Page 96 of Dublin Brute

I focus on my own angry man. “Hey, come here.”

Brendan’s arms are around me in a crushing embrace as my feet lift off the ground. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”

I turn my face into his neck and breathe him into the depths of my lungs. My senses are filled with the scents of leather and that masculine aftershave he wears that makes me wet. “None of this is on you. Those men are bad. You warned me.”

“And because you warned me, they took you. I’m so sorry. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”

I ease back and shake my head. “That’s not what happened, but there’s no time to tell you right now. How about you go get cleaned up and I’ll have one of your brothers drop me off at Tag’s apartment when we’re done here?”

Brendan frowns. “Won’t your father take you home and lock you down?”

“No, I doubt it. He’ll be more focused on those men and how they tie in with his vendetta against organized crime. He’ll order me home and try to put a guard on me. I’ll tell him I’d rather stay with a friend than be alone. And then, I’ll come to you.”

The worry in his gaze hasn’t eased, but he’s listening.

“Go, big guy. Get cleaned up and start a fire. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

He closes the distance between us, his lips on mine. The violence and blood are forgotten the moment we’re locked in a kiss. His passion and desperation make the kiss rough, but the connection recalibrates my world.

Somehow, simply being in his arms as we share a kiss infuses me with the strength I need to face what is still to come tonight.

When he pulls back, Brendan graces me with a sad smile. “Be careful, angel. I learned tonight that I’m not nearly as strong a man as I thought I was. If something happens to you, I won’t survive it.”

“Nothing will happen.” A shuffling noise pulls my attention toward the men waiting for this conversation to resolve. “Now,put me down and get out of here before the garda get here and haul you away.”

I squeeze his wrist and then let him go, hating every step that takes him away from me. But Tag’s right. Nothing good can come of Brendan being seen by local law enforcement looking like that.

“Thank you.” Tag’s voice is quiet as he comes back to stand with me. “How did you convince him to leave?”

“I told him to get cleaned up at your loft and start a fire. If it’s all right, I’ll have one of you drop me off there as soon as I’m done giving my statement. We need time together.”

Tag dips his chin. “That can be arranged.”

He’s about to walk away when I reach out and grip the arm of his suit jacket. I quickly rethink and let go. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. My mistake.”

“No harm done. Was there something else?”

I swallow. “I just wanted to say…I mean, I’m sure Brendan told you who my father is, but I want you to know that despite the optics, what’s between your brother and I has nothing to do with any of that. I didn’t know who he was when we met, and he didn’t know about my father and the task force. I just want you to know it’s only ever been about us and we’ve never blurred those lines.”

When Tag smiles, he has the same glittering emerald gaze as his brother. “I never thought otherwise, but it’s good to hear. Thank you for saying so.”

Feeling good about that, I turn back to check on Kate. She’s sitting straighter and is watching me with one beautifully manicured eyebrow arched high. “Wow. You weren’t kidding. The Dublin Brute is officially off the market.”

I chuckle and look around. “Shh, it’s still a secret. If my father ever finds out…”

Kate’s gaze widens and she jolts upright and presses her hand over my mouth. “Jordan the Warden just walked in and is looking murderous.”

What?I spin around, and Kate is right.

My father strides into the warehouse with a team of officers trailing behind him. My heart sinks. “What’s he doing here?”

“I called him.” Tag raises a hand. “Mr. Kelly, over here.”

Why? That makes no sense.

My father’s icy gaze swings across the warehouse and locks on me standing next to Tag Quinn.Oh, damn. This won’t go well.

“Nora? What’s going on?” My father steps closer to us, and for a moment it feels like the world has stopped spinning. It’s like everything hangs in the balance.

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