Page 28 of Dublin Charmer (Emerald Isle Mafia #5)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Nyx

I pace Gravely’s warehouse office like a caged animal, fingers trailing over every surface, searching for anything I can use.

To defend. To attack. To escape. The locked door isn’t budging, and the window is reinforced and is a no-go.

Gravely made sure I wasn’t going anywhere until he has his moment.

Lucky me.

My mind races, replaying the bastard’s smug face when Donal dragged me in here. Did I really think I was so clever that he wouldn’t notice when my security coverage started leaving gaps of failure? How many times could I explain things not going his way?

He’s a freaking child. Of course he’d have a tantrum when he doesn’t get what he wants.

The vast storage of the building beyond the glass wall is something to see.

Based on the size of the space, this is the mega-warehouse he bought and had me add to the security network last week.

He gave me the blueprints among the paperwork so I could work out the locations to set up the cameras to eliminate any blind spots and points of vulnerability.

I gave him a Phase One plan to secure everything he stole from the McGuire warehouses the night of his territory takeover, but I haven’t finished my recommendation report. Mainly because it’s a massive project and also because I may have been busy having wild sex with one of his enemies.

Again… lucky me.

Regardless, having studied the plans, I know this warehouse is his crown jewel, the base where he’s consolidating power. He must have something in here to protect himself if danger comes knocking.

Knowing what a paranoid asshole he is, there’s no way he’d sit up here and not have an arsenal at his fingertips if needed. I just need to find it.

I stare out the window, listening to the muffled voices below, watching dozens of men moving crates through the cavernous space, organizing himself for a future he stole from a ruling family.

Maybe I’m jaded after watching what happened in Milan when the Rossi family was eliminated, but in my mind, if you didn’t build it, you’re just a low-life thief and poser.

Because the goods out there were stolen from the McGuire warehouses.

Those were their weapons, drugs, and legacy of criminal intent.

Yes, it’s probably everything Gravely needs to cement his position as Dublin’s new kingpin but is this what Mad Mattie McGuire wanted when he bequeathed his best friend to lead his sons to power?

To kill his wife and heirs? To erase the McGuires from the playing board?

I don’t think so.

A snippet of Gravely’s earlier phone conversation replays in my head: “If the storm is as bad as they’re predicting, it’ll give us the cover we need. Aye, everyone you can round up. Let me know when it’s done.”

The implications hit me like a freight train and steal my breath.

“He’s going to attack the compound.” I turn to glare at the ice crusting over the glass on the outside of the window. “Using the ice storm for cover.”

My stomach twists into knots. The Quinns.

The brothers may not trust me because of my connection to Gravely, but they’ve been good to me. And the ladies: Laine, pregnant and vulnerable, Piper, who lost most of her family already, Harper and Nora who just got engaged to the twins and are looking forward to a life with the men they love…

And Finn...

Pain spears me in the chest as if a dagger has been plunged straight into my heart. It’s too soon for me to feel this strongly for the man, but I do. Finn is good and sweet and so freaking smart. He has honor and his word means something.

The thought of Gravely taking his life makes me sick. No. I can’t let that happen. It’s true that I’ve only known these people for a few weeks, but they are the first people in a decade who have treated me like a person.

Not a tool, not an asset.

They run their territory with a code of honor, like the Rossis had.

“And Gravely will kill them all.” I run my hands through my hair. “The women, the baby—everyone.”

The realization makes me sick. I’ve seen what Gravely is capable of, what he does to the people who stand in his way. There will be no mercy, no prisoners.

Wait. Something else about Gravely’s phone call nags at me.

The call itself.

If Gravely was on the phone when Donal dragged me in here, then...

“Donal must’ve turned off the signal jammer when he confiscated my computer and my phone. And if the signal jammer is off….

I fill my lungs with the first deep breath I’ve managed all day, hope surging through me. Donal may have been cautious to keep me from contacting anyone, but what he doesn’t know is that my equipment doesn’t need to be in my possession to be useful.

“Come on, Finn. See it. Find it.”

A tiny smile forms on my lips despite everything. If Gravely thinks he won by capturing me and bringing me here, he’s about to learn how wrong he is.

I’m the freaking Trojan horse.

