Break in the Storm (WeHo Book 2)

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Too fucking late!” Quinn yelled, dropping the phone. “Hold on!” she had time to yell before the SUV came alongside them and slammed into the side of the car, shoving them off the road onto the wide dirt shoulder. Xandy screamed and Quinn reached out to hold her back since the Charger didn’t have shoulder harnesses yet. The Charger spun once, and came to a stop. Quinn’s head hit the side of the molding, causing a deep gash. She had no time to worry about that.

  Glancing over her shoulder Quinn saw Jason getting out of the SUV. Reaching up under the back of her shirt, she pulled her gun out of its holster, handing it to Xandy.

  “If he gets anywhere near this car, you shoot his ass, do you understand?” Quinn told Xandy who still looked dazed. “Xandy!” Quinn yelled to snap her out of it. “I need you to tell me you understand!”

  Xandy nodded, taking the gun with shaking hands. With that assurance, Quinn was out of the car in a flash, not wanting Jason to have a chance to get near Xandy. Unfortunately, she wasn’t fast enough and Jason’s fist sent her flying back. She surprised him though, by getting back onto her feet quickly. She thanked the gods that be that she’d resisted the urge to wear shorts and sandals that day even though it was hot. Something had stopped her. Fate had once again helped her out.

  “Come fight me, you fucking coward,” Quinn taunted Jason as he moved toward the car and his prize.

  Jason glanced at her, surprised; he hadn’t really expected her to get up, certainly not that quickly. Even so, he dismissed her with a sneer and turned toward the car door. Quinn hit him at a dead run, knocking him to the ground. He shifted quickly to get out from under her; fortunately for her she was more agile than his bulk allowed, so she was able to bring her arm around to elbow him in the face.

  “Fucking dyke bitch!” he screamed as her elbow connected with his nose.

  He brought his hand back through, hitting Quinn in the face. She shifted to the right, trying to miss the blow, but still caught most of it in the face. She spun away from him to keep him from getting his hands on her. That’s when she caught sight of the smoke from the engine of the Charger.

  “Fuck!” she yelled, running over to the car, yanking at the passenger door. “Xandy get out, get Erin out, damned things on fire!”

  Jason tackled her, and Quinn knew she was in trouble. Jason was twice her size, and now on top of her, she had no real hope of fighting his massive weight.

  “Fucking dyke bitch,” he growled, reaching between them to grab her face in his hand. “If you just want a dick, you should go get that operation,” he sneered at her.

  “That’s just it,” Quinn said, surprising him, “I don’t want one!”

  “Yeah, that’s what you all say,” he said, his tone knowing.

  “Well, see,” Quinn said, her tone conversational now, as she relaxed a bit, influencing his actions as well. “If I had a dick, you’d be able to do this” she said, jamming her knee up between his now relaxed legs, catching him sharply in the nuts.

  Jason howled in pain and rolled off of her involuntarily. Quinn jumped up, and turned to check on Xandy. Jason reached out grabbing one of her feet. Spinning, she kicked his arm and got away, but he was up and moving again. He ran straight at her, grabbing her by the throat and backing her up against the Charger, his eyes were blazing in anger now.

  Quinn could feel him squeezing and knew she had to do something quickly before she was unconscious. She lashed out with a booted foot, catching him in the knee, he loosened his grip long enough for her to wrench her neck out of his hands and spin away from him. She turned then, putting her back to where Xandy and Erin now stood. Standing in a fighter’s stance she watched him pace, she could see this wasn’t going the way he wanted it to. Even as she watched him she felt her vision swim a bit. Gritting her teeth, she forced the feeling away, mentally shoving it down.

  Finally he stopped pacing and looked over at her, his look downright evil as he drew out a hunting knife.

  “Fuckin’ Americans, always cheating in a fair fight,” Quinn said snidely.

  “You wanna fuck with me, you dyke bitch?” Jason said, his voice gravelly from exertion.

  “You keep saying that like it’s somehow an insult,” Quinn told him, wryly.

  That brought Jason up short for a minute; he did think it was an insult.

  “You see,” Quinn said, “I am technically a dyke, and the bitch part is always a compliment, so, really you’re paying me a compliment.” She canted her head at him then. “Are you making a pass at me?”

