Page 31 of Dublin Charmer
I spin my signet ring, and with a flip of my thumbnail, open the guard for the hidden compartment. The tiny needle extends just as I grasp her delicate arm.
“Ouch—” Confusion clouds her eyes, then realization, then fury. “You bastard.”
She tries to pull away, but the fast-acting sedative is already taking effect. Her legs weaken, and I support her weight. As she sags, I wrap my arm around her, maneuvering through the celebratory chaos to head for the east exit.
“Happy New Year, Nyx,” I whisper.
To anyone we pass, we look like a sexy couple sneaking away for a private celebration. Once I get to the door, I scoop her into my arms and cradle her against my chest as I bump the door bar with my butt and exit the building.
Cold night air hits us and goosebumps spring to life all down her arms. “Give me a second, beautiful. You’ll be warm once I get you into the van.”
Kieran hops out of the vehicle parked beside the building and slides the side door back to open the way. As we approach, he searches up and down the driveway to ensure our business has remained our own. “Any trouble?” he asks, eyeing Nyx’s form in my arms.
“Not a bit.” I step up and bring her with me into the back of the van, settling her on the bench seat so I can do up her seat belt and have my hands free in case we run into any trouble.
As I reach across her lap, her head lolls against my shoulder, blue hair spilling over my arm. Man, she’s a heart-stopper.
Gallagher looks back from the driver’s seat. “Get the lead out. Security’s making rounds in two minutes.”
Kieran slams the back door shut and then hops into the front. As Gallagher gets us moving, he reaches back with a set of zip tie cuffs. “Here. Better safe than sorry.”
I carefully slide her wrists through the two loops and pull the ties tight enough to secure her hands. The plastic offends me. I’d much prefer to be tying her with a silk tie or maybe some premium hemp rope. I’m no Shibari practitioner, but I have enjoyed a little rope play with my lovers.
Having a beautiful female at one’s mercy is incredibly hot.
“How long will she be out?” Gallagher asks.
“The sedative should last long enough to get back to the north side and home with no issue.” I brush a lock of blue silk away from her cheek. With her out cold and collapsed against my shoulder, I remove the elaborate mask from her face and brush a strand of electric blue out of her eyes. “I am sorry about this, beautiful, but I’m afraid you picked the wrong side.”
The van pulls out of the casino parking lot, leaving the sounds of celebration behind. And though I regret kidnapping her, I’m proud that my first true ‘Quinn mission’ went off without a hitch. I have the hacker who’s been working against us and nobody on the McGuire or Gravely forces are any the wiser.
This proves I’m capable of more than research and overwatch.
I’m sure my brothers will be impressed.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Finn
“What the fuck did you just say?”
I stand in the war room, facing my brothers as they process the recap of my night. So, I might’ve been off with my prediction that they’d be impressed. From what I’m reading on their faces, it’s more like pissed.
Tag paces, his jaw tight with fury. “You went south of the river?”
“Aye, I did. But I got the hacker, and I took backup.”
“You tooktwomen, Finny. Two! We’re at war and that didn’t give you pause about crossing into hostile territory? The McGuire’s are bad enough, but Gravely is a fucking lunatic.”
“But nothing happened.”
“Finn, you went to a party Gravely was attending and nicked his hacker right out from under him. Do you know how badly that could’ve gone for you?”
Heat rises to my face. “I do. It’s only been a week since we were dodging bullets and living through exactly what Gravely wants to do to us.”
“And you still did it.”
“That’s right, I did. And if I were Brendan, Bryan, or Sean, you wouldn’t be blowing your top. You’d give me a pat on the back and say, ‘Well done, brother.’ You’re only having a fit because it’s me.”
