Page 22 of Dublin Devil

“Nothing until he dressed you up and set you up with two Bratva animals,” Tag snaps, pointing at the laptop.

“I didn’t know what he had planned.” My breath gets tighter with every passing second. “He asked me to charm a couple of out-of-town big shots. He said to meet them for dinner and then escort them up to the suite. I didn’t know he told them they could have me as part of the deal.”

“He didwhat?” Sean and Tag shout at the same time.

I’m sobbing now and can’t bear to look at them. It’s disgusting and so incredibly humiliating. “He told them I’m a virgin and said they could do what they want with me to sweeten the deal.”

I’m surrounded by swearing on all sides.

“They need to die,” Sean says. “I’ll send a few of the boys over the river and take them out in their suite. Leave the bloody mess on Mattie’s doorstep.”

“Fuck yeah,” Brendan says.

Tag slams a hand against the wall and curses. “As appealing as that is, we can’t. If two Bratva representatives end up dead in Dublin, we’ll have the fury of the Shadow Sickle Syndicate raining down on our streets. No. We need to think of something else.”

“We need to sour the gun deal and send them home,” Bryan says.

Tag turns to him. “Aye, Bryan. That’s good.”

“How do we do that?” Brendan asks.

Tag’s gaze snaps to me. He picks up the paper takeout bag and one of the drinks, then tilts his head toward the sitting room. “Excuse us for a moment, will you, lass? I’m sure you understand.”

“I do. I’ve been shooed out of the room my entire life. I know the drill.” Taking my lunch in hand, I leave the Quinns to plot their counterattack.

Shit. Shit. Shit.Da is going to lose the gun deal because of me. The Quinns will ruin his plans, and he’ll think I gave it up and betrayed our family.

Billy Gravely will hunt me down and kill me for sure.

I have to get out of here. I’ve got to go home and explain to Da what happened. I would never betray him or my family no matter what.

Setting my lunch on the coffee table, I cast one last look toward the kitchen before heading to the door. I’ve stayed too long. If I tell Mam what happened, and explain to her that those men started hurting me and I didn’t know what Da told them…

I grab the doorknob, and it doesn’t turn. That’s when I see the push button security box on the wall beside the door. There’s a lock to get out of the house and one to get in? Seriously? I flip back the curtains and check the living room window next. It’s locked shut, too.

I reallyamtheir prisoner.

Before they catch me trying the door, I return to the couch like a good little hostage and see what Sean brought me for lunch. There’s no sense starving myself. I need to heal up and get strong in case I get the chance to leave. If so, I gotta be ready to run.

It’s almost dark when a knock on my bedroom door wakes me from my afternoon nap. “May I come in? Are you decent?”

I adjust the blanket over my body. “You saw me all but naked and bleeding last night, Sean. I have very little modesty left, but aye, I’m decent.”

He opens the door carrying a cup of tea.

I chuckle and accept the offering. “Who would have thought that Sean Quinn, mafia son and President of the Dublin Devils, would be so invested in making tea for me? This is getting to be a regular thing.”

He makes a face. “Is it weird? Sorry. Mam used to say a cuppa is the first step to healing all wounds. When she got sick, Da was forever bringing home different flavors and making them up for her. It always put a smile on her face and made her feel better, so I guess I thought you might feel better, too.”

My heart.He may be hard on the outside, but Sean Quinn has a gooey center.

“It’s not weird. Thank you. I appreciate the gesture. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

His gaze narrows. “Why do I hear a ‘but’ in that comment? What aren’t you saying?”

“I noticed this afternoon that there is a security box keeping me locked in. I feel like a hostage. Despite everything you’ve done for me, I won’t be your prisoner to be used against my father.”

He stiffens. “You mean the father who whored you out and signed you up to be raped by two criminals?”

---