  “Fucking bitch!” Jason yelled, charging at Quinn knife in hand.

  Quinn waited, calculating his movement. As the tip of the knife came toward her, she shocked him by stepping toward him, using all her might to bring her arm down, chopping the small bones in his wrist as hard as she possibly could. She was fairly sure she felt one break as he yelled in pain. She then brought her other arm through punching him in the face, and then jumped back as he tried to take a backward swing at her. What surprised her was that he still had the knife in his hand. The knife extended his reach by about six inches, and he caught her in the shoulder, but she was able to spin away to keep from any major damage from being done.

  Xandy screamed when she saw the knife connect with Quinn’s shoulder. Quinn shook her head, she couldn’t be distracted right then. Jason came at her, trying to grab her throat again. Quinn lowered her head, as he came close she brought it up, hard and fast, catching him in the chin, and once again bringing her knee up to knee him in the balls.

  “Don’t learn too fast, do ya?”

  This time Jason went down, and Quinn was done fighting fair; she kicked him in the head as hard as she could. He was down for that count then. Just then a Cadillac Escalade came skidding to a stop.

  Mackie ran over as Quinn made it back to Xandy.

  “Guess you didn’t need me,” Mackie said, grinning.

  Right about then, Jason stirred and started to get up. Mackie put a foot on him. “I wouldn’t advise that,” he told Jason.

  “Oh my god, are you okay?” Xandy said, reaching for Quinn as she walked over.

  Everything hit Quinn all at once and she dropped to her knees and passed out, causing Xandy to scream. It was the last thing Quinn heard before her vision went black.

  Quinn woke up in the hospital an hour later. An ambulance had been summoned when Quinn couldn’t be awoken at the scene. Xandy had been beside herself after seeing all the blood on the side of Quinn’s head, not to mention her shoulder. The paramedics had attempted to wake Quinn with no success, so they’d taken her to the hospital.

  Opening her eyes, Quinn groaned at the pain in her head.

  “Quinn?” Xandy queried from beside her.

  Quinn turned her head, slowly locating Xandy. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, as usual, I’m perfectly fine and Erin’s fine,” Xandy said, shaking her head. “You on the other hand took the brunt of it again.”

  “That’s her job,” Mackie said as he walked into Quinn’s room, his grin in place.

  “Technically,” Quinn said, wincing slightly, “I was no longer on the job.”

  “Well, I’ll let BJ know he doesn’t need to have your car fixed then,” Mackie replied, pulling his cell phone off his belt.

  “No, no, no,” Quinn said, holding up her hands to forestall his action, “don’t do that…”

  Mackie laughed, putting his phone away.

  “The Charger has already been towed to a shop to have everything fixed, ‘better than new’ was the instructions they were given by BJ,” Mackie said, smiling.

  “Is my engine toast?” Quinn asked, grimacing at the thought.

  “Nope, it was just a rotor or something causing the smoke,” Mackie said.

  Quinn visibly relaxed.

  Xandy shook her head whistling. “So as long as the car’s okay, you’re fine?”

  “No,” Quinn said, narrowing her eyes, “as long as you’re okay, I’m fine, but my car being okay is a nice bonus.�
�� She winked. She looked at Mackie again. “And Jason?”

  “Jason is being booked into county jail as we speak,” Mackie said, grinning. “Joe took him there himself. He’s being charged with attempted murder, attempted vehicular homicide, and thanks to you getting his information yesterday when he was essentially stalking you, we can considered it pre-meditated. He’s going away for a long time.”

  Quinn looked over at Xandy. “That means it’s really over this time.”

  “As long as you stop getting hurt!” Xandy said, shaking her head in exasperation.

  Sarah, Bobby, Elly and Erin walked into the room at that point. Elly ran to Xandy and held her arms out to be picked up.

  “I’m gonna go,” Mackie said, holding up his hands.

  “Thanks man,” Quinn said, nodding to Mackie.

  “Well, ya didn’t need the backup Wonder Woman, but I’m glad you’re okay,” he said with a wink.

  Quinn chuckled, shaking her head, and regretting it a moment later.

  “Kin hurt?” Elly asked, from Xandy’s arms.

