They’re two broken people who don’t believe they deserve a happy ending...
An abusive relationship and a downward spiral into addiction was something Sybil never thought she’d escape. A second chance comes when the most feared man in Dublin wins Carey in a game of chance and take them into his home. Who would have thought he’d fall in love with her daughter?
The death of his mother led O’Grady’s right-hand man and enforcer, Baxter O’Daly down a dark path. Now he helps keep the streets of Dublin safe by killing the worst of the worst. He knows he’s rushing towards an early death but that’s never mattered, until now. Until Sybil.
More From Gambled Away
Life used to be simple. Baxter would wake up with a simple goal in mind: keep John O’Grady alive for another day. It had gotten a little more complicated when his boss won Carey Murphy, after her father used her as collateral in a poker game. His boss had seen the bruise on Carey’s cheek, and instead of refusing the offer, had married and spirited her away to his mansion. He hadn’t just taken her, though. He took her mother, as well. John had suspected both Murphy women would have been killed by the alcoholic ex-policeman. He had every intention of divorcing Carey and giving her a hefty settlement. The older Murphy woman had been completely broken down by her husband. There had been dark circles under her blue eyes, and whatever she wore hung on her underweight form. At the time, Baxter hadn’t even spared her a glance. Until the day she did something unbelievably dangerous.
Sybil had ended up returning to her husband. O’Grady decided to bring her back to the mansion before her daughter figured out what happened. Baxter went with him because it was his job. Sybil hadn’t meant anything to him. They found her bruised and bloodied in her old home. His first thought was she’d returned to her abuser. He knew it happened. Thankfully, her deciding to return to Murphy had nothing to do with feelings. She’d wanted the collection of files he hid in the air vent—it documented all of his dealings. The proof she needed to blackmail him into leaving her and their daughter alone.
There was no way she could have known someone was waiting in the shadows, biding their time.
Trent McNamara had tricked his way into John’s home and attacked Carey.
Baxter didn’t know why Trent returned to Dublin. Even with the threat of a brutal death if he ever dared to show his face. If John’s enemies found out he hadn’t followed through on a threat, it would put the entire family into the crosshairs.
Trent wasn’t worth the risk.
Thanks to the downpour, nobody who glanced into the car would see the gun in his hand. He checked the magazine out of habit, knowing he always kept it loaded. Then he slipped the silencer into the inside pocket of his custom-made leather jacket. His baseball cap would shield his eyes from the worst of the rain. He slipped his gun into the holster, zipped up his jacket, and stepped out into the downpour.
Baxter never lost any sleep over the people he had killed. Trent was the latest on a substantial list. All of them deserved what happened to them. None of them had been innocent.
