Page 64 of Dublin Charmer

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“You’ll find out at the diner in an hour.”

“Why can’t you just?—”

“Why can’t you just do as you’re told? The diner. One hour. We have something important to discuss.”

My blood runs cold. “What about?”

“The diner. One hour. Or your brother will pay the price for your obstinance.”

The line goes dead.

I stare at my reflection in the mirror, my skin pale and my eyes wide with fear. For a moment, I’d forgotten the reality of my situation. I let myself believe in possibilities, in gardens and futures and the warmth of Finn’s arms.

But Gravely owns me until Gio is safe.

Closing my laptop, I grab my backpack from the floor and slide it inside. A quick search and I find my coat by the door. No part of me wants to leave this place and meet up with Gravely.

But like the arrogant bastard loves to point out, I haven’t got a choice.

Finn

I’m halfway up the hall when I spot Nyx exiting my bedroom, pulling her coat on like she’s about to venture out into the impending blizzard.

“Where are you going?” I ask, stopping in my tracks.

Her head snaps up, eyes widening slightly. It’s the look of someone caught doing something they hoped to get away with. The look of someone who was planning to leave without saying goodbye.

“Well, that stings.”

She tugs her sleeves down nervously, fingers fidgeting with the edges. Her electric blue hair falls across her face, partially obscuring those expressive eyes that can’t quite meet mine. “Gravely called. He summoned me to meet him at the diner. He says it’s urgent.”

“And you were just going to vanish and leave me without saying a word?”

“I’m sorry, but nothing has changed. He has my brother. He owns me.”

“Bullshite!” The word comes out of my mouth harsher than I intended. “My brothers laugh at me for wearing my heart on my sleeve, but I know what I feel and what I see in your eyes when we’re together. Everything has changed. You’re not a one-woman team anymore. There are two of us now. And my family. And the support of an army of fucking Dublin Devils. You just need to trust us.”

She bites her bottom lip. “Trust isn’t something I have a lot of faith in.”

“Well then, it’s something we’ll work on later. For now, let’s stay on point. Gravely summoned you. To what diner?”

“The one where we always meet.”

“Where is it?” I cross my arms, already not liking where this is heading.

“O’Connell Street. I don’t think he owns the place, but they do his bidding because he has free rein over the private room at the back.” She’s already moving toward the stairs, shoulders hunched, steps quick and determined, like the conversation isover and decided. The silver rings on her fingers catch the light as she reaches for the banister.

“And you’re going? Just like that?” I fall into step beside her, the floorboards creaking under our combined weight.

The storm outside died down overnight, but the wind still has enough force to rattle the windows continually.

She pauses, turns to face me. The leather choker around her neck seems to tighten as she swallows hard. “Si.Just like that. He summons. I go. You and I might be getting closer to finding my brother, but until Gio is safe, I’m still under Gravely’s thumb. I don’t have a choice here.”

I don’t like it—not one bit—but I try to see her point.

The fierce protectiveness in her eyes when she mentions her brother is something I understand all too well. Family is everything.