Yes. Stay close.
“Help’s on the way.”
Good. The teenagers needed help.
She blinked. Liam’s features went fuzzy around the edges. She must be dreaming. Then he disappeared again. She tried forming words, but her mouth refused to cooperate.
“What’s that, Nimue?” Meg’s voice cut through the fog.
“Liam.”Finally.One word that actually made it past her lips.
Meg squeezed her hand. “He and Noah are clearing a landing spot for the helicopter.”
“Helicopter?” Her mind latched onto the word like a lifeline. “Flying…”
“Today’s your lucky day.” Meg’s tone shifted, gaze flicking somewhere Nimue couldn’t see. “Won’t be much of a view though.”
A whirring sound filled the air. Growing closer. Louder.
Wait—wait!The sound sliced through her drug-induced haze like a blade.
Helicopter.
The Bratva could afford private aircraft. Unmarked. Untraceable. Perfect for hunting down loose ends like her. Teresa’s men could be descending right now, ready to finish what they’d started at King’s Inn.
The teenagers. Meg. Noah. Liam.
All at risk because of her.
Her heart hammered against her ribs, breaths coming in shallow gasps. But her body refused to respond. Too weak to run. Too weak to fight. The sound grew deafening, ground vibrating as the aircraft approached.
And then there was Liam. Dark, solemn, steady, his blue eyes on hers for just a moment. A plastic mask dropped over her face. Oxygen, cool and sweet in her nose.
“You’re going to be okay! Hang on, Nim!”
The chopper ate his words.
She tried gripping his hand, desperate for his strength, but her fingers barely twitched. He stepped back as chaos erupted around her. Shouts. Hands lifting her onto a stretcher. Pain exploded with every movement.
She blinked her eyes open to new faces. Strangers in orange vests with clipped, professional voices. Search and rescue?
Or Bratva in disguise?
Her brain screamed warnings. Teresa’s people were smart enough to fake uniforms, blend in. No one would know until it was too late.
Liam’s face reappeared—eyes red-rimmed, expression fierce with some emotion she couldn’t read. She tried reaching for him, but they’d strapped her down.
“I’ll call your sister!” His words barely penetrated the helicopter’s roar, but they hit her like ice water.
What—no!
No!
Calling Emberly would lead the Bratva straight to them. Teresa was watching—no, no?—
Then—a pinch in her arm. Warmth spreading through her system like honey. The world went soft around the edges.
No. Need to stay alert. Need to warn them.