Page 42 of Finding Haven
“You’re mine too, you know,” I say, glancing up at him with a smile.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Sugar.”
Being out with him in the light of day is such a surreal feeling. I was worried that things would feel awkward or uncomfortable between us after everything we’ve shared during the few private cam sessions he paid for, but it’s been the exact opposite. Being around Zack in any capacity seems to set my mind at ease as though his presence calms my racing thoughts and gives me a safe place to justbe.
Conversation flows easily between us by the time we’ve ordered and consumed half of our meals. I tell him about my dreams of opening a boudoir photography studio and my excitement over having a few clients booked in the upcoming weeks. Reluctantly, I also tell him about my car and how it’s currently sitting at a shop in Rivercrest. The owner has been kind enough to let me leave it sitting in their lot for as long as I have, but it’s getting to the point where I either need to fork over the money for the repairs or just scrap the thing.
The look on his face when I mentioned everything wrong with it made me burst out in laughter, which only made his eyes widen more.
“You can’t be without a car, Quinn,” he says fiercely. “It’s not safe. What if you’re stuck somewhere and I can’t get to you right away?”
My brows pinch. “I was managing just fine before you came along. I don’t mind walking, and I use my bike a lot when Becca isn’t available togive me a ride. Besides, there are these pretty convenient car services now, called Uber and Lyft,” I say teasingly. “Maybe you’ve heard of them?”
“You should not be getting in the car with strangers, Sugar.” His eyes harden as his voice vibrates with a growl.
My thighs clench as the sound sends a wave of arousal straight to my core. I tug my bottom lip between my teeth as heat crawls up my cheeks. “Yes, Sir,” I say, throwing as much sass into the words as I can muster.
What I’m not expecting is the way a fire ignites behind his warm whiskey eyes as they narrow in my direction. “Don’t play cute with me, baby. Your safety is no joking matter. We’re going to get your car situation dealt with.”
“I’m handling it,” I say. “I still have that subscriber who requested a set of photos and the few boudoir clients lined up. Everything I’ve made so far from Frisk has gone towards making sure I have enough pump supplies and insulin for a while and setting aside money for when I need to get more. I’m working on the car situation now.”
He sits quietly, his arms crossing over his chest as he listens. It’s in moments like this when he reminds me of the man I met that night at the bar. The one who had an impenetrable wall surrounding him, the one who’s nothing like the man I’ve watched him become as our relationship has grown.
“As you know… I recently lost my top subscriber,” I say. A smirk dances across my lips as I pick up my fork, stabbing the last bite of waffle. “I just have to up my game a bit now. I’ll be fine.”
32
Zack
Thislittlefuckingminx.She thinks that she can just taunt me like this and get away with it. There’s no way I’m going to let her continue without a car. We’re rectifying this situation immediately.
Leaning back in my seat to pull my wallet from my pocket, I pull out a handful of twenties, more than enough to cover our meal plus extra for Molly. The woman has worked hard to take back her life, and though she would never admit it, I know every dollar counts. Throwing the cash down on the table, I stand from my seat and offer my hand to Quinn. “Let’s go,” I say, my eyes locked on hers.
“Where are we going?” she asks, slipping her hand into mine as she slides from the booth.
“To get you a new car.” I guide her to walk beside me, placing my hand at the small of her back as we step out of the diner and head towards the parking lot.
“Wait, you can’t be serious,” she stammers. “You can’t justbuyme a new car, Zack.”
It’s cute that she thinks I can’t.
“And why not? You can’t rely on transportation provided by strangers, and I don’t like the idea of you riding a bike everywhere you go. Once in a while, fine. But not on a regular basis. It’s not safe, Quinn.”
She huffs her agreement as she falls silent, walking beside me as I lead her to my car. When we reach the car, she pauses and waits for me to open her door.
“Good girl,” I murmur under my breath, leaning past her to open the door and guide her into the seat. I would reach across her and buckle her seat belt if I didn’t think it would earn me one of her bratty glares.
My phone rings as I’m rounding the car to the driver’s side. I pull it from my pocket with a groan when I see Ace’s name displayed across the screen. He rarely calls unless it’s urgent, and the way dread is coiling in my stomach tells me this time is no different.
“Mercer,” I snap, not bothering with pleasantries as my stomach fills with dread.
“Sh-she’s gone. He took her! That fucker has her,” he yells, panic lacing every word. He doesn’t need to elaborate. With his latest assignment taking a more personal turn, I’ve been keeping an eye on the cameras we installed at the bakery. The owner has been dealing with an obsessive ex, and given the guy’s recent actions and behavior, we were anticipating a move like this. The assignment that brought Ace home and his involvement with the bakery owner have invited more complications than we originally expected. The Phoenix Legion doesn’t do cold cases or loose ends. Everything must be handled with finality.
Ice settles through my veins like a hailstorm as I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Meet me at the hotel,” I say curtly, disconnecting the call before he has the chance to answer. Heaving a sharp sigh, I slide into the car behind the wheel and turn to Quinn. “Change of plans.”
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, but it’ll probably be a while. I need you to stay here while I’m gone.” As soon as I ended the call with Ace, I brought Quinn back to my home. It’s the only place I can be sure she’s protected and out of harm’s way.
She folds her arms over her chest, shifting her weight to one hip as she eyes me. “Why? What’s going on?” Her biting tone slips as her voice trembles with the final word spoken.
