Page 42 of Sugar Baby
I stand idly by, feeling like a spare part. Even though Aidan Quinn must be fuming that his daughter has been abducted, he is acting like it’s a typical day. His front is clearly belying his inner worry and concern. I can’t even help with that because I don’t know anything — not that I would, of course. I still hate him for what he did to my dad,butI am able to see that he was protecting his daughter.Ifwhat he says is true. The jury’s still out on that one.
Cain shoves his shoulder under Nico’s armpit and helps him hobble back into the compound. I turn to follow, seeing as Franco is also heading back when Quinn stops me.
“Atlas, wait a minute.”
I glare at him. “What?”
“I know you’re pissed, and you have every right to be. Be pissed that your dad is dead, but I was protecting my daughter. It went too far. We struggled; the gun went off…it could’ve been either one of us. I know that doesn’t help you, but I wanted you to know that killing him wasn’t my end game. I just wanted him to know that messing with my girl has consequences. It was a warning.”
Taking a few moments to process that, I’m not sure if I believe him, but what does it matter? Dead is dead. However, the thought of him lusting after Sophia turns my stomach. My dad never mated. He had women come and go, but never one that stuck around. He wanted me as part of his legacy. A legacy that was torn away.
I acknowledge his words with a curt nod but then turn away without a word. I don’t have anything to say to him. My revenge has ruled me for years. I can’t just switch that off. Life doesn’t work that way.
Ambling back into the compound, I realise that I’m alone. No little bodyguard to watch my every move. Quinn has let me off the hook.
Turning back to the door, intending to make a run for it, I hesitate. Run to what, exactly? My plan to get to Quinn by hurting his precious omega daughter has been shot to hell and back. I’m in the lion’s den. Surely that means destroying from within?
The question is, do I want to?
I don’t know anything anymore. But one thing is bugging me…turning my back on the door, I head down the corridor to the living quarters and find Nico in a room a way down on the right. He is alone, stripping off his bloodied and tattered shirt and throwing it on the bed with a grunt.
He looks up when I lounge in the doorway, leaning against it with a curious glare.
“What?” he growls.
“You’re a fucker. You were double-crossing me, weren’t you?”
“Well, aren’t you a fucking genius?”
“Ouch. Can I ask why?”
“Destroy from within. I knew you were after Quinn. We wanted to know as much as possible about what your moves were.”
“Why send me the video of you and Sophia?” It’s a question that is burning a hole in my soul. I don’t understand it. I need to know.
He pauses, glancing at the doorway.
I look over my shoulder. “Coast is clear.”
His dark eyes meet mine. “What did you do with it?”
“Tell me first why you sent it.”
“To piss you off. I wanted you to know that I had her. You needed to know that I had the upper hand.”
“Vicious intent. I like it. I deleted it. Meeting her in the bank that day was a revelation.”
“Yeah, figured. She has that way with alpha males. They fall for her like cunts.”
“Are you in love with her?”
“What difference does it make? I’m nothing more than her bodyguard. Well, maybe not even that after this shitshow.” He sits heavily on the bed, dropping his face into his hands.
“We’ll get her back,” I mutter, although fuck knows why I feel the need to offer up this platitude.
“We?” he snorts, looking up, grey-faced and exhausted.
“Yeah, I’m in this up to my neck, and she is holding the noose. Plus, it will really piss Cain off if I get into her knickers before he does.”
