Page 49 of Dublin Charmer
Talking about Da puts a bit of a damper on the conversation and we ride in silence until the van slows to a stop.
Kieran looks back at us, his brow pinched. “Are you sure we’ve got the right address? We’re outside a seasonal storage lot for campers.”
“Mobile homes,” Nyx corrects, sliding toward the doors. “And yes, we’re in the right place. Give me ten minutes and we’ll be driving out of here with my stuff.”
Gallagher turns off the engine, unbuckles his seatbelt, and strides around the van to open the side door. “Kieran will stay here and watch the gate. I’ll go with you two.”
“You really don’t have to,” Nyx insists, jumping down out of the van before straightening. “Billy Gravely has no idea I live here. I have a crappy little flat across town where I go after I meet with him. Then, when I’m sure I’m not being followed, I come back here.”
I step out and gesture to the rows and rows of distinctive, polished aluminum coaches. “You live here?”
“Yeah, I do. It’s quiet and there is no traffic. I can see people coming and going, so it’s my own little world in here.”
“And living in one of these Airstreams is like the shell game. You’re hiding in plain sight.”
“Now you’re getting it.” Nyx waggles her brows at me before striding off toward the security building. When she gets close,she waves to a heavyset man behind the counter. “Bon soir, Andre.”
“Bon soir, ma petite. I haven’t seen you for a bit.” The guard smiles warmly and then notices me and Gallagher.
I’d like to think the pinched brow and the scowl of concern comes from him eyeing up Gallagher and not me. I look perfectly respectable. Gallagher, on the other hand, looks like he’s got a starring role inSons of Anarchy.
“Who are your friends? Everything okay?”
She gives him a wide smile. “All is well, big guy. They’re helping me find my brother. I’m here to get my stuff.”
He gives the two of us another once over and I meet his gaze and let him see my intentions. “We really are here to help her. In fact, we’re here to protect her from anyone who wants to do her harm.”
He considers that for a moment and then hits the security release for the fence and allows us entrance. “Take care,ma petite. It’s nice our little wolf has found herself a pack.”
Nyx blows the old guy a kiss and then leads us inside the yard and through a maze of glimmering mobile homes. It’s incredible how many there are and how they all look the same. Her living here is both brilliant and sad. Sure, she has the security of knowing she’s all alone, but she’sall alone.
Eventually we arrive at yet another pristine Airstream.
“Don’t touch anything until I get back. Seriously. Don’t touch.” She jogs around the back to climb the small ladder that leads up to the roof. Gallagher and I do as she warns and stay back. Nyx is on the roof for only a minute or two, and when she comes back down, she’s got a set of keys in her hand.
“Okay, it’s safe to go in now.” She unhooks a set of keys from the ring and tosses them to me. “If you want to hurry this up, you can make yourself useful. Inside that wooden shed is my truck. Go get her and bring her out here to hook up.”
“Hook up?”
She looks at me like I’m dense. “Yes, hook up. We came to get my stuff. Well, this is my stuff.” She gestures to the trailer, and I clue in.
Okay, so we’re not just picking up her computer.
I head off to the shed, chuckling at the thought of Tag’s face when we roll up with a truck and trailer. The old Ford F-150 starts with a rumble, and I drive it out of the shed. Gallagher shuts the doors of the shed and I pull around to the front of Nyx’s trailer and carefully back it toward the Airstream’s hitch.
When I get out, I crane my neck and have a look down a couple of the rows. “So, what do you think? Are we good?”
“Aye, as far as I can tell. I think your girl knows her environment better than us. If she’s not worried, I’m inclined to believe her.”
Me too. Leaving him to keep watch, I knock once and step into the trailer, finding Nyx frantically shoving clothes into drawers, but I can see she’s pulled up a security feed of a young man in a cell. “Is that him?”
Nyx tosses an armful of belongings into what I think is her bathroom and closes the door. “Si,that’ Gio. I don’t think Gravely has figured out I went missing last night. I’ve got no calls and Gio’s situation hasn’t changed.”
“Well, that’s good, I suppose. It gives us a little time to sort things out.” I look around her home. “And speaking of sorting things out, what are you doing?”
“Well, I’ve never had anyone in, so I wanted to pick up a few things first.”
I spot a red lace bra hanging off the pantry door and lift it with one finger. “Why? I love your decorating aesthetic.”
