Page 23 of Quinn

Asagowi nodded towards the stuffed dog. “So, the dog is to appease her in the meantime? You spoil her, Quinn. You can’t keep giving her everything she wants.”

“Yes, I can, that’s what godfathers are all about.”

Asagowi shrugged. We’d had the same discussion many times over and he knew it was one he’d never win. “I’ll catch up with you in the next day or two.”

“You know where to find me. I’ll drop Mahiro off with her mother and get down to the fields.” He turned to leave before spinning back around. “Tania and Nat called in earlier but when I explained to them where Arabella and I knew each other from, and that we were catching up on what had happened since I’d left, they said they would leave us alone and drop by again later.”

“I have no doubt they’ll be back. Don’t work too late, you don’t need to make up for this morning. You deserve a few hours off with all the overtime you work.”

“Thanks, Quinn.”

I watched him leave before flopping into a chair opposite where Arabella was sitting.

“Did you enjoy spending time with Asagowi again?”

“Oh, Quinn, you have no idea how wonderful it was to see him. To know he escaped and was safe. He told me how he came to be here. You’re a good man. Thank you for all you have done for Aso and for me.”

“It's no big deal. Asagowi has been a huge asset to our business.” Arabella was unusually quiet and her eyes were lowered to her lap. “Is everything all right? Are you in pain?”

“Aso said you wouldn’t let me go since I know you’re mafia. He said if I ask to leave here your brothers will insist on you ending my life.”

Fuck. “That’s not a certainty, Bella, but you have to realise, we can’t have someone talking to officials about our business. Most of them are bought by us, but there are one or two who would delight on ruining us if they could get enough information.”

“Even if I left here, Quinn, I would never say a word about what I know.”

“You say that now, but money can buy all kinds of favours.”

“You believe I would literally sell you out?”

“I don’t know, Bella. I like you but I don’t know you.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I would never say a word, Quinn, not even if I was subjected to torture. Believe me when I tell you, it’s been tried and they failed.”

Hearing her mention that she’d been tortured was like a red rag to a bull. The motherfuckers that had caused her so much pain needed to be terminated…Now!

“How about we talk about leaving or staying when the time comes. Did Barry call by today?”

“Yes. I have an appointment at the hospital for one o’clock tomorrow afternoon.”

“I’ll let Connor know I’ll need some men to accompany us there.”

Arabella nodded at the same time Lynetta announced lunch was ready on the table. I stood and held out a hand to Arabella, helping her from the chair and into the dining room where a lunch of sandwiches and soup was laid out.

***

I strode towards the building which housed mine and my brother’s offices, conference room, the labs, and offices of various employees. Lunch with Arabella and Lynetta had been…enlightening. I’d been a little surprised by the depth of the young woman’s strength and amazed she hadn’t been broken years earlier. I’d known stronger men who would have buckled beneath much less. Fuck, my own brother had admitted he’d fallen apart under torturous treatment that had been inflicted a few weeks earlier.

I smiled hello to Katrine as she was about to leave the building with Daly in tow.

“Where are you two going?” I held the door open as we spoke.

“We were headed down to the east field to take a few clippings. Why?” Daly asked.

“We have the meeting with Connor and Jake in the conference room at two.”

“Fuck, I forgot all about that. Logan’s in his office so I’ll go grab him and meet you there in a few.” Daly turned smouldering eyes on Katrine. “I’ll meet you in the lab once I’m done and we’ll take a look at the growth on those clippings.”

Katrine couldn’t hide her disappointment. “I’ll catch you later then.” To me she said, “have a good meeting,” before she slipped through the door.