Chapter Seventeen Quinn
W hen I exited the torture room shortly before dawn, adrenaline continued pumping through me. Even after I showered and changed, I knew I couldn’t sleep. Every inch of my skin buzzed and hummed. So, I made a strong cup of coffee and then took it upstairs to the rooftop terrace.
As I stared out at the city coming awake, I knew somewhere a broken and bloody Dowe was being given over to his family. Like I had foretold, he had begged for death, but I hadn’t given it to him. He’d been repentant to the last moment he could speak before he passed out from the pain.
The small sliver of humanity left within me went easier on him in the end. But whatever humanity I showed evaporated when I moved to Terrance. Like the truly black soul he was, he cursed and demeaned me until the very end. I didn’t care about his words against me. It was him calling Isla a dirty whore and useless slut that enraged the monster within me.
A noise behind me startled me from my thoughts. I whirled around to see Callum striding towards me wearing nothing but a pair of black briefs.
“Morning,” he grumbled.
“What are you doing up?”
He wrinkled his nose. “Caterina spent most of the night puking from the wain.”
“I thought that was supposed to happen in the morning?”
Callum’s mouth widened in a yawn. “I thought the same thing. But according to the experts in the mountain of fucking prenatal books Caterina’s been forcing me to read, it can happen any time of day.” With a shudder, he replied, “Sometimes all day.”
I snorted. “Has she discovered your weakness yet?”
“I’m working overtime to keep it from her.”
No one who had watched Callum maim and torture until he was covered in blood and guts would imagine he had a serious aversion to hearing someone vomit. I couldn’t imagine how he was handling poor Caterina throwing up.
Turning away from the sunrise, Callum eyed me curiously. “You spent the night torturing, didn’t you?”
“Aye,” I murmured around the mouth of my coffee mug.
“I didn’t know we had anyone on the block.”
“We didn’t. It came up last night.”
After I drew in a ragged breath, I informed Callum of everything that had happened at the club. When I got to the part about gutting Terrance Manning, he smashed his coffee mug onto the tiled floor. “Fucking hell, Quinn. What were you thinking?”
“He hurt Isla.”
“I heard that, and I understand protecting our dancers. But Terrance is connected throughout the city.”
“And most of those connections hate his fecking guts.”
“True. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t going to blow back a lot of heat on us. Word is going to get out that he had an altercation in your club shortly before he disappeared.”
“Don’t act like I didn’t think this through.”
“You didn’t. You thought with your dick.”
“Fuck you. It’s not like that.”
“I know it’s not.” When I cocked my brows at him, Callum sighed. “Caterina told me about the soup.”
“Why am I not surprised,” I grumbled.
“But it wasn’t the first time I heard it.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “Dare is no better than a woman when it comes to gossiping.”
Callum chuckled. “Aye, that’s true.” The amusement slid from his face. “Regardless of your feelings for this dancer, you took your possessiveness too far.”
“Excuse me? You killed a man for laying a hand on Caterina at Bandia .”
“She was my wife , and he was a fucking nobody rapist not a rich, connected man.” Callum angrily shook his head. “We can’t afford this right now.”
“Once again, give me some fucking credit, not to mention our IT team.”
Callum’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I opened the internet to the Boston Globe’s website. I then handed the phone to Callum.
After his eyes scanned the headline, he jerked his head up. “They’re seriously publishing this?”
“Aye. I called in a favor.”
Callum’s gaze dropped back to the phone. “Millionaire businessman, Terrance Manning, murdered among unearthed secrets of trafficking and drugs,” he read aloud. “How the hell did you get them to write this? Terrance’s family could sue them for liable.”
“Only if it wasn’t true.”
Callum’s jaw unhinged. “This shite is true?”
“Much like us, his empire was built on shady dealings.”
“I’ll be damned.”
My lips curved in a smirk. “When you’re ready to apologize, I’m listening.”
Callum barked out a laugh. “Bastard.”
“What are you guys doing?”
We turned to see Caterina approaching. Dark circles spread under her eyes, but she had a warm smile on her lips. Callum tucked her to his side. “You should be in bed, Kitten.”
“I’m starving.”
His brows popped wide. “Seriously?”
She grinned. “Yes, seriously. I wanted some pancakes.”
“I’ll wake Lorna.”
“You’ll do no such thing. I’m perfectly capable of making some pancakes.”
“Fine then. I’ll help you,” Callum said.
“Fanny-whipped,” I teased under my breath to which Callum scowled at me.
“Quinn, would you like some pancakes, too?” Caterina asked.
“No thank you. I need to go check on Isla.”
Caterina’s brows creased with worry. “What happened?”
After I related last night’s events, tears filled Caterina’s eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. I’ll tell her you were thinking of her.”
“I’d love to bring her a meal and come for a visit.”
