Page 17 of Savage Promises (Quinlan Empire #2)

Shane scoffs a laugh. “Because your clueless brother knows how to run a nightclub.”

Dad doesn’t trust Garrett to work the streets anymore, but out of a sense of loyalty to my family, I don’t voice that.

“Anyway, I know what he’s willing to offer to buy me out. That combined with what I can get from Rafael—”

“No,” Shane bites out sharply, the tension between us rising to a palpable level.

Before I gather the courage to argue, a familiar voice calls out from several feet away.

“Shane!”

I turn to see Neve walking toward us, her fresh blonde highlights catching the sun streaming in from the arched windows. She’s dressed casually in leggings and an oversized team hoodie, looking every bit the effortless beautiful young athletic teenager.

My sister wisely accepted the guard Shane hired for her.

It’s been the only thing she’s done right since this engagement farce sprung wings.

I expected she’d hate it. But she turned the guy into a caddy, carrying all her equipment around and driving her to all her practices, clinics, and tutoring with the coach.

The guy follows her wearing a gray suit and dark shades, holding her purse. What a way to emasculate a guard.

Neve barely glances at me and focuses solely on Shane.

She wants something...

“Shane, finally, I’ve caught you. Lars called your guard and he said you were here.” Neve stares at me with surprise splashed across her young face. “With Lennox.”

Shane goes rigid from being caught spending time with another woman.

Not waiting for a response, my sister steps up to him and wraps her arms around him. “I need a new guard,” she whispers sweetly.

Seeing her touch Shane sends waves of rage through me.

He stiffens at Neve’s sudden embrace and steps back, shaking himself loose. But he snaps into Concerned Fiancé mode. “Why?”

“Lars is too...clingy. Too nosy.”

“That’s what he’s paid to do.”

Neve ignores his coldness, her tone dismissive. She looks lost until her gaze lands on the other half of my wrapped sandwich. “Oh, corned beef! My favorite.”

Neve hops up on the stool I vacated and proceeds to finish my lunch. The lunch her fiancé bought for me. In fairness, they are ridiculously big sandwiches.

Shane hires her guards, but he feeds me. It’s a small victory, but I’m snuggling with that one tonight.

Move over Hawk...

Neve stops eating and notices the silence. “Come eat with me, Shane. You keep saying you want us to spend time together. I’m here.”

In MY new bar’s construction site.

“Of course,” Shane says, his voice straining and awkward. “This conversation isn’t over, Lennox.” He glares at me, his eyes above Neve’s head bobbing as she downs the sandwich.

She doesn’t ask what he means. She doesn’t care.

I leave them, a familiar tightness clawing at my throat. Warm tears well up behind my eyes. To be able to just show up to where Shane is, stomp my boot heel, and have him give me all his attention? It’s suffocating how much I want that.

How much I want him .

When Shane glances at me, I spin around to keep walking. Through sheets of plate glass sitting on a cart, I see him turning back to my sister.

Driving back to Club Echelon, I push away the aching jealousy, by focusing on the new bar and on the future I’m building for myself. But no matter where my mind goes, I end up down a rabbit hole thinking of Shane. And Neve. With Neve. The two of them together.

Grrr.

The weight of this day feels unbearable. I need to talk to Rafael. It’s time to settle this funding dilemma. I need to know if this is doable. That hope will pull me out of my spiraling thoughts of my sister and her fiancé.

My fiancé is in town this week. Maybe surprising him with sketches and photos will jolt him into wanting to own Luxe with me. I have solid numbers now.

I’m due back at my club, but I hook a left and drive right to Rafael’s office. I arrive at the building and get out of my car. I spot his limo idling in front and it happens in slow motion...

He gets out and helps a beautiful redhead wearing a fur coat onto the curb next. My brain immediately thinks she must be a colleague. One he...kisses.

With tongue.

Oh God, no.

I’m frozen on the sidewalk. Rafael holds the woman by the waist and turns to go inside the building but spots me at the last second. I’m just standing there on the sidewalk, people weaving around me, some bumping into me.

Wide-eyed, he whispers something to the redhead. She glances my way and rolling her eyes like I’m a stalker , she strides into the building.

The absurdity of it all hits me like a wave. All the second-guessing I was doing about why he’s been so distant. Blaming myself, my hours, my weight. What a waste of fucking time.

“Lennox...” Rafael approaches me in one of the double-breasted suits I helped pick out. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve been to your office before, Rafael.” I hold my middle, trying to keep it together. “I didn’t think I needed an invitation or to give you a heads-up. Who was that?”

He takes a moment like maybe he can pull a con on me. Telling me I didn’t see what I just saw. Staring into my eyes, he knows I won’t fall for it.

Because I don’t want to fall for it. I never really loved him, but this betrayal...hurts. It also has implications on my life I’m not prepared to deal with right now.

“I met her in Spain. Over Christmas.” He sounds half-guilty, half-annoyed. “She’s...perfect for me. In and out of the bedroom.”

“Old-world traditions be damned, I see.” I feel even more ridiculous for being a twenty-four-year-old virgin. “When were you going to tell me about her?”

“I’m sorry, Lennox.” He stands to his full height, offering no other explanation.

I immediately twist off the plain ring he gave me. “Who is she?”

He hesitates. “Marina Dimon. Of Dimon Liquors.”

The name registers. The liquor store chain. Why have your wine in one little bar in Astoria when it can be on every shelf in the world?

“Here.” I hand him the ring, shaking my head in anger. “You’re unbelievable.”

Hesitating, he takes it from me. “Keep the apartment, Lennox.”

I don’t bother saying anything else. Neither does he. He just spins on his oxfords and leaves me standing on the sidewalk.

Humiliated.

All my enthusiasm about the new club is shattered.

Stunned, I get back in my car and drive home to my apartment in Brooklyn.

I’m not staying there another night. Since it was given to me furnished, I pack up my clothes into one suitcase and a carry bag.

With Hawk meowing from a carrier he hates, I leave the apartment feeling strong.

But on the street, it all falls down on me.

I’m homeless. And without Rafael’s financial support, my dreams of buying that nightclub have been upended. Circling the drain, taking my life with it.

Unsure of where I can go with a cat, I stop at Hawk’s vet right before they close.

He’s due for a checkup. I explain the turn in my unfortunate life and living situation.

They agree to keep him for a few days. He loves it there.

The vet techs spoil him. But it will cost me a deworming and an expensive teeth cleaning.

My mind racing, I drive around aimlessly for nearly an hour, trying not to cry. Mara has a spare bedroom but she’s got a temporary roommate. The logical thing to do is to drive to Astoria and go stay with my father. For some reason, I’m not sure I’m even welcome there.

The traffic, crazy drivers, detours, and cars honking all around close in on me, and I start to have a panic attack. I pull over in front of a park and get out to sit on a cold metal bench that stings my butt. But at least there’s fresh air .

My phone feels heavy in my hand, but I can’t ignore the one name that keeps surfacing in my mind.

Shane.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I dial the number he programmed into my phone somehow.

It’s my job to keep you safe...

It rings once and he picks up. “Lennox?”

“Hi.” I swallow hard, my voice trembling. “I need help.”