“Oh, I’m a lot tougher to kill than that. Worse people than you have tried and failed.” As annoying and conniving as Saoirse was, she wasn’t the same level of evil that Luciana had been.

She clasped the silver rose. “Bhrunyz. To me.”

Right. Get the brooch first, then antagonize her. Dumb mistake.

I braced to dodge, but nothing happened. We waited, silent and still, but Bhrunyz didn’t show up.

“To me!” Her voice grew a little more frantic.

I grinned. Bhrunyz was all tied up. I wasn’t sure how Donovan was managing it, but I was grateful. It probably wasn’t going to last long. The pack weren’t the best fighters, but even if they threw chairs and tables at him, that could be enough. It had worked before.

“To me!” she yelled again.

“I think Bhrunyz might be a little busy right now,” I said as I limped toward her.

“I can smell your blood.”

I was hurt. I couldn’t hide it, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t give her one hell of a fight. “I’m bleeding and my arm is shit, but you know what? I’m at my worst right now, and I’ll still beat you.”

I took a few steps toward her and she sprang into action.

This time, Saoirse was fast. Or maybe I was slow. Her fist hit my side before I could block it and hot blood gushed from my already torn skin.

I didn’t have use of one arm and one of my legs was seriously injured, but I blocked her hits as fast as they came. It took me a second, but I managed to nail her in the stomach with my good hand. She ran for the back of the room as she gasped for air.

Where the hell was she going?

Saoirse threw one of the side chairs at me and I ducked. It shattered against the wall behind me.

She reached behind her for a book and threw that at me, too. I swatted it away with my bad arm and kept going at her. She threw another book at me, and I was done.

“Jay-sus,” I said, surprising myself. “What is it with Irish women throwing home décor shit.”

I picked up a floor lamp and swung it at her with everything I had. It caught her in the stomach, and she slammed into the wall. Her head bounced back against one of the portraits. The modern piece was framed under glass, and as it crashed onto her head, glass rained down on her. The scent of her blood filled the room.

I quickly limped over to her. I didn’t need to hurt or even kill her. I just needed the stupid brooch.