“I’m leaving.” I stood and flipped Bryan the middle finger, which only made him laugh harder. “You ever think about Uncle Seth?”
“What about him?” Bryan frowned. “The man’s a dick.”
“He’s dad’s brother.”
“Yeah, what’s that got to do with anything?”
“He’s been married five times. Fucks around on all of them,” I told him something he knew.
Uncle Seth didn’t hide his extra-marital affairs, much to my mother’s absolute horror and my father’s anger.
“I’m not trackin’, brother.”
“All our lives, Dad’s told us to be careful with alcohol. He’d drilled it into us that we’re Lancasters—addiction runs in the family. You ever worry that other shit runs in the family, too?”
“Fuck, no. Dad has not and never would cheat on Mom. He loves her. Is that something you worry about?”
Fuck, did I worry I’d turn into cheat? Hell no, I’d never do that to Quinn.
“Forget I said anything, I don’t know what I’m asking.”
“Listen, Brice, Seth and his idiot son, Elijah, are a black stain. But they don’t represent us as a family—”
“Don’t they? Quinn’s family’s tight. They’re a unit—all of them. Sometimes I feel so fucking guilty that Quinn’s stooped so low—”
Bryan surged to his feet, eyes narrowed, arms crossed over his chest, giving me a big brother look that I’d seen a lot over the years. A look that scared the shit out of me when I was ten.
“What the fuck?” he bellowed. “Stooped low? You think that?”
“Fuck, yeah. I’ve got nothing to offer but a bad reputation. One I freely admit I earned and never thought I’d be uncomfortable about. But now, thinking back over all the women I’ve slept with I’m realizing I’m no better than Seth, the only difference is I wasn’t tied to another woman while I was fucking around. But I sure as hell took what was offered, anytime it was offered, and I never thought twice about taking it.”
“Uh, brother, big difference. Huge. And you said it yourself, you were not married or even in a committed relationship when you were playing the field. So by your logic any woman who’s with me is stooping low, because you are not the only Lancaster who enjoys the company of a beautiful woman and enjoys it regularly. I figure one day when I find my Quinn that will end, but until then, I am not married, I am not tied down, and I’m too damn good-looking not to spread the Lancaster charm.”
Ass.
“Told you I had no clue how—”
“Because you’re mixing everything up. Seth has not one thing to do with you. His shit is his. It doesn’t reflect on us as a family. Mom and Dad are good parents, they love each other and us. You need to untangle that, Brice. And what happened between me and Lucy I don’t regret. I learned a lot from her, from loving her. It didn’t last, we were kids, but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking for someone to spend my life with. And your past is that—the past. We all have one. Hell, Quinn has one. Maybe not as…colorful as yours.” Bryan stopped to give me a shit-eating-grin and I’d never admit it but I was happy Quinn’s past didn’t include as many men in her bed as mine did women. “You’re a good man and she knows it. The fact that she even allowed you to enter her bedroom should tell you that. Quinn Walker isn’t the type of woman who lowers her standards for any man. Remember that when you go back to Georgia and beg her to take a chance at something real.”
Fuck me, Bryan was right. I should’ve talked to my brother sooner.
“Thanks for letting me crash at your pad.”
“Anytime. Hope you know that.”
“I do.”
“Call me later and let me know how it goes!” he yelled as I walked to the door.
I closed the sliding glass door, leaving my brother in the hot, humid Florida sun and went to the spare room to grab my bag.
I had two hours to get my head sorted. Two hours to come up with a plan. Two hours to figure out how I was going to explain to Quinn why I’d held myself back. Then I could obliterate the distance she was putting between us.
Quinn Walker was mine.
And I wasn’t letting her go.
13
“Nothing is wrong, Bridgett,” I said into my phone and sighed as I heaved myself out of my car.
I was lying of course, there was something wrong.
Everything was all wrong.
I’d had four days to think about what happened with Brice. Four days of being alone. Four days of missing him.