Even if I die here, Finn will still have what he needs to destroy Billy Gravely.

I close my eyes, picturing Gio. Is he safe yet? Did Finn find him? I know to the depths of my soul that Finn won’t stop until Gio is found. The thought that my brother might be free, even if I’m not, gives me strength.

I can live with that.

Outside, thunder rumbles. The storm is getting closer.

Finn

Kieran helps me get Gio into the back seat of the SUV and then the two of us run around to the driver’s side of the vehicle to hop in.

The storm has really got us in its grip now and it’s time to tuck in and ride it out.

And, as much as I want to give the sky a fuck you middle finger, I have no location to target to find Nyx even if the weather didn’t suck.

The two of us climb into the truck and are soaked. I rub my palms against the legs of my jeans, but it does no good. My jeans are just as wet as my hands.

Kieran starts the SUV, and I admit, I’m looking forward to getting home, if only to change and regroup on how to find Nyx.

A soft notification ping has me pulling my tablet free from the storage slot on the back of the driver’s seat. I take one look at the screen and smack Kieran’s shoulder. “Wait, wait! I’ve got her.”

“Who? Emilia?” Gio leans in beside me.

From the moment she entered that diner, the pin had died. I figured she had either destroyed it to keep me from finding her when she betrayed me and went back with Gravely, or it had shorted out and was dead.

But it isn’t dead.

I open the screen to the camera and am staring up at a maze of metal support beams.

“What is that?” Gio asks.

“That’s an industrial ceiling. Looks like a warehouse.”

“There are a lot of fucking warehouses in Dublin, mate,” Kieran says, turning in the front seat. “Can you give me more to go on than that?”

“Working on it.” There’s a lot of interference from the storm, but I manage to track the signal back to the source and get the GPS coordinates. After so many dead ends tonight, this feels almost too good to be true.

“The pin I made her put on her backpack is online,” I breathe, already pulling up the warehouse location. It’s a new industrial complex recently built on the outskirts of Dublin’s docklands.

Gio’s bruised face twists as he stares at the screen. “But where’s my sister?”

“We’re going to find out.” I pull out my phone and call Sean.

“Aye? What’s up?”

“I found Nyx. Your boys will have to hold off on burning this place. We need to move on Gravely and get her away from that fucker.”

“Hold on.” Sean muffles the other end of the line, but the shrill screech of his whistle still makes it through the speaker. “We’ve got an address on Gravely. Who’s up for some murder and mayhem?”

The replying shouts make me thankful to be on their good side.

“Send me the address. We’re right behind you. And Finny, don’t do anything stupid until we get there.”

“No promises.” I end the call, send Sean the address, and read it out to Kieran. “Think you can handle a second raid tonight?”

He grins, all teeth. “Dude, I can go hard all night long.”

I snort. “Way too much information.”

As the truck pulls away, I sink back into the leather seat, fighting off the chill of the night. We found Gio, the pin is working, and somewhere out there, Nyx needs my help.

There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s been telling the truth and has just been doing what she needed to do to survive and save her brother.

Now it’s time that someone saves her.

“Hang in there, Nyx. We’re coming for you, babe.”

Nyx

The warehouse office feels like a tomb. Ten minutes ago, dozens of Gravely’s men had gathered on the main floor to open crates of automatic weapons.

Once they were all armed to the teeth, they cleared out.

My stomach is knotted so tightly, there’s a good chance I might puke.

I pace the small space, trying to breathe through the panic clawing at my chest.

“They’re headed for the Quinn compound. I know it.”

My hands shake as I search the desk drawers for the third time. Nothing. No phone, no computer, not even a goddamn paperclip I could use to pick the lock. Just empty drawers.

I press my forehead against the cold concrete wall. The Quinns have no idea what’s coming for them. Finn has no idea. And it’s my fault. Maybe if I’d listened and hadn’t gone to meet Gravely…

A distant pop echoes through the warehouse.

Then another.

Then three more in rapid succession.

Gunfire.

My heart leaps into my throat. More shots ring out, closer now, followed by shouting. Is it Finn? Is it another family seeking revenge on a disgusting man?

I scan the room for anything I can use as a weapon.

