Rick tensed up, waiting for Quinn to ask her questions. Questions he couldn’t answer. He wouldn’t reveal Mack’s secret— the business hidden behind the façade of a training facility. Not without Mack’s blessing first.
“How did you find me at my dad’s?”
That’s an easy one. And one I already answered.
“I told you in the hospital, doll.”
“Mack told you my dad had a house on the lake, so you went to check it out on a hunch. Just… where was Travis? Did you see him?”
Rick’s heart plunged into his stomach. He really didn’t want to have this conversation. His body tensed when he heard that bastard’s name.
“No, I didn’t see him. Doll, I told you all this already. Don’t you remember our conversation?”
“I know you did. I had a head injury so my memory is fuzzy. It … it feels like I don’t know everything that happened. Can you humor me, please?” Quinn bit her lip, obviously struggling with her next question.
“Just ask, Quinn. What do you want to know?”
Her small frame began to shake on his lap. Rick could feel the tremors as he held her. “Where is he now?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.” Rick admitted. Defeated, he began rubbing his hands up and down Quinn’s back as he tried to give her reassurance. “He wasn’t there and he didn’t show up.” Tucker had tried finding the man, but he had disappeared into thin air.
All I know is that he’s not back in Texas, which means he’s either coming back to try again or he knows he’s being watched. My bet is that the idiot isn’t leaving Georgia without Quinn.
“What if he comes for me?”
That was the million-dollar question.
“He won’t get near you, Quinn. I won’t allow it.”
She snuggled in closer, making herself even smaller as if that were possible. Rick wanted to kill that motherfucker for what he did to Quinn. If Travis were to come anywhere near the gym or his girl, Rick had no problem putting a bullet right between his eyes.
“But—”
“No. It’s not healthy for you to stress out thinking about that asshole. I’ve got it covered. He. Will. Not. Get. You. Not without going through me.”
Rick pulled back so Quinn could see that he was serious.
Another shudder wracked her body, but she nodded dutifully, putting her faith in Rick and his ability to protect her.
I won’t fail you, doll. If I have to kill him with my bare hands, I will.
He rocked her back and forth, knowing that as safe as he could make her feel, he still couldn’t erase the memories of what she already suffered. And that was the most frustrating part of this whole fucked up scenario.
Rick entered Sanctum the next day, clasping Quinn’s hand in his. He didn’t want her left alone, and she seemed somewhat better when they were together, so it worked out perfectly. Except for days like today, when he had a meeting with Mack.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Rick.”
They had been over this again and again. “Quinn, please, not today, doll. Humor me and stay nearby.”
He took her silence as a grudging consent, so he left it at that.
Rick dug in his pocket, removing his key card, giving her a sharp look that dared her to argue with him. They passed the empty front desk to enter the main area of the gym. He swiped his card and held the door open for her to pass through first.
“Rick! Quinn! Good to see you.”
Clint stood next to one of the treadmills. He was wiping his face and chest with a towel before he shrugged on a threadbare T-shirt.
“Hi Clint.” Quinn gave him a peck on the cheek.