Every Chapter

Chapter Ten

Quinn wasn't sure what time Tanner would show himself, they hadn't decided that, and she knew even if she decided on one time, he'd appear earlier than they'd decided. He always had a way of showing up before anyone was ready for company. She knew it was a habit he picked up for his mother. The earlier he arrived at places, the less time they had time to cover things up, meaning the more political warfare his mother would have. She knew that wasn't the case with her, their families were connected. Whatever happens to one effect the other. No, he only arrived early to meet her because he had a bad habit of doing just that.

So, Quinn woke up early, earlier than she did most days at 5:00 am to shower, shave, curl her brown hair, put on her nicest sundress, a effortless amount of makeup and she prepared to break up with Tanner.

At exactly 7:05 Quinn swished her lips with a clear gloss, one that drew together the entire look. One that tied it all together, women for centuries had been doing exactly as she had this morning. Make a man regret his actions.

At exactly 7:06 Ian knocked on her door.

"Yes?" The door creaked open slowly and he peaked inside, insuring she was decent. Surprised when he caught her at the vanity table dressed and ready rather than in her bed.

"Tanner is here."

"Send him up."

Any respect he had for her was lost in an instant, Tanner hadn't suffered nearly enough as he should have. Not for that night and not for the way he'd treated Quinn. He walked inside the room now and closed the door, in an attempt to muffle the sound of his voice.

"What the fuck are you thinking?"

"Excuse me?" She slammed her gloss on the table and turned her full body to look at him now.

"Are you truly this dense?" He kept his voice low, but each word struck like it'd been yelled.

"Get out Ian." For the same reasons as him she kept her tone lowered. She did not want anyone to hear them, especially Tanner.

"I heard the things he said to you Quinn."

She pushed to her feet and walked over towards him quickly.

"It's not your business Ian." She hissed out her words.

He stepped closer to her himself.

"You don't exactly keep your business quiet." He reminded her not of what had been said to her when Tanner was in a rage but of the gasps he'd overheard before they started fighting.

"you..."

Tanner pushed the door to the bedroom open and the pair jumped apart, more guilty than they should have been. Nothing was out of character for the two to be fighting. It wasn't like they hid it most days but hiding it from Tanner was important If she wanted to leave him with the least amount of blackmail as possible.

"What the hell?" He stiffened in the doorway at the sight of the two of them behind closed doors.

"Tanner," Quinn breathed as if nothing had been happening mere moments before.

"Ian was just telling me you were here."

Tanner's eyes levitated to Ian, if he needed to, he would take the massive man down. Not with fist, but with influence. There was no need for him to get his hands dirty when he had ties to the city.

"Mr. Folles." Ian gave him a crude nod and Tanner stepped away from the door so that he could exit.

Ian didn't like the idea of backing down to Tanner, he didn't like the idea of backing down from anything that got in his way. But this was his job, a job he was finding himself waking up more and more intrigued by what would come the moment Tanner and Quinn fought. He could spin it some way he thought, he could make her hurt him.