Chapter 30 Quinn #2
“You.” Onyx regarded me coolly and then smiled.
“You cause disharmony with them. They are my family. One is in love with you, one has always been in love with you, and the other loves you more than his own family sometimes.” Onyx leaned forward as if we were having a casual conversation.
“You will break them. You have broken them, and you will only continue to keep breaking them.”
I stared at him wordlessly. “Ash doesn’t love me, not like that. Gray does. Jett and I have always been family. You can’t twist this into something horrible and sordid. Gray is who I am supposed to be with.”
“You will destroy him.”
“No,” I pushed away from the counter, “I won’t.”
“You’re so sure,” Onyx scoffed.
I nodded as I took a few steps back and turned away from him. Taking a deep breath, I turned back to him. “I am one hundred percent positive.”
“So fucking confident.”
“I am.”
“How can you be so sure?” Onyx asked me with an arched brow.
“Because I lost my baby, his baby, and he didn’t walk away. He didn’t run. He fought his own hell while I fought mine, and it made us stronger. I am stronger with Gray in my life, and he is stronger because of me. He loves me, Onyx. He loves me more than you know.”
“Which is why you must go.”
I blinked rapidly as I shook my head in denial. “Why? Why do you hate me so much?”
“Because when I look at you, I see Sable.”
“Your mom?”
“My dad was never injured, not to the extent he says he was. He was drafted, but he walked away. For her. Because she asked him to. She asked him not to chase his dream and be with her instead, and you’re just like her. Needy, desperate and afraid.”
“Oh my God, that’s your mom,” I said to him in disbelief. “She loves you and does not deserve this disrespect.”
“Her love for me doesn’t change the facts: she made my dad walk away, and Gray will do the same if you ask him.”
“I would never ask him!” I cried in exasperation. “The NFL is all he wants, I know this. It’s all he’s ever wanted.”
“I have scouts interested in Gray. They would have taken him this year, but he got injured. Because of you.”
“He’s a sophomore.”
“I’m aware. It’s not unheard of, for them to take them so young, and Gray is exceptional. He can practically write his ticket now, and you’re already fucking up his future.”
“I didn’t ask him to try to kill himself!” I shouted angrily. Scouts wanted Gray already? He wasn’t even twenty. Sure, teams looked at guys in their third year of college sometimes, but in their second? No. His hand being injured ruined that chance? I ruined that chance?
“Stop being selfish.”
“I will not hold him back.”
“You’re already holding him back!” Onyx growled angrily.
“He’s injured; his head is with you instead of that field.
I already know he wanted to come back here tonight rather than stay with his team.
You are a distraction he doesn’t need, and if you were gone,” Onyx paused to take a calming breath, “he would realize he doesn’t want you. ”
“You’re wrong,” I whispered as I walked the length of the room. “You’re so wrong. He would find me.”
“I will give you enough to disappear, Quinn. Please, for my family, take it.”
My pacing stopped, and I looked over at him. Cold, distant, so like Gray it hurt to see him look at me with such distaste. Thankfully, his eyes were dark and not the same shade as the twins’. I don’t think I could bear it if I saw the same hatred in Gray’s eyes when he looked at me. “No.”
Onyx rolled his head back on his shoulders as he flexed his hands in agitation. “How much?”
“No.”
“Quinn—”
“Onyx! I said no. Gray is a grown man. I can assure you, there is nothing stopping him from his dream of playing in the NFL. He told me the other night, the NFL is a few years of his life.” Placing my hands on the counter, I leaned over it and met Onyx dead on. “I am forever.”
Onyx’s tongue licked over his top teeth in anger at my words. “Idiot.”
“He’s never been an idiot. None of them have. That’s what you forget.”
“I forget nothing.”
“Neither do I.” I met his hateful glare, and I didn’t look away. “You need to go. Thank you for your help tonight, I really do appreciate it.”
“I did it for my brother.”
“I’m well aware,” I replied equally as coldly. “I can still say thanks. Unlike you, I’m a decent human being.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Onyx snarled over his shoulder as he walked away. I heard the front door slam behind him, and I made sure it was locked as I watched his stupid shiny car drive away.
After going back for my water, I climbed the stairs to Gray’s room and then sat awkwardly on the couch. I had never been in here without him. It felt weird. Like I was invading his privacy.
Looking around, I saw his charger and plugged my phone in. After a minute, I was able to turn it on and saw I had messages, all from Gray.
Gray: Has he fixed it?
Gray: Why is no one answering?
Gray: Make sure you have an alibi if you’ve killed him . . .
Gray: Seriously babe, let me know you’re okay. I love you
I hesitated as I read them again. Was Onyx right? Was I holding him back? Breaking them?
I read the message again, I love you. Taking a deep, calming breath, I dialed his number.
“Hey, it’s me.” I relaxed into his pillows as I heard his voice, and I turned onto my side as I breathed the smell of him in. “I’m on your bed.” I gave a light laugh as he asked why. “Because your psycho brother took me to the house so he can lock me in.”
“He’s keeping you safe,” Gray said softly.
Oh, my sweet man, if only you knew.
“Tell me about your night,” I encouraged him. “Does it suck being there and not playing tomorrow?”
As Gray picked up on my aversion to talking anymore about my evening, I listened to him tell me that Coach was pissed off with the three of them. I smiled as he exaggerated Coach Bowers’s temper; he was really a sweet guy.
Knowing I would talk to Gray when they were back about what Onyx had said calmed my fears.
We didn’t need these secrets between us.
Secrets had caused too much damage. As I made up my mind to be honest with him when he came back from the game, I settled back as I listened to his voice.
Hearing his laughter made everything ugly that Onyx had said melt away.
I had endured enough ugliness and darkness; Gray Santo was my light.