Page 3 of Fix You

“I suppose that should make me feel good.”

“None of our enemies are looking for Marcella Donnelli.”

“Good point.” At the thought of leaving the country, I eyed the passport in my hand. Holding it out, I asked Eamon, “And you’re sure it’s legit?”

Eamon rolled his eyes. “Just because I’m fifteen it doesn’t mean I can’t deliver top-notch faked documents.” Jerking his chin at the bag, he added, “I’ve been dealing in this shit since I was twelve.”

Reaching over, I tried to ruffle his hair. “I’m sorry for doubting your expertise.”

He dodged away from me. “I’ll let it slide just this once.”

Kellan cleared his throat. “There’s a rental car waiting for you down the road. It’ll get you to the train station. Da’s connections will be focusing on the airports.”

I nodded like it was the first time I was hearing our plan. Since the night of my engagement party, we’d worked feverishly on executing my escape. Kellan and Eamon had even gone so far as to set up a post office box in New York so that I could communicate with them in case our burner phones were compromised.

After glancing at his watch, Kellan winced. “It’s time.”

Oh God. This was really it. It was one thing to sit around planning your disappearance. It was quite another to actually execute it. “You’ll smooth things over with the older boys?”

As Eamon nodded, Kellan replied, “They’ll understand.”

My chin trembled as I replied, “It feels like I’m betraying them.”

Kellan shook his head. “Trust me. They would do the same thing we’re doing to free you from Oisin.”

As I stared between my closest companions since childhood, a sob tore from my lips. “I’m going to miss you both so much.”

Tears shimmered in Eamon’s usually stoic eyes. “We’re going to miss you, too.”

Kellan’s throat bobbed as he tried to fight his emotions. “It’s not forever. The boys will see to that.”

I wanted to believe him. My heart certainly did. But my mind said otherwise. When I could finally find my voice, I croaked, “Take care of Mam.”

“We will,” Eamon replied.

Glancing at his watch again, Kellan said, “One hug and you have to be gone.”

Finally, I allowed myself to say the words out loud that had been plaguing me for the last fourteen days. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I sobbed.

Placing his hands on my tear-stained cheeks, Kellan stared intently into my eyes. “You’re stronger than you think.”

“I’ve never had to do a thing for myself.”

“Then you’ll learn.”

Eamon winked at me. “Or you’ll use the money in the offshore account to hire a housekeeper.”

I hiccuped a cry. As my gaze darted between them, I tried drawing on their strength. I thought of Mam and the towering resistance she’d shown over the years.

As if he could hear my inner turmoil, Kellan stated, “I believe in you.”

“So do I,” Eamon echoed.

I bobbed my head emphatically. It was time to believe in myself. “All right then. No more tears. Time to pull on my big girl pants.”

Wrinkling his nose, Eamon groaned. “Way to ruin a moment by mentioning your cacks.”

Kellan and I laughed at Eamon being offended by underwear. He jerked his head at me. “Come on. Give us a hug and then get going.”