Page 120 of Fix You

“No, no, NO!” I cried as I ducked down out of sight.

“What’s wrong?” Rafe questioned in alarm.

“There’s a man holding a gun to Isla’s head.”

“Fanculo! Mikita must’ve found them.”

Gripping the phone tightly, I replied, “The man who kidnapped Isla last month?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

This was bad. So very, very bad.

“Maeve? What’s happening?” Rafe questioned.

“Quinn’s throwing his weapons to the ground,” I interrupted.

“Fuck,” Rafe muttered.

“Oh God, Rafe. He’s going to kill her or Quinn…or both.”

“Where’s Nolan?”

Peeking out again, my stomach lurched at the sight of the pool of blood flowing from the gaping wound in Nolan’s head. I didn’t even see him try to engage with Mikita and Quinn, but he’d apparently tried and was taken out. Agony ricocheted through my chest at his loss. He had always been so good to me.

Although I desperately needed a moment to mourn him, there was no time.

“Oh God, Rafe, he’s dead.”

“Christ,” Rafe muttered.

Realization hit me at that moment. If I didn’t act, Quinn and Isla were going to die. “I have to take him out,” I muttered.

“Wait, what?” Rafe demanded.

“I have to take Mikita out.”

“No! Donotput yourself in danger.”

“How can you say that? I could never live with myself if I didn’t try to save them.”

“Quinn could never live with himself if you got hurt.”

“Fuck what Quinn’s wants! I’m done with walking on eggshells to do what my brothers expect me to do!”

In a shaky voice, Rafe added, “Ican’t live without you, Maeve.”

I froze at his sentiment. For a moment, I couldn’t do anything as his words rocketed through my mind. Shaking my head, I shook myself out of my stupor. “I…I can’t do this right now with you. I have to go.”

“Don’t hang up!”

Dropping the phone to my side, I whirled around and sprinted back to the booth where we’d been sitting. As Rafe continued to command me to stand down, I dug a pistol out of my purse. After taking the safety off, I made my way back to the pub’s door.

When I brought the phone back to my ear to tell Rafe goodbye, he shouted, “At least let me talk you through it.”

“Are you finally giving me your approval?”

“No. But I want to help.”

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