  Quinn looked at Elly. “Yeah, just a little bit though.”

  “They said you have a concussion,” Xandy told her, “some nasty bruises and the cut on your shoulder.”

  “I’m always gettin’ bloody around you,” Quinn said, winking at her.

  “Well, if you’d just stay out of trouble…” Xandy replied, rolling her eyes.

  “Ha!” Quinn said, grinning.

  “Kin stop getting hurt,” Elly said, her look quite serious.

  “Yes ma’am,” Quinn answered, equally as serious.

  A month later, there was a party at Xandy and Quinn’s house, celebrating Quinn’s birthday. Devin and Skyler were there, as were a few others that Quinn had known while she was with Valerie. Jerry Castle, a model of notoriety and her current girlfriend, Rachel. No one had gotten Rachel’s last name, so they figured that meant she wouldn’t be around long. There was also Jovina, a local song writer, and a woman she’d called at the last minute to ask about bringing. That had Quinn curious; the Latin beauty went through women fairly quickly, this one must mean something to her.

  The doorbell rang, and Quinn answered it. Jovina, with her jet black hair flowing around her shoulders, and her honey colored eyes sparkling brightly, stood there with a beautiful blond. Quinn had to hand it to Jovina, this one was definitely a hottie.

  “Quinn,” Jovina said, smiling. “Happy birthday!” She leaning up to hug Quinn and kissed her on the lips.

  “Thank you,” Quinn said, her eyes going to the blond.

  “This is Catalina Roché,” Jovina said, putting her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “Cat, this is Quinn Kavanaugh.”

  “The White Knight herself,” Cat said, smiling as she did.

  “Gah!” Quinn said, rolling her eyes. “Never gettin’ past that, am I?”

  Cat laughed a very sexy laugh. “Don’t worry,” she said, winking at Quinn, “I won’t hold it against ya, I’ve made that mistake myself a few times. I just didn’t get caught on YouTube with it.”

  Quinn grinned, she liked this one. “Good,” Quinn said, opening the door wider, “then you can come in.”

  Cat smiled, her sapphire-blue eyes sparkling mischievously. As she walked by, Quinn glanced at Jovina, and gave her a silent ‘Wow!’ Jovina nodded, grinning.

  Inside shots were being poured, and Quinn was quickly pressed to the bar in the kitchen.

  “Okay!” Quinn said, taking a shot and handing it to Jovina, and then one to Cat. Then she took one herself. “What to?”

  “I have one,” Jerry said. “May you live a hundred years,” she said, lifting her glass, and then winking at Quinn, “with one year to repent.”

  Quinn laughed as did everyone else and they drank.

  A little while later, Erin arrived, with a diminutive Asian girl in tow. She made a bee-line for Quinn, leading the girl by the hand.

  “Quinn,” Erin said, smiling up at her, “I want you to meet Kimberly. Kimberly this is Quinn.”

  Quinn extended her hand to Kimberly, who took it shyly.

  “It’s nice to meet you Kimberly,” Quinn said, softening her voice to keep from scaring the girl.

  “You too,” Kimberly said, biting her lip.

  “Go on outside there,” Erin said. “I’ll be out in a minute,” she said, leaning in to kiss the girl softly on the lips.

  Kimberly nodded, looking around her at all the women talking and drinking. She looked overwhelmed, but she made her way to the back door.

  “Cute,” Quinn told Erin, with a smile.

  “Yeah,” Erin said, smiling as well.

  Quinn nodded to the girl, happy to see that she had at least found someone for the time being. The crush she’d had on Quinn had only increased after the accident, and it had taken Xandy putting her foot down and telling Erin she needed to stop mooning after Quinn to make the girl finally move on.

  Sarah and the kids, including Erin, had decided to stay in LA after all. Xandy had sold her parent’s land and given the money to Sarah to buy a house, which she had in a nearby community. Sarah had also gotten a job working for the City of Los Angeles as a secretary and was doing well. Erin and Sarah seemed closer than ever, the accident having cemented Sarah’s commitment to stand by her daughter through this transition in her life. Elly and Bobby still spent as much time with Quinn as possible. Bobby and Quinn were working on a Harley for him; not that he’d be riding it anytime soon, since it was only a frame and a very shot engine, but it was a project. Elly constantly reminded Quinn that she was no longer allowed to get hurt. Quinn consistently promised that she’d do her best.

