Page 119 of Broken Dreams

If I really sit and try to do the math on the last time I had a heat, it’s probably been almost three months. Bret would be getting ready to monetize it right about now.

Life can change in an instant, and I’m fully aware of that.

The recording continues on, and it’s when her father takes her aside that I snarl, putting my empty plate on the ground as I listen.

“Stupid cunt, you deserve everything that’s happened to you,” Hudson says. “Bret can’t fucking wait till he gets his hands on you. It won’t be long!”

“He’s a fucking piece of work,” I mutter as Callum turns off the recording.

“Why did he lose his shit, Quinn? Your father sounded as if he was in pain,” he says curiously.

“He was squeezing his hand harder around my throat, so I stomped on his foot with my heel,”she replies. “Needless to say, his true colors were shown.”

“If what he says is true, then he’s communicating with the shit who runs Slick Dreams,” Duncan says. “Fuck. This is going to make things worse.”

“I don’t think he’ll give Bret too much information,” Callum retorts. “I looked into Hudson’s money situation, and he could benefit from an influx of cash. Until he gets paid, your father will hold his cards close to his chest.”

“He’s going to sell me again,”Quinn says, her features twisted in anger. “It’s what makes the most sense. Dad can’t sell me to the highest bidder because I’m packed up, so he’ll sell me to Bret.”

“That leaves the dickweed without me,” I say. “We’ve all been careful not to let too many people know I’m with you, even though I’m listed as part of Pack Kelly on public record.”

“How many people will bother to look that up, though?” Duncan asks, amused. “Laziness runs strong I imagine for most.”

God, I know it definitely does for Bret.

“We’re going to need to be careful at this stupid party,” Callum says. “Duncan is running through those who work at his security firm to ensure they’re free that night and aren’t compromised in any way. The last time we had a party…”

“Someone flipped most of my team,” Duncan grumbles. “Some I killed, others I cut loose and made sure they’d never work for another security firm in the Midwest. Then, I ran the ones left through a rigorous vetting process. I was more than willing to take the cut in my profits to ensure my people are loyal.”

I can’t imagine how messed up that had to have been.

“I took extra work on my end, and it all evened out,” Callum sighs. “The security firm has come a long way over the past year. We both felt really fucking guilty that people were kidnapped from our house during a party. It’s one of the reasons we stopped offering to host.”

“It’ll be easier to contain people and know who is on the property by having it here,” Duncan says. “I’ll reach out tothe different families we are on good terms with about staying extra vigilant during the event. Pack Dray, Pack Dresmond, Pack Mohan, and Pack Hayes are just a few that I'll discuss this with. They all know what it’s like to worry about security with their omegas. Typically, it’s required for everyone to give up their weapons. We’ll just tell your father and everyone associated with him that it’s mandatory to instead.”

“No one really flashes their weapons around anyway,”Quinn says. “It should work.”

“Anything else we need to talk about?” Callum asks.

I glance at Quinn only to find she’s looking at me and it makes me flush. We’re so in sync together.

“Now don’t gang up on us,” Duncan says, chuckling. “What is it?”

“I want a bite mark,”Quinn says. Her face is pinched slightly as she struggles to say what she’s thinking. “I need something to show me this is permanent.”

I’ve been wanting to get closer with the brothers as well, though I’m not ready for a bite mark yet.

“I’m seriously fucked up after seeing Christian,” I add. “I know what you said, but I need the actions that go with it. I’m not ready for a bite mark yet. I do want to get closer with you both, though. It’s awful, but I need?—”

“Do you need your ass fucked and knotted?” Callum growls, his eyes hooding as he tosses his phone to the side.

“Let’s hear you say it,” Duncan says. “You’ve been twitchy all night, is it more than just from fighting with Quinn?”

“Linus and I fight when I have to do things he considers dangerous,”Quinn says. “We’ve been doing this for the past ten years.”

“I expect you’ll be doing it for a lot longer, because you’re stubborn, Quinnie,” Callum snorts.

He’s not wrong at all.

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