Chapter 13
Xander
GO FUCK YOURSELF, XANDER SAVAGE
The words come out before I think better of it. Before I think at all. Coming down here was a bad idea. Why didn’t I stay the fuck away?
“Are you seriously asking if I set up some sort of meeting with you so I could take advantage of you? I don’t even know where you live! You keep coming here. I haven’t shown up at your place randomly. It’s all been you, buddy,” she says in total disbelief.
Buddy? That’s cute.
Her gaze narrows on me, but we’re interrupted by her phone ringing. She reaches down and snatches it up from the floor, where she left it when she was sitting next to that monstrosity of a cat.
When she looks at the screen, something that seems a little too much like fear flashes on her face, but she quickly masks it with the anger she’s currently spitting in my direction.
“You,” she jabs me in the chest with her pointer finger, “are an asshole. Go fuck yourself, Xander Savage.”
Then, before I can stop her, she answers her phone with a hurried, “hello,” just as she slams the door in my face and engages the deadbolt immediately.
Yep. I’m a fucking asshole.
I told myself to leave it. To forget her.
I tried to convince myself that her mail ending up in my penthouse was a coincidence.
I’ve sat in her room every night for the last week after she has gone to sleep and watched her.
Instead of drinking, it’s become my ritual.
And fuck, I’ve never felt more at peace than when I’m watching her sleep like the angel she is.
Part of me is convinced she knows I’ve been in her bedroom each night.
Another part of me gets some twisted pleasure in watching her in secret.
Watching over her from a distance. Then, last night, while I was still at work, in my office watching her on the cameras, I had a drink and started convincing myself that this was all a setup.
A way for Quinn to use me for my money, power, or any of the other things women have used me for in the past. One drink turned into two, and then the next thing I knew, I woke up on the couch in a foul mood.
I had to know. I had to ask her in person. Then I stepped off the elevator and heard her begging the electric company. And the only thing I could focus on was making sure she was taken care of.
I’m such an asshole.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I sigh.
I knew.
I fucking knew.
All you have to do is look at Quinn to know she’s genuine. Her smiles might not always be, but she only uses them to hide her own pain. And I just added to it.
Once I’m back in my apartment, I send a text to my brothers.
Xander: I’m not coming in to work today.
Then I head to my built-in bar, grab my favorite bottle of whiskey, and go to my home office, where I sit in front of my computer and watch the open browsers. All of them show different locations. The hallway right outside Quinn’s door. The three bars she works at. The lobby of our building.
Cassian Black might be an irritating asshole, but the man is a genius when it comes to what he calls stalking. I call it survival. Because I might stop breathing if I don’t get to see Quinn Summers on a regular basis. Even if it is just through a computer screen.
After tossing aside the cap, I take a long swig directly from the bottle and lean back in my leather executive chair, waiting.
My temples throb, and I’m pretty sure there’s a blade going right through my skull. Apparently, the ability to sleep anywhere without major repercussions disappears in your twenties. At some point, I passed out with my head on my desk while watching my little sunshine work last night.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I stumble toward the kitchen, still fully dressed, shoes and all.
Thank God Shirley came back from her time off and refilled my pain reliever. Without bothering to care, I take four and gulp down an entire bottle of water with it, then lean my hip against the counter and groan.
What the fuck did I do?
Quinn probably hates me, and any chance of fucking her sweet little pussy is out the window. Hell, she’ll probably never even talk to me again. Not that I blame her. I wouldn’t talk to me, either.
I pick up my phone off the counter and see a bunch of messages from my brothers in our group chat.
Cash: Why the fuck not?
Beckett: What do you have to do that’s better than work?
Cash: If you’re going on a bender, you better be sober enough to show up to the BBQ tomorrow or Jordyn will have your head.
Kian: Jordyn is so Savage
Cash: I know. My baby is a fucking goddess.
Beckett: I know. *Wink emoji*
Cash: Fuck you, Beckett. You’re uninvited to the BBQ.
Kian: *Laughing emoji*
Cash: *Middle finger emoji*
Jesus. These assholes drive me up the wall, but they’re entertaining as hell and somehow always make me smile, even during my darkest times.
Xander: Fuck all of you. I’ll see you tonight.
But first, I’m going to bed until this hangover doesn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out.
My mood and hangover are only marginally better by the time I pull into Cash’s stone driveway. I need a fucking drink. I’d better plan to catch a ride home with one of my brothers, since I’m heading right to the bar.
Jordyn smiles as soon as she sees me. When she steps up and wraps her arms around me for a hug, I freeze. Part of it is because I’m not used to being touched by women anymore… but the other part of it is because it feels wrong to touch a woman who isn’t Quinn. Like I’m cheating on her or something.
Jordyn is my sister-in-law, though. Which makes it okay because we’re family. And it will upset her if I don’t return her affection, especially since we didn’t start off on the right foot.
Slowly, I close my arms around her and shut my eyes.
“I’m really glad you’re here.” She gives me a gentle squeeze before releasing me and taking a step back into Cash’s impatiently waiting embrace. “And the charcuterie board you had delivered is beautiful.”
