Robbie
Someone has it out for Dina, which makes me feel like I need to track them down and kill them because they’ve painted a target on someone who belongs to me. That crosses way too many lines for me to feel comfortable with. I know we’re always in danger with the work we do, but this feels like it’s more than that.
I briefly consider whether or not someone has discovered that we have feelings for each other and that they’re targeting Dina to get to me. Or maybe they’re targeting her because she’s keeping everyone calm with all of this infighting.
I can’t trust anyone to watch out for her except me. There’s no one I can trust more than me to make the right decisions to protect her. After I sent Callum there, she was different. Something went down, and she wouldn’t say what, but I know. I briefly consider questioning Callum, but instead, I keep quiet. I want to burn the world to the ground for her the way they burnt her home down, but I also know she’s stubborn and won’t tell me what’s happening. I pull into the parking spot near the pub and lead her toward the building.
“Are we in time for dinner?” she asks.
“Yes,” I comment, pulling the door open and letting her in ahead of me. Everyone glances up at her, but I don’t say anything as I lead her to our booth. Jarryd has little Iris in his arms, obviously babysitting for Daniel and Natalia.
Ronan waits until we’re settled before he asks everyone to bow their heads, prays over the food Molly and her team have made, and then welcomes the guests with open arms.
Once the prayer is done, general chit-chat arises, and instantly, I can hear the complaints about foreigners at dinner becoming a regular thing.
Dina sits awkwardly and picks at her food but doesn’t say anything. She’s too polite. I clench my fist, but my brother smacks his crutch against the bar to get their attention.
“If you don’t like that we have guests, you’re welcome to bring it to me directly and then fuck off without food.” He glares at them, and they fall silent.
They start talking about something else, and Jarryd sets little Iris in her car seat next to him as he begins to eat.
“Didn’t think you would be good with children, Jarryd,” Dina comments. “You’re always on your own mission.”
“You’d be surprised how good I am,” he chuckles, and I smile. I like that my brother and my secret girlfriend get along.
Ronan meets my eyes, and I turn back to my shepherd’s pie. I’m glad she made it tonight and not the other night like I thought she did. It’s delicious, thick, and rich, and I could marry Molly for her food alone.
“Once we’re done eating,” I turn to Dina, “you can go have a cup of tea with Molly in the kitchen while Ronan and I discuss what’s happening.”
Ronan snorts, and I glance at him before I look back at Dina, who is glaring at me. “Are you dismissing me?”
I open and close my mouth several times when the front door opens, and Daniel walks in. I glance behind me, thankful my older brother is here for once.
“Thanks for watching her,” Daniel breathes as he slips into the booth beside Iris’ car seat.
Jarryd grins. “It’s a pleasure. Robbie’s about to have his head taken off, so you’re just in time.”
That’s what happens when you have little brothers; they don’t let you forget you’re in trouble. I turn to Dina. “It’s not that. It’s that I think you would be… safer.”
“Bullshit,” she says. “Whatever you want to discuss, you can discuss with me. Especially if it concerns my safety.”
Some of the men finish their food and leave. I look at Ronan and then at Daniel, who nods. “We need to deal with these mutters. The men are not happy with the situation.”
Ronan looks around as the last of the men leave and nods. “Aye, they aren’t. I’m out of this bloody cast next week. Then, I can be more active in keeping them in control. Until then, you need to keep them in line, Robbie.” He looks at me, and I sigh.
“They’re questioning your decisions, Ronan. They’ve never done that. They’re not listening to me.” I skewer a piece of meat on my fork and shove it into my mouth.
Ronan sighs and looks out the windows. “Daniel and I must establish who is truly loyal to you.”
“We need to make sure this united front stands.” Ronan looks at me, and I can see it in his eyes; he is unsure.
“You can’t doubt you’ve made the right decision, or they’ll pick up on that,” I say. “You have our support; you always will.”
Ronan chuckles. “The support of three psychotic little brothers. Isn’t that nice?”
I chuckle, and Daniel picks at his food. We all look at him before he says, “We’ll keep them loyal for all the good it will do. But we need to show them that what you’ve chosen is beneficial to the family.”
I feel Dina’s hand underneath the table on my leg and relax slightly.
She can’t be that mad with me if she’s seeking reassurance from me.
Except she’s not. She wants to interrupt.
“Mr. Quinn, I assure you I will get the Italians and Russians to support your family fully. We just need to figure out what these attacks are about.”
I glance at her with a frown, but Ronan leans forward. “I’m sure you will, Dina. But for now, we need to be concerned about who is trying to kill you.”
Dina purses her lips. She doesn’t like the fact that she’s being babied. I can see it, but she’s got no choice, really.
I smile and look at Daniel. “We’ll collect the men who are truly loyal to Ronan and find out what the others want to remain loyal.”
“They should want to remain loyal purely because it’s Ronan,” Jarryd points out, and I roll my eyes.
“It’s a give-and-take relationship,” Dina says calmly. “They want Ronan to play a hand that is purely in their favor to prove he is as loyal to them as they are to him.”
I turn to her. “There’s a huge family gathering coming up. It will incorporate all three families, and if we don’t get this fighting under control by then, it could turn into a blood bath.”
“There’ll be very few lower ranks there,” Daniel says calmly. “And that’s where the problem is, so we should be fine as long as nobody tries anything stupid.”
I scoff. “You say lower ranks like they mean less than us.”
“You know what I mean,” Daniel says sharply, and Ronan holds his hands up. “Let’s not start fighting amongst ourselves. Where is Dina staying tonight?”
“At my apartment. She’s safest with me,” I say immediately.
Everyone looks at me, but no one says anything, and they better keep it that way.
Ronan nods. “Alright then, everyone, get some sleep, and we’ll speak tomorrow about what we’re going to do to solve this problem.”
“Thank you for having me, Mr. Quinn,” Dina says politely, rising from her seat.
“Please call me Ronan.” My brother smiles and then looks at me.
“My brother still being a gentleman?”
She looks at me as well, and my heart races as she says, “He’s always a gentleman, I suppose.”
My brothers laugh as I hurry out of my seat and say goodnight before leading Dina toward my apartment. There are few people on the street, but most of my men will be out doing their collections and other nefarious deeds that need the cover of night. We walk slowly, so it takes a while to reach my apartment, but once inside, Dina turns to me.
I take her face in my hands and kiss her hungrily. I feel her hands on my chest, pushing me slightly away. “We can’t do this.”
“I will protect you,” I murmur the words, my arms sliding around her and keeping her against me. I look down into her eyes. “I just want a second chance, Dina. To prove I can be the man you deserve in life.”
“We can’t be together. We’re the muscle behind the families. The men will see it as a betrayal.” She strokes my face gently and kisses me softly.
I smile into the kiss, but she pushes against me again, and I release her. As she turns, I capture her hand and hold it. “We don’t have to do anything. Just come sleep beside me, and I’ll protect you throughout the night.”
She looks at me, and I can see she’s torn between what she wants and her duty, but she relaxes slightly and follows me into her room. We strip down and give her an oversized t-shirt to sleep in. Once in bed, I spoon her and softly stroke the top of her arm, cuddling against her.
She rests against me, and I feel her heart beating softly. We’re connected as one at this moment, as we should be, because we belong together. I wish I could help her see that what we have is profound, unique, and greater than any regular love that everyone finds themselves in.
I watch as she dozes off, and as promised, I don’t do anything other than hold her while I’m acutely aware of the hard butt of the gun pressing against my head from underneath my pillow.
If anyone comes near her, I’ll fucking destroy them. No one will hurt her; she’s mine. She belongs to me, and I will never let her go.