Page 98 of Savage Suit
“Wouldn’t that affect Quinn?”
“It affects all of us,” he said cryptically. “I’ve lied to you, to my cousins, to Megan.” He gave me a pained look. “Noah and I don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of matters. He sees me as an irresponsible hedonist. I am. And I paid for it by losing Quinn. I was careless with her feelings. You’ll never know how much I regret that. But it was my doing. If I tell the truth, reveal the secret me, it will be at Noah’s expense. Nicholas will force his brother to adhere to the rules Noah set, not caring that it might be Noah’s only chance at…” His voice trailed off and he thought for a moment. “Noah’s only chance at happiness.”
His explanation bewildered me even more. “How do I fit into this? How does my sister?”
“I inadvertently involved her.”
“What is it, Reid? Is she in danger? Are you? What can I do to help? If she’s in trouble, tell me and I’ll figure out a way to fix it.”
He smiled at me. “You are a wonderful sister. Quinn knows how lucky she is to have you. She isn’t in any danger, Ryan. I promise. But her secret might be a betrayal to you.”
“What does it have to do with?”
“An event toward the end of our relationship. She’s just recently connected the dots.”
“Ryan?” Quinn walked into view and held out my driver’s license and debit card. “An Uber driver approached me while I was on the stoop waiting for Reid. At first, he thought I was you and handed me your stuff, until I told him I was your sister. Where’s Sandy?”
“She wouldn’t start,” I said tiredly. “I had to call a tow truck, then wait for an Uber.” I took my ID and card from her, hoping the fact they’d been returned before I’d missed them was a good sign.
“Where the fuck was Noah?” Quinn demanded as Reid said, “Does Noah know?”
“I don’t know where he was, Quinn. No, Reid, he doesn’t. He is my boss. Period.”
Quinn nodded. “Okay, baby. I understand. He’s a jackass, and that’s what he told you after he screwed you.”
“He has a strict no fraternization rule,” I said sharply. “Either I pretend our lovemaking…sex—” My heart sank because of the extent I had to reduce my encounter with Noah. “Pre-pretend our fucking didn’t happen or find another job. As it is, he almost fired me because of what happened at the press conference.”
“Fuck,” Reid said with a frustrated sigh.
“He’s a fucking asshole. He doesn’t fucking deserve you.”
“Quinn, no. He isn’t. It is just his misguided way of trying to protect me. I convinced him to keep me on until I make the presentation at Amage. I’m hoping if I do well, he’ll change his mind.”
Quinn walked into my apartment and reached for me, but I shoved her hands away.
“Don’t fucking touch me. You haven’t washed your fucking hands, miscreant.”
She broke into laughter, but the sound lacked her usual merriment. “I love you, Ryan,” she said after a moment. “I’m so sorry I was such an unfeeling bitch a few minutes ago. Even before I found out about your car, I knew your day was fucked up. I didn’t help matters at all.”
“It’s okay, Quinn,” I assured her. “I’m used to your bitchiness, anyway. But I owe you an apology, too. For acting so self-righteous and judgmental. I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t know where I’d be without you,” she said quietly. “Truly. Even when I’m experimenting with shit I should stay away from, I always hear your voice in my head, warning me and saying how much you love me and just believing in me.”
Tears filled my eyes, but I did my best to blink them away.
“Now, tell me. Did Noah lay good pipe? Does he have a good pipe?”
Her questions made Reid laugh, while heat rushed to my cheeks and I lowered my lashes, embarrassed. I nodded. “From what I observed, Keegan men are blessed with size.”
Reid smirked.
Not long after, he ushered my sister away. Alone, I trudged to my room, too exhausted to do anything except crawl into bed and fall asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Although I wasn’t asleep, I didn’t appreciate anyone ringing my bell at almost one in the morning. I knew it was a family member; they were the only ones with the access code to my private elevator. My last line of defense was the hallway between it and my entrance door. That was the reason the elevator didn’t open directly into my penthouse. If I didn’t want to be disturbed, I didn’t allow them over the sill of my door.
A glance at my surveillance app, showed a lone visitor. When I opened my door, however, I found not one person, but two in the form of my cousin and Ryan’s sister. Since I wanted to talk to them, I allowed them to enter and led them to my library, where Reid poured drinks for himself and Quinn Hagen, belatedly asking if I’d like one.
