Page 90 of Dublin Brute

“Where’s the fire, girlfriend?”

“Sorry, boss. Catching up with Kate.”

The door clangs shut before I get there, but I hit the push bar with both hands and momentum carries me outside.

“Kate! Wait up!”

The night air hits my face, cool and damp, and I stumble to an abrupt stop. The three men in suits are in front of me. One of them is sitting in the driver’s seat of a black sedan, the other two scoop Kate up as she crumples toward the ground. What happened? What did they do to her?

When they drop her into the boot of their car, I’m frozen.

This can’t be happening. They’re taking her.

My mind is still tripping out on that when I realize their attention has switched to me. “Oh, no. No, no, no…”

I spin around, my fingers fumbling over the keypad beside the door. 5-8-3…

The numbers swim before my eyes, but I don’t get the chance to finish the code.

Strong arms wrap around my waist from behind and lift me off my feet.

I kick backward, connecting with something solid. One guy lets off a grunt, but his grip only tightens. “Fucking bitch.”

I thrash wildly, trying to break free. “Help! Somebody he?—”

A sharp sting in my arm cuts off my cry. The world tilts sideways, my limbs turning to lead. The last thing I see is Kate curled up and unconscious before I’m tossed in beside her and darkness claims me.

Brendan

By the time we roll into the parking lot of Legend, I’m losing my mind. All the way over here, I’ve been imagining Nora doing something incredibly stupid, like stepping in if she saw these fuckers do something to a woman at the club. She’s got a pure heart, my angel, and is too brave for her own good.

The moment our tires stop moving, I’m out of the SUV and booking it toward the entrance of the club. Either the bouncer on the door recognizes me or he’s concerned patrons are about to be trampled because he calls out for people to make a path.

My brothers, as well as Keefer and Kieran, are hot on my heels, so I imagine we make an intimidating impression. Inside the club, I scan the crowd and the servers of the first dance area, but there’s no sign of Nora.

My gut twists tighter with every step deeper inside.

She’s not here. I don’t know how I know it, but I do.

She’s not here. Something has happened to her.

I pull out my phone and tap her contact. I tried a dozen times in the car, but there’s still no fucking answer. Fucking hell.

I missed a call from Frenchie.

Inside the main bar area of the club, I spot Frenchie standing in the shadows, looking pissed. “You’re not making me feel good right now, Frenchie. Where the fuck is my girl?”

He purses his lips and shakes his head. “Sorry, boss. I have no fucking clue.”

“Tell me how that’s possible when you’re my fucking eyes on?”

Frenchie shakes his head, scratching his beard. “We watched over her for her shift, like normal. Then, about twenty minutes ago, she went in to change and never came out. She always leaves out the front and goes to the bus stop, but not tonight.”

“Was Drake watching Kate’s car in case she got a ride?”

“Of course. She didn’t come to the parking lot, either.”

“Fuck.” Panic spikes in my chest. I push away from them and weave through the crowd toward the staff door he pointed out.