Page 28 of Love & Consequences

I tilt my head and arch a brow. “Professional, Decker. Remember?”

“Hmm. If that was you being professional, then damn, I can't wait till you're not.” Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me square on the lips again before moving to his feet.

“I'll get someone to call a car for you, Quinn.”

I’m already shaking my head before he finishes. “I'm OK. I can find my own way--”

“I insist.” He stares at me in a way that I know I can’t get out of this. Not this time. I nod, and after one last lingering look, both men jerk their chins up before walking away.

Justin animatedly updates Decker as they move toward the hallway where Aiden found me, confirming what I suspected, that there's behind-the-scenes access around this whole building. It's probably a rabbit warren of corridors and stairs and secret elevators. It's the only explanation for how Decker gets away with everything we suspect he does through the club.

My mind races with possibilities as to what could warrant Decker's personal attention. Justin is his right-hand man, which must mean the issue is a big one. Hopefully big enough that we can use it to our advantage in future.

First things first, I have to take the car service to Quinn's apartment. Then cover my tracks to get back to mine. Or go to the office.

Whatever is going on tonight, I'm going to try and find out.

Quinn’s apartment is dark and quiet when I arrive, but something feels off. The hair on the back of my neck prickles and a chill runs down my spine, more so given the fact that I'm not armed right now and my service weapon is in a safe at the top of the bedroom closet.

I slowly make my way through the living room and into the kitchen, flicking on lights as I go. My heart almost stops when I find Barrett sitting on my couch.

“Fuck, you almost gave me a heart attack,” I say, releasing a huge sigh of relief.

“Care to tell me what the fuck you're playing at?”

“What do you mean?” My heartbeat thunders in my ears as I wonder if he knows what happened in the supply closet.

“You accepted a car service provided by Decker James, which means he now knows where you’re staying.”

“He knows where Quinn lives,” I add with a silent sigh of relief.

Barrett stares at me and I feel the intensity of his gaze. “Him knowing where Quinn lives means that this is the only place you can be from now until whenever we close the case and that monster is behind bars.”

My throat thickens but thankfully, all I have to do is nod. It was always a possibility that my cover would deepen if Decker got too close. Just my luck after tonight considering my head is all over the place thanks to Aiden.

“Then there’s the fact you let Aiden fucking Lawrence pull you into a supply closet and almost blow your cover and his? Am I forgetting anything?” he says angrily.

I shake my head. “Aiden wants to help us. Which makes me think he’s onto something or thinks he can help us with this case.”

“Like I’m going to accept the help of the man who almost got me and my wife killed, all because he was pissed off that she chose me instead of him.”

Now that my heart rate has slowed to semi-normal levels, I kick off my shoes and move toward the kitchen, grabbing a beer out of the fridge and holding it up in the air toward my handler. When he takes it from me, I get myself one before opening it. Moments later, I'm folding my knees underneath my ass and sitting on the opposite end of the couch.

The first swig of beer hits the spot just like I knew it would, the cold liquid sliding down my throat and calming my nerves as I return to the subject that has Barrett wound tighter than a spring. “He's a way to get in quicker than I ever could, without me having to compromise myself any further,” I explain.

Barrett takes a long drink from his bottle before leaning forward, resting his arms on his legs, his head dropped low. “Fuck.”

Silence falls between us, and I can tell Barrett's mind is working a mile a minute. Knowing him, he's trying to think of any other way to advance the case without involving the man he might just hate more than Decker James.

He’s right to be worried, but I also know that we need all the help we can get as quickly as possible if we're going to take down Decker and his criminal organization once and for all. And if that means working with Aiden, then so be it.

“It's a risk,” I say, breaking the silence. “But I've known Aiden for over twenty years. He regrets what he did. He's said as much, more than once. This could be his way of redeeming himself. You know he—”

Barrett's narrowed gaze snaps to me. “Did you expect him to throw you under the bus like he did after your history? Did you think he'd break the law?”

I swallow down, my throat tightening. “No. But he made it right again. He amended his statement and took full accountability, saving my career in the process. The fact he managed to leave with his pension intact and without a record is a miracle.” A muscle in his jaw twitches as he reluctantly nods so I forge on. “He did it straight away and he honored my wish to leave me alone. He didn’t reach out at all. And when I saw him last week, that was me initiating it, remember?”

Barrett's gaze softens and I don't want to see it, but I don't miss the pity there too. I hate it. “You're right. That doesn't mean I have to like it. He has and always will be a thorn in my side. You know that, Marlee.”

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