Page 35 of A Temptation Too Great

“I can’t,” I whisper.

He’s up, and bullets fly, but he reaches the table and flips it over.

Glass shatters everywhere, and I cover my head and neck with a pillow as I shove Lorcan under the sofa where he’ll be safe. I’m about to try to make it to where Carson is when suddenly a hand grips my ankle.

Turning, I see the peeler from earlier. I scream and kick at him. He jumps into the room and punches me in the face. Gunfire erupts again as he grabs me and rushes out of the house. My head spins, but I fight to stay alert. I hear guards shouting, closing in from all sides. A sharp crack rings out, and the peeler stumbles and drops me. I brace for the impact, hitting the ground hard. More shots follow, and I’m caught in the middle of it all.

Another man grabs me from behind. I look up, but I don’t recognize him. I thrash against his grip, trying to break free, but he drags me into the woods behind the house. Carson and the others are shouting my name. I yell back, but the man tries to silence me. I fight him off and take off running. I don’t know which way I’m going, but I hear more gunfire and yelling in the distance.

I glance over my shoulder and realize no one’s behind me. I slow down only to slam into something in the darkness of the woods. The trees are so thick they block the morning sun.

“I’ve got you now.” Eoin’s voice sounds off.

I look up just as he brings his fist down. I deflect and shove away from him, scrambling to my feet. I’ll have a better chance standing than pinned on the ground where he can kick or stomp on me. He takes a swing, then another. He’s fighting angrily and not calculating his moves. He stumbles and swings again, missing me completely and slamming his fist into a tree. I stay light on my feet, darting just out of reach, hoping I can hold him off long enough for someone to find us.

“Let me go, Eoin. This won’t end well for you.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve killed our father and too many people. They’ll lock me up for the rest of my life. I won’t get to be with you.” His voice softens, and I try to control the tremble of fear and disgust coursing through me.

“I’m not yours. I’m Brody’s.”

“You are mine,” he yells as he comes at me again.

When he swings, I twist away and slam a blow to his ribs. He cries out and then produces a gun.

“If I can’t have you, no one can.”

He takes aim, and I react on instinct. I twist into his body, grabbing for the gun. We struggle, and it goes off, hitting a tree near us. I elbow his throat while keeping a tight grip on the gun. He falters, and I yank it from him. I turn, aim, and pull the trigger without hesitation. I watch as the bullet tears into his chest. We both stop, and he looks down as the blood blooms.

“Oh my God, Eoin.” I start to walk toward him, but I’m stopped by arms wrapping around me.

Brody

* * *

We make it back to the compound, and I storm into my brother’s house. My girl isn’t in the main room. I glance around, but I don’t see her.

“She’s upstairs,” Aidan says, and I take the stairs two at a time.

A captain released me, apologizing for the so-called misunderstanding. New video evidence surfaced showing Eoin attacking Moira, as well as other evidence linking him to his father’s murder and the rest of the killings. Eoin was the serial killer. The police finally knew the truth.

I walked right out and was nearly to the car when the calls starting coming in about the attack at the compound. This is the second time our compound has been under attack. Aidan won’t be any happier about this one than he was the last. My solicitor tried to get me to the compound as fast as he could, but a blockade wouldn’t let us through.

Now I’m here, and I’ve been told Eoin is dead. His death has been ruled self-defense. Moira won’t face any charges. His body has already been taken away, and I’m just now getting to my girl.

I open the door to the only room they could have put her in as the others are all taken. I find her curled up beneath the blanket, her shoulders shaking as she cries.

“Spitfire.” My voice cracks, and I drop onto the bed beside her, taking her into my arms.

“Brody.” She rolls us and lies on top of me naked as I hold her. “I didn’t mean to do it. He was coming at me.”

“It’s okay, baby. You did what you had to in order to protect yourself and our baby.”

“I know. I was so scared for you. He killed Breeze.”

“I heard. I’m here now.”

She sits up and looks down at me, her pert breasts bounce as she breathes. “Make love to me. Make the memory go away.”

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