Page 42 of Dublin Charmer

“Then what do you want?”

“I want to kiss ye again. I want a chance to know ye.”

I close my eyes and ignore how hearing those words affects me. He’s a stranger. He doesn’t even know me. And he sure as hell won’t want to get to know me after I drugged him. “Tell me the code, Finn. If you do, I promise I’ll think about what you said.”

His eyes flutter open, and he smiles. The dimple in his left cheek shows and I can’t help but think about how sexy I thought it was when we danced last night.

Shit. Was that only last night?

“What’s the code, Finn?”

He sighs and relents, giving me a string of numbers before relaxing and letting the drug in his system zone him out.

I rush out of the cell, heart hammering against my ribs, the empty syringe clutched in my hand. The corridor stretches before me—stone floors worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. This place really is a castle, not just some modern compound with fancy architecture. The walls are thick, ancient stone that probably muffles sound perfectly. No wonder no one heard the tray crash.

The security keypad glows faintly at the corridor’s end. Ten digits. I punch in the numbers Finn mumbled, my fingers trembling slightly.

Please work, please work.

A soft beep and the click of the lock disengaging sends a wave of relief through me. I ease the door open just enough to peek through. No guards. Just a narrow stone staircase spiralingupward, lit by small wall sconces that cast long shadows across the stone steps.

With no other choice, I slip through and begin climbing.

The stairs wind upward, each step taking me closer to freedom—or at least I hope. My muscles burn from the tension of the last twenty-four hours, but adrenaline keeps me moving.

At the top, another door blocks my path.

And worse—another keypad.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I stare at the digital display, heart sinking. Different door, different code.

I try the code that unlocked the lower keypad, holding my breath.

Nothing.The red light blinks mockingly.

“Fuck.”

These people really don’t want anyone getting out. Or in. I press my forehead against the cool metal of the door. Without my equipment, I can’t hack this system. I could try to guess it, but that wouldn’t get me anywhere. If I armed it, I’d switch things up.

There are too many combinations and permutations. The system would likely shut me out after two more attempts anyway.

The weight of my situation crashes down. Even if I somehow got through this door, how many more would there be? And then what? I still haven’t figured out how I’d get across the grounds without getting caught by their security team.

The image of Gio stuck in Gravely’s cell is burned into my mind.

I need to get to him. Or, at the very least, I need to keep Gravely on the hook long enough for me to find him.

Defeated, I turn and head back down the stairs.

Maybe there’s another way out through one of the other doors in the corridor. I try each handle again, pulling harder this time, searching for any weakness. I wonder if I could pick the locks with the tip of the syringe. That’s not going to work either. I’d need a second picking tool.

I’ve got nothing.

My only chance is if one of these doors isn’t locked.

I’ve checked each one and am halfway down the hall when I reach for the next handle. Only, it drops before my fingers tighten around the metal.