Chapter Fifteen Quinn
A s I rubbed my temples, my mind was filled with a mixture of Isla and the latest Bravta attack. This time it came through sabotaging a shipment of guns. Callum and I had spent most of the day trying to smooth things over with those who were expecting deliveries. While Callum worked at reassuring them that their order would be fulfilled, I took the hard ass routine with those whose job it had been to keep the shipments safe.
I rolled my neck, trying to relieve the tension. In the back of my mind, I knew there was only one way I was going to relax. Like the dirty dog I was, I opened my laptop back up.
As I searched the private rooms on the computer for Isla, I worked my already stiff cock over my pants.
But her reflection on the screen caused the world around me to shudder to a stop. She wasn’t doing her usual dance. She lay on her back as a man began to straddle her.
Red rage seeped across my vision.
No one was to touch her.
Ever.
Since I didn’t know if I could get to her in time, I hit the alarm on the private rooms. Then I sprinted from my desk and out of my office.
I didn’t bother with the elevator. I pounded down the stairs and into the main room. The snarling rage emanating from me bled into the room, sending people scattering from my path.
Ignoring Conleth calling my name, I kept running. When I started down the packed hallway, people scurried away like rats on a sinking ship. The blaring alarm had sent them into the area.
When I rushed inside the room, Shane was dragging the man off of Isla. He flung him to the floor, shoving his boot against the man’s throat while training his gun on his crotch. I instantly recognized him as Terrance Manning–one of the wealthiest men in the city.
My wild gaze spun to the couch where Isla’s crumpled body lay on the leather. Two dancers started towards her before I blared, “Don’t touch her!”
They immediately froze. Although I wanted to immediately get my hands on Terrance, I sprinted over to Isla. Without a thought to what was right or wrong, I gathered her into my arms.
“Isla?”
Her limp body flailed in my arms. She didn’t appear to be breathing. “No, oh God, no!”
I leaned my cheek over her mouth. At that moment, her body jolted as she wheezed in a loud breath. “That’s right. Breathe, Little Dove,” I urged.
Isla’s eyelids fluttered as breath began gasping in and out of her. I didn’t bother asking if anyone had called 911. We couldn’t take the heat. At the very least, we would get Isla to hospital on our own. But I prayed it wouldn’t come to that.
With her breathing sufficiently, I drew her to my chest. “Oh, Isla, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” I crooned.
Instead of giving comfort, my movements only brought her pain because she cried out. It was bittersweet since it meant she was still with us, but at the same time, I didn’t want to hurt her.
Slowly, I eased her back to stare into her beautiful face. I swallowed down the tears rising in my throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have moved you.”
Her glassy eyes stared into mine. “Like this.”
“You want me to hold you like this?” At the slight shake of her head, I asked, “You like being in my arms?”
Since it was obviously too painful to speak, she murmured. “Mm, hmm.”
“I like you being in my arms.” At her frown of disbelief, I shook my head. “There’s no one I want to touch me but you, Isla. Only you.”
When a single tear slid from her eye, the monster roared within me. He wanted free to punish those who had hurt Isla. Even though I kept him corralled when I was in the club, I’d been pushed too far not to release him.
Without taking my eyes off Isla, I blared, “Clear the fucking room!”
After everyone had rushed out, I stared at the head bouncer, Gareth. “Who the fuck was assigned to this room?”
“Dowe, sir,” Gareth replied.
“Where the hell is he?”
“We’re not sure.”
“Find him,” I bit out.
Gareth nodded before rushing out of the room. I then turned my wrath on Terrance. “Who the fuck do you think you are coming into my club and hurting my dancers?”
At his garbled speech, Shane eased his foot back to allow him to speak. “Let me up right this instant, you mick bastard. Don’t you know who I am?”
“I know exactly who you are–you’re a piece of shit who assaults innocent women and expects his money and reputation to buy him out of situations.” A cruel smile curved on my lips. “Poor men and rich men bleed the very same color.”
His eyes bulged. “You lay one fucking finger on me, and I’ll take you and your brothers for everything you’re worth.”
Clenching my jaw, I gritted out, “Not if you’re dead.”
While a string of curses spilled from his mouth, I jerked my chin at Shane. He once again pressed his foot on his throat, silencing Terrance’s bullshit.
At that moment, Gareth reappeared with Dowe. “I’ll be right back,” I told Isla before I eased her out of my arms as gently as I possibly could. When I shot to my feet, Dowe began backing slowly up.
His cowardly action infuriated me. Grabbing him by the neck, I raised him up off his feet before slamming him up against the wall with one of my hands. “Where the fuck were you?”
“Had. to take.leak.”
Tightening my hands, I snarled, “What’s the fucking protocol?”
“Find. someone. Cover,” he choked.
“Once you took your piss, did you come straight back?” At the shake of his head, I spit in his crimson-splotched face. “You’re done.”
“Please. No,”
I stared menacingly into his face. “The only reason I won’t put you in the ground is because your father has been a loyal clan member all his life.” When Dowe started to look relieved, I shook my head. “Trust me when I say that when I’m done with you, you’ll wish I’d killed you.”
