I feel sotiny in his arms. So small and safe. Xander is wrapped around me like a shield. There’s no doubt in my mind that he would protect me with his life. He’s a dangerous man. To everyone else. Not to me.
Taking a deep breath, I let it out and continue the hardest part of all of this. The part I feel most guilty for. “Once I got his name off the lease, I got a third job so I could afford the bills by myself and save some money so I could refurbish it. But then I got a call from Caring Hearts Recovery Center, saying that my mom was there and was about to be put out on the streets unless I could get her rent up to date. Whatever income she has coming in isn’t enough to cover it. I was told she had been there for about a year, ever since she had a drug-induced stroke that left her unable to take care of herself.
“I almost didn’t go and see her. I considered telling them to fuck off and that her debt isn’t my problem. Guilt ate at me, though, so I went and met with the director, who was an asshole from the beginning. I begged him to let me organize a payment plan and let her stay. So he did, and then recently, he started adding on a late fee of one hundred dollars a day until I’m caughtup. I went there today to try to get him to work something out with me…”
Xander’s fingers tighten again, digging into my flesh like he’s holding on for dear life. It’s slightly painful, but I don’t want him to stop. I need this.Him. And that scares me so much because the last time I felt like I needed a man, he hurt me so fucking bad.
“What happened, Quinn?” he asks through his clenched jaw.
“Nothing actually happened,” I answer, my voice cracking just before a sob breaks free. “He just touched me on the shoulder and implied that he would take sexual favors for payment. I’m just so sick of these assholes thinking they can touch me or act the way they do.”
Tears stream down my face as the dam that’s been keeping most of my emotions at bay this year finally collapses, and I fall apart for what feels like hours. Once I start crying, I can’t stop. Xander holds me like a freaking baby in his arms the entire time, kissing my head every now and then, never once telling me not to cry or to get a grip on myself. He lets me break while he holds all my pieces in the palm of his hands. I’m just not sure he can hold our broken pieces together at the same time.
CHAPTER 27
Xander
IT’S MY HONOR TO BE YOURS
The twinkling lightsof 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 tobe 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.
