell would be too good for you. You’re a piece of dirt and deserve everything that’s coming to you.” My nostrils flared, and I curled my fist. Shane would push every button to get a reaction. Pounding him into the ground would be so easy and immensely satisfying.
“Wire the money. Otherwise, my driver will beat you to a pulp, and I’ll tell every paper that’ll listen about Tessa’s scam. How I was the one who walked away from her. How I couldn’t live with the guilt anymore.”
“How do you sleep at night?” I asked.
“I close my eyes.”
“Before I do anything for you, explain why you have it in for Tessa. For me?”
He shrugged and gave a cynical, lip-twisting smile. “Two birds. One stone. She told me to get out of her life—”
“After you told her to blackmail her clients.”
Shane shifted from foot to foot, his eyes darting all around, never settling in one place. “Would’ve been a good money maker. She sent the police after me big time. As for you, I saw a chance to fuck with you and I took it.”
All blood drained from my head and pooled in my hands. My vision clouded, and time slowed to a sloth’s pace. In a flash of movement, before Shane could jerk back, I threw a right fist and landed a stomach punch. With a heaving groan, he staggered back and doubled in two.
He coughed and spluttered. “Big mistake, Man. Big fucking mistake.”
“My only mistake was trusting you.” Adrenaline spiked through my system. Not allowing Shane any chance to counterpunch, I swung an uppercut jab to his chin, knocking him to the ground. Shane slumped to his knees, winced, and worked his jaw back and forth.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Shane screamed, lurching to his feet. “And I’m going to enjoy every minute.”
My hands shook, and my knuckles throbbed, but I wasn’t done. Not by a long shot. Growing up with three brothers had its benefits. Learning how to give and take a punch was one of them.
I strode toward Shane and grabbed the lapels of his jacket. “You’re filth.” I lifted my right arm, ready to pummel him to a bloody pulp, but the wide-eyed fear and desperation on his face made me stop. Disgusted, I shoved him away. “You’re not worth it. You’re not fucking worth it.”
The car door swung open, and a six-foot-something man built like a brick shithouse stepped out and stalked toward me.
Shane’s nostrils flared. “Hope Tessa still likes you when she sees your fucked-up face.” He cut a glance toward the other man. “Slash his face, Lynch. Make it so his own mother won’t even recognize him.”
I stood my ground. I wouldn’t back down, and I wouldn’t run. I owed it to Tessa and my sister, and God knows how many other women Shane had screwed over. But I wouldn’t complain if my cousins and his colleagues showed up to give me a hand. Where the hell was he?
Lynch cracked his knuckles and lifted a meaty fist, but before he made contact with my face, I ducked out of the way.
