Chapter 29
Quinnly
With a yawn and a stretch, my body reminds me of what Lincoln and I did last night and the memories make my whole body shiver. I knew it would be mind blowing when he finally decided to fuck me on his terms, and whew, I’m not disappointed.
Turning my head and finding a box on the nightstand by the bed with a big pink bow, I sit up and rip into the paper.
Inside is a velvet box, deep green and old looking.
When I pull the lid it makes a creaking sound–almost like an old house creaks–and there, between the velvet cushions lies a flashdrive.
At that moment Lincoln walks through the door in gray sweat pants and socks, tossing a silver wrapped goodie onto the bed, along with a water bottle and my laptop.
“It will explain a lot,” he nods to the little green box in my hand and walks back out, shutting the door behind him.
Looking between the drive and my computer I mumble to myself and open it up. Plugging in the flashdrive, I wait for whatever’s on it to load and chug half the water bottle. When the loading screen’s still on the little circle thing, I unwrap the Pop-Tart and enjoy a few bites.
A thumbnail appears and my Pop-Tart falls out of my hand, the water bottle between my legs tips over, and I scoop up the computer to hold it as close to my face as I can.
Clicking on the thumbnail, I wait with clenched teeth until the video pops up and there he is.
Paps is on my computer, as if he were still alive.
His long silver hair is combed back, still sitting wild at his shoulders.
The eyes I inherited from him stare back at me through the screen and he laughs.
I didn’t realize I’d missed the sound so much. I’ve become so used to it not hearing it that it became a lost memory.
“Quinny girl,” he starts and wipes a hand over his mouth like I’ve seen Lincoln do so many times.
With a sigh he continues, “I know there’s a lot I could have done for you that I didn’t, and maybe the things I did do weren’t right either, but I need you to know that you are my favorite person in the world. ”
He doesn’t cry, or get teary, only continues on, “By now, you must have met Lincoln, my protégé. He’s been very good at keeping his distance, and for years you never knew.
Until I realized that you did know, but you’d never managed to catch him.
” That gets a laugh out of him, there’s a slight pause and I can hear my voice in the background.
“Paps!” Past me, hollers.
He winks at the camera and turns, and there on the screen is a younger me. My hair is baby pink and teal, I had a really bad cotton candy phase before the magenta and emerald I have now.
“What are you doing?” I ask, eyeing the camera and giving it a shrug. “Nevermind, I wanted to know where you keep the pliers, I have a need for them in the basement.”
“In the garage,” he says, ushering me out of the room.
With a kiss over my shoulder, I’m gone in search of pliers to use for… well I don’t remember, but something fun I’m sure.
When he sits back down, his shoulders slump and he coughs before looking back at the camera.
“I know you will have a lot of questions, but I’m going to ask that you simply listen until the end.
The entire video, Quinny.” When he pauses, as if to make sure I’m still seated, it brings a small smile to my lips.
He always did that in life too, waited patiently for me to calm down before continuing.
“I’m aware that you’ve known of Lincoln for some time now, but I also know Lincoln to be as loyal as they come.
So, my Quinny, I have a confession to make.
Years ago, I asked Lincoln to keep an eye on you because I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it for as long as you would need me.
I paid him very handsomely to do so actually, because I know how much work you are, even if you don’t. ”
I snort and scrunch my nose up at his face on the screen, “I most certainly am not.”
“However, I recognized before the disease took me too far that Lincoln was growing to love you, and I warned him–very plainly–that you wouldn’t be able to return his affections.” He smiles and continues, “He told me to ‘fuck off’.”
Running my hand down the screen where his cheek is, I watch and listen as he tells me everything.
The first moment he told Lincoln about me.
How Lincoln looked at me the first time he saw me, and how, throughout the thirteen years he kept me safe from the shadows, he watched Lincoln slowly fall in love with me.
“I can’t be there for you anymore, but he can, and he will, even knowing you’ll never be able to love him in return. But Quinny, if you could fall in love with anyone, it should be him. Plus, I know he squirreled away the money I paid him in a trust, and you’re the only trustee.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I continue watching the hour long video of Paps reminiscing about things I’d forgotten.
Like my mother’s ability to make anyone laugh, my father’s quick wit, how my grandmother loved him even at his worst. And when Naomi came into our family, how she and I took to each other despite my inability to connect with others emotionally.
“You’re the best person in the world, Quinny. I’m sorry I had to leave you.” The video stops after that and I don’t move.
My eyes are hot and itchy, and my nose hurts. My throat feels like it’s on fire, and I’m not sure how to move on from his video. The door opens and Lincoln steps in. He doesn’t say anything as he comes to sit beside me.
For a while we simply sit in silence with my half-eaten Pop-Tart between us.
“I understand that–”
Leaning over, I cover his mouth with my hand to stop him. “Did you watch it?”
He nods, but never looks away.
“He made me one too, if you want to watch it,” he offers when I move my hand. Shaking my head, I crawl over into his lap and rest my back against his chest. Snatching my Pop-Tart from the bed, he lets me eat and enjoy his warmth.
When the sugar is all gone, he wraps his arms around me and holds on. Something hot rolls down my cheek and when I wipe it from my face my finger comes away wet.
“Is this what crying feels like?” I ask, tilting my head back to look at him.
