Page 49 of Savage Promises (Quinlan Empire #2)

Shane - June

T hree weeks. It’s been three agonizing weeks since Lennox and I started living like strangers under the same roof. The tension is suffocating, a noose tightening every time she walks into the room and doesn’t meet my eyes.

She paid back my credit card with money from her Echelon payment. I’ve replayed every conversation in my head where I dropped hints for her to talk to me. To open up to me. All I get is silence and the excuse that she’s tired.

I think back and wonder if there was something I could have said to fix us.

Now? I don’t even know where to start.

I can’t talk to Griffin or Ewan about it. Hell, I already know what they’d say.

‘What did you expect? She’s a Donnelly. They can’t be trusted.’

Maybe they’re right. But I don’t want them to be.

When my phone buzzes with Garrett’s name flashing across the screen, my first instinct is to ignore it. But curiosity, or maybe desperation wins.

“What?” I ask, my tone flat.

“Shane! How you doing, buddy?” Garrett says, sounding almost cordial.

“What do you want?”

He grumbles, sensing I’m not in the mood to gab. “Okay. Let’s clear the air. It’s time, Shane.”

I lean back in my home office chair. I don’t trust him, but what the hell do I have to lose? “Where and when?”

“Let’s have a few drinks. Come to my club tomorrow night. Lennox is working. She’s always working, right? You deserve a fun night out.” He clears his throat. “ Like...old times.”

That has the hair on the back of my neck standing up. What the hell does he really want? He’s up to something and as usual, I have to keep an eye on him.

Like old times.

Fuck...

“Fine. I’ll be there at eight,” I say and hang up.

The following night, after Lennox leaves for work at her usual seven p.m., again not saying very much to me over a great dinner Liz cooked, I dress in a nice suit. Club Echelon has dwindled in popularity and class, but I’d rather stand out than blend in with the riff-raff.

Leaving the house, I wave off my guard and drive my Corvette. Alone.

After a slog across the bridge, I reach Club Echelon and park across the street.

Opening the door to the club, the place reeks of cheap cologne over stale sweat.

Flashing lights pulse in time with bass-heavy music.

Scantily-clad waitresses move between tables carrying unrecognizable bottles of beer.

A pretty hostess with a tight smile greets me. “Just one tonight?”

“I’m here to see Garrett. Shane Quinlan.”

Her nostrils flare hearing my name. “Oh yes, Mr. Quinlan. Come with me.”

She brings me down a carpeted hallway with mirrored walls and not the back-of-house corridor to the office.

I stop. “Where the fuck are you taking me?”

“To Mr. Donnelly’s private lounge. He left instructions to make sure you’re comfortable,” she says, sounding nervous.

“And where is Mr. Donnelly? ”

“Mr. Donnelly is finishing a meeting. He instructed me to have you wait in here.” She opens the door to a VIP lounge .

For a second, I wonder if this is some kind of ambush. Garrett can’t be that stupid. He’ll be gunned down in a matter of hours. I step inside the room where the air is thick and musty.

Something feels off, but I’m armed, I can protect myself. I sit on the stiff velvet sofa and start scrolling through my phone to check for a message from Lennox. It’s always the same. And I’m always disappointed. Nothing.

The door opens a moment later, and a woman strides inside wearing a silver cocktail dress that leaves little to the imagination.

“Mr. Quinlan,” she says, her voice soft and sultry. “I’m here to keep you company while Mr. Donnelly wraps up his meeting.”

I stiffen, my instincts on high alert. “That’s not necessary.”

She ignores me and sits on my lap as if I’ve given her an invitation. My body freezes, the image of a female sitting on me like this flashing through my brain. All I see is Lennox. Her laugh, her touch, her warmth. She’s all I want.

“What in fuck’s sake are you doing?” I pull back and raise my hand to show her my wedding ring. “I’m married. Now get off me.”

Cooing, the woman runs a hand over my chest, leaning closer. “Relax. I won’t bite.”

When she tries to kiss me, I grab her wrist. Hard. “I said get the fuck off me before I throw you off.”

Her eyes widen in fear, and she scrambles to her feet. “Please don’t hurt me!”

The one-eighty has my head spinning.

“I’m not here to hurt you. I don’t know what made you think you can just waltz in here and...” I stop, my breath catching in my lungs. “Did someone put you up to this?”