If I’d thought our conversations before were surface stuff, I was mistaken. Now our texts weren’t superficial, they were almost cursory. It sucked. Brice was pulling away—actually he wasn’t doing anything, he’d simply done it. He hadn’t even told me he was going to visit his brother in person, he sent a text after he was already on the road.
And that killed.
“Um…yeah, there is. I can hear it. Last week you were normal. Actually, better than normal, you sounded happy. Today not so much,” Bridgett returned.
I sucked in a breath, not wanting to have this conversation. My friend was like a bloodhound, she could sniff a problem from a mile away.
I looked both ways, hitched my purse over my shoulder, and clamped it tightly between my arm and body. I was not in the best part of town, but my favorite Thai market was there nestled between a jewelry repair shop and what I thought was a nail place but looked pretty sketchy so I’d never looked too closely. The whole area was rundown and the apartment complex I had the misfortune of parking in front of gave me the willies.
“Listen, I have to hang up and pay attention before I become one of those nitwits in a bad horror movie and get jumped because I’m gabbing on the phone.”
“Where are you?”
“The Thai market.”
“What?” Bridgett shrieked. Yes, the area was that bad. “Why do you insist on going to that place?”
“Because it’s the only place that carries the brand of tea I like. And, hello, the name is Bang Luck Market—coolest name ever.”
“You’re willing to risk dying for Thai iced tea.” This was not a question, it was a statement. Bridgett knew I’d risk just about anything for the creamy, sweet orange-colored tea and Bang Luck was the only place in Georgia I could buy the traditional leaves.
I rolled my eyes at her dramatics. I wasn’t going to die, but there was a possibility I’d get robbed if I didn’t get off the phone and start paying attention. This worked for me because it meant Bridgett couldn’t continue to probe. Though I had a feeling dinner and drinks with her was not going to be fun, she’d commence a cavity search upon my arrival and wouldn’t let up until I told her why I no longer sounded happy.
Shit.
“Gotta run, doll. See you tomorrow.”
“I’m not new, you know.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I know you. I know when you’re trying to hide something. I know when there’s something making you not happy. We’re talking about this tomorrow.”
“Fine, but right now I’m hanging up.”
“You’re insane. Be careful.”
“I will.”
I disconnected and pocketed my phone, making a beeline across the street and into Bang Luck. Seriously, how cool was that name? Normally, I took my time perusing the aisles but I couldn’t concentrate on anything other than Brice and wondering if I’d overreacted.
He hadn’t made me any promises, it was my own stupid fault I’d allowed myself to develop feelings for him, and really, Brice going to my parents’ for dinner wasn’t that big of a deal. He’d been there before for a birthday blowout for my brother. He’d been to my Uncle Clark and Aunt Reagan’s house plenty of times with Jackson for family barbeques. It wasn’t like he was a stranger.
But when he called me his woman, something inside of me snapped. I had to admit—Brice confirming he hadn’t slept with another woman since we’d been together made me feel great. I knew I’d agreed to an op
en relationship, but deep down it gave me pause. No matter what I said, I was not the kind of woman who could do no-strings sex—as evidence proved.
I paid for my tea and checked my phone when it pinged with an incoming text.
Shit on a shingle. Brice was home and wanted to talk.
Damn, damn, and more damn.
My reprieve was over. It was time to face the mess I’d made. Clearly, he was going to tell me our arrangement was officially done. He’d be gentle and let me down easy because that’s what he’d promised. I knew it was for the best, but my heart ached. And I’d have to look for a new apartment. My lease would be up soon, and as soon as it was my ass was out of there.
There was no way I could live next door to him and know I couldn’t have him. The temptation would be too great. I’d want to knock on his door, I’d wait for him to knock on mine.
I tapped out a quick message telling him I’d be home in a few hours and put my phone away. I was not exaggerating to Bridgett about needing to stay aware of my surroundings as I walked back to my car.
