Chapter Seven Isla
A s I made my way to the bar to settle up on tips, I couldn’t believe I’d been dancing at Alainn for a week. The past seven days had flown in a flurry of sequins and beading, dollar bills, and very appreciative male attention.
In all honesty, I actually enjoyed it. I got to do something I loved–dancing–while making extremely good money. I’d gotten over being topless after the second day, and thankfully, we weren’t asked to take off our g-strings.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the private dances. It went without saying that Quinn had spoiled me for the act. Regardless of how handsome or sexy the man was, it did nothing for me.
I worked hard to mask the repulsion I felt as their erections pressed into my ass or my core–especially when they didn’t bother hiding their wedding bands. Just as Quinn had assured me, no one was allowed to touch me. The one time a client had grabbed my breast one of the bouncers quickly appeared from the doorway to remind him if he wanted to continue coming to the club, he’d keep his hands to himself.
Despite what we had experienced together, Quinn had barely said more than hello to me since he'd returned to the club. While he might not have said anything to me, he’d watched my set from start to finish. The intensity of his gaze on me was unnerving. I tried reasoning with myself he was probably just making sure he’d made the right choice to hire me.
I couldn’t help being curious about him. Everyone from the dancers to the bouncers seemed to shy away from him. On his first night back at the club, I walked up to him after my set to say hello. Conleth’s mouth dropped obscenely wide like he couldn’t believed I’d dared to approach Quinn, least of all give him a pleasant greeting.
After Quinn returned my hello with a tight smile, Conleth fumbled with the whiskey bottle he was pouring. I don’t know what was more shocking: that I, a lowly dancer, had braved the beast to say hello, or the fact Quinn had returned the greeting.
Tonight as I worked on my makeup in the dressing room, I decided to try to dig up a little gossip about him with the two girls who had been the nicest to me, Mabry and Lenora. They’d both been dancing at Alainn for two years. Mabry was a finance major at Boston College while Lenora was a psych major at UMASS Boston.
“So, it’s good seeing Quinn back at the club,” I remarked in my most casual voice.
Lenora snorted. “Excuse me? Did you just call Mr. Kavanaugh by his first name?”
I winced. “Oh, um, are we not supposed to?”
She slid a tube of red lipstick across her lips. “You won’t if you know what’s good for you.”
Embarrassment tinged my cheeks. “My bad.”
Mabry smiled at me in the mirror. “It’s fine, Isla. You’re still learning the ins and outs of the job.” As she fluffed her dark hair, she said, “As for Mr. Kavanaugh, I’m glad he’s back, too.”
Lenora made a face. “Seriously?”
With a nod, Mabry replied, “Whenever he isn’t here, clients always try to get more handsy. Just knowing he’s in the building or his brothers makes me feel so much safer.”
“His brothers run just as tight a ship, and I’ll take them over him any day.”
Nibbling my lip, I wondered what it was about Quinn, uh, Mr. Kavanaugh that made her have such a strong reaction. “Has he been an asshole to you?”
“Isn’t he to everyone?” Lenora replied.
A nervous laugh tumbled from my lips. “Well, yeah, but I mean has he done something to make you so angry?”
Lenora shook her head. “No. It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?” I prompted.
She sighed. “I hate the whole beast attitude that he conveys that makes everyone, including myself, cower in fear.”
Mabry nudged Lenora playfully. “That’s because you hate alpha men, and Mr. Kavanaugh is the King of Alphas.”
Wrinkling her nose, Lenora replied, “True. Very true.”
Since I still hadn’t learned much, I asked, “Was he on vacation this week?”
“His sister-in-law was kidnapped,” Mabry replied, which caused Lenora to hiss her name.
The glittery eyeshadow palette in my hand fell to the floor. “Excuse me?”
Mabry bent over to grab the palette. As she handed it to me, she replied, “Yeah, it happened the day of your audition.”
