Page 24 of Dublin Charmer (Emerald Isle Mafia #5)

CHAPTER TWENTY

Nyx

A sharp knock on the door jolts me out of the best dream I’ve had in years. For a moment, I forget where I am. Who I am. What’s going on. My heart is hammering as my mind tries to figure out where I am, but Finn’s protective arm across my ribs anchors me.

I’m nestled against a very naked Dublin Charmer, his ebony hair disheveled and his cock impressively stiff from sleep. I sink back onto the pillow, astounded at the feeling of safety I’ve achieved in his bed.

“Little brother, you awake?” Sean’s voice grows louder as the door opens.

I yank the covers over my head, mortified. Finn’s family knows we’re working together, but do they know we’re sleeping together? Well, if they didn’t, they do now. Man, being caught in his bed by his older brother feels like being sixteen again.

The mattress shifts as Finn sits up. “Aye, what is it?”

“Just got off the phone with the lads watching Ansler’s flat. He’s on the move.”

My embarrassment evaporates. I peek out from under the covers.

“The Devils are following him,” Sean continues, his voice all business, “but I thought you two might want to hop on your computers and be eyes in the sky.”

“We do. Thanks, brother.” Finn is as cool as anything.

Like his brother catching us in bed together is nothing unusual.

Maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s nothing for the Dublin Charmer to have naked women in his bed.

The idea of that brings the acidic burn of bile up the back of my throat, but I have no right to it.

Finn’s life before now is…

“What’s that look?” Finn asks, studying me.

“How are you so calm?” I push my tangled hair from my face. “Your brother just walked in on us naked and in bed.”

He chuckles. “Sean doesn’t care who I sleep with.”

I’d bet growing up with an all-guy family—and particularly guys that look as good as the Quinn brothers—there have been many morning-after walks of shame. Hell, only two weeks ago at the Christmas party, he snuck upstairs with that woman.

It feels like reality punches me in the gut as that memory hits. “Oh, wow. It’s a little late to ask you this but are you dating anyone?”

Finn looks at me and barks a laugh. “Where did that come from?”

“It’s just…you weren’t even fazed by your brother catching you in bed with someone. It made me wonder if this is a regular thing.”

He rolls out of bed and grabs his boxers off the floor.

“No, babe. Nothing about this is a regular thing. I don’t bring women home.

I don’t have overnight guests. I’m not claiming to be a monk by any stretch, but recreational hookups are all I’ve had time for or interest in since my Da was killed eighteen months ago. ”

I don’t know why that matters as much to me as it does—but it does.

“Nothing about you and me is a regular thing. At least not on my side of it.”

Mine either.

By the time I slide out from under the covers, he’s gathered my clothes and has them bundled in his arms. “Good morning, by the way.”

“Good morning.”

He kisses me and gives me my clothes. “You get dressed. I’ll get my computer fired up and we’ll track this asshole. With any luck, this might be the day you get your brother back.”

The simplicity of his words hits me like a punch to the chest. I’ve spent so long searching, slinking around in shadows alone, wondering how I’d ever be able to get him back even if I found him, that Finn’s straightforward optimism feels foreign.

I hustle into the bathroom, pee, and pull on my clothes. My toiletry bag is on the vanity counter, and I pull out my morning necessities. With my face washed and my mouth tingling minty fresh, I head back out to Finn’s room.

“Fucking hell.”

I hurry to his desk. “What? Did we lose him?”

“No.” He hits the desk. “Our internet’s down.”

I grab my laptop and try my connection. Nothing. “The windstorm must have knocked it out.”

“I’ll check the router.” Finn pulls on a pair of lounge pants and disappears out the door.

I’m so focused on my laptop screen, I jump when my phone vibrates against the surface of the desk. Pulling it free from the charge cable, I flip it over and roll my eyes at the emoji with the knife through its skull.

Gravely.

My stomach drops as I answer. “Yes?”

“Good morning, sunshine.” His voice drips with false cheer. “We need to meet. I’ve got something important I need you working on.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“You’ll find out at the diner in an hour.”

“Why can’t you just?—”

“Why can’t you just do as you’re told? The diner. One hour. We have something important to discuss.”

My blood runs cold. “What about?”

