Page 57 of Dublin Brute

“He’s the Europol investigator heading up a task force to dismantle organized crime in Dublin.”

I let that one sink in and watch as all four of my brothers grow a little more pale. “Aye, that was my reaction, too. Drop the fucking mic.”

Nora

“Where have you been?” Da’s voice snaps at me before I’m even fully inside the house. His gaze is hard and his arms are crossed, so I close the door behind me and gather my strength.

I’m really not in the mood for this side of my father right now. In fact, with images playing on a sexy loop in my mind, and remnants of my day with Brendan clinging to me like a manly perfume—heady and intoxicating—I just want to go upstairs and wallow in my heartache.

What could’ve been life-altering was a one-time event.

It’s over.

“I texted you and said I was out with Kate and wouldn’t be home.”

“That was last night,” he barks back. “But you didn’t go to the library for your shift today and I left you several messages which you failed to return.”

“I called in sick to the library.”

“You don’t look sick.”

“Consider it a mental health day.”

“Then answer your messages and tell me that.”

“I didn’t get them. My phone was turned off.”

“I’m aware of that because I tried to ping your location.”

Of course he did. My irritation is trumped by the thought of what he would’ve found if he’d tracked me down. The idea of him showing up at Tag’s loft while I was riding Brendan’s spectacular fingers is too much after the week I’ve had.

I drop my head and laugh at the insanity of it all. My father is stalking me and the man I’ve fallen for is the target of his task force. Man, I couldn’t make this shit up.

“Nora, I fail to see how any of this is funny.”

It’s not funny—none of it. But with my heart breaking, I have no more fucks to give. I straighten, channeling every ounce of inner adult I possess. “Da, I’m twenty-six years old. You need to respect that and give me space.”

He scoffs. “And you need to respect that I know more than you about the world. You think you’re ready to face the world, but you have no idea what it’s like out there.”

“And whose fault is that?” My voice rises and I square off in front of him. “You’ve coddled me for years and I’m tired of it. I’m much more capable than you give me credit for and I’m sorry, but I’m done being pressured into obedient submission. It stops now.”

His jaw clenches. “Watch your tone, little miss. You don’t get to talk to me like that. Not with everything I’ve sacrificed for you.”

His words twist the dagger already piercing my heart, and I gasp. “And you think I haven’t sacrificed? You’ve made me feel weak and small my entire life. You’ve kept me sequestered from life. And when I finally find happiness…”

I choke on my rant and fight the heartbreak that my sacrifices for him have cost me. I need to get out of here. I need to get upstairs before I fall apart or say too much.

But he won’t stop. I need to make him stop.

Before he responds, I hold up a finger to silence him. “In the spirit of having an open dialogue, I’ll clarify something. I went out with Kate last night, but I didn’t stay at her house. We went out to celebrate getting new jobs, and I hooked up with a hot guy and stayed over at his loft.”

His jaw clenches, the muscle on the side of his face flexing. “What guy?”

“Nope. None of your business.”

“Everything about you is my business.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” And since I’m on a roll, I go for the big finish. “And while I don’t intend to see him again, I have no regrets. Despite what you believe, I know my mind and I’m intelligent enough to make decisions.”

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