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“Every single time you wanted an anonymous session at the club, I made sureIwas the one who Dommed you. Sergio agreed but told me he thought I was being a bit of an asshole by insisting that no one else be allowed to work you over when you wanted anonymity, but I didn’t care.Over time, I got to know what you like and what you don’t like. I got to know every curve of your body, the way you breathe, the way you respond when touched.
“Would I have done things differently knowing what I know now? Probably not, I’m not that kind of man. Truth is, I was going to make you mine eventually, no matter how I went about things.”
Holding my gaze, Quinn picks up her drink and sips it. “Sneaky, but clever,” she says. “I knew who you were from afar, but I’d only heard about you. I honestly had no idea you even did sessions in Bella Notte.”
“No one did. I had a reputation, and it was in everyone’s best interest if I stayed anonymous. Especially yours.”
The waitress comes to our table and slides a burger platter in front of me and the late-night breakfast platter in front of Quinn, then quickly scurries away again.
“And why’s that? Why was it in my best interest not knowing who you were?”
“Because getting closer to you meant I noticed the signs. As soon as I started watching you, I knew you weren’t safe. I started looking around and putting one and one together. Eventually, I got a name and had my staff pull his records. That night at Bella Notte, the night you saw me kill him, that was the night I found the son of a bitch—”
She covers her mouth with her hand but doesn’t speak.
“I killed him because he was a threat to you and I had all the evidence I needed. He’d have faced time in a court of law. But you know as well as I do that we have our own court of law.”
“He was stalking me. You said he was stalking me. I thought it wasyou.I thoughtyouwere stalking me, Adriano, and that you and Sergio only planned our wedding after you’d already decided you wanted me. I thought you manipulated everything… how could Inot?”
I shake my head. “Jesus, Quinn. You know I’m no angel, but that’s way too manipulative. And, if I’m honest, convoluted. I’mwaytoo straightforward and intelligent to think up and actually do something that stupid. I take what I want when I want it.” I point to her plate. “Eat, baby.”
“I’m only eating because I’m starving, not because you’re telling me to,” she mutters, but it pleases me when she downs a piece of bacon and half a slice of toast slathered in butter and jam in seconds. After swallowing her toast, she gives me a curious look. “So whyme?”
“Whyyou?” I shake my head and buy time by shoving a fry in my mouth. I don’t taste it. I want this rift between us to be healed.
I want her back, but I struggle to put words together.
I inhale deeply and reach for her hands across the table. “You arebeautiful. Why do you think I made a rule at the club that no man was allowed anywhere near you? You give yourself too freely to people who don’t deserve it, and I didn’t want any of them anywhere near you. You only deserve the time and attention of someone who has your best interest in mind.”
“Well,” she says tentatively. “That’s… nice.”
Quinn doesn’t believe she’s worthy. If she did, she wouldn’t feel the need to leave when relationships got complicated. She wouldn’t need to start all over again, time after time after time, because she’d know she deserved to belong.
“You’re adventurous and fun. You don’t take anything too seriously. You’re gorgeous and quirky and funny. You’re full of life and enthusiasm.”
“Okay, now you’re just flattering me,” she says, but the little smile she’s trying to hide tells me she’s pleased.
“The hell I am. You don’t know what a prize you are, Quinn. You’re also loyal and passionate and generous. But if there is one thing I want—no, I need—you to hear from me, from my heart, right now, it’s this: Do you remember when you told me I couldn’t fall in love with you?” I swallow, weirdly emotional; I don’t get like this,ever. “I should’ve listened to you, because once I got close to you, falling in love with you wasinevitable.”
“Fuck,” she says, pulling her hands away to wipe at tears on her cheeks. “It’s a lot easier when you’re Mr. Tough Guy. You go all sweet on me and I’m done for.”
I grunt and lean back in my seat. “Good.”
We eat in silence, and the food is no Rossi banquet, but it does the job. Quinn places her fork down with a satisfied sigh.
“I gave you the reasons why anyone would love you,” I begin. “But I still haven’t told you whyRenowas after you. It took us a while to find the connection, and I didn’t even know it the night I killed him. All I knew then was that you were his target, and he was planning—nah, fuck that, I’m not even gonna tell you what that fucker was planning.”
Quinn winces.
“He was a newly inducted member of the cartel Sergio bumped heads with over Eden. Their East Coast operations were decimated by Sergio and his crew, but not entirely. Sergio and his men took them down because of their involvement with Eden’s abuse in the cult. But of course, they wanted revenge. Unfortunately for them, Sergio, Eden, and Starla are untouchable. Trying to hurt them would bring about the kind of war that would completely annihilate an already-compromised group, so that’s why they sent Reno after you, then sent the last guy who showed up at your mother’s facility after I took Reno out.”
“Oh,fuck.Yeah, that makes sense, I guess. I’m friends with Eden. They wanted revenge but couldn’t afford to start a war. So, kill her best friend who is a complete nobody without security or protection. Whoa.”
“Yeah. Whoa,” I reply, stifling a chuckle. “Sergio didn’t want me to tell you because he didn’t trust you not to tell Eden. But I think both of you should’ve known.”
The waitress comes by with a dessert menu. I take it from her. “Anything chocolate,” I tell her.
“On it.”
