Page 97 of Dublin Brute

Tag steps forward and fields the question. “My men and I have been tracking the criminals working within Northern Dublin for the purposes of sex trafficking. Tonight, we found those three men about to sexually assault your daughter and her friend. There is a box full of lady’s belongings in an office at the front of the building. Knowing who is behind this and where they’ve been working out of, you should be able to track down the other women and stop this endeavor.”

My father’s brow furrows deep with skepticism. “And what? I’m supposed to believe you’re offering this up out of the goodness of your heart?”

“I wouldn’t expect you would, no.” Tag’s honesty is stark against Dad’s hostility. “But my rivals, Billy Gravely and Niall McGuire, have gone out of their way to manipulate your investigation to lead you to my door. Exploiting innocents isn’t part of our business model.”

Da scoffs, his disdain practically radiating off him. “You’re not the good guy here, Quinn, no matter how you spin it.”

Tag lifts one shoulder, seemingly unconcerned. “Your daughter and her friend might disagree.”

Da focuses on me next, his piercing gray gaze drilling into me like an interrogation light. “Speak. Now.”

I squirm beneath his scrutiny, but there’s no escaping it. “Kate and I exited the back door of Legend after our shift to go to the parking lot. Those three men had been drinking in Kate’s section and were waiting. They drugged us and we woke up in that cage. If Mr. Quinn and his men hadn’t gotten here when they did…” I take a shaky breath, squeezing Kate’s hand. “They were about to rape us, Da, and then sell us, or worse.”

My father’s expression darkens further, and it sends panic rippling through me. He turns to Tag and holds up an accusing finger. “If you had any part in this, I will skin you and hang your rotting carcass from the closest fucking bridge.”

Tag’s expression remains blank, giving nothing away. “These are McGuire men in my territory. I called you as a courtesy because if my daughter were taken, I would expect to be told so I could bring the perpetrators to justice. You and I may have different ideas about what justice looks like, but I’m sure we agree that evil bastards that prey on innocent women need to be taken off the streets.”

My father’s gaze narrows on Tag again before shifting to the cage. Two of the men are pretty badly beaten up. The third—the one Brendan got a hold of—desperately needs a hospital. “And what happened to them?”

“When we arrived, they were physically assaulting the ladies. In our haste to stop them and put them in the cage, they must’ve tripped.”

“Tripped?”

Tag grins. “An accident, I assure you.”

I reach out and tug on my father’s jacket. “Da, please. He saved us. If they hadn’t gotten here when they did…”

My father curses and then starts barking orders at his team. He calls for medical attention for Kate and me, before directing someone else to take the three men into custody.

It takes ages before Kate and I are cleared by the paramedics and have given our statements to one of my father’s task force agents.

But when we’re done, my father comes back over to check on us, carrying our stuff. “I’ll be stuck here all night taking care of this and working to find the other missing women. I’ll send Sullivan to stay with you. I don’t want you to go home to an empty house.”

I accept my purse and phone. “It’s fine, Da. I’d rather Sullivan stay here and help find the other missing girls. I’ll stay with a friend tonight and call you later.”

He nods, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re all right, Nora. But there is a long, hard discussion in our future about your decisions of late. Get some rest. We’ll deal with that when you’re feeling up to it.”

I draw a steadying breath. “Can’t wait. Good night, Da.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Nora

The sight of Tag’s building down by the river settles my frayed nerves. For the entire ride to the loft, I was anxious, but knowing Brendan is waiting for me, I can finally breathe again. Tag’s driver pulls the SUV along the curb and stops. It’s an ungodly hour of the morning and the darkness of night has been abandoned for the muted gray of a new day.

What a night.

“One moment and I’ll get your door,” the driver says.

“Unnecessary. Thank you for the ride.”

“Wait.” The command is harsh, and I freeze with my hand on the pull for my door. The man turns back and pegs me with a serious look. “It absolutelyisnecessary. You’re important to one of the Quinn brothers, so from now on, if you’re in public and not with him, you need to take precautions to remain safe.”

My mind stalls out on that. I hadn’t really considered it. Besides, it’s not public knowledge that I’m important to Brendan, is it?

And we’re not making it public, are we?

No. Having my two worlds collide would be a horrible idea.

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