Page 58 of Dublin Brute

The silence that follows is cathartic. I’m speaking my truth. I’m not being disrespectful or disobedient, I’m simply laying it out there for him.

But now that I’ve dropped that bombshell about Kate and me getting new jobs, adrenaline pumps through my veins like a firehose. My heart pounds—partly from fear and partly from the exhilarating rush of finally taking control over my narrative.

Before he can grill me and tear me down, I take a defiant step toward the staircase. “And now I’m going to my room to soak in the tub and spend a quiet evening in bed with a good book.”

His jaw is clenched tight enough that I’m surprised I don’t hear his molars cracking under the pressure. “We’re not done talking about this, young lady.”

I twist back from the second step and offer him a sympathetic smile. “Yes, we are, Da. I’m twenty-six and it’s way past time that I take control of my life and decide the person I want to be.”

Before I turn away, something flickers in his eyes. Is it disappointment or maybe fear? It doesn’t matter. The pain of losing Brendan made me numb enough to take the first step toward breaking free from his expectations.

I shut my bedroom door with quiet resolve and lean against it, body trembling. In the darkest moment of pain and heartache, I stood tall and carved out a small pocket of light for myself—a tiny space to be who I want without apology.

I close my eyes briefly, wishing I could call Brendan and tell him.

But I can’t. I stomp over to my bed and collapse face-first into the soft sheets. The stirring of air smells faintly of sex and cologne and a chaos of longing and loss wraps me in its embrace.

My father has no idea what I’ve sacrificed for him.

No idea at all.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Nora

The heavy bass of dance music vibrates through the air as Kate and I step through the doors at Legend. The overhead lights are on, and the club’s sleek interior gleams as a woman in a purple jumpsuit polishes the chrome railings and stainless steel surface to a high shine. Two people chat good-naturedly behind the bar as they refill the beer coolers. And a woman in her forties with a red Legend polo shirt is directing two muscled guys about where to unload the CO2 tanks.

Wow. It feels like a different world than the one Kate, Tanya, and I scoped out last month. My chest tightens at the memory. Things have changed so drastically.

“Here we go.” Kate grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Are you okay?”

“Do you think Tanya’s with us somehow, cheering us on?”

“Absolutely.”

“I still feel bad. She should be here with us.”

Kate squeezes my hand and offers me a sympathetic smile. “If you had been taken, would you want Tanya and me to push forward and continue with the plan?”

My answer is immediate. “Yeah. One hundred percent.”

“I would, too. That’s how I know Tanya is fist-pumping the air somewhere in the afterlife, cheering us on.”

I can picture that so easily. She absolutely is.

A thirty-something guy with dark military cut hair and tattoos peeking out from the black ‘STAFF’ T-shirt he’s wearing steps out from behind the bar. He has kind eyes and a relaxed swagger as he gives us a friendly, two-finger wave. “Howeyah, ladies? Might you be Nora and Kate?”

“That’s us,” Kate says.

“Excellent. I’m Jay Leone, and I’m your general manager and boss. I’ll have you handle some administrative stuff, and then I’ll hand you over to Alexis for your job training. Sound good?”

“Sounds great,” Kate says.

Jay checks with me and I give him a nod. “Perfect. Thanks.”

“Good. Then let’s kickstart your Legend adventure, shall we?”

“Absolutely!” Kate is bouncing on the balls of her feet.

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