Page 84 of Dublin Devil

Thankfully, Brendan was quick to race back and Gravely ran like the piece of shit opportunist he is.

My brother and my vest saved my life.

In turn, I got here in time to save Piper’s life.

She’s kneeling on the beach, a small, trembling figure against the sprawling backdrop of chaos and fire. My heart poundsharder with each step I take towards her. “Piper!” I call out, my voice rough.

As I drop to my knees beside her, the relief at seeing the rise and fall of her chest is overwhelming. She’s bleeding, but she’s alive.

I let my gun fall to the sand, and ease the Beretta out of her hand. It’s empty. She unloaded the magazine at Gravely and sent him running into the darkness.

I know I hit him. Hopefully, Piper added even more lead to his diet.

“It’s over, kitten. I’ve got you.”

She stares up at me and I see the fog of shock and loss clear. Her cool blue eyes widen and a sob breaks in her chest. “I thought you were dead.”

She launches herself at me and between my knife wound and the bullets I just took in my back, the impact of catching her is beyond painful.

And nothing has ever felt better.

I stroke her hair, soothing her even as my body protests every movement. “I’m alive, and I’ve got you, P.”

“But how? I heard the gunshots. I saw you go down.”

I press her hand against the tactical vest I’m wearing. “I came prepared. Now, we need to leave.”

Her eyes, wide and filled with tears, follow my gaze to where Brendan is standing over her father. The old man is lying motionless in the sand, but Brenny will ensure that he stays that way.

And watching us plug him in the head isn’t something I want seared into her memory. “I’m sorry if him being dead hurts you, beautiful, but I couldn’t let him beat you. I killed your father.”

She meets my gaze as I help her to her feet. “You killed him?”

I swallow, studying her reaction as I dip my chin. “Aye, it was me.”

If me killing her father repulses her, I don’t see it. Maybe it’ll take time to sink in. Maybe she’ll resent me for it, despite me trying to keep her safe.

He was her father, after all.

“He stopped being my father a week ago. I’m glad he’s dead.” The coldness in her words chills me, but I understand and I’m proud of her.

She saw what her father was capable of, the lengths he would go to in order to get his own way.

If his death meant her freedom, then so be it.

Urging Piper toward the darkness of the shoreline, I keep one arm firmly around her waist and signal Brendan to make sure Mattie McGuire never gets up. The silencer on his AR-15 absorbs the sound of the shot and the three of us leave the chaos and death of the night behind us.

As Bryan drives through the gates to our family compound, the long, winding driveway stretches past the light of the headlights. I know every tree standing sentinel along our path, every dip in the expansive lawn, every flowering bush in every flower bed.

Mam took such pride in making this our home and when I look at the manicured boxwoods and the fieldstone walkways, I think of her.

The love she held for each of us.

The fierce protective instinct she and Da both surrounded us with. We were their children—the living legacy of their love.

I want that with Piper.

I want our children to grow up playing with Tag’s kids and for the twins and Finn to be bad examples and teach them all the crazy and dangerous things we did as kids.

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