  In the end, Erin and Kimberly didn’t stay long. Kimberly wasn’t big on crowds, Erin had explained to Xandy and Quinn. Before they left, Erin hugged Quinn, kissing her on the cheek.

  “Happy birthday, CQ,” she said, smiling.

  “CQ?” Xandy queried.

  “Cousin Quinn,” Quinn supplied with a grin.

  “Ohhh…” Xandy said, nodding and smiling.

  “You two have fun,” Quinn told Erin. “Just not too much,” she added with a wink.

  “Uh-huh…” Erin said, grinning, her eyes, so much like Xandy’s, twinkling.

  Later, Quinn was standing with Jovina, Cat and Skyler, they were all out back smoking. Jerry Castle joined them.

  “You smoking again?” Quinn asked Jerry.

  “Yeah, work is shit right now,” Jerry said, but she was looking at Cat oddly.

  “I know you from somewhere,” Jerry said to Cat. “Where are you from?”

  Cat looked back at Jerry, grinning. She knew exactly who Jerry was.

  “I met you at a club in San Diego,” Cat said. “I was dating Kana at the time.”

  “Oh my God yes!” Jerry said, nodding her head. “How is Kana?”

  “She’s good,” Cat said, smiling.

  “I never see Palani these days,” Jerry said. Glancing at Skyler and Quinn she elaborated, “Kana’s wife. Also a model, like me.”

  Quinn and Skyler nodded.

  “Probably because she’s pregnant,” Cat said, grinning.

  “Holy shit, she is?” Jerry asked.

  “Yep,” Cat said, smiling.

  “Wait,” Skyler said, putting out her hand. “Is this Kana Sorbinno, Kana? Like the Attorney General’s bodyguard?”

  “Yes, that one,” Cat said, nodding.

  “And how do you know her?” Quinn asked, trying to figure out the connection.

  “I work for San Diego PD, like Kana did before,” Cat said, “and I dated K for a little bit.”

  “Impressive,” Skyler murmured, and then she looked at Jovina. “And how do you two know each other?”

  “We grew up together,” Jovina said, “in the Castro.”

  There was a round of, “Ohs…” as everyone recognized the gay district in San Francisco.

  “So what are you doing in LA?” Quinn asked.

  “I’m going to be doing some bodyguard wor
k here for a bit,” Cat said.

  Quinn raised an eyebrow, this petite girl was going to do bodyguard work?

  Cat looked back at Quinn, her blue eyes direct and unblinking. Quinn pressed her lips together, nodding. “Who you protecting?”

  “Some executive,” Cat said, “but Mackie claims he wants a bodyguard that doesn’t look like a bodyguard.”

  “Mackie?” Quinn queried.

  “Yeah,” Cat said, grinning, knowing that Quinn worked for Mackie.

  “Well, if you need anything, let me know,” Quinn said, nodding.

  If Cat was working for Mackie, she must have something, because Mackie didn’t employ just anyone.

  Later, as everyone sat around drinking and talking, Quinn walked over to where Xandy stood in the kitchen. She was opening another bottle of wine and surveying the group. She smiled as Quinn walked over to her, Quinn leaned in, kissing her temple softly.

  “This is fun,” Xandy said, smiling softly.

  “Mmmmhmmm,” Quinn murmured.

  “I really like your friends,” Xandy said.

  “I’m glad,” Quinn said, “they’re kind of the family I have here.”

  “Did I hear that the girl your friend Jovina brought is working for Mackie too?”

  “You did,” Quinn nodded.

  ‘Interesting,” Xandy said, looking mystified.

  “Yeah, I can’t fathom it either,” Quinn said, “but Mackie doesn’t mess around, so she’s got something…”

  “Speaking of Mackie,” Xandy said, “I heard from Joe Sinclair yesterday that Jason pleaded guilty and was sentenced to thirty to fifty years.”

  “Good,” Quinn said, nodding. She was glad that Xandy wouldn’t have to go through a trial. “So we’re finally clear there.”

  Xandy nodded. “Yeah, it’s a nice break in the storm.”