Page 80 of Dublin Charmer

Nora shakes her head. “No. He sent us down here and sealed the tunnel. Surprise!”

Surprise is right. I scan the shelves stocked with provisions lining the stone walls and doubt there is a birthing kit anywhere in there. So, we’re trapped in a medieval castle keep with a woman in labor, while a war rages on down the secured tunnel.

Laine cries out again, her voice echoing off the ancient stones.

I meet Finn’s panicked gaze and shrug. “Life with the Quinns is never boring.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Finn

The ancient stone walls of the keep feel different to me now—less like a relic and more like a shield. I’ve spent my whole life growing up in this compound, but never appreciated how much blood and history went into making it a fortress.

“I need to get back up there.” I stride over to the weapons cache, exchange my pea coat for a tactical vest, and stuff the pockets with extra magazines. “Sean called in the entire MC, but with the way the roads are out there, it’ll take time for them to get here.”

Nyx steps forward, her blue hair vibrant under these lights. “I’m coming with you.”

“No, luv. I need you to stay here.”

Her eyes flash and I see the argument coming even before her mouth opens. “Like hell I will. Gravely’s mine as much as he’s yours. More, even. That bastard had my brother chained up and tortured like a dog. I have as much right to put a bullet in him as anyone.”

I glance at Gio, who’s barely conscious on the bunk, then at Laine, who’s fighting through another contraction.

“No argument, babe,” I say, surprising her. “You deserve your shot at him, the same as we do. But your brother just got you back. And these women need someone who can think clearly and fight if things get complicated.”

She steps closer, her voice dropping. “I’m not your babysitter, Finn.”

“No, you’re Emilia-fucking-Farina, survivor of a mafia takeover, lone wolf against the dangers darkening our door. If something happens to us up there, you’re their best chance. If they need to evacuate, it’ll take one person to help Laine and the other to help Gio. Who’s going to cover them?”

I hold her gaze while she sifts through that logic.

“I’m not asking you to stay because you’re a woman. I’m asking because you’re the only one I trust to protect them if we fail.”

The conflict in her eyes is painful to watch. She wants blood—deserves it—but she also understands the calculus of survival.

“Fine,” she finally says. “But you better not die up there.”

“I’m not planning on it.” I try to smile, but it feels tight on my face.

Harper hands me a comms unit. “Bryan left this and I can’t listen to it anymore. Maybe it’ll help you find them or let them know where you are.”

I slip the molded earpiece in place and hear the chaos immediately: shouted commands, gunfire, my brothers’ voices cutting through the static.

Laine lets off a baleful groan and my heart goes out to her. This was not part of her birthing plan. I rush over to lean in and kiss her forehead. “Give my baby niece a snuggle from Uncle Finn when she gets here. Good luck, counsellor.”

“Tell your brother to kill the bad guys and get his perfect ass down here. He’s not supposed to miss his baby’s arrival.”

“Aye, I’ll tell him.”

I straighten and head for the door. Nyx grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug. “Be careful. And maybe when this is all over, we can go out for dinner somewhere and there won’t be anyone drugged or getting shot at.”

“Can’t even imagine what that would look like.” I squeeze her hand, memorizing the feel of it, “but it’s a date.”

At the tunnel entrance I press my hand on the security scanner and unseal my exit. With one last look of longing, I leave the woman I love with the best chance of survival I could offer her.

When the keep is once again secured, I turn and race down the long tunnel under the length of our grounds, back to the main house.

The stone passage feels cool but not cold, the air stale and damp. It takes almost five minutes before I’m at the bottom of the ancient steps worn smooth by centuries of desperate escapes and midnight raids.