Page 61 of Dublin Beast

“Can’t complain.” Brendan’s voice rumbles off the hard tiles and glass walls of the shower. “How’s things? Doing anything I wouldn’t?”

I roll my eyes. “Is there anything you wouldn’t do?”

He snorts. “Not really, no. So, where are you on finding our redheaded bitch?”

I lean back against the counter, towel slung low on my hips, phone to my ear. “We’re sitting on a farmhouse. Did Tag tell you about that?”

“He did. Said it was a right fortress.”

“It is.”

“So, what’s your play?”

“Well, last night we got some cameras up and are watching it through the day from here and if nothing interesting happens, we’ll go back tonight with the drone.”

“The drone? That was Kieran’s idea, I take it.”

“It was, but it’s a good one. We’re waiting on a few other new toys, too.”

“You don’t say? And what might they be?”

“Nothing but a couple of RPG 26s.”

He whistles through his teeth. “Och, cruel. I have half a mind to hop on a plane and join the fun.”

“And leave your girl alone in that big bed of yours? Now who’s being cruel?”

He laughs and something inside me clicks back into place. It’s not like Brenny and I are joined at the hip or anything, but being away from my twin, our home, and Dublin for the past week has been hard.

“And what about your girl, bro? The one who clocked you in the face?”

I smirk. “Enjoying that, are you?”

“More than I can say. So, spill.”

There’s no sidetracking Brendan when he gets like this. It’s better to feed his curiosity and wait for the next thing to catch his attention. “Her name’s Harper. She’s Canadian. And yeah, she clocked me. She’s fucking fit and has skills.”

“Skills? Do tell.”

I scratch at the scruff on my jaw, staring at the streaks of condensation sliding down the mirror.Skillsdoesn’t seem to do her justice. The blowjob Harper gave me a few hours ago was next level.

I swear I came so hard I nearly blacked out. She said she likes giving head, but holy shit.

“It’s complicated.”

Brendan is quiet on the other end. “Nowthat’stelling. Usually you give me a recount in graphic fucking detail how a woman screamed your name.”

I huff a laugh, but it doesn’t quite reach my chest. “This one’s not like that.”

“No?” His voice softens. “Then tell me what sheislike.”

I hesitate. Not because I don’t know—because I do. Harper is warm and sharp and stubborn as hell. She says the most unexpected shit at the most unexpected times, and she doesn’t back down. She’s tougher than she looks and smarter than she lets on.

“She’s…solid. She makes things feel less dark.” The words stick in my throat like glass.

Brendan doesn’t tease me. Doesn’t fill the silence with his usual cracks. Instead, he exhales slow and measured. “Listen, Bry. I’m the one person who knows the truth of exactly what Yasmine meant to you and how much it devastated you when she died.”

My stomach knots, but I don’t stop him.

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