Page 70 of She Gives Love a Bad Name

Mickey’s lip twitches. “We going to war?”

“Not if I can help it, but it’s best to be prepared.” Quinn grips my hand tighter, and I lace her fingers with mine. “We’re ending this tonight, kid.”

She gives me a shaky nod and a halfhearted smile.

“Tonight then.” Mikey leaves, taking the evidence with him.

But the witness stays by my side.

“Do you have a plan?” she asks when we step outside.

“Kinda.” I keep my voice low. “Can you contact your stepbrother? And Eddie? Anyone you’ve worked with who would have known your movements over the past year?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I want you to send them all an invitation to the Black Penny, tonight at nine.”

“You want me to invite my stepbrother?” Her voice cracks.

“If he wants his money, yes.”

“Grant...there’s something you need to know.”

“What?” I stop and pull her under the shade of a tree, out of the path of pedestrians.

“My stepbrother isn’t just some street thug.” She fidgets and takes a deep breath. “He’s Billy Donovan.”

The revelation pierces my confidence, and I grit my teeth.Of course, he is.

Billy Donovan, head of the most notorious Irish mob family in Hell’s Kitchen. Shit, in the whole city. Goddamn it.

I should have known when she disappeared and came back shaken. This isn’t some little family spat over money. He’s fucking serious. Quinn owes him a debt, and he won’t be satisfied until it’s paid.

“That complicates things.” I run my hand over my face. “Doesn’t matter. Call him. This ends tonight, one way or another.”

“He’ll kill you, Grant.”

“I’m more worried about you, kid.”

“He won’t kill me. I’m worth too much alive.” Her sad smile stabs me in the heart.

I pull her into my arms. She smells like sunshine and flowers. Memories fill my mind, of us together, wrapped in each other, fucking until we’re limp with exhaustion. No, this isn’t over. Quinn is mine, and I want every moment with her. I’ll protect her with everything I am.

“Come on, kid. We’ve got some calls to make.” I kiss her softly, wiping away the sadness, replacing it with need.

The Black Penny is closed on Mondays. Tonight, Claude is going to make an exception for a special, invitation-only party.

Let’s just hope this one doesn’t end in fireworks...or death.

Whatever chaos ensues, I’m ready. Quinn deserves a second chance. I do too.

This isn’t over, but I’m going to make damn sure her debt is paid in full, even if I have to take out every bastard who ever hurt her.

---