Page 47 of Dublin Brute

My twin picks up on the first ring. “Where the fuck did you disappear to? I’ve been stuck doing the wrap up photos all by myself.” And by the crowd noise in the background, he’s still there.

“I’ll make it up to you. Right now, I need a favor.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Nora

Ijolt awake with images of strange men and the sound of heavy footsteps echoing in my mind. My head is fuzzy, my limbs heavy, my pulse pounding. Sunlight streams through the window, illuminating an unfamiliar bedroom with exposed brick walls and industrial-style furnishings all done in black and gray with silver accents.

Panic grips me until I notice a folded piece of paper on the bedside table.

The note makes me smile despite myself. Brendan’s handwriting is precise and clean, not the messy scrawl I’d expected from someone like him.

Don’t panic, angel,

You crashed last night, and I put you to bed. Take your time. I’ll be here when you pull yourself together. If you’re a ‘shower first’ girl, there are fresh towels set out and clothes on the vanity. If you’re a ‘coffee first’ girl, come out and join me when you’re ready.

Brendan.

PS. I’m sorry if I scared you by bringing you here. I may have freaked out a little.

Yeah, a little. I stretch and take stock of my situation. My dress from last night makes the worst nightie ever. Getting out of it is goal number one.

Clothes in the bathroom, he says…

I roll out of bed and pad across the plush carpet and into the adjoining bathroom, finding three bags of women’s clothing in paper shopping bags. Pulling out the selection, I find a cute pair of stonewashed jeans with flare legs, a pair of stretch pants, a cute cotton top, a beige sweater that is long enough to wear as a top or a short dress, a pack of tall socks, and two Marvel bra and underwear sets. Loki and Dr. Strange.

Cute. Odd, but sweet.

“As kidnappings go, this isn’t too bad. I didn’t know I’d have a personal shopper.” I check myself out in the mirror and work my fingers through my tangled hair. There’s no help for it. Between the hairspray of last night and sleeping with bobby pins in it, I need to start from scratch.

The bathroom is massive, with a walk-in shower that could fit five. Plush towels are indeed stacked on the vanity and on the top, a floral toiletries kit.

“Wow, points for thinking of everything, Mr. Quinn.”

I catch my reflection in the mirror—tousled hair, smudged makeup, and still wearing the dress from last night—and it’s not a good look. The woman staring back at me is a completely different person than the one who tackled the red carpet with Kate last night.

But neither of them is the real me.

This ‘morning after the night before’ version of me needs to go. Reaching into the shower, I turn on the spray and then wriggle out of my dress and start tugging my hair free from its confines.

I don’t know who the real Nora Kelly is yet, but I’m determined to find her.

Brendan

I pace the kitchen, checking my phone for the tenth time. No word from Sean or Finn yet about Nora’s stalker from last night. Bryan texted that he’d handle things at the warehouse today and I’m thankful my family’s got my back, letting me focus on damage control with Nora.

They knew I was smitten since that breakfast when I mentioned her. I’m not as strategic with my feelings as Tag or as closed-off and unreadable as Sean.

If I like someone, it shows.

It’s the same if I don’t like them.

Tag says it won’t serve me well to be so transparent, but I can’t help it—I wear my heart on my sleeve.

The shower starts up in Tag’s bedroom and I exhale. She’s up and she’s getting ready for our day. I worry about what that day will hold, but at least she’s not breaking a window to escape.

No. I earned at least that much trust in her. She didn’t seem scared or overly pissed about me bringing her here or locking her down. I’m going to make it up to her.

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