Page 13 of Enforcer Book Boyfriend

“Leo’s working on the Providence angle,” I announced, trying to sound confident. Conall nodded, his jaw clenched with determination, while Tatiana looked just as pissed. But Grace… she was another story entirely. She was who I was most concerned about. “Conall, we need to discuss the Boston issue. It’s bigger than we thought.”

Grace interrupted. “Dillon. You can’t leave me out. You know I’m not afraid.” She glanced over at Tatiana for help before cutting her eyes back at me.

“Grace, listen—” I began, but she cut me off with a wave of her hand.

“No, Dillon!” She paced across the plush carpet, her expression fierce and unyielding. “I am not some helpless little girl who needs you to protect her. I can take care of myself, and I have every right to be involved in this. You promised me. I know what I’m getting into.”

“Grace, it’s not about that,” I tried to explain, my temper flaring. “These bastards are gunning for us, and if they think they can use you to get to me, they won’t hesitate. You know that.”

“Then let me fight,” she spat, her eyes blazing. “If I’m such a fucking liability, then let me help take these fuckers down. You don’t get to decide what’s best for me, Dillon.” This was a new side to Grace. One I had never seen before. Who knew the sexy woman I met online one night would be so bloodthirsty?

“Jesus Christ, Grace!” I shouted, unable to contain myself any longer. “You think I want to keep you out of this? This is my goddamn nightmare, but I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to you!”

I stared at her, my heart pounding like a jackhammer in my chest. The air was thick with tension, but I forced out the words, trying to make her understand. “Our enemies won’t think twice about putting a bullet in your head if they know it’ll get to me.”

Grace turned away, seeking solace in Tatiana’s company. They shared a loaded, but silent, look. Both women were bound by their love for dangerous men. It was a fucked-up sisterhood born from blood and fear, but it was real.

“Stay with me, Grace. I know you want to be involved, but there are other things we need to focus on right now. There may come a time when you’ll have to step up and claim your role in this family, but tonight. Don’t worry. I got you, sis.”

I watched as Grace silently nodded, her eyes still burning with frustration. She knew Tatiana was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. Conall cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the matter at hand.

“Dillon, we need to move on this intel from Leo,” he said gruffly. “The longer we wait, the more time these bastards have to regroup and come at us again.”

I nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities. “Agreed. Let’s gear up and head out. We’ll take care of this shit tonight. I’ll tell you all the details once we’re moving.”

As Conall and I strapped our weapons and black leather jackets on, I could feel Grace’s eyes boring into my back. I turned to face her, my expression softening slightly.

“I’ll be back soon, baby,” I promised, cupping her face in my rough hands. “Just sit tight and let us handle this. We need to know the two of you are safe.”

Grace pursed her lips, clearly unhappy with the arrangement, but she didn’t argue. She knew it was useless to push back at this point. I pressed a hard kiss to her mouth before turning to join Conall at the door. We stepped out into the crisp night air, the city lights twinkling in the distance.

“You good?” Conall asked, glancing over at me as he revved the engine.

“Yeah,” I grunted, pushing my doubts aside. “Let’s just get this over with.”

We sped through the darkened streets. The only sound was the low purr of the engine and the occasional crackle of the police scanner that was installed in the truck. My mindraced with possibilities, trying to piece together the fragments of information Leo had given us.

After about twenty-five minutes, Conall pulled the car into a deserted alley on the outskirts of town. We stepped out, the damp pavement glistening under the flickering streetlights.

“This the place?” Conall asked, scanning the shadowy buildings that loomed over us.

“Yes,” I nodded, checking the clip in my gun before tucking it into the waistband of my jeans. “Let’s do this.”

We approached the rusted metal door, our footsteps echoing in the empty alley. Conall pounded his fist against it, the sound reverberating through the night.

After a tense moment, the door creaked open, revealing a wiry man with a shaved head and cold eyes. “Who the fuck are you?” he growled.

“We’re here to have a little chat,” I said, my voice low and menacing. “About your recent interest in the O’Shea family.”

The man’s eyes widened slightly before he schooled his features into a mask of indifference. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Now fuck off before I put a bullet in both your thick skulls.”

Conall chuckled darkly. “Wrong answer.”

Forty-five minutes later, I stood on the sidewalk, the icy wind biting into my face. We both stared at the wreckage of what used to be our enemy’s hideout. The acrid smell of burned wood and scorched flesh hung heavy in the air, a gruesome reminder of the price we’d paid for victory.

“Didn’t think you had it in you, Dillon,” Conall said, his voice rough from the fight. He was nursing a busted lip and a black eye, but he was grinning like a maniac. “Never seen you so fucking ruthless.”

“When it comes down to them or us, I’ll do whatever it takes. Plus, they came at my woman.”

---