Page 106 of Dublin Charmer

“Gio would never accept that.”

“Fuck Gio.” Finn curses on the other end of the line. “Yer being played, luv, and ye refuse to see it. Whether it’s intentional or not, yer brother has ye under his thumb, holding ye there with emotional blackmail the same way Billy Gravely did.”

I gasp. “You can’t possibly believe that.”

Finn is quiet for a moment. When he speaks again, his voice is controlled, but I can hear the pain underneath.

“I know yer heart, Emilia. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed or how much distance is between us. Ye could be happy with me if ye wanted to be, but ye don’t. Ye chose yer brother over me when ye left, and ye continue to choose him even now that he seems better.”

I pull my knees up to my chest. “I can’t be happy if he’s not.”

“But that’s the problem. Ye decided his happiness matters more than yers. More than mine.”

“Finn—”

“No, don’t. If ending us is what ye need to do, then do it. But don’t pretend it’s for yer sake or for mine. The only person who wins by ye ending us is yer brother.”

I can barely breathe through the tightness in my lungs. “I’m so sorry.”

“Aye, me too.”

The call ends, and I sit there, phone clutched to my chest, sobs wracking my body. The beautiful view blurs through my tears. Did we just break up? I honestly don’t know. That wasn’t what I intended, and it certainly isn’t what I want.

I don’t know how long I sit there before I hear Gio’s footsteps.

“Emi?” He kneels beside me, concern etched on his face. “What happened?”

I can’t speak, can only shake my head as he pulls me into his arms.

“Was it him?” The edge in Gio’s voice is unmistakable. “Did Quinn upset you?”

“I think we broke up,” I manage between sobs.

Gio’s arms tighten around me. “It’s for the best,sorella. You know that.”

“Do I?”

“Of course. Look at you—every time you talk to him, you fall apart. That’s not love, that’s torture.”

I pull away, wiping my face. “It hurts because I love him, Gio.”

He brushes hair from my face with gentle fingers. “Breaking it off is a good thing. It may not feel like it right now, but you’re free. Free from Dublin, from organized crime, from all of it. Isn’t that what we always wanted? After losing Papa. After losing everyone we loved?”

Was it? I can’t remember anymore. Honestly, I don’t care.

The truth is, I don’t want to be free of Finn. I want a life with him.

I look at my handsome, younger brother. The shadows under his eyes have faded. His laughter and smiles come more easily now. He’s better. But as he helps me to my feet, his arm protective around my shoulders, I realize Finn was right.

I’mnot getting better.

Gio may have been taken prisoner, but so was I.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Finn

Seven Months After Leaving – August