Page 58 of Dublin Charmer
I’m about to suggest we go find dinner, when a ping echoes through the room. The notification light is blinking insistently on my laptop. Clicking open the screen, I scan the message that flashes up. “We’ve got a match on one of Gio’s guards. Say hello to Ely Ansler.”
The playful mood of the morning shifts, and a sense of urgency replaces it.
She rushes over and takes a seat, inputting the address and pulling up a map of Dublin.
“Got you,” she whispers, then turns to look at me with glassy eyes. “Thank you.”
I wink. “My pleasure, luv. Now, once we follow this arsehole to work, we’ll find your brother and bring him home.”
I lead Nyx downstairs, hyper-aware of the space between us. My body still hums from what we just shared—the orgasms, the intimacy, the trust implied for her to fall asleep in my arms and wake up smiling. Still, I don’t reach for her hand. I won’t push.
The family is already gathered around the massive table when we arrive. Bryan raises an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. I ignore him.
Cora brings out steaming bowls of Irish stew and fresh-baked soda bread as the conversation flows around us.
“Are your brothers joining us for dinner?” Laine asks Piper.
Piper shakes out her napkin and drapes it over her lap. “Not tonight. They both had a shower and are out cold. I don’t think they slept more than a few stolen minutes since Gravely made his move on the family.”
Tag nods. “Then let them rest. Cora, would you mind fixing up two plates for them to heat up later if they wake hungry?”
“Goodness, no. Consider it done,” Cora says.
“Thank you both,” Piper says. “And thank all of you for bringing them here and keeping them safe. I love you all, so much.”
“And we love you, sweetie.” Laine reaches over to squeeze her hand.
Tag dips his chin. “Our families were close once. I’m hoping we can come together and end the animosity between north and south.”
“But first we need to get rid of Gravely,” Sean says.
“Oh, that’s top of the to-do list, brother.”
Nyx stiffens next to me but no one else seems to notice. And before anyone continues on the subject of Gravely, Brendan reaches for the potatoes and grunts as the shift in position aggravates his leg. Giving up, he sits squarely into his seat once again and curses.
Nora gives him a chastising look and lifts the tureen. “Give it time, big guy.”
“I have given it time. I fucking hate this. I need to start rehab and get back to strength training.”
Nora chuckles. “It hasn’t even been two weeks, you big baby. No doctor will let you start rehab at two weeks. You must be patient.”
“Not my best event.”
She laughs. “I may have noticed that.”
Brendan grumbles on but seems placated by the heap of potatoes Nora drops on his plate.
Nyx sits quietly beside me, offering only brief responses when directly addressed. She watches everyone carefully, calculating.
I wonder if her reserve stems from regret after what happened between us or if she’s just overwhelmed by my family. They are wonderful, but from an outsider’s perspective, I suppose they could be intimidating.
Sean sets his spoon down and changes the subject next. “Piper and I did a thing today.”
All eyes move to the two of them, our curiosity piqued.
“One of the Devils told me that Old Harry from Smiley’s pub two lots down the block from the clubhouse wants to sell. Piper and I went to meet him today and we have an agreement. After the holidays, we’ll draw up an offer for the pub and the adjoining lot.”
Piper grins. “And with all three properties merging into one, we’re going to expand the Devils’ compound.”
