Chapter Thirty-One Isla
T wo Weeks Later
I made it five days before I let Quinn touch me again. I found his punishment was torture for not just him, but me as well. In those five days, I received daily flowers and letters professing his undying devotion and his utter repentance.
He’d resorted to letters when I refused to reply to any texts or calls. I wanted to prove my point that while I might’ve forgiven him, I sure as hell had not forgotten. I wanted to instill the fear of God in him to never cross the line again.
As for Caterina, she allowed Callum back in their bedroom after three sleepless nights on the couch. She’d also made him and Quinn babysit Henry while she took me and Brooke for a spa day on Callum’s dime. We had an amazing day of relaxation, and Callum and Quinn seemed to enjoy spending the day with Henry. Callum claimed it was good practice for his impending fatherhood.
Tonight after I’d finished my shift, Quinn and I had gone two rounds in his office before ordering Chinese. We ate naked in his office before going for yet another round. It was late when we finally left to head home.
As we got on the elevator, I let out an enormous yawn. “These late nights are killing me.”
“Maybe you need to take another night off.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I can’t afford that.”
“You need time to study.”
“I know. I’m making it work.”
“I don’t want you to getting run down. You’ll end up sick.”
With a grin, I countered, “I’m pretty sure you’ll change your tune if I start going home after my shift, and you’re not getting laid as much.”
“I’ll just come to your house and climb in bed, so we can have morning sex.”
I laughed. “Leave it to you to find a sexual solution.”
As Quinn and I started out the backdoor to the waiting SUV, Shane ran to meet us. “What’s wrong?” Quinn questioned.
“One of our shipping vessels just exploded as it came into port.”
“Fucking Bravta scum!” Quinn shouted.
“Callum has asked you to meet him at the docks.”
Quinn nodded before turning to me. “Will you be able to get home okay?”
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be fine. You go on and take care of your business.”
“I’ll have Niall walk you to your car.”
“That isn’t necessary.”
As usual, Quinn ignored me. He stuck his head back in the door and shouted for Niall. Once he appeared, he informed him of his duty. “Yes, boss,” Niall replied.
Quinn drew me into his arms. After placing a tender kiss on my lips, his hand slid over my waist to squeeze my ass. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
I nodded. “Be safe, okay?”
“I will.”
After one last kiss, he then hopped into the SUV with Shane and roared away into the night. At what must’ve been the fear etched across my face, Niall patted my back. “It’ll be alright, Ms. Vaughn. The Kavanaughs, with the help of the Neretti’s, are closing in on eliminating the threat. Tonight’s explosion is just a retaliation because of that.”
“I hope so. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Come on. Let’s get you to your car.”
Just as he had been instructed, Niall walked me to my car and insisted on waiting until I was locked inside and cranked up before he walked back inside the building. After checking my phone to see if Brooke had called or texted, I then started to throw the car in reverse.
Gazing in the rearview mirror, I saw a menacing looking man in the backseat. At my scream, he clamped his hand over my mouth. The metal of a gun pressed against my temple. “Don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself. If you scream, I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
At the realization of his Russian accent, a shudder of fear ran through me. I continued trembling so hard I could barely keep my hands on the steering wheel. “Now drive the fucking car.”
I shakily nodded my head. When he was satisfied with my answer, he pulled his hand away from my mouth. Unfortunately, the gun stayed pressed against my temple.
Slowly, I eased out of my spot. I then inched the car through the parking lot to the exit. Because of the late hour, the guard shack was closed. There would be no one to see me being held at gunpoint.
After I checked both ways, I eased the car out onto the street. I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. We’d gone barely half a mile when the gun pressed harder into my skin. “Turn into the carwash parking lot.”
I did as I was told. When we coasted into an empty space, the man pulled the gun away from me. A shaky breath escaped my lips, and I fought to not start sobbing. “Get out of the car.”
Tears stung my eyes as I slid the gear into park. “P-Please don’t k-kill me,” I sobbed.
He smacked the gun against my skull, causing me to cry out in pain. “Stupid bitch, you’re no good to us if you’re dead.”
And then it hit me. This wasn’t some random kidnapping of a dancer. I’d been specifically targeted because I was Quinn’s girlfriend. His fear had come true.
I held my hands up. “Okay, I’ll get out of the car.”
As I opened the door, he kept his gun trained on me. I don’t know why. There was nowhere I could’ve run to that he couldn’t have caught me. The four or five businesses were dark and closed for the night.
Once I stood outside the car, he demanded, “Give me your phone.”
Reluctantly, I reached back inside the car. I would’ve given anything in that moment to have had one of my father’s guns. Dating Quinn had lured me into a false sense of security.
When I handed it to the man, he slammed it to the ground. I shrieked in horror when his large boot stomped it to pieces. With an evil smile, he replied, “Can’t have anyone following us.”
I covered my mouth to keep the screams from escaping. I desperately wanted to pinch myself and find this was all just a horrible nightmare. But I knew I would get no respite if I tried.
He motioned to the backseat. “Get in.”
Just as I started to bend over, he slammed the butt of the gun against the back of head, causing darkness to envelop me.