Page 88 of Dublin Devil

Seriously, the guy’s a beast.

There’s an unspoken tension in the air, heavy and foreboding, but thankfully Tag, Laine, and my brothers give us a chance to make our plates and sit before getting into the drama of the day.

I know it’s coming. There’s no way, after me killing the head of the opposing crime family last night, that Tag can relax. He’ll be stressed out for months.

I’ll have to apologize to Laine. Tag can be broody AF when stress levels are high.

Not that I’m much better. My attention will be largely focused on the MC and security until the McGuires make their play of retaliation.

Piper and I sit with our plates and when she points to the apple juice, I pour.

The usual morning chatter has a somber tone today and once I have swallowed a few bites, I give Tag a nod. “All right, let’s hear it.”

Tag’s expression is grave as he stirs his coffee, his eyes meeting mine across the table. “I understand the necessity of what happened, but am concerned about the repercussions. Mattie’s loss could destabilize not just the McGuires, but all of Dublin.”

Brendan nods. “If they take it out on us, innocents could well get caught in the crossfire.”

Bryan wipes his mouth with his napkin. “If they had any insights into how to hurt us, they’d bypass us all together and go straight at our citizens.”

“But they don’t have any insight,” Tag says. “They’ve never understood our commitment to the people and likely never will.”

“At least not yet.” Piper catches herself and throws my brothers an apologetic look. “Sorry. Am I allowed to speak up?”

Tag’s expression softens. “Are you here as Sean’s girlfriend and not as a McGuire?”

“I am. Sean is my family, not them.”

“Then, if you’ve truly cut ties and are part of this family, your insight could be invaluable. Feel free to speak.”

Piper looks between us, her face calm, but I see her confidence waning. “I was going to say that while my father and my oldest brothers are or were mindless brutes, my mother and Darcy are a great deal more strategic. With Da gone, depending on who has a say in what comes next, things might take a different direction.”

Tag smiles. “Something to keep in mind, for sure. Do you have any idea what your father’s succession plan was?”

“He never said—because honestly I think he was arrogant enough to think himself invincible—but Niall and Declan were always favored to handle things if he wasn’t around. With Declan gone, maybe my mother?”

Tag sits with his coffee mug in both hands. “Aye, Samantha being in charge going forward would stir things up. With your father, it was always about brute force, power, and money. Your mother would be a wild card.”

“Do you think you could find out more about how things might play out?” Brendan asks.

The idea of Piper going anywhere near the McGuires again makes my blood run cold, but before I protest, she speaks up. “I could go to my father’s funeral, but…”

She hesitates, her gaze meeting mine.

The last McGuire funeral was where they ambushed her. I reach under the table to touch her leg, a hot rush of protectiveness blooming in my chest. “It’s too dangerous. They might use you as leverage against us or take out the loss of Mattie on you. No. I don’t like it.”

“Agreed. I won’t pretend to mourn that man. He deserves everything he got.” She sits quietly for a moment and then sighs. “I could get information another way.”

“How’s that?” Tag asks.

“If I had a phone, I could call Rory. He’s not deeply involved in the business, but he’s the closest to me. He’ll be worried and will tell me what he knows.”

Tag considers this and then leans back in his chair at the end of the table. “We’ll get you a new phone, Piper. Anything you can find out from Rory could help us prepare for whatever comes next.”

Piper’s expression is composed, but her eyes reflect a storm of emotions. Whatever she’s afraid of, I’ll protect her. It’s my honor to be the one who loves her, and I will never let her down.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” I ask, searching her face for any sign of hesitation.

Piper reaches up, her thumb tracing my scar from my lip up my cheek. “I’m sure. I may not be a McGuire anymore, but I’m not willing to give up Rory. Not if there’s any chance we can still be family.”

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