Chapter 27
Xander
IT’S MY HONOR TO BE YOURS
The twinkling lights of the Las Vegas Strip give the illusion that this is a beautiful place.
And in so many ways, it is. There’s something so special about this city that, even after living here all my life, it’s still the only place I want to be.
Unfortunately, there’s a dark side, too.
You don’t have to travel very far from The Strip to find it.
It isn’t all money and glamor. And the fact that my girl had to grow up that way, around drugs and men and people who didn’t treat her like the precious gift that she is.
.. It makes me want to tear this city apart until everyone who ever hurt my girl atones for their sins.
She fell asleep in my arms, crying, and I haven’t moved since. I’ll sit here all night because this is more healing for me than any alcoholic drink in this world.
Eventually, Cash appears, dressed in a pair of pajama pants. I glare at him. He’s lucky Quinn’s asleep. She doesn’t need to be seeing all of that. The only man’s body she gets to look at from now on is mine.
He holds up a throw blanket and then drapes it gently over both of us.
“Jordyn said to stay in the east wing guestroom tonight,” he suggests quietly, studying me like I’m a puzzle he’s trying to figure out.
When he doesn’t say whatever seems to be brewing, I nod and wait until he disappears into the house before I slowly rise, keeping Quinn secure in my arms. She snakes an arm around my neck and shifts slightly.
“Xander,” she whispers it as a statement, but there’s a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“Yeah, baby. It’s me. Relax. I’m taking you to bed.”
Instead of arguing or asking questions, she lets out a sleepy sigh and slides her free hand deeper into my shirt. Every fucked-up voice in my head goes silent, and all I can focus on is her. Quinn makes me feel whole in a way I don’t think I felt even before Nicola.
As much as I’d rather have her in my bed tonight, I don’t even want to bring her into my apartment. That space is tainted by my ex, and Quinn is too damn good to breathe the filthy air that still lingers from that evil woman.
I take Cash up on his offer and carry her up to one of their enormous guestrooms. Each has its own ensuite bathroom and built-in bar loaded with just about every kind of snack imaginable.
As soon as I lower her onto the bed and release her from my arms, she lets out a small whine that makes my dick throb.
Fuck, I want to hear that while she’s on her knees, sucking on my cock.
One day.
Tonight, she needs something different.
She needs softness.
She needs Daddy.
“You’re okay, sunshine. I’m just grabbing a few things, but I’m not leaving you.” Ever.
How can I?
After what she told me?
Her parents didn’t protect her.
Her mom chose drugs over her.
Quinn was so smart and strong, doing what she had to just to protect herself from creeps. To survive. And I swear to fucking God, when I find the drug dealer who was going to rape her, I’m going to tear him apart with my own hands. I can hardly wait.
Jason is the next on my list. I can’t wait to look him in the eye while I put a knife through his chest. That fucking bastard is going to pay for how he treated Quinn.
My sunshine.
Taking a deep breath, I go to the bar and eye the unopened bottle of whiskey, then scan the rest of the offerings.
I grab a package of gummy bears, smiling at the small gold package that brings back so many memories of playing poker with my dad.
Then I spot some chocolate squares with a soft caramel center and take a handful of those.
Before I go back to her, I get her a bottle of water from the mini fridge.
She’s curled up under the blanket when I set everything down, but when I lean down to look at her in the dim light, her eyes are open, her long lashes fluttering slightly.
“Hi,” she whispers, slipping her hand from the covering to slide her pink-painted fingernails through my beard.
I stare at her, blinking slowly.
There are so many words swirling in my mind right now.
Questions.
Feelings.
Demands.
Fears.
Quinn has been through hell.
Pure fucking hell.
This sweet, beautiful, spirited woman deserves so much more than anything I can offer her.
I’d carve my heart out and hand it to her on a platter right now, but she deserves a whole heart. Not one that’s mangled and shattered into pieces. Quinn deserves the world. Because she is the whole damn sun.
“Hi, baby girl.” I can’t give her what she deserves, but I also can’t walk away. I don’t have that kind of strength. And fuck me, when she looks up at me like this, with her wide, sparkling eyes, like I’m her entire universe, I’d do anything for her. Absolutely anything.
“I’m sorry I cried. You didn’t deserve to have all of that dropped on your shoulders.”
She moves to sit up, but as soon as she does, I perch on the edge of the bed, frowning.
“Don’t ever apologize to me for crying in my arms, sunshine. It’s a fucking privilege to hold you like that.” I reach out and brush my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “Everyone needs a safe space. It’s my honor to be yours.”