CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

 

The wind was blowing furiously, causing the rain to be blown about at an angle. Even with the thick jacket Eddie had given her, Mairead was still trembling, but more from fear than the cold. The front door was wide open and they were gathered in the hallway, looking at the bleakness outside.

Eddie smirked. “He knew what he was doing. Your sniper won’t have a chance in that.”

“You almost sound pleased, Uncle,” Aysa commented dryly.

“I’m a practical man,” he replied. “I know better than to adjust Zaleski’s plans to deceive him.”

“It was worth a try,” Yuri said. “More for your safety than anything.”

“I’ll take my chances with Zaleski, if we’re not first blown away by that wind.” He looked at Mairead. “You’ve got a rough ride ahead of you.”

She didn’t answer, but continued to stare at the gloom outside. A radio crackled and a static voice said something in Russian. Yuri brought it up and replied, as the others looked at him.

“It’s landing.”

Eddie looked at Mairead again. “Are you ready?”

Asya stepped forward to them, glaring at Mairead. “Just remember, if it all goes to shit you will die, and then I will go after your family and friends. I will teach Vanessa what pain really feels like.”

Mairead glared at her, but then looked up at Eddie. “Can we go?”

“Sure.”

“Good luck.” Yuri patted his shoulder. “We will see you soon.”

The cold, blustery wind assaulted them as they stepped outside and started the walk towards the heliport, some hundred metres from the house. Even being out in the wind and rain, Mairead felt the tremendous relief of walking away from them, along with the guilt-ridden hope that she was going to survive. She strained to see their destination, but the helicopter was beyond the trees and visibility was limited, with the rain pelting into their faces.

Eddie maintained a firm grip on her arm. She was almost thankful for it as they went among the trees, hammered by the wind. Looking about she could see the murky shapes of men on either side among them, but as they cleared the lawn and trees, she was drawn to the sound of the rotating blades of a helicopter.

Out in the open, the wind renewed its force upon them, making her keep her face down and turned away, until Eddie was shouting for her to look up. Mairead’s heart hammered as she saw the man coming towards them through the gloom.

Dylan closed the gap between them in a jog. Eddie stopped, pulling her into his body, until Dylan was holding up his gloved hands. Mairead wanted to fall into him, tell him to take their chances and run. Tears were running down her face as she looked into his.

He winced to see her beaten face and glared furiously at Eddie. “You want to tell me who did that to her?”

“The one she sunk her teeth into.”

Dylan smirked and smiled at Mairead. “Are you alright, Mairead?”

She nodded sombrely, her lip trembling. “Please, don’t do this.”

“It’s done, and I’m at peace with it, knowing it’s over for you.”

“But not for you,” she sobbed. “I’ve done this to you. They’ll kill you…”

“Enough,” Eddie demanded. “Are we going to do this or not?”

“A deal’s a deal,” Dylan nodded. “My life for hers. Release her.”

.Eddie backed away and drew out a gun. “First you kneel down. This will be trained on her until that chopper takes off. She gets the first bullet if anything goes wrong. Is that understood?”

“Yes.” Dylan knelt and looked up at Mairead. “You heard him. Go straight to the chopper and the pilot will look after you.”

“I can’t,” she shook her head, crying bitterly. “I can’t leave you.”

“Mairead.” Dylan shouted at her above the wind. “You fucking do as I tell you. Get on that chopper and get out of here. That is all you can do for me now, or it’s all been for nothing. Please, Mairead, do this for me.”

Her heart was shattering, but she nodded and took her first shaky step, before looking at Eddie. “Everyone should get a second chance.”

He looked away from her and Mairead turned to the misty shape of the helicopter, slowly walking towards it as her cries were lost in the wind.