by K. Sterling
“I can see why you’d want to get drunk and unload,” he said and she relaxed. “I don’t know why Kitty Gaites hates me though,” he said as he looked back toward the house and Jenna winced.
“She was supposed to be hired by the Whittacombes but they changed their minds and hired you. She’s been looking for a way to get you in trouble, apparently,” she said and Quinn shrugged.
“I’ll figure something out,” he said as he started walking and she followed.
“I’m so sorry, Quinn. I’m still really pissed off at you but I wouldn’t do something like this,” she said and he nodded.
“That’s fair,” he said as he pushed his hands into his pockets. They were quiet for a while. Quinn wasn’t sure what to say. He was still reeling from everything that happened at the Whittacombes’.
“You said your brother’s in trouble and that man’s helping you,” she said timidly and Quinn pushed out a hard breath.
“I should have told you but it’s not something I’m really proud of,” he said and she stopped him and gave his arm a squeeze.
“I know what I said last night but I know you. Whatever it is with your brother, I won’t judge you and I’ll listen,” she promised and Quinn groaned as he felt like an even bigger asshole.
“If it makes this any better, I always knew you were way too good for me,” he said and her lips pulled tight and she shook her head.
“Don’t say that. You’re not allowed to say things like that yet,” she said then offered him a weak smile. “But you can tell me about your brother,” she added sweetly and Quinn shoved her with his elbow to get her walking again.
“His name is Jayce and he’s a drug addict. He went missing ten months ago, just before we met,” he said and she gasped.
“I’m so sorry! Do you have any idea where he is?” She asked and Quinn shook his head.
“Not yet. We think we might be getting close. He’s gay and…an escort,” he said carefully and she groaned. It was more out of sympathy than judgement and Quinn relaxed.
“And this man has been helping you look for him?” She asked and Quinn nodded.
“His name is Roman and he’s really hard to explain but he’s been helping me. I was getting nowhere and I was giving up hope. I met him a few months ago and it’s been really insane and dangerous,” he explained and she squeezed an eye shut as her lips pursed.
“It also looked like a bit of fun,” she accused and Quinn’s mouth fell open as heat flooded his face. He turned and inspected the street lights as they began to glow and waited for the urge to die to pass. She cleared her throat loudly and was watching him expectantly when he looked back at her. “I am willing to wait all night. You owe me,” she said and Quinn narrowed his eyes at her.
“You’re an awful lot meaner than you look,” he said and she snorted.
“You don’t want to make me really angry,” she warned but her lips twitched. Quinn stopped and looked around then cringed.
“Are we going very far out of the way for you?” He asked. He had no idea where she lived, he realized.
“I parked by your place and walked to the Whittacombes’ so I wouldn’t miss you,” she said and Quinn raised a brow.
“Very smart,” he said as he ducked his head.
“Indeed. Don’t change the subject. Back to this Roman…person,” she said pointedly and Quinn hummed thoughtfully. How much could he say without scaring the hell out of her?
“Well… He’s a collector…of things,” he said vaguely and she snorted.
“I don’t care about that sort of stuff. Especially if you’re going to be an idiot about it and tell me he’s a collector of things or some other sort of nonsense,” she muttered and Quinn ducked so he could see her face as they walked.
“We’re still going to be friends, right?” He asked hopefully.
“Of course,” she said. “Tell me about you and Roman,” Jenna insisted.
“Ah.” Quinn’s teeth scraped over his lip as he considered. “I haven’t been able to make a lot of progress with that for myself, you see,” he admitted and she shrugged.
“Why don’t we figure it out now?” She asked cheerfully and Quinn’s lips twisted.
“Aside from the part where it’s amazingly awkward?” He asked and she waved it off.
“Yes. And the part where you crushed my heart and I’d like to know it was worth it,” she stated and Quinn widened his eyes at her.
“You’re a real hardass, Jenna. I had no idea,” he said and she shrugged.