I had just beeped the locks when I heard it.
The unmistakable sound of someone grunting in pain. But that wasn’t what had me looking at the alley next to the rundown apartment complex, it was the shouting.
Jesus! Holy shit. I fumbled my keys, dropped them on the dirty pavement. I didn’t want to look back. I didn’t want to witness the violence, but as I bent to pick up my keys I couldn’t stop myself.
Two men beating the holy hell out of a much smaller, older man. And before I could look away—right there out in the open, right fucking there—one of the men pulled out a knife and plunged it in the old man’s throat.
In his throat!
I may’ve screamed. I may’ve whimpered. Hell if I knew exactly what I did, but whatever it was sent the knife-wielding man’s gaze slicing in my direction.
Cold, dead, angry eyes held mine, freezing the blood in my veins.
I scrambled to pick up my keys, which was really goddamned difficult because my hands shook and I couldn’t break the stare. I couldn’t look away. Not from the man holding a knife with blood dripping off the blade.
The man took a step in my direction and finally survival instinct took over. I snatched my keys off the ground, yanked my car door open, hit the locks, started her up, and slammed on the accelerator so hard my car shot forward and my tires squealed.
I didn’t slow down as I approached the stop sign—I blew through it and broke the speed limit as I navigated through the side streets. I only pulled over when I was confident I hadn’t been followed. I was trembling so bad I couldn’t drive any farther.
Without thought or care, I dumped my purse on the passenger seat and found my phone. It took me three tries to unlock it and scroll to the number I needed.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“Dad! Need you,” I panted.
“Where are you?”
I looked around trying to find a street name but my vision blurred as the tears I held back filled my eyes.
“Quinn! Need to know where you are.”
“I…I…don’t know. I was at Bang Luck. Oh my God. Dad!”
I heard my dad start his car and curse a blue streak before he gentled his voice. “Concentrate, what do you see?”
I couldn’t see anything except for a man getting stabbed in the goddamned throat. There was so much blood.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. “There was blood everywhere. It squirted out of his neck. I can’t—”
“Whose blood, baby?”
“I don’t know,” I cried. “I saw. I saw it happen. He saw me, too. I’m so scared I can’t drive. I can’t—”
“Are you somewhere safe?”
“No! He saw me. Nowhere is safe. He saw.”
“Hold on, sweetie. Gonna use my work phone. I need to get a lock on your location. Don’t hang up.”
“Please hurry. Please, Dad. He saw me.”
“Brady.” I heard my dad on his other phone. “Track Quinn’s location now. Send the GPS to my phone….no, she’s not okay…don’t know, call you back.”
“Dad, there’s a check cashing place across the street,” I told him.
“Are your doors locked?”
“Yeah.”
“Got your location. Five minutes out. Hold tight for me.”
Thank God, my dad was coming. He’d know what to do, he always did.
“I’m so scared,” I whined.
“I know you are, Quinn. Be brave, my sweet girl, I’m almost there.”
Five minutes felt like an eternity. And by the time I saw my dad’s truck skid into the parking lot, every muscle in my body ached from strain. I couldn’t stop shaking and I was lightheaded.
I unlocked my door when my dad approached and the next thing I knew I was in his arms.
“Fuck!” he roared as I sagged against his body. “I got you.”
Yeah, he did. My dad always had me. The only man in my life that never let me down. Would always protect me.
14
Three goddamned days of silence.
The last text I got from Quinn, she told me she’d be home in a few hours so we could talk. I waited all fucking night for her to come home and she never did. I knew because I waited in her apartment, uncaring if that made me a crazy stalker. Three more texts and two calls went unanswered.
By the time I went into work the next morning, I was pissed she’d ghosted my ass. Now, after three days of not returning my numerous calls and messages, I was worried. Things may’ve gone to shit after the dinner we’d shared with her parents, but this was not Quinn. She wouldn’t just ignore me.
