Page 25 of Dublin Charmer (Emerald Isle Mafia #5)

She shakes her head immediately. “Having you that close to Gravely is a bad idea. What if he’s figured out where I am? If so, he’ll be watching for my arrival, and you’ll be scooped up and killed.” Her voice hardens. “No, I’ll handle this.”

I move to stand in front of her and shake my head. “If he knows you’re with us, it’ll be you who gets scooped up and killed. Do you think I’ll stay here and let that happen?”

We stare at each other, neither of us backing down. The standoff continues until I break the connection, grab my phone and wallet off the nightstand, and gesture toward the door.

“Fine. We’ll talk to Tag. Come on. He’ll be in the dining room.”

She hesitates, but follows me out. I can feel the tension radiating off her, but this isn’t something I’m willing to compromise on.

Not when her safety is at stake.

Nyx

I grip the steering wheel of my old truck and stare at the diner’s neon sign flickering through the sleet pelting my windshield.

They say this is just the beginning, and this is shaping up to be the storm of the decade.

Why am I not surprised? Of course the world is dousing me with cold water the moment I get ahead of the chaos that is my life.

With the weather as shitty as it is, the parking lot is nearly empty. Only three cars sit huddled against the building like they’re seeking shelter from the storm.

But none of them belongs to Billy.

“I still don’t like this.” Even through the phone, I can feel Finn’s worry. His voice is tight and filled with concern. “Something is off.”

“Nothing about this situation has ever felt right. That doesn’t change where we are.” Sleet pelts the windshield, creating tiny rivers that snake down the glass until the wipers swipe across the glass and the whole futile process starts again.

“Click the pin so I can test the reception.”

I reach over to the anarchy pin and click the ‘A’ within the circle, angling it to look directly into the tiny camera hidden there.

“All right, I can see ye. Now say something.”

“You’re annoyingly protective, Finn Quinn. If Gravely discovers this, you’ll be the reason I’m dead.”

“He won’t discover it. He’s an arrogant idiot.”

He’s arrogant, yes, but not an idiot. He couldn’t have gotten this far in a criminal landscape without being as cunning as he is ruthless.

“It’s not too late to drive away, luv. We’re close to finding Gio. I feel it. We’ll rescue him and ye’ll be free to let Gravely twist in the fucking wind.”

“I can’t risk that. I’ve followed a dozen leads in the past months only to find myself at a dead end.” Unease crawls along my spine, whispering warnings I can’t ignore. But like it or not, I’ve got no choice. “Okay. I’m going in.”

“Safe home, babe. And if something goes wrong, just say the word and we’ll flood the place and pull ye out.”

I sigh, leaning my head back against the seat. That’s what I’m afraid of. Billy can’t know about my tie to the Quinns or everything will blow up in my face.

“No. Until Gio is safe, you have to let me handle it. Don’t step in.”

“Maybe we do and we end this and take him out.”

“No. He might have contingencies for that.”

“He won’t. He’s too arrogant to believe we could get to him.”

“You don’t know him like I do.” The words come out sharper than intended. “He’s paranoid. Ruthless. If he spots any of you?—”

“We know how to stay hidden.”

I almost laugh. The Quinns, with their broad shoulders and intimidating presence, aren’t exactly inconspicuous. Even Finn, the most subtle of the brothers, carries himself with that unmistakable Quinn confidence.

“Just stay back.” My voice softens. “No matter what happens in there, don’t come in unless I call.”

“Emilia—”

Him using my real name nearly does me in. I draw a steadying breath and work to put my walls back up so I can be strong enough to do this. “Finn, please. Promise me.”

My plea hangs in the air between us for a moment. “All right. I promise. We won’t come in unless it’s obvious yer in terrible danger.”

That’s as good as I’m going to get from him, so I move on. I check my watch—two minutes until I’m officially late.

“I need to go.” My fingers hover over the door handle, reluctant to break the connection. “With any luck, I’ll be out in twenty minutes, and we can get back to finding Gio.”

“Be careful, babe.” His voice drops lower, intimate. “And remember, I’m right outside if ye need me.”

That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.

“Finn, if something goes wrong...” The words stick in my throat. There’s so much I want to say, but nothing feels adequate. “Don’t leave Gio in that cell. Find him, okay?”

“Ye have my word, but don’t think like that. Nothing will go wrong.”

I wish I had his confidence.

“Goodbye, Finn.” I end the call before he can respond, and before I can say something I’ll regret.

Or worse, something I mean.

The phone feels heavy in my hand. I slip it into my pocket and step out into the spine-chilling rain, hunching against the wind.

Each step toward the diner’s entrance feels like moving through molasses.

My instincts scream at me to turn around, to run back to the compound, to Finn’s warm bed and safer problems.

Instead, I pull open the door, the bell jingling cheerfully above my head.

The smell of coffee and grease envelopes me as I head straight toward the back. A sinking feeling settles in my stomach, heavy as concrete.

I may never see Finn Quinn again.