“What do you think I’m doing?” I yelled back as the guy went to his knees. I completely forgot about the knives, because let’s be honest, I’d done enough damage.

I used my bag that was full of all sorts of stuff, including Gran’s book.

I swung it like a golf club, in a good uppercut that clapped his teeth shut and made his eyes roll in his head as he fell backward. He lay flat on the ground as Tom arrived, no doubt attracted by all the commotion.

He shook his head and scratched the top of his head. “How are you doing this?”

“Lucky? I do have a leprechaun with me.” I pointed at Eammon. “Even if he is half strangled.”

I hurried over to Feish’s side and cut her loose of the bonds around her wrists and ankles. She threw herself at me and I hugged her back, hard. “I’m so sorry!” I said, “Are you okay?”

“No,” she said. “Not your fault. Bad men came back, and Boss was sleeping.”

“It was my fault they came, looking for the knife I took.” I touched my hand to the purse at my side. Did a quick check and indeed it was still there, I could feel its shape through the leather. I looked over, assuming that Eammon and Tom would have set Crash free.

Nope. They stood a few feet back while he glared at them. I grabbed the lantern the guard had and dragged it over to where I could see the chains around his feet. I pointed to Eammon and then the guy I’d knocked out. “Eammon, see if boy-o over there has some keys.”

A moment later, a set of keys was pressed into my hands. I unlatched the ankle wraps first and dragged them away from Crash. I looked up to see him watching me. “You don’t have a gag on. Did you bite them?” A flash of something I would have called fire whipped through his eyes, enough to give me a shiver. “I’d be pissed too if I was dragged out of bed and wrapped in chains. Especially after someone stole your knife.” I grimaced. “I was going to bring it back. Honest. At least until I realized it was going to be used to kill my friend.”

He didn’t say a word. That was not good.

When I moved to Crash’s wrists, Eammon grabbed my shoulder. “Be careful, lass.”

“Back up then, if you’re so scared,” I said as I slid the key into the lock. I really should have listened to him. I should have remembered how easily Crash had knocked me across the room. And I’d just reminded him that I’d basically stolen from him, which was kind of what had put him in this position.