Page 79 of Dublin Charmer

“This way,” Finn whispers, leading us past a small pen where two tiny white lambs are curled in together with their mommy. It’s so sweet it seems jarringly out of place. They are sleepingpeacefully, as if the storm outside and the reality of the moment doesn’t even register.

Oh, to be as innocent as that.

“Tag bought them for Laine as part of her babymoon gift,” Finn explains, noticing my gaze. “Said every queen needs her own lamb. It’s a long forgotten Irish tradition. She cried for an hour.”

The simplicity of the gesture hits me hard.

These people are the supposed criminals of society, but here they are, buying lambs for pregnant wives, sharing family meals, and everyone willing to die for one another.

They amaze me.

At the back of the stables, Finn approaches what looks like an ordinary wall. His fingers dance across a hidden panel, and a section of wooden paneling slides away, revealing a modern security interface.

He places his palm against it, then enters a code.

“Stand back,” he warns.

With a mechanical groan, the entire wall shifts, revealing a narrow stone passage.

“Ay, dios,” Gio breathes beside me.

“Castle keep,” Finn explains. “This whole compound was built around the original structure. The tunnel connects to the war room in the basement of the main house. Come on.”

I help Gio navigate the rough stone steps. He doesn’t seem to be injured more than some bruises, but he’s very weak and unsteady. With each downward step he winces and my fiery hatred for Billy Gravely burns a little hotter.

The man will die a painful and well-deserved death.

At the bottom of the stairs, the passage opens into a surprisingly modern room. Concrete walls are reinforced with steel, emergency lighting casting everything in a soft blue glow.

And there, sealed within the safety of the room, are Laine, Nora, and Harper.

“Finn!” Nora cries, relief washing over her face. She rushes over and hugs her soon to be brother-in-law and then turns to hug me. “Thank heavens you’re safe.”

Her hug is tight and it both shocks me and reminds me why this family is so special.

“It’s so good to see you guys.” Harper is next in the welcome line and when she eases back from her hug, she smiles at Gio. “And you must be Nyx’s brother. You guys look so much alike.”

Gio is pale. I don’t think the jog from the truck and the race down the stairs did him any favors. With one arm around his back, I turn him toward one of the two bunk beds and lower him onto the mattress. “Let’s get you laid down before you fall down,fratellino.”

When I straighten, the brief moment of relief is over. Something is wrong.

Laine is lying on the bottom bunk of the other bed, her face contorted in pain.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Is it the baby?”

Laine grimaces and lets out a long hiss.

Finn rushes forward, looking her over. “What happened?”

Just as the question leaves his lips, Laine lets out a guttural cry that raises the hair on my arms. Her hands clutch the frame of the bed and Nora and Harper rush back to kneel beside her.

“Short pants,” Nora says, checking her watch. “Okay, that was five minutes.”

Finn looks ill. “Five minutes? Yer in labor?”

Harper passes a cloth over Laine’s forehead and forces a smile. “Her water broke right after we got down here. Apparently extreme stress can put a woman into labor. Who knew?”

“Fucking hell.” Finn looks like he can’t decide which is worse, watching Laine give birth or joining the gunfight at the main house. “Does Tag know?”