Page 54 of She Gives Love a Bad Name

Chapter Nineteen

Grant

I’ve searched the wholedamn city.

Well, realistically, not the whole city, but I’ve looked in every place I could think of to find Quinn. She vanished without a single clue of where she could have gone.

Thick darkness clings to the streets as I walk home. The bustle of the city surrounding me fades into the background as my mind spins uselessly.

I shouldn’t have left her alone. I fucked up.

Over the years, I’ve gotten really good at kicking myself for doing stupid shit. But I’ve never held onto regret and let it beat me down the way this does.

I round a corner, and a strangled relief fills me at the sight of the neon sign over the bar entrance. Maybe I should check with Claude to see if he’s heard anything. I won’t hold my breath that she’s come home.

Home?

I rake my fingers through my hair and reach into my pocket for a cigarette. Since when did I start thinking of Quinn making my shitty apartment her home. If she bailed on me, she’s not coming back. Simple as that. She’s gone for good.

Maybe I should’ve taken her into the station that night. Let them patch her up and put her in protective custody. Guilt twists my gut at the thought of her in their care. Damn it, why do I even care who watches her?

Because you like her, idiot.I curse the voice in my head. These constant reminders do nothing to fill the void.

Whatever happened between us, she’s not going to stick around afterward. Once she’s free and clear, she’ll leave. And I don’t blame her.

Who wants a washed-up homicide detective with a sticky, complicated past?

I light the cigarette and take a drag. The smoke soothes my nerves, but it doesn’t solve my problem. I fucked up. It was my job to protect her, and I failed miserably. Some fucking cop I am.

I shove the self-loathing aside and open the door. The familiar setting offers some form of comfort, but knowing Quinn isn’t upstairs waiting for me hurts like a punch to the kidney. I shake the thoughts free. There’s nothing I can do to track her down until morning. Tonight, I fully intend to drown myself in a bottle of whiskey.

I weave through the crowd, ignoring the boisterous conversations and overdressed idiots. Claude appears behind the bar. The moment he catches sight of me, he nods toward the back room. Following his lead, I duck around a pair of women dancing toThe Power of Loveand slip past the bathrooms into the narrow hallway.

Claude’s leaning against the doorframe when I reach his office. “Find her?”

Defeat reclaims my soul. “No.”

“Did you find out anything?” His typical casual stance seems tense. I guess he’s still shaken up about the whole incident, worried about Quinn. Then I remember the little detail her pretty blonde roommate shared with me before I left.

“Spoke to her roommates.” I narrow my gaze and cross my arms. “They weren’t too worried about Quinn since they got a call letting them know she was safe.” I arch a brow. “Wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Claude straightens. “Quinn asked me to let them know she was okay. I didn’t tell them where she was or who she was with. She didn’t want them to worry.”

My irritation fades. “I know you meant well, but anyone could have been listening, watching.”

“Goes for you too.” He pins me with a harsh stare. “Everyone knows you’re on this case. Maybe the killer had someone here, watching, waiting foryouto lead them straight to Quinn.”

Fuck. He has a point. Maybe keeping the sole witness to this case in my apartment wasn’t the wisest decision. But damn it, they’d find her regardless. My conscience argues with me, this is the very reason we have a protocol in place for witnesses. I slam the door on those thoughts. They don’t do me any good now.

“There’s been a lot of new faces in the bar lately.” Claude steps closer, keeping his voice low. “Most look like rich yuppies wanting to slum for a good time, but there’s been a few who don’t look too trustworthy. I’ve even seen a few of Donovan’s crew hanging around.”

“Donovan?” My teeth grind. “I told that bastard to keep his criminal cronies away from this place. There are plenty of other places for him and his boys to conduct shady business.”

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