“I was all sweetness and light before because I thought you were my soulmate. Now you’re just some guy,” she declared and Quinn chuckled but it did sting just a bit.
“For the record, I was really looking forward to getting very serious with you after we found Jayce,” he said.
“That does me no good, for the record. Are you in love with him?” She asked and Quinn tripped on a cobblestone and choked.
“Wow. And you’re a tiny sadist,” he gasped as he pulled himself together and she batted her eyelashes as she smiled up at him.
“Totally your loss. Are you?” She repeated and Quinn chewed on his lip as he turned and checked but the street was becoming more crowded.
“Complicated wouldn’t begin to describe this,” he said and hopped on his toes so he could see around a sign.
“What are you doing?” Jenna asked as she pulled on his arm.
“Watch! He’s nowhere! And then he’s right behind you!” Quinn whispered loudly and she laughed.
“You’re being really paranoid,” she said then elbowed him. “Stop changing the subject,” she growled threateningly and Quinn groaned as he drug his feet.
“I think I am but there are so many complications and I’m not sure if I’m really gay,” he said and a loud dolphin screech of a laugh burst from her mouth as her head snapped back.
“You sure do kiss like a gay man,” she said and Quinn’s hand smacked over his eyes.
“He’s the only man I’ve ever kissed. I’ve never been even a little bit into guys before Roman,” he explained and she shrugged again.
“I can totally understand that. He is quite…”
“Yeah. He is,” Quinn agreed and she patted his arm.
“Not that you aren’t quite… Because you definitely are but he’s very…” She gave him a loaded look and Quinn swore as he checked the lights again and waited for his face to feel less warm.
“He is very…” He said then screamed as Jenna screamed and grabbed his arm.
“Will one of you finish a sentence? The suspense is unbearable,” Roman said and smiled then skipped back and stumbled as he dodged Jenna’s fist. She almost punched him in the center of the chest and Roman’s eyes widened in surprise as he stopped.
“I take it back, she’s delightful,” he said then screeched as she stomped on his foot.
“I’m pretty sure I don’t like you. You are not allowed to be charming,” she declared as her hand cut through the air and Roman’s lips curved.
“My apologies, madam,” he said as he bowed his head. “Was Charming not one of the adjectives you were looking for?” He asked cheekily.
“I told you. He does this all the time.” Quinn shook his head and Jenna’s nose wrinkled.
“This is why you’re not sure, isn’t it?” Jenna asked. “It would give me second thoughts too,” she said and Quinn laughed so hard his ears popped.
“I’ve told him it’s rude.”
“Quite,” Jenna agreed and Roman made a dismissive sound then offered her a sheepish smile.
“I apologize for interrupting this riveting conversation and I’m very sorry about your job, though it’s a bit fortuitous,” Roman said to Quinn. “But I’m afraid I need to steal you,”
he added apologetically.
“Again?” Jenna asked tartly and Quinn pushed his jaw shut.
“You are on a roll,” he pointed out then squinted at Roman.
&nb
sp; “How is this fortuitous? I don’t have a job,” he said and Roman nodded.
“But you do! I happen to be in need of a nurse,” Roman stated proudly and Quinn rolled his eyes.
“I’m not going to work for you.”
“You have a child?” Jenna asked in horror and Roman snorted.
“Not that kind of nurse. I have a condition.”
“I noticed,” Jenna said and Roman tapped his lip as he considered.
“I’m going to keep an eye on her,” he said.
“No, you’re not,” Quinn stated then turned to Jenna. “He has diabetes but he’s a big man child and won’t eat or monitor his blood,” he explained and Roman tugged at his sleeves and cleared his throat.
“I’m very busy.”
“Not really,” Quinn said and Roman glared.
“Did he tell you I stole the Crown Jewels?” He asked and Jenna was very still as she blinked back at him.
“So you could keep track of your own insulin levels, then?” She replied and Roman nodded.
“I could but Quinn would be out of a job,” he pointed out.
“I’m not doing that,” Quinn said and Jenna’s face scrunched.