I smiled at Caterina. “I’m sure she would like that, too.”
After she extricated herself from Callum, Caterina came to hug me. Her touch was one of the few that I welcomed and not just tolerated. Her voice came close to my ear. “She likes you, Quinn.”
Warmth spread through my chest. “And I like her. A lot.”
She pulled back to stare into my eyes. “I told her you did. Now go and take care of her as well as you have me.”
“I promise.”
When Caterina bestowed a kiss on my cheek, Callum grunted. A chuckle rumbled through me at his possessiveness. “Easy, mate. She’s not putting the moves on me.”
Like the ridiculous caveman he was, Callum wrapped his arm around Caterina’s waist. “I know that.”
“Then ease up before you piss on her leg.”
As Caterina giggled, Callum shot me a death glare. “Fuck you.”
“I’m off to Southborough.”
When I reached the door of the terrace, I remembered not receiving my apology. Turning back, I said, “Over breakfast, maybe Callum can acquaint you with his little aversion to vomit.”
As Callum’s face turned the shade of an eggplant, I burst out laughing, and I didn’t stop until I got into the car.
When I reached Isla’s house, I parked behind the security van. Even though I’d neutralized the threat to Isla’s immediate safety, there were still measures I wanted to undertake. I’d kept a bodyguard at her house after she returned from the hospital. I’d also called out our clan security company to come put a system in her house.
After I exited my car, Fergus, the bodyguard, strolled up to meet me. “Morning, boss.”
“Morning. Everything went okay last night?” I’d received the news when Isla had arrived home from the ER around midnight. Fergus had also texted me when Isla had Mabry sneak out around six am.
“All quiet. The sister left about twenty minutes ago. I put a tracker on her car last night. It appears she’s at the gym.”
“Good call. And thank you.”
“No problem.”
“You can head on since I have Shane with me.”
Fergus nodded and then headed back to his car. I turned to surmise the modest, but well-kept two-story house that Isla called home. As I made my way up the front walk, I imagined she had a good childhood growing up here. It was a nice neighborhood that appeared safe.
At the sight of the ancient doorbell, I rolled my eyes. “Jaysus,” I muttered under my breath. Not even a doorbell camera to make sure Jack the fucking Ripper wasn’t at her door. In this day and age, could Isla really be so na?ve? As intelligent as she was, it couldn’t be an aversion to technology.
“Who is it?” she called from behind the mahogany door.
“It’s Quinn.”
Silence echoed after my statement. I shifted on my feet. Maybe I should’ve called first. After everything that transpired last night, maybe her feelings had changed in the light of day. To see me would be a reminder of what had happened.
Finally, I heard the snapping of locks. At least she had the presence of mind to keep things locked up tight.
When the door swung open, my heart dropped into my stomach. While I’d feared extensive bruises on her face and neck, nothing could’ve prepared me for what I saw.
In Isla’s arms she held a dark-haired, dark-eyed baby boy. At the sight of me, his mouth stretched into a gummy grin.
Fuck me.
Isla was a mother?
None of my intel had unearthed a baby. Was his father around? Had she been hiding another man from me? The fragile strands of my sanity snapped at the thought of losing her before she was even truly mine.
After shifting the baby to her hip, Isla smiled warmly at me. “Hi, Quinn.”
Without even a hello, I demanded, “Is he yours?”
Isla’s cheeks flushed. “No, no. He’s my sister’s, remember?”
“You never told me about him.”
“Yes, I did. At my audition.” A sheepish look came over her face. “One of the many times my mouth got away from me.”
Relief flooded me. Not that I cared if she had a kid. While they weren’t on my top list of priorities, I didn’t rule out becoming a father one day.
No, my relief came from the fact there wasn’t another man.
Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered something about her sister being a teen mother. I wasn’t surprised I had forgotten since that night was such a mind fuck. “Your sister is at the gym,” I said.
Isla’s brows furrowed. “Wait, how did you know that?”
“I had eyes on the house all night.”
“You did?”
With a nod, I replied, “Since I couldn’t be here with you, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I appreciate it.”
As I surveyed the baby in her arms, it unnerved me. I liked the way she looked. I liked the idea of her being a mother. But only if it were my child in her arms. “You look like his mother,” I remarked.
Isla’s face lit up. “You think so?”
“He looks like you.”
“He looks like his mother, and we do favor.” When the baby kicked his legs and babbled, Isla eyed him adoringly. “Some days he feels like mine. It’s hard imagining that I could love one of my own children more.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I know I will. You know, when the time comes. I’m certainly not ready to start a family now. I’ve got to finish grad school.”
Furrowing her brows, she rattled on, “That doesn’t mean if it happened, I wouldn’t be thrilled since I’ve always wanted kids.” With a laugh, she said, “Considering I got an IUD when Brooke got pregnant, it would have to be a miracle for that to happen. Especially since I’m not having sex at the moment.”
