Page 9 of Dublin Charmer (Emerald Isle Mafia #5)
CHAPTER NINE
Finn
I adjust my bow tie one last time, checking my reflection in the hallway mirror. Another tux, another party. At least this one is just family.
The sound of laughter drifts up from downstairs, along with the clink of glasses and the warm glow of candlelight. Tag’s gone all out tonight—crystal champagne flutes, silver place settings, and enough flowers to fill a greenhouse.
My phone buzzes. A message from my contact confirming that Nyx is on the move. I slip it back in my pocket. Later.
“There he is.” Bryan catches me at the bottom of the stairs. “Looking sharp, baby brother.”
I dodge his attempt to mess up my hair. “Hands off. Some of us actually try to look presentable.”
The dining room sparkles like something out of a magazine. Tag stands at the head of the table, one arm around Laine’s expanding waistline. She’s practically glowing these days, even if she complains about feeling like a whale.
“Wonderful.” Tag raises his glass. “Everyone’s here, so now we can eat.”
We settle into our usual spots—the five Quinn brothers and their beloved partners. It’s crazy how much our family has grown in just one year. Last year at this time we were all still reeling about the loss of Da, and Tag and Sean were both living on their own.
Now, we are a family again.
Cora rolls the serving cart into the dining room and begins setting our plates out for us.
“What have you got for us tonight, Cora?” Tag asks.
She smiles as she serves the ladies first. “Tender duck breast, pan-seared and finished with a rich raspberry-port wine reduction—infused with wild herbs, forest honey—served atop a bed of golden fingerling potatoes, slow-roasted in duck fat, rosemary, and black garlic, and accompanied by a delicate swirl of charred shallot purée.”
My mouth waters.
Brendan chuckles. “We’re so fucking fancy.”
That gets a laugh around the table.
“We’re blessed to have you taking care of us,” Laine says.
“Hells yeah, we are,” Sean agrees.
“To Cora.” Tag holds up his glass. “ Slainte .”
“ Slainte! ” we all repeat.
Cora clucks her tongue and waves away our praise. “Your happiness and good health is all I need in thanks. It’s my greatest joy to take care of you all.”
One of the greatest life-changing decisions my parents made in shaping our lives was hiring Cora and her husband Connor as our caretakers.
Never underestimate the impact of the love of good people.
When Cora leaves us all to eat, the room falls quiet for a few minutes as we’re all transported into the heavenly realm of great food.
“How’s this for kicking off the new year right?” Bryan asks.
“Doesn’t get any better,” Tag says, then turns his attention to Piper. “Sorry if that sounded insensitive, luv. We’re all hoping for the best for your family.”
I pause with my fork in front of my mouth. “Did I miss something?”
Sean nods. “You’ve had your head down all day. Several of Kieran’s informants reported that Gravely made his move on the McGuires last night. They hit the house, the factory, and emptied several of the warehouses.”
The table goes quiet. Sean’s hand finds Piper’s, squeezing gently.
“Any word on casualties?” I ask, my tone careful.
Piper shakes her head. “Nothing concrete yet. I’ve tried calling Rory and even Mom, but haven’t been able to reach them. I don’t know if they’re dead or hiding.”
“Kieran’s men are looking for answers,” Sean says.
“And we’ve got our men on the gardia force working the scenes,” Tag adds. “We’ll find out what we can as soon as we can.”
“I’m sorry, Piper.” I meet her gaze across the table. “I know things aren’t great with your family, but still...”
“Thanks, Finn.” She attempts a smile. “But honestly? You lot have been more family to me in nine months than they managed in twenty years. Well…except for Rory. I know I’ve probably lost the others for good, but I can’t bear to think of Rory not being part of my life.”
“Let’s not think about that tonight.” Sean strokes a loving hand over her head and down the silky length of her ebony hair. “Let’s bring in the new year with only good thoughts. The rest will come in time.”
The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we work our way through dinner.
When Cora appears with a flaming Baked Alaska, everyone oohs and aahs appropriately. As much as I love Cora’s desserts, that’s my cue to take my leave.
“Sorry to cut this short, everyone.” I stand, checking my watch. “But I’ve got plans tonight and need to get going.”
“Plans?” Bryan wiggles his eyebrows. “Who’s the lucky lady? Anyone we know?”
That gets a round of muffled laughter from my brothers at my expense.
“None of your business, asshole.” I dodge Tag’s questioning look. “Thanks for dinner, Cora. The duck was perfect.”
