CHAPTER TWO
– QUINN –
The door of the apartment I share with Aubrielle swings open, and she instantly asks, “Do we have a solution yet?”
I give my best friend a sad smile. “Nothing yet, Bri.”
“Dammit. Maybe we could check with administration, a scholarship, a loan, rob a bank?” Bri growls in frustration and plunks onto the couch next to me. “Your father is an asshole.”
Releasing a deep sigh, I have no other option but to agree. “Yes.” My voice carries a truckload of defeat.
Bri throws her arm around me and leans her head against my shoulder.
After a few minutes I start to unload my frustrations.
“I can’t believe he’s doing this. First, he demands I move out of the house, telling me it’s better if I go my own way.
Now he demands that I quit my education and refuses to cover the tuition.
Which I know he doesn’t pay, it’s my brother who works to get those funds.
Then my own father says...and I quote...
a woman’s place is at her husband’s side to support him by bearing children and cleaning the house. No man wants a smart woman.”
I’m still seething inside from his crazy outburst over the phone earlier.
“Do you have any clue why he’d have a change of heart? Money problems maybe?” Bri asks.
I pull my shoulders up because I have no freaking clue. “At least I still have two months left to figure it out.”
“We have two months left. You’re not alone, Quinn. We might be able to score a side job to bring in some serious cash.” I know Bri is telling me this in an effort to cheer me up.
Though, I know it’s impossible. “Have you seen me? I’m not the type men pay top dollar for to bang for an hour or two. I’m not some bombshell who can pull off the whole high-class call girl stuff. Hell, I can’t even dance if my life depended on it, so stripping is out of the question as well.”
Bri chuckles. “I was thinking more in the lines of using those fingers of yours along with your brain to program some shit or whatever you do on that laptop. Funny how your mind jumped straight into the gutter to earn money.”
We stare at each other for a few heartbeats before breaking out in laughter. My mind must still be roaming around in the gutter because I instantly think about Fiero Reaux. This private college carries his name because he owns the business.
Seeing him hurt the man who first blocked his limousine, and then apparently wouldn’t take no for an answer when Fiero dismissed him. The guy put his hand on him and Fiero moved extremely quickly, grabbing the knife hidden in his belt and lashing out with it.
My father is a former MMA champion. He owns a gym and organizes fights.
He’s taught Micah, my brother, how to fight.
My father never taught me or treated me the same way he treats Micah.
Maybe it’s because I’m not a boy or have never shown interest in training and fighting.
At least my brother treats me differently and he did teach me the basics, which he said could come in handy if I needed to defend myself.
It’s probably why I always observe how people move, it says a lot about a person.
The smoothness and expertise Fiero used shows he’s well trained.
When he pressed the small knife to the other man’s throat I caught a glimpse of tattoos underneath the sleeve of his suit jacket.
The way he spoke to me, his calculating words and gaze? He’s a predator.
“Are you downloading a plan into your brain to hit execute or something?” Bri questions, and I realize she’s staring at me while I was having a silent conversation with myself.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I was just thinking things through.”
“That’s what I said.” Bri chuckles and then releases a deep sigh.
“Like you said, we still have two months to figure it out. I might be able to ask my brother to help out with a loan or something. You’re smart and talented, Quinn.
You have one year left and then you’ll have a bachelor's degree that guarantees a great job. It will allow you to pay the money back in no time at all. I’m gonna ask around and we’ll find a solution. ”
I bob my head and yet I don’t feel as confident with hoping for things to fall in place as she does.
Bri always sees the good while I focus on everything that might go wrong.
In my situation? I don’t see any options unless I can create a miracle.
I have been working on an app I could try to sell, but it’s nowhere near finished.
The scent of food fills my nose and I notice the bag she placed on the table in front of us.
“You brought takeout?” I try to sound cheerful, but Bri knows me too well.
She softly bumps my shoulder. “I thought we could use a little comfort food after the message you sent me. You love the little Italian place on the corner near the cinema, and I was walking past it on my way home.”
I get to my feet. “If you grab the drinks, I’ll get the napkins and plates.”
“Deal.” Bri smiles and for now we push my problem to the background of our minds.
Later that day it comes back to haunt me when I’m lying in my bed.
My father didn’t give me a valid reason why he suddenly doesn’t want to wire the money for the tuition fee.
Well, other than the weird statement about me being a woman and needing to get married instead of focusing on a career.
It’s strange because Micah normally deals with the tuition fee.
I reach for my phone and shoot a message to my brother.
After I hit send I realize it’s the middle of the night and place my phone on the bedside table.
Micah is an early riser, a fighter and a trainer like my father, who lives on a tight schedule.
I’m sure he will get back to me after he’s read my message.
A few more hours are spent staring at the ceiling before I drag my tired ass out of bed. I head into the bathroom to handle my business and eventually wander into the kitchen to make some coffee. Grabbing my laptop, I fully intend to study, but instead I find myself digging through the internet.
Sadly, there’s not much information about Fiero, other than a few news articles about him being a successful businessman. There are no photographs of him with a woman by his side. No details about his private life, although I did read he’s considered a prized bachelor due to his wealth.
I’m on my third cup of coffee when Bri wanders into the kitchen.
“Studying?” she asks with a groggy voice.
Thankfully, I’d switched from researching Fiero to studying when I grabbed my second cup of coffee. I bob my head and get a smile in return as she reaches for a mug to fill it to the brim.
When Bri takes a seat across from me, she states, “I’ll be home late today.”
The corner of my mouth twitches. “You’re going to the library to study with Tate. Mr. Popular needs his study buddy to keep his grades up. Please keep your pants on, the guy has a reputation so be sure to stay in a public place and avoid dark corners at all costs.”
Bri rolls her eyes. “He’s not too bad. Tate is dedicated when he’s alone.”
My attention is on the laptop in front of me when I remark, “Tate is never alone. Moxen and Holden are always with him.”
“Rumor is, the three of them also like to have sex with one girl.” Bri’s statement makes me drag my eyes off the screen to collide with her green ones.
I’m about to ask so many questions, but I’m prevented from popping them out when my phone starts to ring.
I check the screen. “My father.”
“Answer it,” Bri says. “Let’s hope the man has come to his senses.”
I doubt it.
With a tired voice I answer the phone. “Hey, Dad.”
“You have to come home.” His tone of voice instantly puts me on edge.
“What’s wrong?” I ask and realize it’s after nine and my brother would normally have been up already. “Everything okay with Micah?”
“No,” my father croaks. “You need to come home and then I’ll explain everything.”
Closing my laptop, I already know there’s only one option. “I’m on my way.”
I end the call and get to my feet. Bri is right behind me when I walk into my bedroom to pack a bag.
“What’s going on?” she questions.
“I have no clue; other than the fact something is wrong with my brother. I’ll let you know as soon as I get there.”
“If there’s anything I can do...” Bri doesn’t need to finish her sentence.
We hug for a brief moment and then I hurry to get dressed so I can leave. Twenty minutes later I’m out the door and heading for my father’s house. He lives above the gym along with my brother. I used to live there too until I left for college and moved in with Bri.
My nerves are shot and my mind has run over many different, tragic scenarios when I finally arrive at the gym.
Strangely enough, the place looks closed and when I try the door it’s indeed locked.
I pound my fist on the door and a few minutes later my father walks through the gym to open the door for me.
“Why is the gym closed?” I ask as I step inside and do a doubletake when I notice the disheveled state of my father.
He looks as if he aged twenty years since I saw him last month. And when he opens his mouth, I know the world as I know it won’t ever be the same again.