Chapter 38 Quinn
Quinn
Itook a deep breath as I turned away from my father’s house, emotion choking me. I paused, dropped my head back and squeezed my eyes shut. I would not cry until I was home and by myself.
“Quinn.”
For a moment I thought it was in my head. But if it was in my head I would have heard him call me Love.
I opened my eyes, blinked away some tears to see him standing at the end of the driveway, leaning against the passenger side of his truck.
He was in the same navy suit from earlier but he’d lost the jacket.
The bastard rolled his sleeves up to his elbows.
He knew how damn attractive that was, especially with his tattoos. He was blocking my car in.
“What are you doing here, Knight.” I walked toward him, stopping a few feet away. His oak and cedarwood scent almost seemed to be taunting me.
“Don’t call me that,” he grumbled, his muscles tense.
“Why are you here?” I enunciated each word.
“I wanted to check on you.” I closed my eyes, trying to block out the hope that his words sprung in my chest. Stupid hope, it was what had gotten me here in the first place. The hope that Theo was it for me, the hope that I was starting a life with him. “How are you?”
“I just said goodbye to my father before he goes to prison for ten years. I had to sit there and listen to him try and convince me that everyone was wrong, that he wanted to give me that money he just didn’t have enough.
He didn’t even try to apologize for any of it, not for lying to me about his job or for asking me for money for years or for embezzling to an account in my name.
” I hated the way Theo’s eyes softened, it seemed they only did that for me.
“Quinn—”
“No,” I interrupted him. “Let me finish. Because all of that was really shitty, but for the first time in years I don’t feel like I have to be a parent to my own father.
I can go to bed tonight and not worry if he’s going to call me and ask for money or if I have to drive to some shady neighborhood to pay someone off.
I feel like I can breathe. So I guess I have to thank you for that.
” He pushed off his truck, standing up straight but not moving to me.
“Love,” he whispered, but I didn’t react.
“But you made a choice about our lives without me.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I did. My father had a far reach, I had no way to know you would be protected from all this unless I handled it first.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You told me that already. So what were you expecting? Me to fall at your feet and thank you? I’ve spent the last four weeks trying to figure out how to rebuild my life without you because you broke my fucking heart, Theo.”
“I know and I’m so fucking sorry. I’m sorry about your dad and about what I did. I know it doesn’t fix it or make it better, but I will fucking fix us.” He took a step toward me but I held up my hand.
If he touched me right now I might be done for.
“All of that kind of means nothing to me right now. I need time, I need space.” My anger was wrapped up in a bunch of other emotions, and I needed time to try and untangle them.
“You’re familiar with it right, it’s what you asked for.
” I couldn’t help the jab, which landed because he flinched ever so slightly.
A few days might help me sort myself out.
Because although I was pissed at him, I could also recognize why he thought he was doing the right thing.
How if I had to decide between leaving to protect him or staying and putting him at risk, I couldn’t say confidently that I would’ve chosen a different outcome.
“I can respect that.” He nodded as he took a step back. I went to turn but paused and faced him.
“If I decide I can’t forgive you for this, if I walk away for good, would you make the same choices, knowing the outcome?”
“Yes.” His tone was firm. I wasn’t surprised he answered, but I was surprised he told me the truth. “I would. Because I would do anything to ensure you’re safe, including ripping my own heart out to do it. I don’t give a fuck who comes for you, I will stand in their way.
“And it’s not an excuse but your father had stolen from someone rumored to be from the Italian Mafia and my father was threatening to involve them. No one gets to use you and certainly not to get to me.
“You are the most important thing in my life, Quinn. So if I had to do this to make sure that you never get wrapped up in someone else’s shit, I sure as fuck would.”
I nodded as my eyes blurred a little, because I didn’t know what to say to him. And I was pissed off at myself for melting a little at his words, the sincerity behind them. I could tell he was emotional because his British accent thickened.
I only made it a few steps away from him before he called my name. I turned, trying to keep my face neutral.
“Don’t leave.”
“I told you I needed…” He was shaking his head so I stopped.
“No. I mean don’t go to Italy. Stay here. I’ll respect your space and give you as much time as you need to think but don’t leave until we fix this.” I didn’t bother telling him I hadn’t rebooked my flights, I’d lied earlier.
“I’ll stay for now.” I watched him let out a relieved sigh and nodded as I started to climb into my car. But I paused and looked back at him. “But I don’t know if we can fix this.”
I shut the door and he paused for a moment before he got in his own car to let me out. I saw him watching me drive away in my rearview mirror.