“Be careful out there,” Tag calls after me. “Gravely’s getting bold.”
I wave without turning around. My phone buzzes again—another message about Nyx arriving to her destination. Excellent.
Let my brothers have their evening of domestic bliss.
I’ve got a hacker to hunt.
Nyx
I hand my jacket to the woman at the coat check and study the selection of masks on the entrance table.
There are the kinds you hold against your eyes with a long stick and the kind that have an elastic that slides around the back of your head and stays in place.
It’s probably more elegant for a woman to hold the little stick but I hate the idea of not having my hands free to text, to fight, to do whatever needs to be done.
The ornate mask with turquoise, green, and blue peacock feathers and gold gemstones matches my electric blue hair and accentuates my dress perfectly. Careful not to mess up my hairstyle, I slide the elastic over my head and adjust the mask to center the eye holes.
Catching my reflection in the massive mirror behind the entrance table, I give myself a pass. Though I don’t want to be here, I clean up pretty good—damn good, actually.
Now to mingle.
To access the main room of the private casino, I descend three wide platform steps.
Thankfully, I’m steady in heels despite my preference being Costco slippers or flip-flops.
Papa was an important man, and given that it was only him raising the two of us, I was often the woman on his arm at events like this.
“Emilia, I’m glad you came.” Billy Gravely rushes over to greet me.
I didn’t think I had a choice. Actually, I know I didn’t. “How’d you know it was me? I’m wearing a mask.”
He chuckles and slides an unwelcome hand around my hips to stand beside me facing the festivities. “It’s your hair. Even with the mask, it’s still blue.”
As he speaks, he leans closer, and a wash of stale whiskey assaults my senses. Well, all right then, he’s drunk and in fine form.
Good. That will work in my favor .
When he called me this morning to confirm how smoothly everything had gone during his raids last night, he insisted I come to this New Year’s party to celebrate. This is some sort of snooty private party being put on by one of the political figureheads Billy has in his pocket.
Most of the people here are legit, I think, but when you lie in bed with dogs, you still wake up with flees.
“Come on, kid. We’re celebrating.”
Well, he is. Billy is celebrating a big victory, taking over the McGuire warehouses. And while I couldn’t care less about his successes, this is a chance to be near him when he’s drinking and hopefully has his guard down.
The man has a reputation for being a lech and for preying upon young women.
If I can get him alone while he’s drunk, I’ve got a tiny syringe strapped to my upper thigh with enough pharmaceutical potential to have him spilling his innermost secrets to me.
Then, I’ll find out where he has Gio and I can finally be done with all of this.
Gravely takes me by the arm and leads me toward a craps table set up deeper in the room.
“You will be my lucky charm.” He’s leaning heavily on his cane with one hand while his other clutches my arm too tight. “We’ll make me a fortune tonight.”
The casino floor gleams under crystal chandeliers that must cost more than most people’s houses. Servers in white tuxedos weave through the crowd with champagne flutes balanced on silver trays. Women draped in diamonds and silk laugh too loudly at the jokes of silver-haired men.
And everyone is wearing an elaborate mask—some Venetian with long beaks, others simple and elegant with swirls of gold and silver.
A jazz quartet plays in the corner, the sultry notes of a saxophone winding through conversations. The air smells of expensive perfume, cigar smoke, and money.
“It’s impressive, isn’t it?” Gravely gestures grandly.
“I bet you never dreamed this is how the other half live. Stick with me, and this could be your future.” His eyes gleam with triumph behind his simple black mask.
“These are only some of the powerful people I have in my pocket. By this time next year, all of Dublin will be mine.”
He pushes me to stand against the table, grabbing the dice and holding them out. “Blow on them for luck.”
I lean forward, letting my breath touch the dice cupped in his palm. His eyes drop to my cleavage—predictable. If he keeps this up, getting the better of him won’t even be a challenge.
As I straighten, a sensation prickles at the back of my neck.
I glance around. Through the sea of masks and feathers and sequins, I glimpse a man staring at us from across the room.
He’s looking fit in his tux as a simple black mask covers the upper half of his face.
Unlike the other guests who flit from table to table, he stands perfectly still, watching.
Is he watching me or Gravely?
“Seven!” Gravely shouts as the dice tumble across the table. The crowd erupts in cheers. He grabs my waist, pulling me against him. I straighten up quickly, but when I look again, the man watching us is gone. “You see, my wee lucky charm. This is why you need to stay close tonight.”
I force a smile, feeling the outline of the syringe against my thigh.
“I’m not going anywhere.”