Page 89 of Dublin Devil

That’s fair. I don’t want her to give up everything for me. I want to be her sanctuary, not her jailor.

“Then I should meet with him and talk to him, too.”

Her gaze narrows on me. “And say what?”

Her protective instincts flair and I smile, imagining Piper protecting her brother from me. She would, too.

My girl’s got fire in her blood.

Not that she’d ever have to. I will never betray her trust if Rory remains good to her.

“I would say you are safe and free to start a new life on the north side that could include him. I’d assure him I won’t let anything happen to him as long as he doesn’t come at us directly and put us in that position.”

The tension in her body eases, and she leans over to kiss me. “Thank you.”

“We’re in this together now, kitten. We’re a team.”

Her eyes become glassy, and I press my palm against the damage on her cheek. All she ever wanted was to be considered equal and useful to others.

The McGuires were too stupid to see her value.

I will never make that mistake.

The bell above the door to Eddie Rocket’s Diner jingles and Piper looks up from where she’s dipping one of her fries. It’s not Rory entering the restaurant, and the excitement in her gaze dims.

I pop an onion ring into my mouth and send her a smile. “He’ll be here, P. He’s only a few minutes late. We told him to be careful. He’s likely just making sure he’s not being followed.”

I glance over a line of red vinyl booths at the new arrivals walking over the black-and-white tiled floors. It’s mid-afternoon, so the place isn’t busy, but it isn’t empty either.

Rory had been hesitant about meeting north of the river, so I picked this place because it’s right at the corner of the O’Connell Bridge. Technically, it’s Quinn territory, but I guaranteed his safety and assured him that coming to us is the only way he gets to see his sister.

It’ll take time for him to trust that the Quinns aren’t the villains their father painted us to be.

It’ll take time to trust him, too. Even though I assured him it would just be the three of us, I’ve got a couple Devils discreetly patrolling the area.

Not that I’m expecting trouble, but after everything that’s happened, I won’t take chances with Piper’s safety.

Not ever again.

The bell chimes again, and Rory steps inside. He scans the diner until his gaze lands on Piper. Relief washes over his features as he quickly crosses the room and envelops his sister in a tight hug.

“Are you okay? Like really okay?”

“I am now. Thanks for coming.” Piper clings to him, burying her face in his shoulder. It’s clear she needed this, needed the assurance that not all her family ties are poisoned.

“Niall will skin me if he finds out, but I had to see for myself.” Rory pulls back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he notices the bruise on Piper’s face. “Who did this?”

His gaze turns on me and I’m pleased to see the flare of protective violence igniting in his eyes.

“Da did it.” Piper’s voice is steady despite the stormy emotions swirling in her eyes. “He was about to do a lot more, too. He and Billy were going to kill me, Rory. I have no doubt about that. Thankfully, Sean got there in time.”

Rory’s gaze is still locked on me, and I let him look. I’m the man who rescued his sister, but I’m also the man who killed his father. There’s a lot to unpack there.

I remain relaxed as he scrutinizes me, a mixture of anger, resentment, gratitude, and then reassessment passing over his face. “Thank you,” he says, extending his hand. “For saving my sister…again. I wish I had done a better job of it myself.”

I accept his thanks and appreciate him admitting his failing. “Your sister is an extraordinary woman. She deserves to be happy. I know you know that.”

“Aye, I do.”

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