He nods, wipes the other cheek, and holds me until my alarm goes off reminding me to get ready to head to the cemetery where Paps, Gran, and my parents, are all locked away in the family crypt.
“Did you finish your Pop-Tart?” His question doesn’t surprise me.
“Yeah, but your mattress stole half my bottle of water.”
He laughs, untangling us so I can get to the bathroom and then change. Once I’m ready, he greets me in the kitchen with a fresh bottle of water and goes to get dressed. It doesn’t take him long, enough time for me to drink half the bottle.
“Carry it,” he says, then eyes the mantel, “and we’re going to have a talk about that when this is over.”
“I commemorated your cock, you don’t like it?” I ask, breezing past him and down the stairs.
“It’s fucking sparkly.”
The graveyard is large, one of the largest in our suburb. Pillars hold up the darkening gray stone, and family names are etched into perfect symmetrical squares. I always liked that our house backed up to the graveyard.
Naomi brought flowers, her tears already mixing in the little rain that’s falling in an almost mist from the sky. I guess the clouds are sad too.
She grips my arm as we walk toward the stone with Paps’s name. But I don’t see him here, don’t feel anything as she places the fresh flowers into the vase fixed to the wall.
“Hey Paps,” she says, talking to the stone. “We miss you.”
Her shoulders start to shake as she cries harder looking over at our parents’ names, until Killian steps in to comfort her. She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes before pulling away and sniffling. “I want to hear all about your travels, okay Q?”
I nod and smile widely, sort of hoping it’ll poke Killian into his less serious face.
Then they’re gone, walking together under a large black umbrella toward the house.
Lincoln rests his hand against Paps’s stone but doesn’t say anything. When he turns, he offers me the same hand. Walking out of the cemetery and getting into the luxury vehicle he hired for us today, I look back one more time.
When we get back, he plucks his plaque from the wall and his perfect dick flops off the careful pins I’d balanced it on for the best viewing angle.
“Ugh, you neanderthal! Now I have to fix it!” Storming across the living room, I snatch the two pieces from his hands and fuss with it for so long I might chuck it out the window instead.
“Where did you even get it?” He asks, crossing his arms and running his tongue across his lip ring.
With a chuckle, I get it placed perfectly once again and turn his way. “I made it, with your dick.”
His brows shoot up his forehead and his head leans forward. “You did what?”
“You remember all those times you drugged me? Well, I thought it’s only fair, right? So I mixed you up a little treat and violá, I made a cast of your cock, and bought various silicones to mold! This one was my favorite.”
“Was this before or after you tattooed your name on my dick?”
“Before, obviously. Germs…”
His shoulders move up and down, as his head hangs.
“You don’t like it?”
“Menace,” he starts, closing his eyes as he picks his head up. “Why would I want a glitter filled, neon pink replica of my cock and balls on my mantel?”
With a shrug I throw up my arms, “I don’t know, maybe it’s a kink. When you get a gift, aren’t you supposed to say thank you?”
“Thank you, Menace, I will forever cherish the gift of my own cock and balls that you have so graciously given me,” he says, dryly.
“See, I knew you’d love it.” Jumping into his arms, I wrap my body around his and look down at him. “We need to get moving on this next body, he moves around a lot, but I’ve got him pinned for now.”
“I–” he starts but I cut him off, still explaining my idea.
“Got someone to do me a favor, so I know where he’ll be–”
“Quinnly,” he stops me with a deep command, putting me down on my feet. “I have a bid, it’s one I can’t ignore.”
“Okay, so meet me there–”
“It’s not like that,” he’s shaking his head and moving to sit on the couch.
My legs start moving, and I turn, pacing the floor in front of him.
“Care to sit?” Patting the furniture beside him, I glare.
“Prefer to stand,” I snap.
He sighs, and leans his elbows on his knees. “It’s a job I accepted a while back, but the two of them flew out to Ireland before I could get them. They’re back now, I have to go after them.”
“But what about the map? Now I’ve got to rework it again,” my palms start to itch, but I leave them alone. If I start scratching I won’t stop until my skin is red and raw.
“Stay here until it’s done, I’ll have Hayley bring anything you need.”
“Who is Hayley?” I ask, stopping my pacing and tapping the floor with my foot. “And I can get whatever I need on my own.”
He chuckles and reaches for my hand, allowing him to pull me down onto the sofa, he says, “Hayley is my assistant, of sorts. She helps me keep tabs on things when you have my attention.”
“Oooooh, that’s her name. Is she fun?”
“She doesn’t play,” he warns, “she’s more of a behind the scenes person.”
“That’s boring.” Crossing my arms I flip back into the cushions. “Why can’t you have a fun assistant?”
“Trust me, Hayley is very good at her job.” He promises.
“I can’t stay here,” I whine, “I have to finish this. It’s like… a hole in my pocket or whatever.”
“I don’t think you understand that metaphor,” he chuckles but turns and looks at me. “I won’t tell you what to do, God knows it wouldn’t make a difference, but I’ll be out of touch, and I’m not sure for how long. These two have been on the run for a long time.”
I nod, understanding the implications of a bid. Especially if it’s been paid.
“I guess we’re both riding solo for a while then, huh?”
Softly, he reaches for me, bringing me on top of his lap to press his lips against mine.
“I’ll always come back to you, Menace.”
“Damn right.”