My gaze lands on the chair Gravely was sitting in when I arrived. “It’s not much, but it’ll have to do.”

I snatch it up by the arms, swinging the casters through the air as I position myself behind where the door will swing when it opens.

More gunfire. Then silence .

Gravely only left half-a-dozen workers and security guards, but I saw the weaponry they had on hand. It’s a toss-up to guess who might win a head-to-head battle down there.

Footsteps approach—slow, cautious. The handle jiggles but doesn’t turn. A kick to the door doesn’t do it, but the three shots through the lock do.

As the door swings open, I grip the arms of the chair tighter, muscles coiled and ready to strike.

Finn.

The chair clatters to the floor as relief floods through me. Before I can think, I launch myself at him. My arms wrap around his neck, my legs around his waist. I cling to him like a damned koala, desperate to feel his strength after being so sure I might die.

His arms encircle me instantly, one hand cradling the back of my head. He smells like gunpowder and sweat and home.

“You came,” I whisper against his neck.

“Always,” he murmurs, his voice rough.

For one perfect moment, the world shrinks to just us. This man… this smart and sexy man risked everything to find me.

Then reality crashes back.

I pull back, meeting his eyes. “Gravely’s going for your family.”

His face hardens. “What? When?”

“Now. They strapped on weapons and left maybe fifteen minutes ago.” I slide down from his waist, my footing wobbly. “He’s planning a full assault on the family compound thinking the storm will have you all sheltered in one place.”

Finn pulls out his phone, dialing quickly. He frowns when nothing happens. “No, no, no… not now. Not fucking now!”

He tries again, but there’s still no signal and no way to warn his family. “We need to go.”

We rush down the metal steps and through the main floor of the warehouse.

The concrete floor is littered with the bodies of Gravely’s men.

I look at every one of them as I pass, hoping to see Donal or any of the assholes who have made my life miserable over the past months. Sadly, I don’t see anyone I recognize.

Sean appears from behind a stack of crates, blood splattered across his leather vest.

“Clear?” Finn asks.

His brother nods. “Sadly, Gravely slithered between the cracks again.”

“No, he hasn’t. He’s making a run for the compound. Nyx saw him arming his forces, talking about using the storm as cover for his attack.”

Sean curses and grows scary quiet. “That fucker dies tonight.”

“Agreed. But first, we need to get home and secure the compound.” Finn gets us moving and gestures for Sean to follow.

“They’re moving on the family,” Sean shouts as we run toward the massive double doors. “Everyone get to the compound!”

We burst through the warehouse doors into the cold night air. Finn pulls me toward an SUV parked off to the side. When he opens the door, I jump in, right next to…

“Gio!!” I throw myself at my brother, only realizing how aggressive it is after he grunts and pulls back. “Oh my god, I’m sorry.”

I hold my hands up, desperate to touch him but not wanting to hurt him. Tears stream hot down my cheeks as his battered face wavers behind a wall of moisture. “You’re here. You’re alive.”

“You too.” He pulls me gently against his side for a hug.

It takes a minute for me to realize that Finn and Kieran have jumped into the front seat, and we’ve left Gravely’s warehouse behind.

“Have you been able to reach them?” I ask Finn.

“Not yet. Sean is trying, too. He’s also calling in the Devils.”

“I don’t have a phone, or I’d help.”

Finn points to the iPad in the seat storage. “See if you can get a connection. Maybe an email or a WhatsApp message? There’s got to be some way to warn them.”

I do as he suggests and start searching for a way to warn his family.

“Do you want us to drop you on the way?” He’s turned back, his gaze searching mine. “We don’t have time to drive you anywhere, but you can get out on the way and shelter somewhere safe. Maybe a pub or someplace?”

I scoff. “Not a chance. Gravely fucked with my family. I won’t take the out while he fucks with yours.” I reach into the front and squeeze his hand. “We’re doing this together, Charmer. I’m not going anywhere.”

Something shifts in his expression: relief, determination… no, it’s deeper than that… deeper than anything we’ve put a name to so far.

“Quinn compound it is.” He turns back to the front seat and presses send on his phone, praying for the call to go through.

The Quinn compound has become more than just a place to me. It’s become something I never thought I’d have again.

Something worth fighting for.