Lost the Handle (Nashville Assassins: Next Generation #8)

Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

Emery

Did I buy a Bugatti because it’s Quinn’s dream car?

You bet your sweet ass I did.

Do I like driving it?

Nope. It scares the fuck out of me. It’s incredibly powerful. But I won’t let him know that.

Nor will I ever tell him how seeing him with Zac has my ovaries shooting eggs left and right. God, he’s insanely attractive. His dark hair is styled slick to the side, his jaw now covered with stubble that has me wanting to lick him from chin to ear. He still has on the burgundy scrubs from the clinic where he works. On the breast pocket is the name of the clinic with his name embroidered under it.

Dr. Quinn Adler.

I don’t know why I hate that. I should be proud. He’s brilliant, and it isn’t easy to go through medical school, especially doing it as young as he did. I respected his choice when he chose being a doctor over starting EMQUINNY with me. I didn’t like it, but I respected it. He had already finished college school and was starting med school.

He has this dream of making his dad proud by getting hockey players back on the ice. It’s respectable, it’s a good dream, but it’s unneeded. Shea Adler would love and be proud of Quinn if he joined the circus to be a clown.

That’s just who Shea is.

Just like my dad, Shea’s proud of his kids because of who they are, not what they add to his image. That’s just a plus for my dad—since I’m so amazing and all. It doesn’t matter that I’m on the Forbes Richest 25 under 25, coming in at stellar #22, which was cool as shit since it was my dad’s hockey number. My dad loves me, regardless.

Adores me.

Just as Shea does Quinn. I’ve tried telling this to his stubborn ass, but Quinn wants to be an asset to his family. I mean, I get it. His eldest sister Shelli is a Broadway-star-turned-GM for the Nashville Assassins, the team both our dads played for and retired from. His other sister Posey is the first female coach for the Assassins. Both are also moms, and I mean, Wow . Shit. I can barely keep myself alive if I get too deep into work. Those two keep humans alive and rock their work lives. Incredible.

Then his older brothers, twins, Owen and Evan, are hockey superstars. Even though Evan doesn’t play anymore, when he did, he was a force to be reckoned with. Now, he’s helping athletes with their mental health. So yeah, I get it; those are some huge footsteps to follow in.

But to me, it’s obvious Quinn has always been an asset. To anyone he loves.

As I sit across from him eating the chicken, cheese, and rice he brought, which totally warmed my heart since it’s my favorite, he holds Zac in his lap while they share a bowl of guacamole. He feeds his nephew, laughing and teasing. I try not to watch them, but it’s hard. I’ve missed seeing him with his family these last couple years. One of the many things I love about Quinn is how deeply he loves his family. Most would be jealous of his pure devotion, but I’ve always found it lovely.

I feel eyes on me, and when I look over, Posey is watching me from where she sits on her husband’s lap. Boon strokes her thigh as he studies me too. With an inquisitive smile, he says, “So, business must be good if you’re driving that kind of car.”

I dab my lips with my napkin as I giggle softly. “I’m doing well. I’ve made a subsidiary of EMQUINNY to handle cybersecurity.”

I glance over to see Quinn watching me, those blue eyes spearing my soul. “Hacking in to their systems to show their weaknesses?”

Only Quinn knows me that well. I send him a bright grin. “Actually, yeah. I hack them and show them how easy it is. The concept has paid off.”

“Isn’t that illegal?” Posey asks, but I don’t miss the little smirk Quinn tries to hide behind Zac’s head.

I ignore him and the flutter in my gut to shake my head at his sister. “No. I’m not stealing anything or exploiting them. Just showing their weaknesses and how I can protect them.”

“But you could steal or exploit?”

Fuck right, I can, and the pride in knowing I have the ability gives me a rush. I’m sure my grin is taking up my whole face as I nod. “Sure could.”

“For someone so small, you’re terrifying, Emery Brooks,” Boon jokes, and I chuckle lightly.

“So I’ve been told,” I say, and when I look up through my lashes, Quinn is still watching me. I can’t figure out his look; it’s somewhere between awe and fear. He wears it a lot around me.

Posey clears her throat, and I glance over at her. “Mom said Fallon told her you’ve been planning to come back since Christmas?”

I notice as she looks over to Quinn but quickly puts her eyes on me. I swallow. I wasn’t really ready to admit that, but here we go. “Yeah. California wasn’t doing it for me anymore.”

“Really? Social media made it seem like you loved it,” she throws back at me, and I shrug.

“It’s easy to live a happy life on social media, but true happiness isn’t documented like that. I was just going through the motions, trying to keep up with my peers. I was bored, and I missed the South.”

“Bored? You?” Quinn asks. “That doesn’t happen.”

