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Chapter Sixteen

When Quinn left her room to see her father off, she had one thing on her mind. Reading. She didn't bother with getting dressed, she wanted to be comfortable, curled up inside her library. She threw on her favorite pair of sweats and a lose t-shirt and walked downstairs. She recognized the look on her father's face as "you should change." But she ignored it. She wasn't going anywhere today.

Rina was far too busy for her to meet up today, in preparation for the fourth and she didn't feel like going out anyway.

"Ian only has one run to make while I'm gone. But I still expect you two to be together anywhere you go Quinn."

"Yes dad."

"I'm serious, my leaving is not a secret matter. If someone wants to attack it will likely be while I am gone."

"Can't you just hug me and say goodbye like a normal dad?"

He laughed and wrapped her in a hug. "I love you sweetheart; I just want you safe." He kissed the top of her head and pulled her back to look at her.

"You know you look just like your mother." She wandered as he looked lovingly down at her if he had hit her mother too. Or if he only hit her because she looked like her.

She thinned her lips into a smile.

"I love you."

"I love you too dad, now go. You'll miss your flight."

John came beside him and lifted his carry on bag, the others had already been stuffed into the backseat of the car.

"Be safe and be smart." He walked from the house, and she wondered if she had imagined him striking her all those times. There was no way the man who raised his hand to her was the same one who loved her so dearly it was hard for him to leave her not knowing if she's safe. Quinn felt more and less safe with him gone. She knew her father was not a fighter, but there was a part of her that stayed with her since she was little that would always feel safe with her father. The other part of her never knew when he'd drink again.

The walls of the estate seemed more open with him gone, freer. As they always did in his absence, it was her favorite time. She got to play house as an adult.

She turned back to Ian who was standing a respectful distance away by the staircase.

"Ready?"

"For?" He raised a brow and his eyes moved to the maid walking by them. It wasn't her fault she was being nosey; it was unusual to see one of the security decals to speak with them like this. When she caught Ian's stare she scurried away quickly.

"Please, like you don't want to know what happens with Tamlin."

"I'm telling you; I don't trust him." She rolled her eyes as they walked to the library.

"You just don't like people."

"That's true."

Quinn walked to her corner and lifted up a blanket and pillow carrying them over to the couch. She was sacrificing her comfort so they could both read, it wasn't that the couch she was sprawling out on now was uncomfortable. It just wasn't her spot.

"Grab a blanket if you want. I intend to be here all day."

He nodded his head and went to her corner, grabbing a blanket out for himself.

Quinn propped the pillow behind her back on the arm of the couch and snuggled under the blanket until she was comfortable. Ian moved to the chair near her feet and propped his legs up on the coffee table.

"Comfortable?" She asked, opening the book.

He nodded even though it was a lie. He envied her ability to wear comfortable clothes. He was crammed inside of a suit, which didn't make for the best lounging wear. No matter how much spending time with her reading did not feel like work, it still was. He had to remind himself of that when she began reading. Transporting them into the book.