Quinn

 

Okay, so maybe I didn’t completely think things through when I kissed Colt yesterday. I hadn’t considered how to handle Colt after the fact. I release a heavy sigh as I leave the salon and walk to my car. My shift had ended, and I’m heading home for the day.

I’d known that things would be ‘off’ after our kiss, but I hadn’t expected him to go out of his way to avoid me. He’d been long gone by the time I’d wandered into the kitchen for breakfast this morning.

I unlock the car and climb in, setting my purse on the passenger seat. For a long minute, I sit there and stare at the building, debating my options. Yet, I don’t want to give up on coaxing him into realizing what we could have. Harper has a point. If I don’t fight for what we could have, I’ll always wonder what could have been.

I’m not delusional, though. I can’t imagine a life without Colt, and that scares the shit out of me. I need to be careful with him and push when the opportunity presents itself, and hold back when my gut warns me to. I know him better than anyone else, and I just need to read his body language and cues, and go from there.

I start the car and back out of the parking space before heading home. Maybe it would be wise to give him another day to process the kiss. Tomorrow, I’ll find a reason to talk to him, and I’ll go from there depending on how the conversation goes.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I feel much better about my decision. It also helps that Colt’s not home yet, so there goes any temptation. After I cut the engine, I hear my phone go off in my purse. I’m in no rush to enter the empty house, so I pull out my phone.

I have a new text message from an unknown number, and it’s a photo. I tap the photo to enlarge it on the screen. It’s a picture of Colt entering Dirk’s. Another photo comes through, and this one is of me standing next to Colt—beside my car in the driveway. A message has come with the photo. I’m disappointed Quinn. I close the message, frowning.

He’s supposed to be growing bored, not continuing to follow me. I twist in my seat and peer out the car’s back window, looking to see if I can see a strange vehicle parked along the street. I don’t see anything out of the ordinary, so I grab my purse and go inside the house. Why had there been such a lull between the bloodied paper and today’s texts?

I make my way to my room and set down the purse and phone. I’d really like to tell Slade that he’s being a total dick, but that’s what he wants, and I know better than to engage him. I’m about to change out of my clothes and put on something comfortable when I hesitate. Colt’s going to be pissed if I don’t fill him in about the latest photos. Do I tell hi

Today it is.

I grab my phone and make my way down to the basement, settling onto the couch while I wait. I bring up the photos on my phone once more and study them. I’m a little troubled that he’s still following me, but I’m not scared for my life or anything. I’m mostly annoyed that he just won’t go away and leave me alone.

Someone has arrived home, and I pause and listen. Then, I hear Sebastian’s voice talking to someone before the basement door opens.

Shit!

He’ll want to know why I’m waiting for Colt. I scramble to my feet, phone and purse clutched in my hand as I hurry to Colt’s room and quietly reclose the door behind me. I can’t turn on the light or Sebastian will notice, so I use my phone’s screen to make my way through the darkness to Colt’s bed. I sit down and wait.

Sebastian’s footsteps come down the hall and go straight to his room. I suppose I could sneak out and come back later.

I use my phone to make my way to the door. I’m really thinking it’s not wise to be in here after the stunt I’d pulled yesterday. My hand is on the doorknob when I hear Sebastian’s door open, and I freeze. His footsteps go into the bathroom, and I can hear him pissing in the toilet.

Lovely.

When he leaves the bathroom, his voice mixes with Colt’s deep, rumbly one.

Shit.

I hadn’t heard Colt come home.

Sebastian seems to be leaving the basement, which is good. Unfortunately, Colt’s walking to his room, and I’m about to be found. I back away from the door as it opens, a chagrined look on my face.

Colt flips on the light and takes in the sight of me standing there, and his face instantly darkens as the duffle bag he’s holding drops to the floor with a thud.

He looks pissed, and I don’t blame him. I know exactly how this must look, and I quickly put my hands up in surrender. “I was only hiding from Sebastian so he wouldn’t ask me why I was waiting for you,” I say in a rush. “I got more texts from Slade,” I add, nodding to the phone in my hand. I know I look ridiculous with my hands up, but I’m trying to prevent him from biting my head off before I can explain.

“Put your damned hands down.”

I lower my arms and look at him earnestly. “I was waiting on the sofa when Sebastian came home.”

Colt’s silent as he reaches down and picks up the duffle bag. As he enters the room, I move back and watch as he sets the bag on his bed. He turns back to me and wordlessly holds his hand out for the phone.

I walk over and hand it to him, watching as he opens the text conversation and studies the latest photos. If his expression was irritated before, now it intensifies with a hint of concern. “I told you I’d let you know if he contacted me again,” I say quietly.

His eyes lift to meet mine. “I think it’s time to report this, Quinn.”

“That’s kind of hard to do when we don’t even know who he really is,” I point out.

“It’ll still help build a case against him.”

“They’re just pictures.”

The corners of his eyes tighten, and his lips flatten. “He nearly strangled you to unconsciousness,” he states tersely.

My eyes widen. “You want me to tell them that?”

“It’ll help put things into perspective.”

“Colt, it was during sex.”

“That doesn’t make it okay,” he says in a firm, unwavering tone.

“Of course not, but I’m not going to go into detail about my sex life to the police!” I exclaim.

He looks at me steadily, as if he’s trying to understand why I’m dragging my feet over this. “Quinn, he’s not going to stop on his own.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “He’s obviously distracted with other things or he’d be harassing me daily.”

“Or he’s dragging this shit out to mess with your head,” he corrects.

“Just stop.” I turn away and walk over to the wooden board that he throws knives at. I study the marred wood as I try to figure out what to do. I hadn’t expected Colt to want to go to the police.

He releases a low sigh from behind me. “Since when have you ever been self-conscious about anything?”

I turn to glare at him. “I draw the line when it comes to sharing details of my sex life with strangers. Asphyxiation during sex is not a crime.”

Colt’s jaw flexes, and I can tell he’s running low on patience with this conversation that seems to be headed nowhere. “It is when it’s not consensual. What about the blood? Quinn, none of that sounds okay to me.”

“He’s not actually threatening my life. All he’s doing is sending photos.”

He gives me a long, pointed stare. “Isn’t that enough?”

I look at him steadily. “I’m not going to let him destroy my life.”

He steps closer, his eyes locked on mine. “Going to the police is a protective measure.”

“But is it really necessary?”

“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “You can’t tell me you’re not uncomfortable knowing he’s following you.”

“Anyone would be,” I say, not bothering to deny it.

His eyes search mine, urging me to do what he’s asking. “Then why not go to the police? You can leave out the details of your birthday if you’re that uncomfortable about it. The pictures should be enough. And the note.”

I make an annoyed sound as I throw my hands in the air with frustration. “I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of playing puppet master, Colt! If I scramble around like I’m frightened, then he’s pulling my strings. Don’t you get that?”

He moves in closer, framing my face with his warm hands, causing my heart to skip a beat. His eyes burn into mine with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. “This isn’t about proving to him how strong you are, Quinn. This is about your safety.” He’s standing too close to me, and the tension is beginning to build. Colt must feel it, because he abruptly releases me and steps back. “What will it take to get you to file a report?”

I give up, shaking my head. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Let me ask you this. If he cornered you, and you were all alone with him, would you be scared?”

Damn him. “Let’s get it over with before I change my mine,” I grumble.