“Couldn’t you consider it until you find something else, at least?” She said. “I’d feel better,” she admitted and Quinn scratched his head as he thought about it.
“I’ve got the house and some money put away. I’m sure I could get by for a few months until something…”
“You could sell the house and move into Carlton House. You’d probably be able to get by for…forever,” Roman said and Quinn shook his head.
“Are you insane? I can’t live there!” He said. It was so much more than Quinn could handle on top of everything but just the thought of living in Roman’s house made him want to throw his face at him.
“Why not? I have plenty of room,” Roman argued.
“You have too much room,” Quinn said and Jenna’s head pulled back.
“That’s not possible,” she stated and Quinn nodded.
“He lives in a palace.”
“I don’t,” Roman said.
“Of course he does,” Jenna muttered. “I lose the man of my dreams to the other man of my dreams. Typical Jenna,” she said and Quinn and Roman exchanged uncomfortable glances.
“I did say we had an appointment,” Roman said loudly and Quinn became alert.
“We do?”
“Darius wants to see us,” Roman replied. Quinn looked and they were nearly to his door and Jenna’s car.
“This is probably really important,” he said apologetically and she nodded quickly.
“Of course! Oh! Can I give you a ride?” She asked and Quinn shook his head.
“No. I’m pretty sure Roman’s car is close by,” he said and Roman laughed.
“Not even I could drive a Bentley in Stockwell. Mr. Bishop’s parked it,” he said as he waved his hand in front of his face. “Drop off your stuff and we’ll walk. We can get there in forty minutes, if we walk briskly.”
“Stockwell?” Jenna said and Quinn shushed her.
“It’s fine. Why don’t we get together for coffee? Whenever you feel like it,” he offered and her tongue flicked against her teeth.
“Sounds lovely,” she said then smiled at Roman. “I haven’t decided if it was nice to meet you but… It could have been much worse,” she said generously and Roman pressed his hand against his chest.
“Take very good care of yourself,” he said then winked as he pointed. “I’m keeping my eye on you.”
“No. You’re not,” Quinn said then squeezed her arm.
“I’m glad we talked.”
“Me too,” she said as she held up her keys. “I’ll let you two go then.” She squeezed her shoulders together adorably then gave them a small wave and hurried across the intersection to her car.
“She might have worked out,” Roman said and Quinn’s tongue pushed against the inside of his cheek.
“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” he reminded Roman. “Get inside,” he ordered and Roman made a dismissive sound.
“You’ve made up your mind” he said and Quinn gave him an expectant look as Roman opened the door for him.
“Are we having this talk now?” He asked. Roman paused then flashed him a brilliant smile as he wrapped his arm around him and led him up the steps.
“It’s important you hurry, I’m not sure what Darius wants but if you do, we can skip over this little bit of awkwardness.”
“Good point,” Quinn said then pulled his bag’s strap over his shoulder. “Hold on, I’m changing this,” he said as he pulled off his cardigan and grabbed the coat from the last tuxedo he wore off the hook. It wouldn’t be awful with his jeans and Dr. Martens. He had a feeling Darius would kill him on sight if he caught him in a bright argyle. He felt a stab of pain as he thought about the kids. Annabel loved his ugly cardigans and Jenna said they were adorable. He was going to miss the kids and he felt like hell every time he thought about the look on Jenna’s face as she watched him and Roman act like a pair of animals in heat.
“That’s definitely an improvement,” Roman noted and Quinn rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go,” he said then turned Roman and pushed him down the steps. “I’m starting to think I’ve never really understood women,” he told Roman as he locked up then recounted Mrs. Whittacombe’s breakdown as they swiftly made their way over the bridge, away from the usual bustle of evening traffic and through the quieter, neglected parts of the city where people were too scared to linger.
“You don’t notice because you don’t look,” Roman explained as they headed down the steps by the bridge. “If you had even a little bit of a predatory instinct when it came to women, you’d see the signals,” he said then turned.
