Page 70 of Dublin Brute

“How do you stop that from happening?”

He winks. “Let us worry about that. The less you’re involved, the better. We just don’t want to be painted as monsters, not when the McGuires are the real criminals.”

I sit up on my elbow, processing this new information. “I don’t want to come off sounding bitchy or judgy, but you’re rival mafia families. The Quinns and the McGuires are both criminal organizations. You both deal drugs and kill people. You both rule your territories and shut down the competition with whatever force is necessary. I understand the Quinn Laws and your code, but from my father’s standpoint, you’reboththe bad guys.”

Brendan pegs me with a look, his green eyes piercing. “From the outside looking in, aye, it may look like that, but it’s not that simple. There are nuances that set us apart.”

I chuckle. “Nuances, you say. Well then, that’s different.”

He tugs at the vibrant purple tips of my hair. “The nuancesdomake us different. The McGuires deal in heroin and ketamine-laced addiction drugs. We deal in party, feel-good drugs. And yes, we run the gun trade in Ireland, but that’s ensures the number of guns in the country remains low and controlled so that people like the McGuires are kept in check.”

I understand that from his perspective, the Quinns are the lesser of two evils—and I have no doubt they are—but it’s all a matter of degrees. “You both break the law.”

He slides out from under me and sits up, pulling me into his lap. “But we believe in justice. It’s not perfect, but we have rules we live by. We do what’s best for our community, even if it means operating outside the law.”

I know all this and I made peace with it. Brendan and his brothers were born into a legacy of violence and yet they work to build up Dublin and protect the people of their territory safe. “You said you can’t keep me out of your business. Why? What does that mean?”

His arms tighten around me. “It means that if Billy Gravely and the McGuires know about your father, then they’ve already pegged you as the best way to gain leverage over him. You’ve become a means to an end—and with people like Billy Gravely and the McGuires, that is a terribly dangerous place to be.”

There’s no missing the gravelly tension in Brendan’s voice when he tells me this, or the fury flashing in his gaze.

This is serious. He’s genuinely worried about me.

“So, what do I do?”

“You keep living your life as if nothing’s wrong. I’ve got eyes on you, just in case. They’ll stay in the shadows unless you need help. But if something happens, they’ll be at your side within seconds.”

I swallow as he presses his hand over my pounding heart. “I want you to be aware, but not afraid, angel. I’ll raze the fucking city before I let anyone hurt you. I mean it.”

I know you do.The truth of his words is in every sultry look and every gentle touch that passes between us. Somehow, this violent, dangerous man has become as invested in me as I’ve become in him.

“How can I help?”

Brendan kisses my cheek and slides me off his lap while he grabs his leather jacket. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a plastic bag with an envelope inside. “I need you to give this envelope to your father. Just tell him you found it on the doorstep when you came home from work and walk away.”

I take the envelope out of the plastic, weighing it in my hands. “What’s in it?”

“Pictures of his assistant and Niall meeting up and time-stamped to prove the two of them are spending evenings together and afternoon getaways. We’re hoping it will level the playing field if he sees that he’s got a major breach in the integrity of his team.”

I bark a laugh. “Doesn’t you and I having wild jungle monkey sex also constitute a major breach in the integrity of his team?”

Brendan grins. “But we’re not the enemy. We’re not getting you to influence him. We just want to ensure the true bad actors don’t swing our fate.”

I understand this is a dangerous game we’re navigating, but I trust Brendan. “Why not just leave it on the porch yourselves?”

Brendan holds up a finger. “Again, I want you to be aware and not afraid.”

I close my eyes and get ready for the next bombshell. “Tell me.”

“One of my guys saw a silver Nissan scoping out your house. Last week, the driver even went so far as to look into the main floor windows one night while you were working. We’re not sure who he is or what he’s up to. The best way to make sure our package isn’t intercepted is to have you take it directly into the house.”

I unpack that and get stuck on that first part. “You have people watching my house?”

“Do you think your father doesn’t have people watching our house?”

I roll my eyes. “Why couldn’t I have fallen for the guy at my coffee shop or Teddy at the library? It would’ve been so much simpler.”

Brendan pulls me against his chest and lowers his face until our mouths are just inches apart. “Because you were meant for me. Teddy from the library didn’t stand a chance against the plans ofÁine.”

---