She nods, holding her middle. “I owe Mr. Donnelly money. He accused me of stealing tips. I didn’t. But he said if I sleep with you, he won’t fire me.” Her vomit confession pumps cold fury through my veins.

“Why me ?” I ask, furious.

“He... He needs you to cheat on your wife. Something about her wanting out of your marriage. I thought I was helping another woman out.”

“What?” Stars pop out behind my eyes like I’ve been hit with a baseball bat. I draw my gun. “We’re going to Mr. Donnelly’s office. You and me. Let’s go.”

“No, please. He’ll hurt me.”

“He won’t. Not after I get through with him.” I push out of the lounge, waving my gun for her to keep walking.

Heads turn as I storm toward Garrett’s office.

The hostess with her clicking heels chases after me. “Mr. Quinlan, is there a problem?”

“Go back to work,” I say over my shoulder.

In front of Garrett’s office, I throw open the door. No surprise, there’s no meeting going on. Garrett is alone, lounging at his desk, playing some game on his phone like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Seeing me, he throws his legs off the desk. “What the hell? You were told to wait.”

“ I don’t wait for anyone. And you sent this woman to keep me company ?” I make her sit down. “What the fuck?”

Garrett’s cheeks redden. “I thought you could use some fresh pussy.”

“I’m married to your fucking sister,” I bark.

“She’s always working, and knowing her, I figured she iced you out.” Garrett shrugs. “This was my gift to you. Take it. I won’t tell.”

“Leave,” I bark at the woman.

“Wait!” Garrett blocks her .

I pull him out of the way and let the woman leave, slamming the door behind her. “I still have access to the cameras here. If I see a mark on her face, I’ll hurt you ten times worse.”

“But did you fuck her?”

“ No , you piece of shit. Did you want me to cheat on Lennox so you can talk her into a divorce?” Rage fires through my veins. “Have her lawyer up for a huge settlement?”

“Fuck.” He slumps into that old chair. Leaning back, he levels with me. “Your prenup has a cheating clause. I read it. That means you wanted a way out. I’m giving you a way out.”

I keep my face even because I have no idea what the hell Garrett is talking about. Only, I never read my prenup. Kai Powers, my fucking lawyer drew it up.

I’ll deal with that fucker later.

“I’m not cheating on Lennox, and she wouldn’t want some big payout if I did. This is all about you.”

“The money isn’t for Lennox,” Garrett’s voice breaks through the roaring in my ears.

“It’s for Neve. You basically left her at the altar.

And my father is in debt. He may marry her off to someone else.

With her volleyball career over, she’s just a burden to him.

I’m protecting my little sister. You’re a family man, Shane. You’d do the same.”

I grab Garrett by the throat, the chair testing its springs. “I’d never let my sister get into this situation to begin with.”

“Maybe not you. ” Garrett smiles sarcastically. “Do you think I forgot how Ewan tried to force Siobhan to marry Kieran O’Rourke?”

I clench my fists, my entire body vibrating with rage. “Exactly. That wasn’t me. That was Ewan. And that was a long time ago. We’re in the here and now. I’m married to your sister. By choice. Lennox and I are making our marriage work.”

“Is she really, though?” Garrett asks through a grimy smile. “She knew about this. Greenlighted me to go ahead.”

My anger twists into something darker. “Bullshit.”

Garrett shrugs, like this is all a game. “She met with my father and me, told me to set you up. She wants out, Shane. She doesn’t like that she was your second choice.”

Choice? I had no fucking choice. But my heart lurches in my chest. For some stupid fucking reason, for this one moment, I believe Garrett that Lennox knew about this. That’s why she’s been so cold and distant.

She wants out of the marriage.

And this is how she does it?

I’m dizzy with anger and heartache. The betrayal cuts deep, but I force myself to focus.

“I’ll deal with my wife,” I say, my voice ice-cold. “And Neve is going to whatever college she wants. I’ll take care of it. Me.”

Without waiting for a response, I storm out of the office. Back in my car, I call Kai Powers.

“Shane,” the lawyer answers, sounding surprised to hear from me so late. “What can I do for you?”

“Draw up divorce papers. Right now. I want out of my marriage. Prepare a check for Lennox. Make it a hefty settlement.”

“Shane, what the hell?” Kai’s sharp reply reeks of judgment he has no business casting on me. He made me sign a prenup with a clause that got me into this mess in the first place.

