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I can’t think of a single instance. My mother is a tough love kind of parent, my father is more of a pat on shoulder kind ofman, and my brothers are more likely to punch me affectionately—or not—if they are expressing themselves.
This closeness is something I didn’t even know I crave until this minute.
Too soon, he releases me from his embrace and eases back. “Hey, I’ve got to meet Tag and take care of this Russian guns thing. Get some rest. Finn is downstairs and I’ve got a couple of Devils watching the house. You’ll be safe and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
The idea that Sean is going to meet up with Vladmir and Arkady twists the knot in my stomach. “If you get the chance, feel free to cut their balls off.”
Sean doesn’t laugh as I expect. Instead he leans in until we’re nose to nose. “Tonight, we need to build a relationship with the Bratva. After that, I will make them pay for what they did to you—I swear it.”
The fury in his dark eyes should terrify me. It doesn’t.
Sean makes me feel safe.
Standing up, he presses his lips to my forehead and steps away from the bed. “Rest. I’ll be back before you miss me.”
I doubt that’s possible. I miss him already.
When the latch of my door clicks into place, I lay back in the bed, the ache of disillusionment and betrayal hot and piercing in my heart while the wonder of new beginnings wars with everything I’ve ever known.
Was it better when I didn’t know the details about my father and our business? Do my friends know what my family does? Did Sean Quinn just kiss me? Sure, it was on my forehead, but his lips touched my flesh. What does that mean?
I stare out the window, the city now swallowed in full darkness. Informed choices…
I knew my family dealt in ugly business, but I never took the time to question why. Da chose those business ventures. That’sthe kind of man he is. Does that mean that’s the kind of men my brothers are?
Maybe Da selling me off was the wake-up call I needed. What would he do to me if he got his hands on me? Would he add me to his next sex trafficking order to punish me?
I honestly don’t know what he’s capable of.
My brothers talked about the girls they had coming up, and I always thought they were talking about dancers or call girls. I never imagined sex trafficking.
That’s my legacy.
I’m a McGuire.
And for the first time in my life, I wish I wasn’t.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Sean
The back of the delivery van is quiet as we approach the NYX Hotel. Quinns don’t breach the territorial lines and go to the south of Dublin. It’s a tenet we’ve lived by for over twenty years.
Tonight, we make an exception.
It’s becoming more and more obvious that Mad Mattie doesn’t respect the terms of the truce between our families, so why should we?
“You okay, boss?” Kieran’s curious gaze meets mine as he slides his lighter into the pocket of his MC cut. “You look weird.”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
He chuckles. “Touché.”
I check the tranquilizing pistol and make sure I’m ready in case this goes sideways. “Just going over things in my head.”
“Fucking Bratva,” Brendan scoffs. “Mad Mattie’s living up to his name these days.”
“I’m thinking he’s got a fucking brain tumor or something,” Bryan adds. “He’s fucked in the head, for sure.”