As soon as the words left her lips, she clamped her free hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
My lips quirked at her rambling. “You’re nervous.”
“A little,” she whispered.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“After everything we’ve been through, you’re still nervous?” When she bobbed her head, I remarked, “You weren’t nervous the night you cleaned me up.”
“It was the adrenaline coupled with my ridiculous empath side.”
“What about last night?”
Her eyes shuttered in pain. “I-I was too scared to feel any other emotion.”
A bitter feeling entered my chest. “Is it because of the way I look?” I cleared my throat. “Like my appearance scares you?”
Isla’s expression softened. “Of course not.” At what must’ve been my continued disbelief, Isla reached out to touch my arm.
My scarred arm.
Normally, I would’ve slung away from anyone who dared to touch me. But for whatever reason, I didn’t mind when Isla touched me. In fact, I was growing to like it.
Rubbing my arm, Isla said, “Like I said before, you and your scars don’t scare me, Quinn. They never have, and they never will.”
“Obviously there’s something about me that makes you uncomfortable.”
Peering up at me, she replied, “I would be lying if I said your behavior last night didn’t scare me a little.”
“I’d like to tell you I’m sorry for that, but I’m not.” When I took a step forward, Isla didn’t back away. “I’ll make anyone pay who dares to hurt you.”
“I know,” she whispered.
Tilting my head at her, I asked, “If you know I won’t hurt you, then why the fuck do you get nervous around me?”
“Because you’re…” She shivered. “Consuming.”
“Are you afraid I’m going to consume you?”
Isla’s pulse quickened on her neck as her chest heaved. She slowly shook her head. “I’m afraid you won’t.”
Fucking hell.
Closing the gap between us, my hand cupped her chin. I ran my thumb over her bottom lip. “There’s nothing in the whole world I want more than to devour you.”
Desire flared in Isla’s sapphire eyes. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, which caused me to groan. “I’m glad,” she replied breathlessly.
When I dipped my head to bring my lips to hers, Henry squealed. Isla blinked and then shook her head like she was waking up from a dream. At my frustrated grunt, Henry giggled while Isla’s cheeks reddened. “I don’t think he wants to share my attention,” she mused.
I smiled. “I don’t blame him. Look, I don’t mean to keep you from caring for him. I just wanted to come by and make sure you’re okay.”
She blinked at me. “You came all the way here to check on me?”
“Aye. I did.”
Eyeing me curiously, Isla asked, “Do you do that for all your dancers?”
With a hard shake of my head, I replied, “Of course I fucking don’t.” At her surprise, I grunted. “I’m sorry. I just thought after last night you understood the depth of my feelings for you.”
A tremble ran through her. “I’m starting to comprehend they run deeper than just the physical side.”
“I couldn’t sleep until I saw your face.”
“You didn’t sleep last night?”
“I had matters to take care of.”
Although I could see the questions in Isla’s eyes, she remained uncharacteristically quiet. “It didn’t matter that I’d received your full medical report. I needed to see you for myself.”
Her brows popped. “Excuse me? That’s against HIPAA.”
“Fuck that. I needed to know you were okay.”
“You could’ve called me,” she huffed.
“You needed your rest.”
She threw up her hands. “You’re infuriating, you know that?”
“I’ve been told that. But it doesn’t change me wanting to protect you.” After crossing my arms over my chest, I said, “I know how you’re doing physically. Now tell me how you’re doing emotionally.”
Isla shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
When she nibbled on her bottom lip, I shot her a hard look, which caused her to sigh. “Fine. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
“From the pain?”
“Not exactly.” She rubbed her arms as she shivered. “Every time I closed my eyes, he was all I could see.”
My hand reached out to cup her cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
When my gaze dipped to her neck, I realized she was wearing a turtleneck. I’d been so distracted by the baby, I’d forgotten to check on her physically. My hands came to ease the fabric down. At the sight of the purple and blue bruising along her skin, a low growl erupted from my chest.
The noise caused Henry’s brows to crease before he burst into tears. “Oh, it’s all right, sweet boy,” Isla crooned as she rubbed wide circles across his back. Meeting my gaze, she grinned. “Big Bad Mr. Quinn wasn’t growling at you.”
Sweeping my hands to my hips, I demanded, “Seriously?”
With a giggle, she replied, “Sorry. I couldn’t help teasing you.”
I blinked at her. The only people in my life who remotely teased me were my brothers. And Caterina. No one else had the balls big enough to do it. “People who dare to tease me usually get punished.”
Isla’s throat bobbed as she swallowed. “They do?”
“For you, I would find a more pleasurable form of torture.”
At her whimper, I inwardly groaned. What the fuck was wrong with me trying to seduce Isla in broad daylight, not to mention while she held her nephew? Deep down, I knew it was because she drove me crazy. Any morality I had in me went out the window when I was with her.
