Page 40 of Dublin Charmer
Nyx
I’ve been laying on the foam mattress on the floor for what seems like hours, listening to the sounds of the building. The room I’m in is almost completely soundproof, but when I’m quiet and close my eyes, I hear the faint beep of technology down the hall. Considering it always sounds right before I hear footsteps, I’m pretty sure there’s a security pad on the door.
Given that the Quinns are a long-standing mafia family, there’s no big surprise there. I’m sure their security is just as tight as Gravely’s is across the river.
So, where do they have me?
I’m pretty sure I’m in the basement of the Quinn Castle because I’ve seen the pictures of the bloody interrogation room Brendan and Bryan use in their warehouse down by the docks and this isn’t anything like that.
I also doubt that the people getting taken there are offered sterling silver tea trays of Michelin Star quality food.
No, I’m pretty sure I’m within the walls of the Quinn compound.
The hum of the furnace blowing warm air out the vents almost completely eclipses the sounds beyond the room, but they’re there. A few people came through earlier, but they didn’t come to this room.
No one has been here since I told Finn to get out.
I don’t understand why the disappointment on his face made me feel like such a shit. He doesn’t know me or my brother. What the hell makes him think he can weigh in like he knows my situation?
If it was a ploy to get me to trust him, he obviously has no clue. This ain’t my first rodeo with powerful families. I grew up a princess of the inner circle of the Rossi family. They valued and trusted my father, which made me and Gio family, too.
Until we weren’t.
We lost more than our father that day…we lost everyone.
But while I have no regrets about keeping my business close to the vest, there’s a part of me that wishes things could be different. Finn is exactly my type. He’s wicked skilled in the ways of my world, he knows who he is, and he’s hot as sin whether dressed up or dressed down.
Andoof…the way he looks at me makes all my girl parts ache.
But it doesn’t matter that he could undoubtably give me endless orgasms while rolling on a bed covered in money, the fact is—he’s endangering my brother’s life by keeping me here.
That’s why nothing can get in the way of my escape.
I tighten my grip around the syringe, my blood thrumming hard in my veins. If Finn comes in here alone, I’ll make my move. The serum takes even the strongest, most hardcore guy and reduces him into a little loosey-goosey puddle of cooperation.
Once I stick him with it, he’ll tell me how to get out of here. If I’m right and there’s a security pad to get through the door, he’ll tell me the combination, and I’ll be on my way.
I draw a deep breath, knowing it won’t be that easy.
I’ve studied the Quinn Castle for months. I know the general layout of the compound and the tactical readiness of their security staff. The place is a fortress and me racing across the expansive gardens in broad daylight and making it over the stone fence before one of the dozens of grounds security catches me has little to no chance of success.
Still, for Gio, I have to try.
A softbeepof technology sounds down the hall and snaps me out of my reverie. I tense, straining to hear who is coming and if they are coming here for me. Footsteps approach the outside of my door, and my heart rate kicks into high gear. Rolling to my feet, I stand, waiting to greet whoever it is.
If it’s Finn and he’s alone, it’s on.
I position myself in the center of the room, breathing slowly.
The door unlocks.
Finn enters carrying a tray, his gaze finding me as an amiable smile spreads across his stupidly sexy face. “I’m sorry about before and for missing yer lunch. I got caught up with a few things, and time got away from me. So, I brought ye an early dinner instead. Yer in for a real treat because?—”
The moment he gives me his back to set the tray down, I lunge. The needle pierces his neck, and I press the plunger. He grunts, twisting to shove me away with a wild swing, sending the tray crashing.
Food splatters across the floor as he knocks me backward. I hit the ground hard, the shooting pain in my hip nothing I wasn’t expecting. With adrenaline pumping, I scramble onto my knees.
Finn lunges for me, his movements already a little uncoordinated. It’s fast-acting stuff, but I need to keep hisattention on me and keep him here for a few more minutes before he’ll be submissive enough to tell me what I need to know.
