–FIERO –
Taking the document, I hold it out for him to take.“This, along with the location of my father, will give you enough to put him in jail.In return I want Cillian’s location and for you to leave the rest of my family alone.Your hate should all be directed at my father, not me or my brother who had nothing to do with what our father did to yours.To think you even used your own sister to get to my wife, my fucking pregnant wife, and put her in danger.Cillian drugged her and almost kidnapped her.This.”I wave the document.“This is what you want, an opportunity to strike back at the man who wronged your father.”
Archibald steps forward and snatches the document from my hand.He quickly reads over it and watches me with narrowed eyes.
“You’re just going to hand over your own father?”he asks in disbelief.
“Things have changed.My perspective on things has changed,” I clarify.“This beef you have has nothing to do with me and mine and is solely on my father, no one else.”
Archibald snorts.“Please don’t tell me you’re in love and that this is some offering for you to have a clear path to keep going what your father has been doing.I wasn’t just working together with Cillian to get revenge for my father and bring yours down.No.I want to bring the whole damn system down.It’s a disgrace.Having fuck fests as some kind of blackmail for personal gain is irrational.It needs to be stopped.”
“I don’t blackmail anyone.I have to admit, my grandfather did set up the sugar daddy scholarship deal to trade favors for the men while women could solve their student loan money issues.My father turned it into something different when he took over.He almost ruined everything and tarnished our legacy.”
“Tarnished your legacy?”Archibald seethes.“You turned my sister into a fucking whore.”
The anger on his face is what I need to shock him out of his judgmental state of mind.“It wasn’t your sister in the picture I showed you.I sent an invitation to the apartment for Quinn.She couldn’t pay for the final year and they thought it was for Aubrielle.The woman in the screenprint is Quinn wearing a wig.Your sister agreed to let Quinn use her identity to get the money.No one will ever have to know, Archibald.This stays between us because it’s a system giving a safe option without forcing anyone.I do collect favors and consider myself an information broker.It’s about real estate, companies almost going bankrupt, stock information.Business deals others can profit from so there’s a fee going into a fund.A fund that’s used to cover a scholarship if a woman wants a fantasy deal.Never, and I fucking mean never, would I jeopardize anyone’s safety.Not unless they deserve it.Cillian, though?He’s the kind of person who drugs a pregnant woman so he can kidnap her and force her into marrying him.That’s the kind of people you collaborate with.”
Archibald frowns.“No.Her brother wanted her safe from you.”
“You mean the one who can’t speak because Cillian had his vocal cords cut?Who was blackmailed into becoming Cillian’s fighter, or he’d torment Quinn for as long as he enjoys her and then kill her?That brother?Yeah, I can get him here to vouch for all of what I just told you.Cillian fed Quinn’s father’s gambling addiction so he could take his company, and everything else.It’s what he fucking does.Need I remind you of the previous move you two did to my father?Same technique.”
All the details he needs to know are out on the table.It’s for him to see the truth and act on it.I damn well hope he makes the right decision, and I didn’t misjudge this guy.
“Shit,” Archibald mutters and rubs the back of his neck.
Minutes pass and he finally says when he holds up the paper, “You’re serious about this?”
I’m about to say yes when the sound of gunshots comes from outside.
“You double-crossed me,” I snarl.“And yes, I’m still fucking serious.”
Archibald shoves the document into his pocket.“You owe me an address once we’ve handled this.You will also delete the video and anything you have of Quinn using my sister’s identity.”
I give him a tight nod.
“Anything I’ve done before I stepped into this room won’t be avenged by you,” he adds and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as I give him another nod.
“Cillian was in the limousine with me.His men are in the other two cars.He was going to wait until I gave a sign so he could come in and kill you once I had my sister safe.”
I glance at Floris who is holding a gun.“Only one thing matters to me, the rest is on you.Make sure Quinn is safe and give Archibald the address if something happens to me.”
“You got it, boss,” Floris states as I grab my gun and step into the hallway.
More gunshots ring out, making adrenaline flow through my veins.There’s truly only one thing I live for: keeping Quinn alive.
– QUINN –
“Are those gunshots?”I ask with wide eyes.
They widen a fraction more when Tate pulls a gun from underneath his jacket.
“You have a gun?”Bri squeaks.“When did you start carrying a freaking gun?”
Tate smirks.“The only time I don’t is when I’m fucking.Being naked and my hands occupied leaves me no choice.”
Bri wrinkles her nose.“I didn’t need to know about the fucking.”
“I really wish you would,” Tate mutters and raises his voice.“Get into the bathroom, both of you.”