“It does when you’re all alone with no one who cares for who you are, only the car you drive and the money you drop at clubs,” I say, my tone sharper than needed. Ignoring him, I look back at where Posey and Boon are watching me with bewilderment in their eyes. “I had just chosen not to renew my apartment lease, but I paid it annually, so I was going to come back in August when it expired.”

“You came home early, though?”

There is a challenge in Posey’s eyes. She wants me to admit the truth. Beside her, Quinn rumbles, “Enough, Posey.”

She feigns innocent, her eyes dancing. “What? I’m just making conversation.”

Before he can scold her anymore, I say, “Yeah, I’m not a fan of the fact that your brother is thinking he can marry someone other than me.”

Posey fights back emotion as Boon shakes his head. I feel Quinn’s eyes on me, and when I meet his gaze, anger is swirling in those beautiful blue depths. “I am getting married.”

I don’t look away. I don’t even show emotion. “We’ll see.”

He narrows his eyes. “I’m serious, E. This is happening.”

“Or it won’t,” I say simply, looking back down at my food. I pop a spoonful of chicken into my mouth and meet his fiery gaze once more. “I guess we’ll just see how this plays out.”

“There is only one way—me marrying Ava.”

“Or me.”

His face turns red with frustration, and Zac notices immediately. “Unky?”

Quinn rubs his nephew’s back. “I’m fine, buddy,” he says softly, kissing the top of his head. His eyes are like steel as they burn into mine when he grits out, “Emery. I’m not kidding.”

“Nor am I,” I say calmly, and I know it’s driving him crazy. Inside, I’m a hurricane of emotions, but on the outside, I won’t let him see.

“You need to accept it.”

“I won’t,” I say matter-of-factly. “I don’t know if you’ve caught on or not, so let me be clear. You are mine. I am yours. The blood that courses through my body is yours. My heart pounds for you and only you, Quinn Phillips.”

He scoffs. The bastard. “Only because I’m marrying someone else. Three years ago, I wasn’t good enough for you.”

Well, there goes my restraint. I feel my face heat as I glare. “That’s not true. I wasn’t ready.”

“Oh, but you are now? That’s so fucking cute. You’re just selfish and don’t want anyone having what is ‘yours.’ If I were yours, you wouldn’t have cast me to the side when I had my heart on a silver platter for you.”

I’m shaking mad. I inhale sharply, ready to give it back to him, when Posey stands. “You two are upsetting Zac.” She comes around, gathering her son in her arms. “This needs to be handled in private.”

“Yeah, at home,” I say, my eyes locked with his.

Quinn’s glare deepens as he scoffs at me. “Where you shouldn’t be because you can afford a fucking Bugatti.”

I almost laugh. He’s such a baby. “You’re just mad I won’t let you drive it.”

Before he can quip something back, Posey says, “Wait. You’re staying at his place?”

With a sweet, innocent smile, I nod. “Yeah. We’re roommates.”

“No. She’s a roach that snuck in,” he grumbles, and I snort.

“You opened the door.”

“You pushed your way in and now won’t leave.”

“You haven’t told me to.”

“I told you three times!” he exclaims, his eyes wild.

“No. You suggested I go somewhere else, and I said no.”

He holds his hands out at me. “Exactly. You won’t leave.”

“You don’t want me to,” I say with a shrug. “Stop with the dramatics.”

Boon clears his throat, and we both look over. “Is Ava not living with you?”

Quinn exhales heavily. “We’re waiting till after the wedding.”

So, Quinn has a tell when he lies. His left eye always droops a bit. I don’t know if he’s trying to look away and won’t let himself or what, but I know his lying face. I’ve been the accomplice to many of his lies. I eye him. Why is he lying about that?

“Does she know that Emery is living with you now?”

“Of course,” he says, and once more, it’s a lie.

Interesting.

“And she’s okay with that?” Posey asks next, and Quinn shrugs.

“She knows we go way back. She’s fine,” he lies some more, and I’m mind-blown. Don’t get me wrong. Quinn has no problem telling a little white lie here and there, but this is deception. Something I never thought Quinn was capable of.

And why?

“She knows nothing will happen between us,” Quinn adds, and I snort.

“Just wait.”

“Emery—”

Before he can finish, Posey cuts in. “I wouldn’t be okay with Boon living with his ex.”

“Nothing will happen,” Quinn says with such confidence I can’t help but giggle. I quickly cover it with a cough when everyone looks over at me.

I smile sweetly. “He’s cute when he’s in denial.”

Posey snorts, while Boon shakes his head. He clasps his brother-in-law on the shoulder before muttering, “Yeah, good luck.”

Quinn exhales. “I’m gonna need it.”

Meanwhile, I’m grinning from ear to ear.

No matter how much luck he has, nothing will stop me from finding out the truth about his engagement.

And making Quinn mine.