Page 76 of Confession
“None of you have any business in this argument!”
“Yes, we do,” Roman replies.
Sasha says, “This is both business and family. It affects all of us. Itincludesall of us.”
“Goddamn it!” I shout. “This is my decision! If I want to go alone, I can fucking go alone! I amnotlosing you”—I point at Quinn—“or you”—I point at Roman—“or you”—I point at Sasha then swing my finger to Lucas—“and he’s definitely not going!”
Everyone just stares at me. Stubborn and united against me. Rebellious.
“We’re gonna take a break,” Sasha informs the room. “Everyone. One hour. Then we’ll reconvene. I’m keeping the phone.”
***
So here I am fucking am, waiting in the loading bay of my warehouse with Quinn beside me and no way of knowing whether Alesso DiMaggio will behave as expected.
Quinn and I haven’t spoken since the disastrous meeting during which my plan—myplan—was hijacked. I’m furious with all of them. Quinn is leaning against the concrete retaining wall with his arms crossed, his eyes scanning for movement. Sasha is on the roof with her rifle. Roman is inside, well out of sight.
This could all go so, so wrong.
Quinn and I both straighten at the sound of a vehicle racing along the street. A black SUV swings a hard left and comes roaring toward us. Shots fire from the warehouse roof, blasting the windshield and peppering the hood.
Quinn and I fire at the vehicle until shots from it force us to duck back into the doorway we’ve left open. The SUV barrels into the loading bay and slams into the aluminum door, shredding the metal as it blasts through. The vehicle screeches to a stop inside the dark warehouse, where shots start firing.
I shoot into the dark space of the warehouse, away from where I know Roman is located, but when another set of tires screeches on the pavement outside, I have no choice but to leave Roman to handle himself. I lean out of the doorway, hunting for Alesso as men pour out of the second vehicle.
One man drops, shot by Sasha. Quinn has circled around to the shredded door, where he leans out to pick off another.
A door opens on the second SUV, and there’s Alesso. I grab my other gun from its holster.
Alesso sees me and raises his own gun, but he’s slow. I fire. He slams back against the SUV and crumples to the ground. A few more shots fire inside, then everything goes quiet.
Quinn emerges from the warehouse with Roman behind him. I sink against the doorframe in relief, then I walk out to whereAlesso lies still. I crouch and check his pulse, then I nod toward Cecilia down the block. Her car starts and pulls away.
***
“I just can’t talk to you right now,” I tell Quinn when we get home. We’re in the doorway between the garage and the hallway that leads to his room.
His jaw sets. “Fine.”
I snag his hand as he turns away. I expect him to tear free, but he stops.
“I love you,” I tell him. “I just can’t talk to you right now.”
He comes back to me. He rests his forehead against mine. I close my eyes and reach up to cup the back of his neck. All I hear is the sound of our harsh, frustrated breathing.
All I feel is how much I want to be with him. But I can’t right now.
Quinn sighs and draws back. He’s still frustrated with me, probably angry, but he squeezes my fingers before he leaves me, giving me what I’ve asked for, something I don’t want but need.
I need to be alone tonight. I need to sort my shit out like I haven’t managed to do all day. I need a clear head for tomorrow—because this isn’t over.
TWENTY-SIX
Quinn
I think it goes without saying that I’m still pissed at Vitali, but I’m starting to see past my anger enough to understand where this is coming from with him. It’s pretty obvious, really, and he basically said it during that argument in the sitting room. He doesn’t want to lose anyone.
He’s lost a lot of people. He’s terrified of it happening again. He’s much more comfortable risking himself.
