Page 76 of Dublin Charmer

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 lifemiserable 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.