“It does sound like a great offer,” I tell her, because it does. It’s good to know Barrett isn’t a total prick. He knows how difficult it would be for Clara having the Griffins lurking around. She still thinks they’re responsible for the fire at the factory.
I blink hard, my earlier hangover lifting to leave my thoughts clearer than they have been all morning. Despite my reservations about Reid, I’m inclined to believe what he said about Barrett causing the fire. Which means the man smiling so sweetly at Clara caused Ethan’s death. This show of concern is just to ease his own conscience.
“I don’t– I don’t know what to say,” Clara stutters. “Thank you, Barrett. Thank you so much.”
He relaxes back in his chair. “Can I leave it to you to persuade Tandy?”
“I’ll try,” Clara says. “But you know she helps out at her mom’s coffee shop too. I’m not sure she’ll agree.”
“If she needs a financial incentive, that can be arranged,” Barrett says with a chuckle.
When Clara stands to leave, I get up too.
“I need one more minute of your time, Quinn,” Barrett says, holding up a finger to stop me. It remains poised in the air until Clara closes the door behind her. “You’ve done well today, and I expect more of the same when Ilya arrives. If you back up everything I say, and follow orders, you’ll do well in my company. You can’t begin to imagine the opportunities I could open up for you.”
The offer sends a shudder down my spine. What if Barrett’s concern about me getting involved with Ilya has nothing to do with propriety, and everything to do with possession? Reid’s stupid jealousy may not have been so misplaced after all.
Chapter 7
Reid
I’ve refused to return to my brothers in Chicago, even for a debrief. For one thing, the gash on my head is still prominent, and thanks to the recording Mace has of Quinn’s attack, all my brothers have seen it. They’re pissing me off.
Holed up in the log cabin I’ve been sharing with Jake, I stare at the grid of faces on my laptop. Ash is in our office with Mace, and Hunter is at the house we share. Our Chicago home isn’t an opulent mansion by Barrett’s standards, but it’s big enough to accommodate all four of our egos. It’s become our stronghold in the last few months, and I foresee a time when we won’t be able to leave home without a security detail.
It’s almost dusk and my image on screen is hidden in shade. Unfortunately, the shadows have exaggerated the lump on my head. Hunter sniggers and that sets Mace off.
My expression remains grim as I cross my arms. I know we need lighter moments at times like this, but they’re laughing at me, not with me. It hurts, and in ways that go beyond my current humiliation. As the half-brother, I’ve often felt othered, and this is one of those times.
“Knock it off, you two,” Ash says. “Things are about to get serious.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
Ash nods to Mace, who’s at his desk directly opposite our oldest brother.
“Barrett’s given notice to the local security firm,” Mace says. “The guards have been complaining online that foreign security staff are taking over their jobs next week. We can safely assume the new guards are going to be speaking Russian.”
“It’s a shame Quinn isn’t feeding us this information,” Hunter points out.
Mace scoffs. “Maybe she’s not as eager to take sides as Reid’s been led to believe.”
I glare at the screen. “What does that mean?”
“It means the jury’s still out on whether she actually hates Ilya as much as she claims. It could just be an act. I still don’t trust her.”
“Well, I do,” I say. “She’s only interested in finding her sister.”
Mace cocks an eyebrow. “Did she tell you that before or after you sucked her face?”
“Fuck off, Mace. I’m not in the mood.”
“OK, moving on,” says Hunter before Ash loses patience again. “Do we know where Ilya is?”
Mace turns to the array of computer screens around his desk. “Last sighted in Atlanta. No updates.”
“He won’t show up in Poulton Springs until all the arrangements are in place,” says Ash. “He might even hold off until they have a consignment to process.”
“Young women,” I remind him. “We shouldn’t bedescribing innocent lives as a consignment, even if that’s all they are to Ilya.”