I debated whether to call Jasper asking if he’d heard from Quinn but I didn’t want her dad to think I was a fucking lunatic. My other option was Jackson, which would cause more issues than her father thinking I was crazy.
Worry gripped my insides as I sat on my rack staring at my phone, willing the damn thing to ping with a message just like I’d been doing every damn minute of free time I’d had over the last three days.
Where the hell are you, Quinn?
“Damn, brother, who pissed in your Wheaties?”
My head snapped up to find Jackson leaning against the door frame, smiling at me.
“Hey, have you heard from Quinn?” I tried to keep my tone nonchalant but I obviously failed when Jackson squinted at me before his smile fell.
“Guess you heard, huh? Totally fucked.”
Ice infused my veins and I stood, straining to keep my body’s reaction to Jackson’s statement in check.
“Heard what?”
“About her witnessing the stabbing.”
“Come again?”
“Wait. What? If you don’t know…” Jackson pushed away from the doorjamb and his worried expression turned hard. “Why the fuck are you asking me about Quinn?”
“Where is she?” I asked, ignoring his question and moving toward the door.
Jackson blocked my exit, squared his shoulders, and tried again. “Why you asking about my cousin, Brice?”
“Just tell me where the hell is she?”
“Motherfucker. You wouldn’t dare—”
“Christ, just tell me where she—”
Pain bloomed in my cheek and I tasted blood. Jackson’s second blow landed in my gut and with a grunt I stumbled back.
Motherfucker.
Jackson came at me again throwing a wide right hook. I easily ducked and shoved him back.
“Enough! I get I deserved that, but—”
“You get it? You’re fucking my goddamned cousin!” Jackson shouted. I was honestly surprised it had taken him as long as it had to puzzle the pieces together. “I don’t think you get shit, man. And really, Quinn? All the available ass and you fuck—”
“Jack, I suggest you’re real careful with what you say next. I get she’s your family, but you’re talking about my woman.”
“Your woman?” he seethed. “The fuck she is. She’s your flavor of the week. And
I cannot understand why you’d disrespect her like that. She’s off-fucking-limits.”
“Three months, Jack. I’ve been with her for three goddamn months.”
Jackson’s lip curled into a snarl. “You’re telling me you’ve been fucking Quinn for three months while you’ve been—”
“There’s no one else. Hasn’t been anyone else since she moved in next door. Now, I understand you’ve got questions and you think you deserve answers. But I’m telling you, I don’t give the first fuck what you think you deserve, this conversation is done.”
“It’s not nearly done.”
“It is for now.”
I strolled past him and stalked through the common area of the station. Not a single person approached though I’m sure they all heard. I found my captain in the open bay, quickly told him I had a personal family matter to take care of and I was cutting out an hour early.
With minimal argument, he agreed.
I jumped into my truck and headed to Jasper and Emily’s. If Quinn wasn’t there, they’d know where to find her. It might not be my smartest play but it was the only one I had.
* * *
Jasper opened the door, took one look at my banged-up face, and shook his head before he stepped out onto the porch.
“Jackson?” I jerked my chin in the affirmative and Jasper twisted his lips and muttered, “Fuck.”
“Is she here?”
“Yeah. How much do you know?”
“Just found out,” I started explaining why I hadn’t been over sooner to see Quinn. “Jack said she witnessed a stabbing, but that was it before he caught on to why I was asking about her.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Respect, Jasper, but I’m sure.”
“My girl’s been dodging your calls. She have a reason to do that?”
I clenched my jaw, not wanting to have this conversation with Jasper before I had a chance to talk to Quinn. But if I wanted into the house I had to go through her dad and there was no doubt—if Jasper didn’t want me to enter, he’d break my legs without blinking.
“She had a reason. But things have changed.” When Jasper’s brow pinched I knew I had to give him more. “We’ve been seeing each other three months—”
Keeping Quinn: The Next Generation Page 10
