Chapter Twenty-One

Quinn stood frozen with her hands clasped, twisting her fingers. It didn’t go over her head that she was standing in a lined-up formation with the guard dogs. Sure, she was a foot in front of them, but the irony is they were standing as if in a pack, and she was the alpha. She bit her bottom lip, watching as Rogue threw a tantrum and berated the trainer for twenty minutes.

Quinn peeked over at Trey, Jared, and three members of security. They’d arrived at the same time as the trainer and were now subjected to Rogue’s angry outburst. Quinn felt a twinge of guilt, suspecting she was the catalyst in this current situation.

“Enlighten the fuck outta me and remind me how much I pay you to not do your fucking job!”

The trainer was giving valid justification, but Rogue annihilated him on every point, always coming back to the money he was paid to do a job he was failing at.

“Rogue.” The trainer drew in a breath, clearly beaten down from the last half hour. “I assure you, they are solid.”

Rogue’s brows hiked up to his hairline. “Solid? Is that what you’re saying? Fucking solid?” His arm shot out, pointing to the dogs but keeping his tight scowl locked on the trainer. “Solid isn’t sleeping at the end of the bed when they’re supposed to be guarding the perimeter.” Rogue’s voice echoed through the room, and she had to force herself not to react.

“And that little fucker was in my goddamn bed with her!”

Quinn slowly angled her head, glancing back at the dogs. Brutus was the target of Rogue’s rage, but he completely ignored him and instead had his eyes pinned on Quinn. Good boy. The corner of her mouth curled, and then he did the unthinkable, and it was the worst possible timing.

He lifted his paw in a swiping motion. Then he did it again. It was a chain reaction for the others who mimicked the move. Clyde, who was closest to her, actually tapped the back of her leg with his paw. Oh shit!

Quinn tried to subtly swat at his paw, but it was too late. Both Rogue and the trainer had caught the dog’s actions. There was no recovering from this.

“What the fuck was that?”

She stilled, widening her eyes. “What was what?”

Quinn stumbled forward when the dog swatted at her leg again, catching her completely off guard.

“What the fuck!”

Quinn cringed when Rogue charged forward. He stopped next to her with his glare aimed at the dogs. His firm command could be heard for miles, she assumed.

“Stand down!”

From the corner of her eye, she saw all five dogs straighten and sit, following Rogue’s order.

“What the fuck is happening?” Rogue shouted. He was addressing the trainer, whose eyes were locked on Quinn. Caught! The trainer lifted his chin, gesturing to Quinn.

“I think you may need to ask her that.”

Shit!

Rogue looked over his shoulder. It was probably best to just come completely clean. There was no hiding the scene they’d both witnessed.

“I may have taught them a few tricks.”

Rogue narrowed his eyes, darting his gaze between her and the dogs. “They’re guard dogs. Security. They don’t do tricks.”

Quinn kept her eyes on the trainer, figuring that was her safest choice. She was already prepping for the wrath of Rogue. Hopefully, she could smooth things over with the trainer. Was it really that bad?

“How?” the trainer asked.

“They’re very food motivated. And quick learners. A few treats.”

“They don’t have treats.” The trainer’s jaw squared, and she knew he was grinding his teeth.

“I bought them some.” Quinn moved closer, resting her hand on Clyde’s neck and scratching behind his ear. It was his sweet spot.

“Don’t pet them!” the trainer shouted.

Before Quinn could move a muscle, Rogue jumped directly in front of her, wrapped his hand around the trainer’s throat, and drove him back a few feet. Rogue’s security closed in, circling the men.

“Don’t you ever fucking raise your voice at her, you hear me?” From her view, she could only see a profile of the men and the trainer’s face turning a bright shade of red. He tried to speak, but it came out as a gurgling sound. Quinn immediately rushed forward, trying to diffuse the situation. She didn’t have a plan, but knowing this was ultimately her fault, she couldn’t stand idly by and watch the melee unfold. Her steps were quickly halted, and her plan derailed when all five dogs rounded her and shimmied back, forcing her away from Rogue and the men. It was as if they were herding. And I’m the cattle.

