Page 111 of Dublin Beast

Every turn I take is too tight, every red light a personal offense. I’ve never felt this unhinged outside of a fight.

My jaw is clenched so tight my molars ache.

I don’t even realize I’ve white-knuckled the steering wheel until my fingers start to cramp.

The leather beneath my palms is slick with sweat, and I’m gripping so hard I can hear it creak.

Fuck,what if something’s wrong?

What if she’s?—

My phone rings.

I snap out of the spiral long enough to glance at the screen and see my brother’s name.

I hit answer with a grunt. “Hey, Finny. It’s not a good time. Can I call you back?”

“No. Don’t hang up.” Finn’s tone makes the hair on my arms stand on end. “You need to head over to the safe house where you put Harper.”

My heart stutters as I slam on my brakes. Tires screeching, I take a hard right and change direction. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“I get a notification when anyone opens the front door. Somebody I don’t recognize pushed his way inside a few minutes ago. He left two goons on the porch and they look mobbed up.”

The knot in my chest tightens. “Who is it, Finn? Who the fuck is in that house with her?”

“I sent a snapshot of the image to your phone.”

I’m already driving like a maniac, and it won’t do Harper any good if I exit my hands free to see a picture. “Best guess, Finny. I’m driving here.”

“I’d guess the trouble from Liverpool followed you home, but I don’t know the players, so I can’t be sure.”

Fucking hell.Would Eddie Mason be so insanely stupid to come into our territory to cause trouble?

I suppose, from his perspective, that’s exactly what I did. And we slipped through his fingers and made him look like a schmuck.

“Motherfucker! Okay, Finn, I need you to text the image to Kieran. He saw all the same guys I did. And then, tell Sean to send the Devils. I won’t take any chances with Harper. I want the entire fucking city locked down.”

Another call beeps in and I glance to my nav screen. Harper’s name has my hand trembling as I reach to connect. “She’s calling me, Finn. Hold on.”

I’ve imagined her calling me a hundred times over the past weeks but not like this. I accept the incoming call. “Harper! What’s happening?”

“Bryan…” Her voice is part whisper and part sob on the other end of the line.

“Trouble, you need to talk to me. I’m two minutes away. What happened? Who’s there with you?”

“Eddie…” she whispers, breathless.

What the fuck with the whispering? “Are you safe?”

“No.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I don’t know.”

I slam my hand against the dash as my heart seizes in my chest. “Is Eddie there with you now?”

“Bryan… they’re coming.”

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