I grin. “I told her to include pairings that go well with cherry mojitos.”
Jordyn laughs, and it reminds me of Quinn’s when she giggles. Sweet and melodic. I could listen to Quinn laugh every day for the rest of my life, and I’d never get tired of it.
Our dad used to tell us that his only job was to keep our mom happy because, in return, she made everything in his world better.
When I see how my brother looks at Jordyn, it’s obvious he’s taking that seriously.
Even though their fairytale started off with him kidnapping her and placing hidden cameras in her bathroom.
At least I can say I’m not that twisted.
The thought has crossed my mind a few times in the past week, though.
“And you just became my favorite brother-in-law,” she says with a huge smile.
Kian and Beckett stride in, Beckett glaring at me. “What? How did this weasel get promoted to favorite?”
I laugh, and Jordyn rolls her eyes, though they’re sparkling with amusement. She wants to hate Beckett, but just like the rest of us, she can’t help but love him.
“Anyway, I’m glad you guys are here. The steaks are in the fridge and ready to be cooked. The game room is set up.” She grins, moves to one of the tables, and picks up her purse that I hadn’t noticed before. “I’m going out with one of my friends from work.”
Cash’s eyes grow wide as he steps forward, like he’s about to pounce on her. “What? No, the fuck you’re not.”
She raises her eyebrows, though I don’t miss the way she shifts slightly. Jordyn isn’t afraid of Cash, but my brother also isn’t opposed to holding her against her will.
“Daddy, we talked about this. You need guy time with your brothers, and I need to hang out with someone other than you. I love you, but I need time with my girlfriends. Besides, I’m going to Velvet Sins to meet her, so your casino security will be there.
And Caleb is going with me, so I’ll be perfectly safe and sound. ”
My heart pounds at that word. Daddy. Fuck, what I would do to hear it come from Quinn’s lips while she looks up at me with those innocent doe eyes.
“Jordyn Elise Savage, you better not fucking walk out that door,” Cash growls as he follows her toward the long hallway.
I glance at Beckett and Kian, all of us trying not to laugh at the scene unfolding in front of us. We’ve seen it more than once. Our brother, trying to control Jordyn. He’ll end up crumbling, though.
She spins around so fast that Cash nearly crashes into her, but he stops just in time.
They stare at each other for a long moment before she rises onto her tiptoes, whispers something into his ear, and gives him a kiss.
When she pulls away and looks at him again, he gives her a single nod and lets her go.
As soon as the front door closes, everyone but Cash bursts out laughing.
He glares and flips us off as he makes his way out to the patio. “Fuck you all. Grill your own steaks. Assholes.”
I snort and go to the bar, seeking out a bottle of whiskey. Kian joins me, and Beckett heads to the kitchen.
When Cash walks back in, I hand him a glass and then take one to Beckett so we can toast as a family before we take our first drink together. It’s something we used to do with Dad, and it feels good to do it again as the delicate sounds of crystal touching fill the silence.
“I can’t believe you let her go to a bar by herself.” Beckett’s voice is full of disbelief. “I mean, I know Caleb is with her, and he’ll protect her with his life, but still.”
I swallow my drink and glance at Cash. Honestly, I’m surprised, too. There’s no way I’d let my girl go drinking at a bar without me.
“Where did she say she was going to?” I ask, trying to remember what Jordyn had told Cash.
“Velvet Sins,” Cash answers as he looks into the bottom of his glass like it might have the answers he’s hoping for.
I don’t have to pull out the three schedules I have saved in my phone to know that Quinn is working there tonight. One thing I do know about her life is that she works too damn much. And she is making a decent amount of money between all three jobs, so why is she so broke?
Maybe if I weren’t such a dick, I’d be able to get some answers. I’d offer to help her. Maybe even offer to be her Daddy for a night. Fuck her until she’s begging for a rest, then take care of her like the princess she is. At a minimum, I’d like to apologize for being an asshole.
Yeah, right. At this point, she’d probably phone the police if I showed up at her apartment again.
She can’t call the cops on me if I show up to my own casino, though.
“If Jordyn can go to Velvet Sins, then so can we.” I shrug like it’s an idea that’s just popped into my head. It kind of did, but damn, I love it.
Cash stares at me for a second before he nods and pulls out his phone. “I’ll get us a driver.”
“Jesus Christ. You can’t cause a scene in our own casino,” Kian snaps as he sets his glass on the counter.
“I’m not going to cause a scene. We’re four brothers who live in Las Vegas. We can go out to The Strip for some drinks and gambling.” Cash slides his phone into his pocket. “Let’s go. Cole is pulling a car around.”
By the time we walk into the main entrance of Luxe, my buzz is setting in, and my pulse races as we move closer to Velvet Sins. The lighting in the bar is dark, so it’s hard to see inside from a distance, but she’s there.
I feel her.
I swear, I can fucking smell her strawberry perfume.
And fuck me, I hope she can find it in her sweet, beautiful heart to forgive me for being such an asshole.