After clearing her throat, Isla said, “Where are my manners? I should’ve invited you in.”
“I’m not a gentleman, so you probably shouldn’t.”
At the insinuation in my words, heat filled Isla’s cheeks. “The least I can do is offer you a cup of coffee.” When I continued staring at her, Isla cocked her head at me. “Maybe a glass of water to cool you off?”
A laugh burst from my lips, surprising both of us along with Henry. His tear-stained cheeks widened in a smile. “I think a glass of water would be grand.”
Isla held the door open. “Then come in.”
When she started to walk down the hallway, I remembered that I hadn’t come alone. “Hold on.”
She turned with a curious expression. “What’s wrong?”
I jerked my thumb to the driveway. “I need to let the men in to work on the security system.”
Her brows shot up. “Excuse me?”
“I’m having a security system installed in your house.”
Isla’s mouth gaped open. “But I?—”
I shook my head. “Don’t tell me you don’t need one. Two women and a baby need one.”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
Her gaze shifted to the floor. “You should understand it’s not in the cards right now. You know, financially.”
“I don’t give a fuck about your finances.”
Isla jerked her gaze up to mine. “Quinn, don’t curse in front of the baby,” she admonished.
With a roll of my eyes, I countered, “Like he knows what I’m saying.”
Her blue eyes narrowed at me. “I mean it.”
“Fine. I don’t care about your finances. This is on me.”
She shook her head wildly back and forth. “I can’t let you do that.”
“You don’t let me do anything—I just do it.”
Her perfectly plump lips opened and closed like a fish out of water. “You are a….a….”
“What, Isla?”
“A beast!”
My lips quirked. “Am I?”
“You stomp into my life, bossing me around and not taking no for an answer.” She jabbed a finger at me. “I’ve managed to take care of myself for twenty-three years, not to mention taking care of my sister and Henry all by myself the last two.”
“I don’t give a shite if you find my behavior overbearing. It was under my watch that you were assaulted. I will not apologize for wanting to ensure your safety, nor will I not do everything within my power to keep you safe.”
Her blue eyes stared intently into mine. “You will.”
“Aye, I will.”
With an exasperated sigh, she said, “Fine. I’m too tired to fight you.”
“It’s best if you saved your energy since you weren’t going to win.”
“Beast!” Isla shouted, which caused her to wince and bring her hand to her neck.
One of the security team cleared his throat. “We’re about to install the panel by the front door. I thought you might want to clear the personal items in the vicinity.”
“Uh, right.” Isla glanced from me to Henry and then back to me. “Here. Take him.” She then thrust Henry at me.
As I stared into the baby’s questioning face, I argued, “Isla, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Don’t worry. He’s usually good with strangers.”
“It’s not that,” I gritted out.
The corners of Isla’s lips quirked. “Don’t tell me you’ve never held a baby before?”
“Of course, I have,” I snapped. When she cocked her head at me, I sighed. “Fine. It’s been like sixteen years with my kid brother.”
“Caterina told me you’re going to be an uncle in seven months. You should start practicing for your niece with Henry.”
Defeated, I merely rolled my eyes. “Fine.”
Isla didn’t give me another moment to prepare before shoving Henry into my arms. She then whirled away before I could protest. Henry’s wide eyes tracked Isla down the hallway.
Once she was out of sight, he turned his gaze back to me. His chin trembled, causing me to groan. “Come on, kid. Do us both a favor and don’t lose it on me.” My words only caused his lips to quiver, and his eyes to water. At the rising panic I felt, I tried patting his back as reassuringly as I could. “I promise Auntie Isla will be right back.”
With his expression continuing to crumble, I started bouncing him in my arms. I reached into my memory for a lullaby from my childhood. As I envisioned my mam sitting in the antique rocking chair with Eamon in her arms, I began humming Toora Loora Loora .
Henry blinked at me in surprise. The intensity of his gaze penetrated my soul. Thankfully, he appeared to enjoy the lullaby because his sniffles dried up. After I shifted him higher on my chest, he stretched his arm out to the intricate tattoos on my neck. His tiny fingers scratched along my skin as he traced the ink. When he reached my scars, I sucked in a breath while waiting for him to jerk away.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he babbled something before patting his hand along my gnarled skin. I exhaled a breath of relief. Although I would never voice it, I’d worried about what a child of my own might think of my scars. Would it frighten them? Would they question how I’d gotten them? Worst of all, would my appearance embarrass them around their friends?
At the sound of a gun cocking, I didn’t stop to process what was happening or how I should react with a child in my arms. Instead, my free hand went to my jacket pocket and snatched out my gun. When I whirled around, I came face to face with a slightly taller, angrier version of Isla.
“Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing with my baby?” she demanded.