Chapter Twenty-Seven

 

Try as she might, Colby couldn’t budge the damned chair. Not an inch! Ash had to leave, now! Get out of here! These two were playing him. She hadn’t known who the guy was until Ash named him, but Hammer had concealed a knife in the sheath in the back of his pants. Delores had a lighter hidden in her skirt pocket. No one was walking out of here alive.

Colby signaled him around the dirty rag in her mouth, and he nodded knowingly, but no one could translate “Mgh muh!” into “Get out! Save yourself!”

Desperate now, she threw her weight forward, growling with every beat of her heart, needing him to forsake her before they both went up in flames. Damn him! Inch by inch, he edged sideways, risking all to get around Delores. Did he not understand?

Kicking at the ropes that held her, Colby shook her head in frustration, tears spilling over her cheeks, begging him to save himself. Listen to me! Hear what I cannot tell you! Her time was gone, and if he didn’t leave this very minute, his would be too. Leave me behind, she prayed. You’re the dreamer, go dream! Fly! Just live. Goddamn it, Ash. Live!

As if he’d heard, Ash speared her with a look—that look—the one that clearly told her he meant to die for her. But then he winked and blew her a tiny kiss, the Irish cavalier fool!

No. No. No! Don’t do anything stupid! I love you too much to let you die!

Of course, the Mad Hatter’s head swiveled on top of her skinny neck to watch Colby unravel. Delores cocked a devilish grin, obviously enjoying the pain and humiliation she was the cause of—right before the sharpened point of a wooden stake pierced the ruffles of her cape. Instead of smiling, she chirped an odd little squeak, then burped a rivulet of blood.

“No!” Hammer screamed at the sight. “Not my Delly! You killed her!”

“Aye,” Ash growled, another stake fisted in his hand. With one sideways stoke, he slammed it home, stabbing the man through the chest. Hammer fell alongside his insane wife, both staked through the heart like vampires.

Colby blinked at the force of that hit, the kickback of blood and tissue splattered into the wall behind Hammer. Who are you?

Ash flew to her, his long fingers sure and apparently quite lethal as he loosed the gag. Just as quickly, the tangled ropes pooled at her feet.

“Ash,” she cried the second the gag dropped. She would’ve flung herself into his arms if he hadn’t scooped her against the wild beat of his heart. Deftly she wrapped her arms around his poor burned neck and let him be her hero. “Let’s get out of here,” she rasped.

“Do nah let me go,” he ordered. As if she would. “This bloody place is going to blow.”

Her knight in shining armor dashed out the door and thundered down the dark stairs. They didn’t get far.

No sooner had they cleared the last step when the entry door pushed inward, bringing Ash up short. He reared back, his shoulder turned, shielding Colby from whoever was on their way in.

But a Ranger had to know who was on the battlefield. She craned her neck to see around Ash’s thick bicep. “Liam? Is that you?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Aye. ’Tis him,” Ash confirmed with a throaty growl. “In all his filthy glory.” Could the day get any feckin’ worse?

Liam grunted, his shoulders as wide as ever, the sneer on his mug as thick with disdain as the last time Ash had to deal with him. “Christ man, is that all ye have to say to me?”

“I’ll not be offering you asylum, if that’s why ye’re here. Nor money. So leave.”

As if things could go down that easily. Liam was a big man, practiced in the wicked ways of the world. The only reason Ash survived his last fisticuffs with the man was the siren of a passing police car. The O’Callaghan farmhouse still smoldered that day. Liam was a wanted man, so he’d left unfinished business.

The bastard’s eyes went dark as he scanned Colby from head to toe. When they lit on her chest, he grinned with disgusting approval that made Ash want to wretch. “This the chit you’ve been tupping? Not the good little boy Mum thought you were, eh?”

Colby pressed herself into Ash’s side, a feminine response he didn’t expect, but one that bolstered his protective instincts. ’Twas Liam who’d brazenly declared the size of a man’s balls were all that kept his knees from knocking together like a woman’s. Ash planted his feet wide, his declaration of war now openly declared. Take a good look, brother. I’m all grown up, and I’ll kill you before you lay a hand on me woman.

“Let me pass,” he spat to his elder brother, the only other O’Callaghan alive on his branch of the family tree.

Liam canted his head, his long dark locks falling over his shifty eyes. One pointed brow spiked in wry amusement as he lifted a micro butane torch into view and aimed it at Ash like a gun. “Din’nt you care why I’m here, little brother? Nor why I travelled all the way to America just to see the likes of you? Why I’ve been following you for days?”

Like Ash didn’t already know that Liam meant to kill him. He’d vowed to end Ash the same way he’d ended their parents. Why play fox-and-goose with the ass?

“I do nah care why ye’re here. Let me pass.” He kept Colby tucked into his side, but his throat was dry. She’d since wiggled to her feet, but he would not risk Liam getting his dirty hands on her.

Liam kicked the door shut behind him, drawing in a deep breath of the toxic petro-laden air, his barrel chest stretching his fisherman sweater. “Ah,” he gasped as if relishing the foul vapor. “Smells just like home, does it nah?” he said, thumping his sternum with one palm, the torch still in his other. “Just the way I remember it before it burnt to the ground.”

