Chapter 39
Goldie
Three hours after the doors had opened, the line was finally starting to dwindle.
Even Dom and Noelle had shown up to support her, which had actually been rather hilarious since Dom seemed equal parts annoyed and confused by Brody’s presence.
As grateful as she was for her success and the support, she was also completely and utterly exhausted.
“We’re almost done.” Zoe flashed her a sympathetic smile. “You’re a fucking rockstar, babe, and you absolutely killed it today.”
“Thanks. And thanks for handling everything for this one. Life has been… a lot.”
Dimples flashing, Zoe widened her smile to a toothy grin. “You can thank me by taking me to dinner and telling me all about it like you promised.”
“Deal.”
Movement by the door caught Goldie’s attention and she instinctively turned, plastering a welcoming smile on her face to cover the exhaustion dragging at her. But the smile froze in place when she saw who it was coming through the door.
“Dad?”
“Hi.” Standing in front of Goldie’s table, Sergeant Quinn glanced around, his gaze roaming over the mostly empty stands on either side of the table, as well as the dozens of people still milling about with copies of Goldie’s latest book tucked in the crooks of their arms like prized possessions.
“I, ah, heard about the signing and figured I’d stop by and see you. ”
Behind her, she sensed both Brody and Zoe moving closer, and never in her life had she been more grateful for their presence. “I’m glad you came by. We’re just about to wrap up.”
“Yeah, I see that.” Shoving his hands into his pockets, her father rocked back on his heels, still looking pretty much anywhere but at Goldie. “Did you… do well?”
“She did fucking fantastic.” Brody’s hand came to rest on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “The owners said it’s the best event they’ve ever hosted and they can’t wait to have her back.”
Well, that was news to her, and judging by the surprise on her father’s face, it wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting to hear.
“That’s good.” His gaze darted up over her shoulder, toward Brody, then back again. “Is there somewhere we can talk in private?”
“Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Brody and Zoe.”
Even with the anxiety crawling up and down her spine, it was actually kind of amusing to watch her father’s face distort with discomfort. But to his credit, he didn’t push back or argue in any way, he simply took a deep breath as if bracing himself for something unpleasant.
“I just wanted to come by and tell you I’m really fucking proud of you.”
Holy shit. There was no way she’d heard him correctly.
Had she?
Another gentle squeeze of her shoulder snapped her out of her shocked stupor. “Ah, thank you, dad. That means a lot to me.”
It would have meant a lot more if you’d said it sooner.
Looking more uncomfortable than she could ever remember, her father rubbed a hand at the back of his neck and cleared his throat.
“I know things have been weird between us lately, but I just want you to know I love you. If I was an asshole, it’s only because I love you and I want you to be safe.
” His gaze flicked upward again. “I, ah, sat down and really looked at your books and they’re…
incredible. You’re really good at what you do.
Like, really fucking good. And I’m sorry I never took your work seriously, the way you deserve. ”
Where the actual hell was this all coming from? There was a very large part of her that wanted to brush off what he was saying, to tell him everything was fine and they were good.
But years of old hurts, of thousands of little cuts slicing away at her self-confidence wouldn’t be healed by pretending they didn’t exist. “You said you were an asshole because you were worried about me getting hurt. But you hurt me, dad. You hurt me every single time you called my work my ‘little hobby’ or rolled your eyes at my success.”
He winced, and she was left with the distinct impression that if a sinkhole had opened up right beside him, he would have jumped straight into it.
“I’m sorry, baby. More sorry than I can ever say.
But I’d really like a chance to make it right.
To be in your life, the way I should have all this time. ”
“Being in my life means accepting Brody too. We’re a package deal.”
“Jesus.” Closing his eyes, her dad scrubbed a hand over his face. “All right. Why don’t you two come over for dinner next weekend?”
“We’d love to,” Brody answered before she had a chance to even look up at him. “Thank you, Sergeant Quinn.”
In yet another shocking move, her father held out a hand toward Brody. “Call me Joe.”
“Thank you, Joe. Just tell us the time and place, and we’ll be there.”
The men shook hands, and she rose to give her father what might have been the most awkward hug of her life. But something inside her felt… brighter, by the time he left.
When he was gone, she turned to face Brody, narrowing her eyes at the slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Did you have something to do with that?”
One ruddy brow rose. “With what?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Brody O’Rourke.”
From the corner of her eye, she watched Zoe lift a hand to cover her mouth, but there was no hiding the glitter of amusement in her eyes.
“Zoe and I should probably start packing things up, menace.” Snagging her half-finished bottle of water from the table, he handed it to her and pointed toward the chair she’d just vacated.
“You sit, we’ll take care of the heavy lifting.