At her words, my mind went back to Kellan interrupting us. “That’s horrible!”
“Thankfully, they found her quickly, and she’s recovering now,” Mabry said.
“I can’t even begin to imagine how life-altering it would be to be kidnapped.”
“From what I hear, she was used to it,” Lenora quipped.
“What?” I questioned to which Mabry quickly replied, “Nothing.”
After shooting Lenora a look in the mirror, Mabry said, “Mrs. Kavanaugh is recovering at home now.”
“So, Mr. Kavanaugh has been absent helping his brother with her recovery?” I questioned as I slid the pink eyeshadow over one of my lids.
Lenora snickered beside me. “What?”
With a grin, Mabry draped her arm over my shoulder. Her dark eyes danced with amusement. “Sometimes I forget how fresh and naive you are.”
Jerking my chin up, I replied, “Then be a good Mother Hen and educate me, so I can stop feeling like such an outsider.”
She scoffed. “Girl, I’m not old enough to be your mother.”
“My auntie?”
Lenora laughed. “You better watch it before you get your ass kicked, Newbie.”
I widened my eyes. “But I was only joking. I swear, I wouldn’t dare insult you.”
Mabry playfully smacked Lenora. “She’s just teasing. While I’d prefer being your slightly older sister, I’ll take auntie.”
At my exhale of relief, Lenora said, “Go on and educate the girl, Sis .”
“Why can’t you?” Mabry countered.
“Oh no. I wouldn’t touch that with a ten-foot pole.”
A shiver ghosted down my spine. “Okay, you can stop teasing me because you’re seriously starting to scare me.”
The amusement on Mabry’s face faded. After glancing over her shoulder to scan the dressing room, she whispered, “This knowledge is powerful. Where there is power, there is danger.”
“You mean, it’s dangerous for you just to talk about this?” When she nodded, fear overcame me. Shaking my head, I replied, “Then I don’t want to know.”
“It’s probably better than you don’t,” Lenora replied.
I was grateful I’d already finished lining my eyes since my fingers were trembling. When Mabry’s hand came to my shoulder, I jumped. After I jerked my gaze to hers, she gave me a reassuring smile. “Just keep your head down, do your job, and you won’t have any problems.”
“I will.”
At that moment, Paula stuck her head in the dressing room. “Isla, you’re up.”
Although I remained physically and emotionally shaky from the conversation, I plastered a smile to my face. “Coming.”
To say I was slightly on edge after talking with Mabry and Lenora would be an understatement. While I’d set out to get answers about Quinn, I'd ended up with even more questions. Some that I didn’t think I wanted answers to.
But I managed to set aside my fears about Quinn and do my job. After my set, I stayed busy right up until closing with private dances. With each dick I rode, I focused on reworking the labs I’d done last quarter. Anything to not think about the man in front of me or Quinn.
Once all the clients had left for the night, I made my way to the bar to close out. At the sight of me, the bartender, Sarah’s, eyes lit up. “Hey Isla, while I close you out, could you run this liquor invoice up to the boss’s office?”
At the prospect of seeing Quinn, I swallowed hard. “Um, why me?”
Sarah grinned. “Because you’re the only one he doesn’t growl or grunt around.”
“He doesn’t?”
She popped her brows at me. “You haven’t noticed?”
“Not really. I mean, I haven’t been here that long.”
“Conleth said the boss actually smiled at you last night.”
“Yes, but–”
“That’s pretty much unheard of, which means you’re the best person to take this to him.”
Since I didn’t think there was any way I was getting out of it, I reached out to take the invoice. “I’ll be right back.”
On shaky legs, I spun away from the bar and went over to the elevator. As I stepped inside, I couldn’t fight the anxiety building in my chest. When we reached the second floor, the ding caused me to jump out of my skin. “Get a grip, Isla.”
Pushing myself forward, I started down the long hallway, my heels clicking along the floor. When I reached the office, I froze with my fist in the air. I don’t know how long I stayed like that before I finally knocked on the door.