“You killed them!” Ash spat out, not needing to be reminded of the horror of that day. Of the loss. Mum and Da suffered!

Colby’s gasp at his side lifted every hair up the back of his neck, but yes. Another untold truth he hadn’t had the heart to tell her, not after the lovely consummation of their love. How could he have? She’d been glowing. ’Twas not the time then, nor the place to dash the golden light in her with the tragedy of how his parents burned to death at Liam’s hand. How their eldest son killed them!

“I’ll not ask you again,” Ash bit out, one foot shifted forward, balancing his weight to strike first. “Do nah think for one second I’ll not protect what’s mine.”

Liam took a wide stance as well, forever challenging those he deemed weaker, which was everyone. The bloody fool. “Did Da nah teach you anything? You’ll stay ’til I tell you to go, little brother.”

“If it’s a fight you want,” Ash growled, his fists already clenched, “at least let me set my woman aside so she’ll not have to witness your ugly death.” He meant to tell Colby to run, and he prayed, for once, she’d listen.

“By all means,” Liam sneered. “But do keep her close so I can finish her once I’m through with you. ‘Tis time she knows what a real man feels like inside her bonnie body.” He grabbed his crotch in a vulgar gesture, thrusting into his free hand as he might do with one of his ugly wenches. “I’m certain she’ll appreciate the lesson by the time I’m through with her.”

I’ll kill him, Ash promised his mum and da even as he set Colby to the third step behind him. I’m sorry, but it has to be done. I can’t let him hurt any more people, and he will not—will not!—hurt my woman the way he hurt you.

Damned if Colby wouldn’t sit her ornery arse on that step, nor do as she was told. “Introduce me to your brother, Ash,” she declared as brightly as if this were Easter morn, and they were merely only on their way to Mass of the Resurrection at Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

“No,” Ash growled, looking over his shoulder, keeping his eye on the murderer at his back. “Stay put. For once, stay out of this.”

“For the love of Mike, introduce us,” Liam bellowed. “Let me get to know the woman ye’re about to lose. Who knows? I might decide to keep her if she’s any good.”

“No,” Ash spat, but damn. Colby planted her palm in his chest, angling to get around him, not even sparing him a tender smile, which he very much needed. This fight would be his last, and Colby needed to be far from it when it ended.

“Liam O’Callaghan I presume?” she said pleasantly, her left hand stretched forward. “I’ve heard so much about you!”

Gushing over Liam? Disobedient yet again? Gods, this woman!

Of course Liam’s face split with a wicked, salacious grin. What man’s wouldn’t? He had the bloody nerve to wink at Colby while he offered his hand, as if he had a right to touch her!

 Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Did she nah get the drift of this war between brothers?!

Apparently not. Ash wanted to tear his hair out when Colby dodged him, still reaching for his murdering brother. Like a friend!

Liam’s cheek pinched with victory as he cast one last up-yours chin toss to Ash, but Colby didn’t clasp his wide opened palm. Instead, she ducked him as well, went in close and personal, past his big, ugly mitt as if going in for a womanly hug.

Bloody hell! Her mother’s right. For two cents, I’ll bend her over my knee and—

Ooomph. Liam lurched forward with an odd hissing grunt, his eyes wide as saucers while wee Colby stared up at him, all five feet nothing of her. Her left hand was spread flat on the right side of his chest as if holding him up. Like a big gentle giant who simply needed a hug, his hoary head curled to her shoulder with another groan.

Colby pressed her mouth to his ear. “Ash asked you nicely to leave, big brother O’Callaghan,” she ground out, her fingers now clenched at the back of his neck. “You should’ve listened to him because he’s the good guy in this marriage. He puts stars in the sky. I’m the one who makes sure assholes like you look up and see those fucking, beautiful creations.”

“Love, no,” Ash bit out, not needing his woman to fight his battles for him. But marriage? Had she actually said marriage?

The butane torch clattered to the floor. Liam seemed to be having trouble breathing. Or moving. ’Twas then Ash caught sight of the blood spurting over Colby’s other wrist, the one she held high in Liam’s gut, right below his ribcage. Holy Mother of God, she stabbed him.

Ash nearly laughed at the sight, this wee woman bringing his bloodthirsty brother to heel. What was this rare magic she held?

Colby tossed a wink to Ash over her shoulder. “We’re surrounded by losers, hon. Hammer and his bitch never found my knife. Apparently, Big Brother here wasn’t expecting it from little old me, either.”

“Always full of surprises, Lass,” Ash said as he grinned and stiff-armed the bloody murderer who’d stalked him for years. When he leaned Liam’s back to the door behind him, the blade stuck in his gullet went with him. “I’m taking you outside, Brother. ‘Tisn’t safe in here, not with my woman pissed off at you like she is. Don’t think to run, though. You’ll not get far. She’s a wee one, but she’s also one of the first female Army Rangers, you know. Aye, she’s fast, but I caught her.”

“Aye,” Liam gasped, weaving, his bleary eyes cross-eyed and fixed on Colby. “Keep her… away from… me.”

Ash tossed his cell phone to Colby. “Call the authorities, love. Tell ’em we’ve got my brother and the Beantown Stalkers and…” Ah, his Irish heart was smiling again. “You, Lass. I’ve finally got you.”