“Excuse me, sir,” Mr. Bishop said as he strode toward them stiffly and quickly as they waited under the light. “There was a girl following you but she was just pulled into the tunnel. I tried to go after her but I didn’t want to lose sight of you,” he explained quickly.
“A girl?” Roman asked and Quinn grabbed his stomach as it burned and turned to lead.
“Jenna,” he breathed as his heartbeat slowed and became heavy.
“Go! We’ll be fine!” Roman ordered Mr. Bishop as he pointed then pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped at the screen. “We will find her,” he promised as he put the phone to his ear. “Darius,” he said as he reached for Quinn. “A girl was just taken into the Underground, here at Stockwell,” he added then gestured for Quinn to keep moving. “We’re almost to you,” he said then ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. “Darius will find her,” Roman stated.
“What if he’s too late?” Quinn asked as he jogged backwards and looked toward the tunnels and entrances to the subway they passed. A woman like Jenna wouldn’t last minutes.
“He won’t be,” Roman promised.
“How do you know?”
“Because I told her I’d keep my eye on her,” Roman said then gestured for Quinn to keep up as he ran to the warehouse. They sprinted the rest of the way and Roman slammed his fist against the door twice and it began to move a moment later.
“Has he heard anything?” Roman asked as Tom’s head appeared.
“Not that I’ve heard, he’s waiting for you,” he said then let Roman and Quinn pass. Quinn gave him a quick nod as he hurried through then rushed into the maze of crates, barrels and cases. He waved and acknowledged a few faces cautiously as he quickly found the back of the warehouse then ran as soon as he spotted Darius. He was on his phone and pacing by the fire. He hung up as soon as he saw them.
“You have to find her,” Quinn said as he reached Darius. He gripped Quinn’s arms tight and his gaze was hard but absolute.
“Everyone is looking for her. I will have her location before…” He held up his hand as his phone vibrated and put it to his ear. “Do we have her?” He asked and Quinn held his breath as D
arius listened and his head pulled back. “Thank you,” Darius said and looked confused as the hand holding the phone dropped. “She is en route and should arrive in about five minutes,” he said and Quinn held onto Darius as his legs threatened to give out.
“Is she…?” He asked and Darius frowned as he set Quinn away from him.
“She might be a little scratched and bruised but she’s fine, I was told. I’m not sure she needed our help,” he said and Quinn’s eyes widened as Darius grinned. “My people found her just in time to save her attackers. She got hold of a can of spray paint and blinded one then broke the other bloke’s face with a brick. There was another guy on top of her but he took off,” he added and Roman chuckled. Quinn heard a hint of admiration and relief in it then exhaled loudly as he paced in a circle and waited to catch his breath.
“You might hire her, as a backup for Mr. Bishop,” Darius mused as he strode to the living room and swiped a folder off the coffee table. “While we’re waiting. I’ve got him connected to Dash and I may know what his game is,” he said and Roman’s eyes flashed and his tongue slid across his teeth as he flipped through the folder.
“He is selling for Darlington,” he confirmed and Quinn cursed under his breath.
“This Dash is his distributor and is using his connections to find young men to sell at parties for Darlington,” Darius speculated and Roman hummed in agreement.
“The ones who’ve gone missing got greedy and ran?” He said and Quinn shook his head firmly.
“Jayce wouldn’t leave me like that! He has to be out there!” He said as he pointed and Roman held up his hand to calm him.
“We’ll find him if he’s alive, Quinn,” he promised and Quinn nodded.
“I know but this doesn’t help us find him.”
“If we can’t find Jayce, we find a way to make Darlington tell us where he is,” Roman reminded him and Quinn reached for him and pulled him into his arms.
“Thank you,” he said as he hugged him tight. He wanted to kiss him but he was very aware of Darius and his people.
“We still might not find him in time,” Roman said gently as he held him.
“I know but you said ‘We’re going to have to search…’. It’s always been just me and Jayce. And just me dealing with Jayce. I’ve never had help before,” he explained.