by A. E. Neal
"You did this to her."
And for once, Jaysen Beckett was right. Cole had made her a promise: to keep her safe, to love her and always take care of her. But there she was lying motionless on the floor, in a pool of someone else's blood and it was all his fault.
Even though he knew she wasn't dead, he finally realized that if he had never pursued her in the first place, she wouldn't be laying there on the floor of a plane he purposely crashed, just to capture a criminal he'd been chasing for seven long years. He drove her into Beckett's arms with every single word he had ever said and every single mistake he had ever made.
He wasn't worthy of loving Quinn, in fact, no one was worthy of loving her. She deserved the life neither he or Jaysen could give her. Her heart didn't need to keep breaking because of two selfish men.
The sirens on the monitors began to wail and the doctor's rushed to Cole's side just as his eyes rolled back and his heart slowed. Cole held the image of Quinn's face in his mind as he fought to let her go.
Epilogue
It had been three months since Quinn received the devastating news about Cole and she still found herself breaking down every time she closed her eyes. His beautiful, blue eyes stared back at her and his laugh haunted her in her dreams at night.
When Cole died, she felt a part of herself die right along with him. She wanted nothing more than to take her own pain away, but knowing he had done what he did to save her life, made her strive to work through it and go on living, one day at a time.
Quinn was aware that Jaysen's trial was being televised, but she refused to watch because guilt still consumed her. No matter how many times she went over the different scenarios in her mind, everything pointed back to her and the decision she made to help Cole bring him down. It wasn't that she was full of remorse, she just blamed herself for Cole's death since she knew he was only trying to protect her.
The morning of Jaysen's conviction, all of the headlines read, 'Millionaire Jaysen Beckett Found Guilty'. Jaysen would spend eight years in prison for extortion with little possibility of early parole. He was found 'not guilty' for the murder of Trenton Valentine, due to the lack of evidence presented by the prosecutors. Somewhere in the back of Quinn's mind, she hoped the jury was right because she couldn't stand the thought of Jaysen killing her ex-boyfriend even though she knew he was capable of committing such a crime.
Since the FBI assured Quinn that she wouldn't need to be present in court as a witness in Jaysen's case, she'd taken the short window of opportunity before the FBI changed their minds to pack up her life once again and move to Bremerton, Washington.
She used most of the money she had in her savings account to find her father a new nursing facility in Seattle, which had the best Alzheimer's care in the country. After only a few weeks of treatment, Quinn's father, who hadn't recognized her for almost two years, looked up at her with the same blue eyes she'd been born with and told her how proud of her he was. His words brought tears to her eyes and from that day forward, she visited him every Sunday afternoon.
* * *
It was the fifth of May and a few of Quinn's new co-workers were planning to head into Seattle for margaritas and some Cinco de Mayo festivities later that night. And although she just wanted to curl up with a good book and snuggle on the couch with Ziggy, she agreed to go out.
Since living in Bremerton, she had yet to experience Seattle night life and really had no reason to. Her new two bedroom condo overlooked Puget Sound and she'd grown accustomed to watching the ferries go to and from Seattle on a daily basis. Sometimes she missed Denver, but remembered quickly all the painful memories and was glad she was in a new place.
Just as she had curled the last long strand of her dark chestnut hair, her phone pinged, indicating she had a new text. She picked up her phone and smiled when she saw Jessi's message.
El Malecon at 7. You in?
Quinn quickly replied.
Sure. Ferry or you driving?
She hit 'send' and waited for a moment.
Hell no, girl. I plan on getting shitfaced tonight. I deserve it after the week we've had. Taking the ferry and I already have an Uber that'll pick us up. You better come!!
Quinn laughed and typed her reply.
I'll be there. 5:30 ferry?
Her phone pinged again.
5:30 it is! See you there! Don't forget your sombrero!
It was almost five o'clock and Quinn hurried to finish getting ready even though the ferry terminal was only a few minutes from her house. She thumbed through a few dresses in her closet and pulled out a red, sleeveless, knee length cocktail dress she had never worn before.
She pulled the dress over her head, letting it fall around her, hugging her curves in all the right places and grabbed her favorite pair of peep-toe wedges. She added another coat of lip gloss then tossed it into her purse along with a pair of ballet flats, just in case she had a lot of walking to do later in the night.
At five fifteen, she gave Ziggy a chin rub, grabbed her phone and her purse and headed downstairs. Thankfully, the sun was peeking through the puffy white clouds, signaling there wouldn't be any rain to ruin her evening out on the town.
The air was crisp but not cold, nothing like Denver, so there was no need for a coat. Instead, she brought along a thin, black cardigan and slipped it over her shoulders as she headed to the ferry terminal.
Quinn bought her ticket, found a bench that overlooked the bay and waited for Jessi.
"Whoa! Hot mama!" Jessi called as she approached Quinn.
Quinn smiled and did a little curtsy to show her appreciation. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all night."
"I'm serious, you look fucking hot. Maybe that chastity belt will finally come off tonight."
"Doubt it."
"Oh, shut up," she said playfully as she nudged Quinn's elbow.
