Page 111 of Broken Dreams

“Bye,” I say, dazed at all of the attention.

“So you threw one hell of a punch is what I’m hearing,” Duncan says, his calloused fingers feeling good along my skin. I don’t think he even registered that Augustine left. My cheeks heat at the compliment as I roll my lips inward.

“Good,” Callum murmurs, his hand wrapping around my throat as his thumb pushes my chin up in time to be devoured by his lips. “Let’s go home and wait for our girl, hmm?”

“Yes, please,” I rasp.

“Fucking adorable,” Duncan mutters, pushing Callum away to kiss my lips. His brother’s hand holds me captive the entire time, and I whimper as I perfume. I didn’t bother with slick wicking or descenting boxers because I knew I was going home.

As their gazes heat as they turn me and escort me out the side door, I guess it isn’t so bad to be vulnerable with my alphas.

Come home to us, Quinn.

CHAPTER 22

QUINN

This dinner is never going to end.

I haven’t touched a single thing on my plate, and I noticed that Adira hasn’t either. My mother would usually cook meals like this, which means he hired catering. There is a single male beta who is bringing dishes in and out while everyone ignores him and talks together.

The topic seems to be me, unfortunately.

“So where have you been all of this time?” Patrick Ryan asks. There is a group of six of these men around the giant dining room table, including my father and Mr. Kelly.

I always thought it was overkill to have such a large table, but these alphas seem to dwarf it. I gaze at this man from across the room with Cian and Adira bookending me between them and remain silent. I didn’t bring the mini tablet to join the conversation.

I brought it to protect myself and say something on my terms.

These old men can get fucked with a rusty pole.

“She doesn’t speak,” Adira says, taking a small sip of water. We want to see how nasty they’ll get, and how much it’ll take to pull them to my side once my father begins to feed into it.

Tonight, I’m in the business of shaming alphas.

“She spoke as a child,” Corbin Murphy grunts, appearing concerned. He was always one of my favorite people at events.

I remember how sweet his wife was as well. Corbin is a fairly straight shooter.

“I have no idea,” my father says, shrugging. “She came back like this. The Kelly boys have been keeping my daughter from me.”

Rory Kelly winces at those words, while I watch his body language. It’s clear this has been an ongoing issue between the two of them.

“I don’t know what’s going on with them,” he says. “Damn fool boys.”

Adira sniffs because those are her best friends, and apparently she’s been the talk of the families with their friendship. For the love of God, they aren’t fucking, people.

“Those ‘damn fool boys’ are better men than most,” she says. Surprisingly, the alphas at the table sit up straighter at her words.

There’s a quiet to her words, as she also only speaks when it’s warranted.

“Is it true that you’re working for Cerenity Quinn, girl?” Theo Finnegan asks. “I swear, it’s just a step up from being a stripper. You’re going to bring dishonor to your poor father.”

Since I’ve been a stripper and much worse, I merely smirk at him. It’s not the reaction he’s anticipating, so he begins to flush red.

“Hudson, your daughter is being rude,” he growls.

Your perception of my face has nothing to do with me, sir.Fixing my features into a more neutral tone, I ensure my father doesn’t see what Mr. Finnegan does.

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