“The diner. One hour. Or your brother will pay the price for your obstinance.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my skin pale and my eyes wide with fear. For a moment, I’d forgotten the reality of my situation. I let myself believe in possibilities, in gardens and futures and the warmth of Finn’s arms.

But Gravely owns me until Gio is safe.

Closing my laptop, I grab my backpack from the floor and slide it inside. A quick search and I find my coat by the door. No part of me wants to leave this place and meet up with Gravely.

But like the arrogant bastard loves to point out, I haven’t got a choice.

Finn

I’m halfway up the hall when I spot Nyx exiting my bedroom, pulling her coat on like she’s about to venture out into the impending blizzard.

“Where are you going?” I ask, stopping in my tracks.

Her head snaps up, eyes widening slightly. It’s the look of someone caught doing something they hoped to get away with. The look of someone who was planning to leave without saying goodbye.

“Well, that stings.”

She tugs her sleeves down nervously, fingers fidgeting with the edges. Her electric blue hair falls across her face, partially obscuring those expressive eyes that can’t quite meet mine. “Gravely called. He summoned me to meet him at the diner. He says it’s urgent.”

“And you were just going to vanish and leave me without saying a word?”

“I’m sorry, but nothing has changed. He has my brother. He owns me.”

“Bullshite!” The word comes out of my mouth harsher than I intended.

“My brothers laugh at me for wearing my heart on my sleeve, but I know what I feel and what I see in your eyes when we’re together.

Everything has changed. You’re not a one-woman team anymore.

There are two of us now. And my family. And the support of an army of fucking Dublin Devils. You just need to trust us.”

She bites her bottom lip. “Trust isn’t something I have a lot of faith in.”

“Well then, it’s something we’ll work on later. For now, let’s stay on point. Gravely summoned you. To what diner?”

“The one where we always meet.”

“Where is it?” I cross my arms, already not liking where this is heading.

“O’Connell Street. I don’t think he owns the place, but they do his bidding because he has free rein over the private room at the back.

” She’s already moving toward the stairs, shoulders hunched, steps quick and determined, like the conversation is over and decided.

The silver rings on her fingers catch the light as she reaches for the banister.

“And you’re going? Just like that?” I fall into step beside her, the floorboards creaking under our combined weight.

The storm outside died down overnight, but the wind still has enough force to rattle the windows continually.

She pauses, turns to face me. The leather choker around her neck seems to tighten as she swallows hard. “ Si. Just like that. He summons. I go. You and I might be getting closer to finding my brother, but until Gio is safe, I’m still under Gravely’s thumb. I don’t have a choice here.”

I don’t like it—not one bit—but I try to see her point.

The fierce protectiveness in her eyes when she mentions her brother is something I understand all too well. Family is everything.

The internet is still out thanks to the storm, so there’s nothing for us to do remotely, anyway. I take her wrist gently and guide her back toward my room, feeling the slight tremble of her arm beneath my fingertips.

“Let me get dressed while we talk about this. We need a proper plan.”

Back in my room, I pull on a pair of fresh socks, then jeans, and grab a thick cable-knit sweater from my dresser.

The familiar scent of Cora’s favorite fabric softener clings to the knit.

As I tug it over my head, my mind races through possibilities, contingencies, ways to keep Nyx safe while still letting her do what she needs to do.

“Did you get the internet fixed?”

“No. The provider says they won’t be sending crews out for at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours because the worst of the storm has yet to hit. We’re completely cut off digitally.”

“From here,” Nyx says. “The outage is likely only based on a grid. While I deal with Gravely, you can try to find a signal and track Sean’s men. Whatever happens, the most important thing is to find Gio.”

I frown. “It’s important, but it’s not more important than your safety.”

“Of course it is. Otherwise everything I’ve done has been for nothing.

” Nyx sits on the edge of my bed, her weight barely making an impression on the mattress.

She looks tired and resigned, dark circles under her eyes standing out against her pale skin.

Her fingers absently trace the pattern on my bedspread, and for a moment, I’m struck by how vulnerable she seems.

This fierce female has been fighting alone for too long.

“All right, here’s what we’ll do.” I pull a brush through my hair and lean against the dresser to face her.

“You’ll go to your meeting at the diner, and I’ll wait down the block as backup.

I’ll keep watch and stay out of sight. When you’re done, we should have a location from Sean’s men, and we’ll go get your brother.

Together. No more solo missions, Nyx. Not when we’re this close. ”