His dark eyes widened in fear. “Please.”
“That’s right. You’ll beg for death, but it’s not coming for you. As for this job and your place in this clan, you’re fucking done.”
Shoving away from him, I jabbed my finger at Gareth. “Get him the hell out of here. Chain him up in the basement until I get there.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dowe had the audacity to weep as he was dragged from the room. My attention once again reverted to Terrance. “Shane, take this piece of shit as well.”
Despite the gun on him, Terrance began thrashing on the floor beneath him. “You can’t do this!” he shouted.
I flashed him a shark-like grin. “Looks like I am.”
When he continued shouting and fighting against Shane, I pulled the gun from my jacket. As I strode up to him, he continued mouthing off. Turning the gun in my hand, I then smacked the base against his temple, knocking him out.
Before he could crumple to the floor, Shane threw him over his shoulder like he was a sack of potatoes. Once Dowe and Terrance were gone, I went back over to the couch and knelt in front of Isla.
“It’s time to get you to the ER to get checked out.”
“No hospitals,” she whispered.
“You have to have a doctor clear you.”
“I’m fine.”
“This isn’t up for debate, Isla. You were attacked. You were—” I ducked my head as I was unable to say the words. What if we hadn’t gotten to her soon enough? What if Terrance ripped her from me? I shuddered at the thought.
Staring up at her, I said, “At the very least your thyroid could be damaged, and at the worst, some of the blood vessels in your neck could’ve torn and clotted, which could cause a stroke.”
Her blue eyes popped wide at the mention of a stroke. “Okay, fine.”
“Is there someone we can call to meet you at the ER?”
“You aren’t taking me?”
“I can’t.”
She clutched the front of my shirt. “But I want you.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
At the trembling of her bottom lip, pain ricocheted through my chest. “Please.”
Tenderly, I cupped her cheek. “Little Dove, I would if I could. But I’m not bullshitting you when I say I can’t. It’s for your safety. If I show up at the hospital with you–even at one of the ones that cater to our clan–word will get out that you belong to me. My enemies could use that information against me by hurting you.”
“Oh,” she murmured.
“So who can go with you?”
“I don’t want to get my sister out this time of night.” When I started to protest, an agonized look came over her face. “I’m all she has. I can’t worry her.”
Reluctantly, I nodded. I knew the best person to handle the situation with Isla was Caterina. Although she would be honored to help, Callum would have my arse for getting his pregnant wife out of bed after midnight.
Then another idea came to me. “Get Mabry in here. Now.”
She must’ve been close by because she quickly appeared in the doorway. I waved her over with a flick of my wrist. As she made her way across the room, she wrung her hands at the sight of Isla.
“Yes, Mr. Kavanaugh?” she questioned.
When I pulled myself off the floor, she cowered back slightly. “I want you to take Ms. Vaughn to the ER. Two of my bodyguards will accompany you.”
“I’d be happy to go with her.”
“Once she is cleared, is it possible for you to go home with her?”
While Mabry opened her mouth, Isla said, “Not necessary.”
“I won’t allow you to be alone.”
Isla blinked at me. “Allow?”
“It’s not up for discussion.” Although there was no issue with me being at her house, I had torture to dole out before I could go to her. Ending Terrance Manning ensured Isla’s future safety, and that was the most important thing.
After throwing me a cautious look, Mabry dropped down beside Isla. Taking Isla’s hand in hers, she squeezed it tight. “I want to help in any way I can.”
Isla swiped the tears from her cheeks. “If my sister sees you, she’ll be suspicious.”
“You can just tell her I’m your drunk coworker who needed a place to stay for the night,” Mabry suggested.
Isla hiccuped a laugh, which caused her to wince. When she recovered, she asked, “Couldn’t you have thought of a better excuse?”
With a grin, Mabry replied, “Let me take the fall this time.”
“Okay. Just this once.”
I jerked my thumb at Mabry. “All right. You can get out of here now.”
“Quinn,” Isla admonished.
“What?”
“You’re being a beast.”
Mabry’s wide eyes stared between the two of us. I’m sure she was wondering if Isla had a death wish for talking to me like she was, or that I had lost my edge for letting Isla chide me for my behavior.
With a grunt, I said, “My apologies. There’s a waiting SUV. Can you please go and get in, Mabry?”
“Um, sure. I mean, yes, sir.” She gave Isla a quick smile. “I’ll be waiting.”
“Thank you.”
Once we were alone, I stared down at Isla. “I’m so fucking selfish.”
Her brows creased. “Don’t say that. You’re one of the kindest men I know.”
“I’m selfish at the moment because I’m stalling taking you out to the car.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want you out of my sight.”
A shy smile curved on her lips. “I don’t want out of your sight either.”
At that moment, the realization hit me. Tonight had changed everything between us. There was no going back and no more denying the depth of my feelings for her.
I wanted this woman with every fiber of my being. I wanted to own her mind, body, and soul. I wanted to fill her with my cum and see my child growing within her. I wanted to wake up in the mornings with her wrapped in my arms.
I wanted a future with her that I’d never allowed myself to entertain since the bombing.
I wasn’t going to let Isla go.