Page 67 of Guarding Salvation

Bram huffed out a humourless laugh. “I wish it was that simple, but I don’t think I can do that. The fact will always remain that if I’d let her stay in that pub it wouldn’t have happened.”

“Of course it would. Ray was obsessed with Lana and he would’ve found a way to do what he did. It wouldn’t have stopped anything, just postponed it and maybe you wouldn’t have been there to make sure she got the justice she deserved.”

Bram knew that Rory was aware of what he’d done to Ray Walsh, Lana had admitted it to him a long time ago.

“For the record, I wish I could’ve done the same thing. If I could drag him from the ground and do the same thing I would have. Fuck forgiveness. That man didn’t deserve to breathe air, and I’m glad you killed him.”

“It was unintentional, I can assure you. I just saw red and deep down I do regret that I took him from his family, but not that I stopped him from having the freedom to do it again. Also, for the shame I know I brought my own parents and the pain I caused them. I was meant to be the perfect son, instead, I was nothing but a disappointment to them both. You were the son they should’ve had, Rory, and I’m glad my sister has you.”

Rory stopped and Bram turned to him, a look of pensiveness on his face. “Bram, you need to read your father’s letter.”

Bram went to respond to his brother-in-law’s words when a sliver of light caught on something shiny, and he bent to the fallen, rotting leaves and saw the tiny silver four-leaf clover. His heart began to race as he pulled the bracelet that he’d placed on Aoife’s wrist not two weeks ago.

She’d seen it in the window of a shop in the town over and fallen in love. Snow had gone in and bought it for him, and he’d given it to her later that night before they’d made love by the fire in his room.

Rory moved closer. “What is it?”

“It’s the bracelet I bought Aoife.” Bram smiled. “Which means we’re on the right track. I know she was wearing it this morning when I left.”

“Let’s move then.”

Bram didn’t need to be asked twice as they picked up their speed, not needing to move at such a painstakingly slow rate to watch for clues. He’d hold off on radioing the others until he was sure though. He knew in this cold Aoife was at serious risk of exposure, apart from whatever else that bastard may have done to her. If Boyd had laid this as a trap, he didn’t want to call the others off and halve their chances of finding her. In his gut though, he knew they were on the right track; he could feel her close.

They were around three hundred metres from the caves where he suspected Boyd would take Aoife when he heard the scream. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he glanced at Rory, who’d had the same reaction if the look on his face was any indication.

The two men drew their weapons and took off in the direction of the sound, Bram’s heart beating out of his chest in his race to get to Aoife before Boyd could hurt her. Reaching the caves, he quickly followed the directions of the shouting and screaming and stopped for a split second, his whole world flipping on its head as he saw Aoife on the dirty, wet floor covered in blood as Boyd drew his leg back to kick her.

As if transported back in time, it was like watching Ray Walsh again, and the rage he felt in his blood was boiling over. Without conscious thought, he grabbed Boyd, dragging him off Aoife and hauling him to the entrance to the cave before throwing him to the ground. Through vision almost red with fury, he launched himself at the man, his fist hitting his cheekbone, the crack not even registering as Boyd fell screaming to the ground. Not satisfied, Bram straddled the man, laying punch after punch as Boyd tried to fight back with no chance against a man more trained than he’d ever be, and one full of rage.

“Bram, no. Stop. Please.”

The light touch on his shoulder brought him out of the inhuman anger and he fell back, Boyd forgotten as he stumbled toward Aoife and took her in his arms. He kissed her gently, running his hands all over her as he looked for injuries.

“You’re bleeding. He hurt you.”

“I tried to escape and cut my arms on the rocks.”

“He kicked you.” He held her now like she was porcelain as he shed his jacket and wrapped her in the thermal blanket Rory handed him.

“It’s over now and I’ve had worse.”

Bram clenched his teeth, his brain barely handling this attack on her without thinking what else she’d been subjected to over the years. “I’m so sorry I let this happen.”

“What? No, this isn’t on you. Boyd is lost and needs help, but Bram, he told my father where we are.”

“I know. My team is back at the castle making preparations.”

“Okay, good.”

“I found this.” Bram held the bracelet up for her to see and she smiled so wide it lit up the sky and burned off the cold.

“I hoped you’d find it.”

“It was clever. We might make a tracker out of you yet.”

Aoife laughed but it ended with a whimper, and he knew she was in more pain than she was letting on.

“Let’s get you home and get the doctor to take a look at you.”