Jessi's long, curly red hair bounced around her shoulders as she twirled in front of her friend.
"You look amazing as well," Quinn said.
Jessi looked down at her short, black dress and shrugged. "Meh. I've had this thing forever."
Jessi was a one-of-a-kind girl, on the outside, she looked like a fifties pin-up with a ton of tattoos, but on the inside, she was sweet, funny and always said what was on her mind, which Quinn loved about her.
The last of the passengers got off the ferry and the bell sounded, letting them know it was time to board.
"I haven't been out in so long," Quinn said quietly as they took their seats inside the cabin.
"Well, it's about fucking time. I was beginning to think you were old or something," Jessi laughed.
"Twenty-nine is not old!" Quinn scolded, but Jessi just laughed.
"I hope Devin is there tonight. I haven't seen him around in a while. Maybe he finally broke up with what's-her-face," Jessi rambled as she applied more red lipstick.
"Devin's the one with the dark hair and the gauges in his ears, right?"
"Yep," she said, emphasizing the P.
"So, he's not seeing that Cassidy girl anymore?"
"Cassidy! That's her stupid slutty name! And no. I don't think so."
Between the small talk and Jessi mentioning Devin every few minutes, the sixty minute ferry ride to Seattle had gone pretty fast.
The two girls stepped onto the pier and headed for a black SUV that gave Quinn chills as soon as she saw it, stopping her dead in her tracks.
"What's the hold up? This is our Uber. Come on!" Jessi called after Quinn as she bounded towards the SUV.
"Nothing," she lied and pretended to fix her shoe.
Seeing the familiar Uber sticker in the window calmed Quinn's racing heart and as she got into the car, she gave the driver a quick, "Thank you," before closing the door.
"You look a little pale. Are you alright?" Jessi asked.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. Just thought I saw someone I knew, but it was nothing."
"Okay," she replied as she pulled out her red lipstick once again to reapply.
Jessi had become one of Quinn's best friends over the past couple of months, but Jessi had no idea about Quinn's past, nor would she ever tell her. It was one thing Quinn wanted to forget and bringing up the past wasn't exactly the best way to make friends as she had learned previously.
The ride to El Malecon only took about fifteen minutes and by the time they got there, Jessi was already two shots of tequila in. She'd offered Quinn one of the little bottles, but she refused.
"Hey guys! Glad you could make it," one of the perky blondes, who reminded Quinn of Hannah, said.
It didn't take long for Jessi to jump right into the conversation with everyone, leaving Quinn sitting by herself at the end of the long oak table. She ordered herself a margarita and a chicken enchilada and listened quietly as Jessi rambled on about her week from hell. And all the while, Quinn was thinking to herself, you have no idea what a week from hell even looks like, sweetie.
Between shots of tequila and the margaritas Jessi was devouring, Quinn had the urge to get up and leave her friend behind, but she knew the poor girl would never find her way back home without her.
A hour dragged by as Quinn questioned why she had even agreed to go out in the first place and as Jessi handed one of the mariachi singers a twenty dollar bill, she couldn't help but to laugh.
"Hey, why you sitting over here all alone?" Benjamin, one of the IT guys asked.
She gave him a half smile and shrugged. "I don't know. I sorta feel outta place here. I mean, look at how much fun Jess is having," she said as soon as Jessi hopped onto the bar and began singing Senorita.
Benjamin laughed and shook his head. "She's bat shit crazy, you do know that, right?"
He shot her a crooked smile and they both laughed. Quinn didn't know much about Benjamin other than he had to fix her computer twice within the first two days at her new job.
"So, Ben. Do you mind if I call you Ben?" she asked cautiously as she finished her first margarita.
"Sure."
"So, Ben. What do you guys do for fun out here?"
He waved his hand and smiled. "Besides drinking copious amounts of alcohol and listening to really, really bad renditions of Justin Timberlake?"
"Yeah," Quinn laughed.
"Well, there's a place near the market, I like to go on the weekends. It's a little classier than this place, but I know the bartender and he makes a mean Moscow Mule."
"Sounds fun," she replied.
Ben took another drink of his margarita and set it down on the table, then turned to Quinn.
"Wanna get out of here?"
"Oh. I don't think that's a good idea. I really shouldn't leave Jess. She's wasted."
"I've known her since we were eight. She'll be fine. Come on," he said offering his hand to her.
"Are you sure?"
"Just as friends. I swear."
"Let me at least tell her bye, okay?"
"Sure."
Quinn rounded the table and made her way up to the bar where Jessi was singing with another shot of tequila in her hand.
"Hey," Quinn yelled over the music. "I'm gonna go get a drink with Ben."
Jessi stopped singing, drank her shot and hopped off the bar.
"What? Did you say Ben?"
"Yeah. He said there's a place near the market."
"But...it's Ben," she slurred.
"I know who he is. I'm asking you if you're gonna be okay if I leave?"
"Yep!" she shouted and pulled Quinn in for a dramatic hug. "I love you!"
Quinn laughed and gave her friend another squeeze before letting her go. "Love you too."
"Good! Now you two kids go have some fun!" she shouted before she hopped back on the bar.