“Don’t make me tell you again,” I bite out. “I’ll be in your office in one hour to pick up the divorce papers and the check.”

Kai spits out a stuttering gasp. “Shane, what is going on?”

“Just do it!” I snap. “And I need you to get Neve Donnelly into USC.” I recall her clamoring on about the place. “Now. Early acceptance. Get her out of Astoria. Arrange everything. The flight, housing, meals, tuition. Whatever it takes.”

I hang up and spend the longest hour of my life driving around the city. The wet streets from a recent rainstorm leave a fresh smell in the warm June air, but my heart is stale and dark. I spend the hour replaying every conversation with Lennox in my head, looking for the clues I missed.

When I arrive at Kai’s office, Griffin is waiting for me. His arms are crossed in front of his broad chest and his face is set in a grim line.

“Care to tell me what the hell is going on?” my brother demands.

Fucking Kai pulled rank. I sit down and tell them everything. Garrett’s stunt, Richard’s debts, and Neve being in danger of a harsh new marriage deal to settle those debts.

When I’m done, I glare at Kai. “You put a fucking cheating clause in my prenup?”

Griffin squeezes Kai’s shoulders. “I told him to put it in there originally for the marriage to Neve. You’re a cunning bastard, Shane. I needed to ensure you’d stay married, fulfill the promise of pureblood heirs. Did you not read it before you signed?”

“Kai’s my fucking lawyer, too. I trusted him. How dare you not trust me! You know me, you know I don’t cheat.”

Griffin shoves his hands into jogger pockets. “So, you didn’t cheat with that waitress?”

“Fuck no.”

“So why are we here?” Griffin waves his hands, his eyes dark from being pulled away from his family late at night. “Why are you divorcing Lennox?”

“She okay’d Garrett’s plan. She wants the divorce.” I slump deeper into the chair and hold my head, willing back tears.

Kai and Griffin exchange horrified glances at how I’ve fallen apart.

“I married Lennox instead of Neve because I wanted her. I stayed married even after the warehouse fire because I wanted her. I... I fucking love her.”

Not in the way I’ve loved anything else. Money, power, or control.

This is different. My wife is chaos and calm in the same breath. It’s her laugh and wit when she’s not trying to impress anyone. It’s the way she sneaks those looks at me when she doesn’t think I see.

I wanted to hate it.

I wanted to fight it.

And I would have burned down everything including my relationship with my brothers to keep her. I’m here challenging the head of the family, an act tantamount to treason with a death sentence.

That’s how I know what I feel is real.

That’s how I also know I’m too far gone and will get crushed.

“Nothing says love like a divorce,” Kai mutters into the silence of my madness.

“What did you say?” I bolt to my feet and with my gun in hand, I reach across the desk to pistol-whip the bastard.

Griffin pulls Kai out of the way. “Get a hold of yourself, Shane.”

I stagger back breathing heavily seeing how insane I must look in my brother’s eyes. “It’s fine. I’ll be...fine. Just give me those damn papers. ”

“You really shouldn’t do this,” Griffin says, stopping Kai from handing them over.

“It’s my life,” I growl, yanking the papers from Kai’s hand.

“I’ll do what I damn well please. I’m done.

And I mean done for good. Do not expect me to marry someone else.

I don’t care if my pure Irish blood burns and dies out.

And Kai?” I shake the papers at him. “Anything fucked up in here I should know about?”

“No,” Kai grunts. “Standard no-fault divorce. And here’s your check for Lennox.” He hands me an envelope.

I look inside and cringe, seeing it made out for twenty million dollars. There’s no way Lennox will pass this up.

Griffin shakes his head. “You’re making a mistake, Shane.”

I ignore him and glare at Kai. “What about Neve getting into USC?”

Griffin and Kai exchange glances until my brother gives a soft nod.

“That will take a few days. But I know the right people. It’ll be taken care of,” Kai assures me.

I storm out of the office, my chest tight, my head spinning. I don’t even remember the drive home, and I was fucking behind the wheel.

The house is dark except for the faint glow from Lennox’s bedroom. Hawk’s little body is a silhouette in the window. As usual, he’s staring at his favorite tree.

My heart pounds as I climb the stairs to reach Lennox’s bedroom, bracing myself for the showdown that I know will destroy us both.