Page 41 of Dirty Quinn
If I tell him yes, does that mean he’ll call off his men? But he’ll be even more upset with me for disobeying. Once again. And when does that cycle end? Do we just spend the rest of our existence with me pissing him off and him feeling disappointment in everything I do?
And, if I tell him no, does that mean he charges ahead and carries out his plan? He’s already angry that I’m watching him. But maybe he won’t beasupset if he doesn’t think I’m ignoring his demands.
Finally, do I care if he’s mad at me? I’m a grown fucking woman. We don’t even live in the same country any longer. Any obedience on my part stems from how I was raised, not because he’s earned it.
Fuck it.
“I’m not,” I admit. “But my girls and Mack are.”
Silence is his only reply.
“My friend, Quinn, might be too. I don’t want any of them hurt if you go ahead with this.”
I wait, watching the line of vehicles for movement, holding my breath. He knows how much I love Mack, Quinn, and my girls. At least I’m assuming he does. If he has any modicum of decency in his soul, he’ll call this off until they can get back out.
The longer he sits there, the better I feel about things. And I realize that I’ve neglected my relationship with my father for too long. He doesn’t deserve that. He’s getting on in years, and it’s my responsibility as his daughter to stay in touch, make sure he knows he’s loved. Or at the very least cared for.
It isn’t until after they move forward again that I realize he’s since hung up on me.
Another minute passes, and the SUV leading the pack rams Andrei’s front gate, sending half of it flying in the air and crumbling the other half under its wheels.
Mere moments after that, evidence of the first explosion soars into the sky as Andrei’s world begins to crumble.
Right along with mine.
24
Mack
I hear the first explosion seconds before the walls shudder. Dust drifts down from the ceiling. And we all wait to see what will follow. The silence that comes after such a sound is eerie. That feeling never fades, no matter how many times you’ve been around a bomb.
My guess? They’ve got a grenade launcher up there, maybe even two, just lobbing shit at the building again and again. At this point, I’m convinced it’s Viktor up there and that he’s taken a decent chunk out of Andrei’s men, if not Andrei himself. What I don’t know is whether Ronan is here as well.
Al motions us forward, toward the gunfire and anguished male cry. Balls of steel on that one. We make it past the corner only to find another empty hall. I give the signal to stop and mime to Al that I’m going to check the open door ahead.
I can hear something, a man’s voice I’m pretty sure, I just can’t tell what he’s saying, but it’s in English. I creep forward slowly, my shoes soundless on the floor. Another explosion sounds from above, followed by rapid gunfire. Automatic weapons. Whatever is going on up there, it’s war. Making me wonder if Daria’s father is holding true on his promise to take Andrei out.
I reach the doorway and slowly pivot so my back is against the wall, making it easier for me to spin in, shoot, and spin back out.
One. Two. Three.
I spin in.
And halt.
It’s Reed.
And Quinn.
“Re—”
Boom.
I hear the gun fire before I feel the whiz of the bullet barely miss my ear.
Boom.
I barely register the second shot hit me until I spin back out of the room and feel the burn in my shoulder. Reed not only shotatme, but he fuckingshotme. Clipped me in the clavicle, just inside the edge of my fucking vest.
