Page 63 of Guarding Salvation

“That’s good, right? It’s your land and you know it better than anyone.”

“Yes and no. I know it like the back of my hand but at this time of the year in the cold and rain, Aoife is at serious risk of exposure.”

“Yeah, and that land ain’t small, boss. I went out with Rory a few times. It’s vast and spread over miles and miles.”

Bram glanced at Titan who was driving, his foot to the floor to get them home. “He’s right but if I can track him, I can figure out where he might go.”

“Will Rory keep his mouth shut?”

“Yeah, we can trust him.” Bram knew his brother-in-law would be feeling sick about this, but it wasn’t his fault. No, once again the fault lay with him, he was the reason Boyd had come after Aoife. It was payback for killing his older brother. He tried to remember Boyd but only got the sense of a younger brother who followed Ray around like a puppy. He was probably in his early twenties at most and most likely had grown up with a false sense of who his brother was. “Rory adores my sister. I mean worships the ground she walks on, and his kids are his life. So, yes, we can trust him.”

Bram looked out of the window, fighting the bloodthirst pounding through his body to find Boyd and kill him for ever laying a finger on Aoife, the other part of him was filled with pure terror that he wouldn’t find her in time. That he’d get to her, and she’d be hurt or worse and he would’ve failed again, to protect the person he loved. And he did love her, he knew that without a second’s doubt.

The thought of her cold or in pain, frightened or scared slayed him and he had to clench his fists to stop from lashing out in impotent anger. No, he needed to rein in the rage, to do what the army and Shadow had taught him and use it, control it, and turn it into what he needed to find Aoife and get her back.

Bás’ phone rang, and he answered it briskly on the first ring. Bram continued looking at his own phone as Rory sent him updates that he had three men he trusted with his life to help them, and he’d sent Lana and the kids to stay with his mother and father. That was good, the last thing they needed was the kids or Lana getting hurt any more than she had already.

“Fuck.”

Bram looked sharply at Bás. “What is it?”

“That was Watchdog. He said a wire transfer for five hundred thousand pounds was just made into Boyd’s account from an account that traces back to Doyle.”

Bram felt the colour drain from him at the thought of his worlds colliding and Aoife now being at the mercy of not only his enemy but also her father. “Boyd must have seen the reward, which proves the lowlife circles he’s moving in.”

“True and that’s not all. Doyle just chartered a flight from Dublin to London Gatwick, which means he’s on the move.”

Bram frowned. “Why Gatwick?”

“Maybe he doesn’t know where Aoife is yet. If Boyd is clever, which it seems he might be, then he won’t give Doyle the location without proof of the money in his account.”

Bram shook his head. “Doyle wouldn’t fall for that. He wouldn’t let Boyd call the shots like that. Unless Boyd is offering more than just Aoife.”

“He’s giving them us, too. But how would he know that we’re involved?”

“He won’t, but he knows I’m with Aoife and offering up the man she’s with would seem like a good way for revenge and a pay-out. Boyd gets the cash and hands me over to Doyle, who’ll dish out the punishment.”

“Maybe, it doesn’t all make sense yet, but I do believe we’re on the right track.” Bás glanced back to Snow who had been quiet so far. “Snow, anything to add?”

“How did he know about the tunnels?”

Bram shrugged, he really had no idea, as far as he knew only family knew of them. “That I don’t know.”

“You need to check your staff and find out if anyone didn’t turn up today. My guess is he’s been under your nose the entire time, hiding in plain sight.”

“You think? That’s brazen.”

“It is but also the best approach a lot of times. People ignore things they see all the time to the point they become invisible.”

“Good point.”

Bram called Rory who promised to take a look and speak with the main staff members straight away, and also gave him an update. He also told him that Mrs Murrel was in surgery, and he’d keep him updated before hanging up.

“This is all my fault.”

“Bullshit. This is Boyd’s fault and Doyle’s fault, not yours.”

Bram glared at Snow who’d turned in her seat to face him, her normally sweet smile gone, replaced by determination, which was bone-deep. “I murdered his brother.”