Shifting on my heels, I nibbled on my lip as I waited for a response. When no one came, I decided to knock harder.
Still nothing.
“Um, Mr. Kavanaugh?” I called, my voice echoing through the silent hallway.
When I tried the doorknob, I found it unlocked. Easing it open, I peeked inside, praying I didn’t find Quinn screwing some dancer. The room was darkened with just the desk lamps emitting shadowy light. “Mr. Kavanaugh?” I called.
Once again, I didn’t receive an answer. Sarah hadn’t specified that I had to deliver it directly into his hands. Surely, I could leave it on his desk without a problem.
Easing through the crack I’d made in the door, I hightailed it as quickly as I could over to his desk. After dropping it in the center, I spun around to make a run for it. That’s when I heard a long, guttural groan.
I gasped before my hand flew to my mouth. Slowly, I turned my attention to the private bathroom. Light seeped out from the bottom of the door.
Since I wasn’t sure if it was a sex groan or one of pain, I decided it was best to get the hell out of there. When I started to the door, my heel slid in something wet on the floor. A shriek escaped my lips as my arms and legs flailed as I tried not to fall.
Just as I’d righted myself, the bathroom door flung open. Quinn lunged out, training a gun on me.
Once again, a shriek escaped my lips as my hands flew up to shield me. “Please, it’s just me, Isla.”
Quinn immediately jerked the gun down to his side. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“S-Sarah asked me t-to bring up an invoice.” Jerking my thumb over my shoulder, I added, “When no one came to the door, I just put it on your desk.”
Quinn’s cold eyes continued to apprise me. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before I turned to go, my gaze traveled down his body. To my surprise, his white shirt was untucked and unbuttoned. Both dark and bright red blood stained one side. It was then that I realized what I had slid on.
Blood.
“Oh my God, you’re hurt!” Before I could think better of it, I rushed over to him.
When my hand came up to touch his side, he smacked it away. “I said, get the fuck out of here!”
I shook my head before repeating, “You’re hurt.”
“No shit,” he snarled.
“Let me call an ambulance.”
A sinister chuckle erupted from him. “You’re so na?ve, aren’t you, Little Dove?”
Furrowing my brows, I asked, “What do you mean?”
Quinn drew in a deep breath, which caused him to wince. “An ambulance brings police sniffing around, and that’s the last thing I need.”
“I’m sure you need stitches.”
“I do.”
“Then why are you still standing here and not going to a hospital?” I demanded.
He cocked his head at me. “For the same fucking reason I won’t call an ambulance.”
“Did you hit your head as well? Because you’re not making any sense.”
Amusement danced in Quinn’s eyes. “No, I don’t have a head injury.”
“Then let me drive you to the hospital.” When he still continued smirking at me, I added, “Please.”
The mirth faded from his eyes. “You would do that?”
As I bobbed my head, I reached for his hand. With a futile tug, I pleaded, “Come with me.”
Seconds inched by as Quinn stared at me. His gaze dropped to where our hands were joined before he brought his eyes back to my face. Finally, he closed the gap between us.
As he towered over me, electricity crackled between us, and I couldn’t help taking a step back. “Do you want to help me because I’m your boss, or because I made you come?” he asked.
Jerking my hand from his, I sucked in a disbelieving breath at his words. The room seemed to spin with his emotional whiplash. “How can you be talking about that at a time like this?”
“Answer my question.”
“I would help you because I care about people in need, and you’re obviously in need.”
“I’m always in need when you’re around,” he replied in a gravelly voice.
When I dared to look up into his eyes, heat surged between my legs at the desire in his. “Are you in need too?”
“You’re hurt,” I protested.
A smirk curved on his lips. “I’d have to be dying not to want to meet your needs.”
“Considering all the blood you’ve lost, it’s possible you could be,” I argued.
“The bullet only grazed me.”