* * *
After a short taxi ride, they arrived at Pike's Place Market and from there, just a short walk through a back alley, they found themselves outside of a bar called The Tasting Room. Ben held the door open for Quinn as she walked into the crowded wine bar that was playing jazz music as it's patrons sipped on fine wines and cocktails.
"Here," he offered as he led her to a vacant table near the back of the room.
They took their seats and a few minutes later a waiter came by to take their drink order.
"Tell Damien these are for Ben," he added as he place their order.
"Sure thing," the waiter said with a smile.
"Will you excuse me for a moment?" Ben asked as he rose from his seat.
Quinn nodded and followed him with her eyes as he disappeared into a hallway behind their table.
The waiter returned a few moments later with their Moscow Mules and a basket of fresh bread. "Will you be ordering any food this evening?" he asked.
"No thanks, just drinks."
"Of course. Enjoy your drinks."
Quinn sipped on her mule as she eavesdropped on a few conversations taking place around her.
"Well, well," a warm, husky, chocolate coated voice washed over her like honey, causing chills to climb up her spine as if she'd just heard a ghost. "If it isn't LA from 3-A," he said as he came into Quinn's view.
"Cole?" she asked in almost a whisper, then rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
She wasn't. There he stood, all six-foot-three inches of him, messy hair, blue eyes and scruff along his jaw. Quinn's heart raced as butterflies filled her stomach.
"Cole? But how? What the—"
He took Ben's empty seat and pulled the chair close to her side, then reached for her hand. As soon as she felt the familiar warmth of his skin, she knew the man sitting by her side was in fact very real, not a dream, but rather flesh and blood.
He cupped her cheek with his other hand and all at once, she melted against him.
"God, I've missed your face," he said softly as she closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her cheek into his palm. "I've missed you so much."
She opened her tear-filled eyes, blinked once and smiled. "I can't believe you're here."
He picked up her hand and placed it over his scar, which resided just a few inches above his heart. "Not even a bullet could stop me from finding you."
She squeezed her palm over his heart. "They said you were dead. I went to your funeral, but...now, here you are. How is that possible?" She already knew the answer, but she couldn't tear her gaze from his. "The FBI. Of course."
"Yeah," he replied quietly as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "I had a little help from some friends at the FBI, but there's so much more I need to tell you. Can I take you somewhere quieter?"
"Yes. Of course," she replied as she stood up, wiping her cheeks with her palms. She scanned the bar for Ben and when she didn't see him, she took Cole's hand and followed him out outside.
"I'm staying in a hotel nearby—"
"Perfect," she said cutting him off.
Cole held her hand tight as they walked to the hotel, there eyes barely leaving one another as they stole glances in the dim alley light.
A bright, white illuminated sign outside a quaint corner hotel read, Inn at the Market.
As Cole unlocked the door to his room, lifted her into his arms, held her to his chest and kissed her forehead. She lifted her chin to meet his lips and he couldn't hold back any longer. He set her on her feet, kicking the door closed as he snaked his hands over her thighs and under her dress, lifting it over her head.
"I thought we were gonna talk," she said playfully.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk later. I've waited too damn long for this," he said breathlessly as he palmed her breast and kissed her neck.
Quinn's pulse quickened as she began to undo his shirt buttons one at a time, revealing his muscled, scarred chest.
She placed a soft kiss on his scar and he sucked in a breath, then all at once, picked her up, cupping her ass in his warm hands as she wrapped her legs around his waist and felt his hardness against the thin cloth between her legs.
He backed her onto the bed carefully and took his time, tracing her silky smooth skin with his lips from
her neck to her stomach, placing soft kisses along the way.
The sensation built inside her and she arched her back once he reached her inner thigh. With a light tug, he pulled her lace thong down her legs and over her feet, dropping it to the floor. Next, he unhooked her bra, letting her breasts free and her nipples puckered as soon as they were exposed.
Cole worked his way back up her torso and took her nipple in his mouth, sucking lightly as she wriggled beneath him. He sat back on his knees and took in her beautiful naked body before undoing the button on his pants.
"Let me," she offered as he helped her shimmy out of his pants.
Once he stood, she was finally face to face with the body she had dreamed about every night for the past three months. Nothing had changed, he was still as beautiful as she remembered.
With one finger tucked into the waistband of his navy blue boxer briefs, she slipped them over his ever-growing erection, until they too, were on the floor.
In Cole's hand was a foil packet and as he tore it open and pulled the condom out, anticipation built between her thighs.
He lowered himself onto to her, resting his cock against her bare skin, coating himself with her juices.
"I need you," she moaned as her hips rose to meet him.
"I need you too," he whispered as he pressed his lips against hers and slowly entered her.
Cole took his time exploring her as he moved in and out of her slowly, kissing her neck and lips as Quinn's body trembled underneath him.
She met his deep thrusts as she wrapped her legs around his body while they moved together in sync. Not only had Cole taken his time with her, he made sure she was comfortable and after twenty minutes of love-making, all of Quinn's worries and fears melted away with her orgasm.
Her eyelids fluttered and her bottom lip trembled as the waves of pleasure pulsated through out her entire body.