“You ever pull that shit again, I ain’t letting go, and I’ll watch your last breath leave your fucking body.” Rogue pushed so hard that the trainer went stumbling back and landed on his ass, gasping for a breath. “Get him the fuck outta here!”

Quinn was completely frozen. She was waiting on her own punishment, and when Rogue turned, she braced for it. His darkened gaze lingered over her face, and then dropped to the dogs surrounding her in a protective shield. Rogue didn’t say a word, stalking out of the room behind two guards who were dragging the trainer out the door. There were four security men left. The men stood behind Trey, who was looking over her and the dogs. The corner of his mouth curled slightly.

Jared stepped up next to Trey. “What should we do about the dogs?”

Her heart stopped for a brief second.

Trey glanced up at Quinn when he addressed Jared. “Nothing. They did their job.” Trey lowered his chin, turned, and walked out followed by the security team, leaving her alone with the dogs. She reached out, blindly staring at the empty room, and patted their heads.

What the hell just happened?

****

Rogue glanced at the door when he heard the soft knock. It could only be one person.

“Get in here.”

The door creaked open, and Quinn peeked her head inside. She looked nervous. Her ass should be. Thousands of dollars were spent on those animals just to have her swoop in for a few weeks and ruin them.

“Are you still mad at me?”

Rogue clenched his teeth, but not from anger. He was doing his best to not give in to his amusement. While he wasn’t thrilled with the dog debacle, he was more angry about how the trainer spoke to Quinn. Who the fuck did he think he was to raise his voice at her?

“You ruined those fucking dogs.”

She slid past the door, closing it and leaning against it with her hand tucked behind her.

“That’s one way to look at it, but…”

Rogue scoffed. “There’s only one fucking way.”

“Not exactly. Maybe they’re more valuable now. They’re more well-rounded. They’re guard dogs and family-friendly, which will work in your favor if you have kids down the road.”

Family down the road. Never once had Rogue considered a family beyond Trey, Oz, and Sal. That life was for everyone else but not him. Quinn had him rethinking the possibility.

Rogue furrowed his brows. “Are you trying to justify the bullshit you pulled with those dogs?”

“Yes,” she whispered, and her lips twitched.

Fuck me. This woman would be his downfall.

“Get over here.”

Quinn walked over without an ounce of hesitation. He liked that. She was only a foot away but taking too long. He stalked forward, lifted her, and tossed her on the bed. Before she could react, Rogue climbed on top of her, pressing his hands next to her head on the mattress, caging her in.

“Those fuckers are not coming in any of the bedrooms.”

“Okay.” She licked her lips, sliding her hand over his back. “But they can come in the house, right?”

Rogue growled, but it was muted when she pushed up, kissing him. This may have been the first time she initiated it. Quinn was discovering a newfound freedom with him. It was something that Rogue usually hated and retaliated for immediately. With her, he gave in, taking what he wanted. Her. All of her. He owned her. And unbeknownst to her, Quinn owned a part of him.

He would’ve loved nothing more than staying in bed with her all night. But he had to go down to the club. He pushed off the bed and walked to the closet.

“I was thinking about something, and I wanted to run it by you,” Quinn said.

Her tone was off. He grabbed his jacket and moved toward the bed. Quinn was sitting on the edge with her legs dangling off it. She seemed slightly nervous, which was a contrast from how she’d been a minute ago.

“What?”

She smiled, drawing in a deep breath. “Will you reconsider letting me work in your corporate office?”

Ah, fuck.

Rogue scowled. “I gave you a job at the club.”

“Yeah, but between Sloane, Dahlia, and me, there isn’t much work to be done. It’s a two-person job, not three.”

This couldn’t have worked out better. Rogue arched his brow and smirked.

“Fine. Then I’ll fucking fire Sloane.”

Quinn narrowed her gaze. She obviously didn’t find that comment amusing. “Rogue, please. If that entry-level position Lil mentioned is still available, I’d really like to work there.”

“No.”

Rogue had his reasons. Mainly, it would keep her out of his sight all day. He could’ve assigned her security, but the safest place for Quinn was with him.

“But—”

“No.” He walked over, leaned in, and kissed her, ignoring her less-than-enthusiastic response. “You can go back to the club tomorrow.”

Princess isn’t happy.