I swayed on my knees, which caused Quinn to reach out to steady me. “A bullet?” I questioned in a pained whisper.
“Yes. Since it’s not the first time it’s happened, I know I’m not knocking at death’s door.” When I stared at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed, he said, “I’ve popped a Percocet for the pain along with some Motrin for the inflammation. I’ve called our family doctor to come in to stitch me up. I had planned to clean the wound while I waited for him, but then someone interrupted me.”
Slowly, I nodded my head as I processed his words. I’d never seen a gunshot wound, nor did I know anyone who had ever been shot. Growing up, I’d been sheltered from the harsher realities of the world and living in the city.
“But how did you get shot? Did someone try to mug you on the street? I know this is a good area, but no offense, you probably brought it on yourself by the way you look.”
Quinn’s blue eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“To a thief, you look like a flashy guy with your expensive suits and your watch. You’re the perfect target. I bet you drive an expensive car as well, don’t you?”
Quinn’s blood-stained hand came to cup my chin. “You are the purest of souls, Isla Vaughn.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because despite what I told you the other night, you still refuse to believe that I’m the bad man. That whatever happened to me tonight was my fault because of who I am.”
Scrunching my brows, I asked, “Why would I think that?”
“I guess you haven’t been here long enough for the rumors to make it to your innocent ears.”
The conversation with Mabry and Lenora flashed before my eyes. “I might have heard some things,” I whispered.
He cocked his head at me. “About me and my family?”
Nodding, I replied, “Your sister-in-law was kidnapped.”
Quinn’s blue eyes darkened. “Aye, she was. She would’ve been raped and a miscarriage forced on her if we hadn’t rescued her.”
As my stomach rolled, my hand flew to my mouth. “Oh God.”
Leaning back against the bathroom door, he prompted, “What else did they say?”
“They said–” I swallowed hard. “They said that it was dangerous to know more, so I told them I didn’t want to know.”
“They’re correct, and you’re smart.”
“But…”
“But what, Little Dove?”
“I don’t think you’re dangerous,” I murmured.
“You’re so naive.”
The synapses in my brain shorted out as all the possibilities of who and what Quinn was ran through my mind. “Do you do bad things to women?
“Never,” he spat.
A relieved breath whooshed from my lips. “Do you do bad things to men?”
“Aye.”
With my chest clenching, I could only croak, “But why?”
“It’s who I am and what I do.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “I don’t believe you.”
“You yourself said I’m an asshole.”
Warmth rushed to my cheeks. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You were only being honest.”
“Even if I think you’re an asshole, I don’t think you’re capable of hurting people.”
“Do you know what it means to belong to an Irish clan?”
My stomach recoiled. “Like you dress up in bedsheets and hate on anyone who isn’t white?”
Quinn stared at me before a laugh burst from his lips. “Jaysus, Mary, and Joseph, I’m not talking about the bleedin’ KKK.”
“Thank God,” I murmured.
“In Ireland, a clan is like a gang. Here in America the closest comparison is the mafia.”
My hand flew to my mouth as I realized what Lenora and Mabry had been referencing. “You’re in the mafia?” I whispered.
“You don’t have to whisper. The club is swept every day to make sure the Feds or our enemies haven’t placed any bugs.”
Oh God. How could this be possible? I was working in a club owned by the Irish mafia.
“You’re in the mafia,” I said, this time as a statement and not a question.”
“Aye, my family is head of an Irish clan that includes not just Boston, but Belfast as well. My older brother, Callum, is the leader, and I’m the enforcer.”
“I need to sit down.” After Quinn motioned to the couch, I flopped down on the cool leather. “My boss is in the mafia.”
A wicked grin flashed on his face. “The only man to ever make you come is in the mafia.”
With that summation, I rose onto shaky legs and started across the floor. “Where are you going?” Quinn demanded.
I motioned to the liquor cart. “I need a drink.”