Chapter 27

“I know it’s you, Niall,” Ran muttered from under the hood as he came around.

“You figured it out too!” Isla laughed as she pulled it off and Ran gasped up at her in shock. His hands were tied again and she giggled as she reclined on the bed next to him and propped her head up with her palm.

“What are you doing here?” He asked and his head snapped toward Simon as he chuckled. He was watching him from the foot of the bed and he looked smugger than usual.

“Finally getting on with our lives,” he said and Isla hummed in agreement.

“Finally!” She said and rolled her eyes dramatically. “Do you know how many times we’ve tried to kill you?” She asked and Ran raised his brows at her.

“This is all news to me but I assume you have a better plan this time,” he said and she snickered as she patted his chest.

“Of course! We were truly baffled. Every time we came up with the perfect plan, you’d just disappear!” She complained and Ran squeezed his eyes shut as all the pieces fell into place and he was so damn relieved.

“Niall,” he sighed and she gasped as she hopped up.

“Yes! Sweet, shy Niall! Who knew he had it in him?” She said as she waved to her right. Ran’s heart stopped and he was furious as his eyes met Niall’s. He was gagged and his hands were tied behind him as he watched Ran from a chair in the corner. His eyes were shattered and tears poured down his face. Ran offered him an encouraging wink then smiled up at her.

“You better have a really good plan, Isla,” Ran warned and she clapped her hands as she bounced.

“Murder-suicide,” she stated proudly. “We’re going to say Niall came clean to us about the sordid affair the two of you were hiding. Then, he begged you to take him back but you’re Ran and mad so you decided to go on a wild boy bender. It’s going to be the last straw for Niall. He’ll go into a jealous rage and blow you up in your own boathouse,” she explained and Ran nodded as his eyes swept around the room.

“Is that where we are? That does sound like something I’d do…” He murmured as he counted the petrol cans around the room and looked at the timer. It wasn’t started but it was set for two minutes.

“See? It’s perfect but we really should be going,” Simon said to Isla then cocked his head at the door. “We’re going to need to get far enough away before it blows.”

“Don’t worry! We won’t be too far, I don’t want to miss a single moment of this. I’m going to love watching this old boathouse burn to the ground with both of you in it!” Isla declared then offered a delicate flutter of her fingers. “Tah, boys. It’s been…meh,” she said with a shrug and Simon laughed as he scooped her into his arms and offered Ran a cocky salute as they waltzed to the door.

“See you in Hell, Ran,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to it, Simon,” he vowed and Simon snorted then laughed into Isla’s hair as they left and a door slammed behind them. Niall thrashed and moaned behind the gag loudly as he fought to get free.

“Give me just a second,” Ran said as he stretched his hands. They were tied to the wooden posts with rags. He tightened his grip on the post in his right hand and jerked hard and it snapped easily. Niall’s eyes widened as Ran’s hand pulled free as he tossed the post then reached for his left. The post snapped and he rolled from the bed as soon as his arm was free and ran to Niall. He looked back at the timer as the numbers wound down quickly and winced. “Sorry, we need to go now,” he said as he lifted Niall from the chair and hurried to the edge of the boat dock. “Deep breath,” he ordered as he pulled the gag from Niall’s mouth.

“No! My hands!” Niall cried as Ran tossed him into the water as far and hard as he could. Niall hit the water with a loud screech and dropped fast and Ran dove after him. It was black and freezing but Ran reached through the swirling, churning water as Niall struggled and twisted. There was a loud roar and Ran felt the heat on the surface of the water as chunks of wood and bricks sank around them. He found Niall and wrapped an arm around him then kicked and reached for the surface. Ran pushed Niall and they gasped and heaved for breath as their heads and shoulders burst from the water. “Ran!” Niall cried as he did his best to swim and hold onto him without his arms. Ran shushed him soothingly as he worked at the rags around Niall’s wrists. It took a minute but Niall was able to work them free and his arm wound around Ran’s neck as the other helped steer them away from the shore. There was nothing left of the boathouse but flaming mounds and a few scattered sections of wall. Ran could hear clapping and whistling from the other side of the smoke and tightened his arm around Niall as he looked forward to seeing Simon and Isla again. “I’m so sorry! I couldn’t tell you!” Niall said as they pulled themselves away from Lachlan House.

“Stop. None of it matters. Just you,” Ran said then kissed him. He kissed him hard and he could feel it in his heart. It was all the wild heat and magic of kissing Icarus but it was achingly right and home because he was finally kissing Niall. “We’re going to take care of those two and then we’re done pretending. We belong together, Niall.”

“You might not think so, once you know about…” Niall started but Ran kissed him again.

“I already know everything I need to know but we’re going to have a talk once we get someplace safe and dry,” he said and offered Niall another wink. “And a bed wouldn’t go amiss either.”