When I carry it over to Beckett and shove it into his chest, he looks down at it and sighs. “Are you kidding me? You invite us over for breakfast and then you expectmeto cook?”
I shrug. “I can do it if you want to die of food poisoning later.”
Beckett groans, and Cash laughs just as Kian walks in, wearing freshly pressed slacks and a crisp button-down shirt. I’m sure he’ll head to the office after we’re done here. The guy is a workaholic, but I think it’s his escape. Just like alcohol has been for me. And as of lately, it’s been the ray of beautiful sunshine who is still sound asleep upstairs with her blonde, silky hair fanning out all around her.
It was torture leaving her. Even just to come downstairs.
“Why are we here?” Kian asks from in front of the basic coffeemaker, waiting for it to finish making his cup.
I lean my hip against the counter and eye my brothers. “I’m taking over Luxe, The Obsidian, and The Empire. Cash and Kian, you guys will move to take over The Platinum, The Royal, and The Phoenix.”
The kitchen goes silent as my brothers stare at me like I’ve completely lost my mind. Maybe I have, but honestly, I don’t care. Not even a little. I can’t have Quinn, but I can watch over her. Closely.
“Just like that? You take over our casinos without discussion or votes…?” Kian finally asks, looking at Cash, probably since he’s the CEO of Savage Entertainment.
Cash meets my gaze and stares at me for a long moment, studying. He’s turning it over in his mind. I know how he works.Cash is irrational and an asshole a lot of the time, but he’s also smart, and he can read people like a book. It’s a gift we all have after years of practicing poker with our dad and his friends.
“I approve of the change. Kian, you can pick which ones you want, and I’ll take the other.” Cash doesn’t look away from me as he talks, and when he finishes, he gives me a slight dip of his chin.
Kian and Beckett are going to give me a heap of shit. I already know it. I’m prepared for it. But Cash… he understands. Because he would do the same damn thing if Jordyn were working for us.
“Jesus Christ,” Beckett murmurs, cracking another egg into a pan.
I turn my attention to Kian. He’s watching me closely. A little too closely for my liking, but whatever. They can try to analyze me all they want. I’m fucked up. Twisted. Obsessed. All the things they’re thinking are true.
She needs me, though. A protector. Someone to look after her. Make sure she’s happy, healthy, and safe.
A Daddy.
That’s what she needs.
Finally, Kian lets out a deep breath and nods. “Quinn’s a good girl. She’s genuine.”
My shoulders tense, and I slowly push myself off the edge of the counter. I don’t like hearing another man talk about her like that. Calling her names that only belong to me.
As though he can read right through me, Kian puts up his hands. “Fuck, Xander. Chill the hell out. I don’t mean it like that. I just mean…” He shakes his head and sighs heavily. “She’s not Nicola.”
Just the mention of her name on my sober mind makes me itch for a drink. Quinn is nothing like her. The total opposite of everything Nicola was. And for some fucking reason, I can’t give myself to her. There’s nothing left of me to give.
Swallowing down the bitterness threatening to pull me under, I change the subject. “I have some business that needs some attention. I’ll be using the southwest warehouse and digging in the mountain over the next few days.Multipleissues need to be addressed.”
Kian smiles. “We don’t handle business alone in this family. Count me in. It sounds like fun.”
Beckett laughs and flips some eggs and bacon onto a plate. “I’m in as well. When are we getting started?”
“Later, after I take her to work this evening,” I answer as I start shoveling food into my mouth. “I need to take Quinn home to nap for a few more hours. Roman Cross will meet me at our building today. He’ll be her assigned lead bodyguard from now on.”
Cash takes a sip of his coffee and grins. “She know that yet?”
“Nope.” I smirk, wondering how my good girl is going to react to having me take control of her safety.
My older brother laughs and shakes his head. “Yeah. Good luck with that.”
I don’t need luck. I have big hands and a belt. If my girl wants to try to defy me, I won’t hesitate to spank her ass.
CHAPTER 34
Quinn
