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Smart-ass.
Me: Compromise. My sperm plus your egg equals our baby.
Quin: Gross, but whatever.
I’d been at Quattro for forty-five minutes already, going over the upcoming month’s training schedule when I’d texted her. I smiled as I placed the phone down on my desk, thinking about how easy she was to rile up.
Quin’s smart mouth was one of the things which drew me to her in the first place. Her sexy-as-hell body, along with her quick wit and extreme loyalty to her friends, only intensified my interest. Everything about her captivated me, even the secrets she was so desperate to hide behind those expressive eyes. She may believe no one saw through her facade, but I’ve been the master of deception for five long years. I could see her pain clearly through the carefree attitude she presented to the rest of the world. Hopefully, once I’d gained her trust, she’d open up enough to let me help.
Glancing at my watch, I noted the time. Owning a security business wasn’t a nine-to-five job and we certainly didn’t get weekends and holidays off. Hence my presence at the office before dawn on a Saturday morning. I had a class coming in at nine and was waiting for Rico to show up with information on one of the participants.
Keaton Clarke was an FBI agent who’d attended one of my hand-to-hand combat courses last month. He was big, maybe an inch or two shorter than myself, with medium-length jet-black hair. The guy was full of rage and didn’t take well to the fact I’d bested him in front of his peers. He’d spouted off afterward, something about coming back to teach me a lesson, then Rico noticed his name on several upcoming classes.
It happened sometimes. Keaton wasn’t the first who thought he could waltz intoourhouse and take one of us down. But there was a reason why all the big agencies sent their men and women our way to train. We weren’t invincible, but we were damn good at our jobs. If they were smart enough to check their egos at the door, they might actually discover we’re all on the same team.
“Hey.” Rico knocked on the doorframe, not waiting for an invitation to enter before plopping down on the corner of my desk.
“What have you got for me?”
“River and Sophia are great, thanks for asking.”
Sophia, or Fia as she was affectionately known, was River’s twelve-year-old half sister, who we’d rescued a few months back. She’d been sold by their piece-of-shit father in a sex-slavery ring. We’d made it to her before the fucker who bought her could play out any of his sick fantasies, thank God.
“Asshole,” I grumbled under my breath.
“Just keeping it real, Fratello.”
That was the thing about my brothers. Despite the fact I’d filleted myself open, revealing the ghosts which had haunted me for years, they didn’t treat me like some wounded animal. Sure, they’d tiptoed around my surliness far longer than I’d expected, but once I unloaded those demons, there was no holding them back. Which also meant there would be a more thorough conversation regarding my captivity in my future. Something to look forward to.
Not.
“Enough with the pleasantries, Rico. What did you find out about my newest fan?”
“He’s good. Would have graduated top of his class at Quantico had it not been for all the reprimands in his file.”
“Let me guess. Our boy is a shit-stirrer?”
“Got it in one.”
“Background?” I asked.
“Doesn’t have one according to the official records.”
“What the fuck?”
“Before he entered the land of navy blue and yellow jackets, Keaton Clarke didn’t exist.”
“Interesting.” I steepled my hands on the desk, mulling over the short list of reasons why the feds would have someone in their employ without a past.
“You could always call Waverly,” he suggested.
Special Agent Waverly Mitchell was a friend to Quattro, having been the lead investigator in the sex-trafficking case involving River and Fia’s father. She was also the one who’d sent Agent Clarke to our facility. As his superior officer, she’d most likely know the full story.
“Let’s hold off. Watch how this plays out.”
“It’s your funeral.” He shrugged. “Speaking of. Have you talked to Quin?”
Just like that, my heart rate shot up. Funny how the mere mention of her name invoked such a strong physical reaction. This girl, whether I wanted to admit it or not, had me by the short hairs.