And I expect that bottle to be empty by the time we’re ready to leave. ”
“Bossy bastard,” she mumbled beneath her breath as she snatched the water from his hand. But she paused on her way back to her seat to press a kiss to his stubbled cheek. “Thank you. That may be the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me.”
Heat flashed in his eyes as he lifted a hand to cradle her face. “I love you,” he said simply, leaning in to brush a kiss over her lips. “Now, sit your ass down and drink your water.”
Yes, Daddy.
Brody
He was fucking exhausted and he hadn’t even done half the work Goldie had during her signing. And even though she’d clearly enjoyed herself, he could still see the exhaustion dragging her down as she sat in the passenger seat, staring somewhat dazedly out the window.
Home, a hot meal, and bed. Maybe a bubble bath, with a couple good orgasms thrown in to help her sleep. They’d be passing right by The Hollow Saint, so he could even pop in and get some of that cheesecake she—
Goldie’s shocked gasp interrupted his train of thought. “Holy shit, is that Rowan?”
Every cell in his body went on alert as he whipped his head to the side to follow her line of sight.
Son of a bitch.
Right out in the open, in broad daylight, stood his cousin’s son along with two beefy Russians Brody only vaguely recognized.
Where was the man Killian had put on him? Why hadn’t they been alerted he was heading to the docks?
Killian was going to have someone’s ass for this.
Slowing the car, he guided it into a parking lot across the street from where Rowan was having his showdown. “Stay here.”
“Fuck that, I’m coming with you.”
Goldie was already reaching for her seatbelt, and he’d spent enough time with her to know that if he tried to force her to stay she’d just follow him anyway. And if she didn’t follow him right away, he’d be checking over his shoulder every thirty seconds to ensure she’d stayed put.
“Fine, but you do exactly as you’re told, the second you’re told. Understood?”
“Sure, as long as ‘what I’m told’ doesn’t involve leaving you behind.”
Reaching over, he fisted a hand in her hair, pulling her close enough he could hear the hitch in her breath as she inhaled sharply.
“This isn’t a negotiation, menace. If I can’t trust you’ll follow orders, I’ll be distracted.
And being distracted is how people get killed.
So are you going to be a good girl and listen, or am I taking you home and calling Reagan to come babysit you while I deal with this? ”
“I’ll be good. I promise.”
Sincerity rang out in her tone, and he could see it reflected in her eyes, along with just enough fear for him to be satisfied she’d obey. “Good girl. Follow me, and don’t make a single fucking sound.”
Pinching her fingers together in front of her lips, she mimed zipping them and throwing away an imaginary key, and despite the adrenaline and fury pulsing through his veins he snorted out a laugh at her antics.
Together, they made their way behind the building at the edge of the parking lot where Rowan could now be heard shouting at his Russian comrades.
“What the fuck do you mean it’s not what you asked for? You asked for dirt on Killian, I gave you dirt on Killian! Now give me my goddamn money.”
Fuck. There was no way Rowan wasn’t the mole.
This was going to fucking kill Murphy.
The larger of the two Russians snorted and pulled what looked to be photographs from a folder. “We asked for intel, you spineless weasel. Not porn.”
Wait. Porn?
Snatching the pictures from the Russian’s hand, Rowan waved them in his face. “Killian and his wife are members of a sex club! No self-respecting businessman or politician in this town is going to want to have anything to do with Killian O’Rourke once this goes public!”
Oh, fuck no. If he’d taken pictures of Aria at the club, they were all going to take turns kicking his ass. Giving the Russians “dirt” on Killian was one thing. Involving his wife was completely out of fucking order.
“Did he give them pictures of Aria?” Goldie hissed from beside him, echoing his own thoughts. “I’m going to fucking murder him.”
That’s my girl.
“Half the respectable members of the community are members of one kink club or another.” The smaller of the two comrades sounded bored, which did not bode well for Rowan. A bored criminal was a dangerous criminal.
Great. Their recon mission was now a rescue mission.
Turning to Goldie, Brody pressed a finger to his lips and then pointed at the ground.
Stay here, and stay quiet.
Goldie’s brows pulled together with obvious annoyance, but she nodded.
Trusting she would actually stay where he’d put her, Brody crept forward, his mind racing as he tried to figure out a plan to get him and Rowan out of this situation his dumbass cousin had gotten himself into. Preferably alive and mostly undamaged.
The latter was really just for Murphy’s sake.
“This is bullshit!” Rowan’s voice pitched up in anger, but it only served to make him sound even more like a petulant child than he usually did. “You asked for information on Killian and that’s what I gave you. I want what’s due to me and I want it now.”
“Oh, don’t worry. We have every intention of giving you what’s due.”