I pause, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
Did she come on to him? Did Quinn want this guy? Did she go to that hallway to meet him there?
Fuck.
I didn’t ask any of those questions.
And that’s why I was completely blindsided the first time I got fucked over.
“The fuck did you just say? Are you suggesting that our employee, who has been nothing but professional since the daywe hired her, tried to come on to you?” Kian stomps up to the guy, pure rage written on his face.
Kian’s right. Quinn wouldn’t do something like that. I don’t even care how professional she is or isn’t. Quinn isn’t that type of woman.
She isn’t Nicola.
“She didn’t want anything to do with you,” I growl. “The only person she wants is me. And by putting your hands on her, you sealed your own fate.”
The man’s eyes widen as he looks from me to Kian and then back at my brothers.
“I wasn’t going to rape her. It wasn’t like that!” he says, swaying a little.
I can hardly wait to knock this motherfucker on his ass with one punch.
“She told you no. I heard her. That was a clear rejection.” I shout and take a step closer. Kian stands close by, breathing heavily as he shoots a deadly glare at the guy.
“I have Cassian Black on the line,” Caleb says as he walks up and holds out a phone to me.
As soon as I take it, I put the phone on speaker.
“This is Xander.”
“Hello to you, too,” Cassian says. “I love getting called in the middle of the night to wake up and do your research.”
I stare at the poor excuse for a man in front of me. “I’ll make this worth your time. Whatever it costs, it’s worth it to me.”
Cassian snorts, and I can practically see him shaking his head. I need to send him an expensive gift to say thank you for reaching out as much as I have lately.
“Brian Lee Maxwell. Married ten years, has two daughters aged nine and seven. He travels to Vegas twice a year for business conferences in the medical field since he’s a doctor. About seventy thousand in their joint savings account. Mostrecent thing I found on the system is a domestic abuse call logged about six months ago. The report said he strangled his wife in front of the children after she questioned him about his affairs. His wife doesn’t work, which is why I’m assuming she stayed.” Cassian pauses and then sighs. “There’s also a handful of formal complaints from nurses for sexual harassment.”
When my gaze meets Brian Maxwell’s, I raise my eyebrows as any hint of color drains from his face.
“So what you’re telling me is he’s a real standup guy and I’m actually going to do the world a favor by killing him?”
“Yep. Happy killing. I’m feeling like winning five million tonight. Maybe I’ll see you soon.” The call ends before I can respond, as usual. Asshole.
Whatever. He can win however fucking much he wants tonight. I’ll turn a blind eye to it because what he just gave me is incredibly valuable.
Maxwell starts shaking his head as he tries to take a step back, mumbling something as he does. He doesn’t make it very far; one of our men shoves him forward so hard he comes flying my way.
I toss the phone to Kian before Maxwell runs into me, but as soon as he does, I pull back and swing. Hard. Bones crunch. His and mine. My skin splits, and blood trickles down my knuckles. Dropping my head back, I inhale deeply, that Zen feeling hitting me just like I needed.
So fucking good.
Better than any drink.
The only thing that tops this feeling isher.
Before he can hit the floor, one of the guards catches him and rights him, even though I knocked him so hard he can barely stand on his own.
