“Because he’s still Daddy.”
“Are the Burkin bags and shiny, diamond bracelets worth it?”
Her eyes narrowed to angry slits. “You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”
“Enlighten me, Diana. Because the last I checked, your father used you to make money. What am I missing?”
“Try the last ten years!” she growled and stormed out of the living room. Quentin started after her, but the hand I placed on his shoulder stopped him in his tracks. I ignored the hostile look he gave me, but after a moment, thought twice about it and took my hand down to rest at my side. Thankfully, he didn’t make for the door again.
“We need to talk.”
“Later.”
“No,” I snapped letting my anger show for the first time since she called his name in shock. “We talk now.”
*
Dash left with his sister, and I wasted no time with interrogating Q. We were sitting at the table in the kitchen with shot glasses filled with the hardest liquor I could find.
“What just happened in my living room?”
He took a shot and immediately poured another. “You know most of it.”
“Then start with the part I don’t know.”
“First, tell me why you are still dealing with him, and why you didn’t tell me?”
“Because he is the only way I can find Arthur, and I needed to keep everything as low key as possible.”
Q released a hard breath and took another shot. I pulled the bottle away while giving him a pointed look. I wanted him relaxed, but I didn’t want him drunk before I could get any answers.
“I thought you would have given up on that now that you’re out.”
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’m in too deep. He’s going to be looking to collect on his payment.”
“Do you really believe he pulled those kinds of strings to get you out on bail just to gain a worker? He can find someone like you on any street.”
He spit the words out harshly, but I knew he didn’t mean it as an insult. The fact of the matter was he was right. “I told him I would hand deliver his mole.”
“You’re double-crossing Mario?” His eyebrows raised in surprise as he studied me with doubt evident in his eyes.
“He was in on it. He wants to draw him out just as much as I do.”
“Why didn’t you stop all contact with him when he returned you to your uncle?”
“I didn’t hear from or see him again for years. It wasn’t until I went to juvie that I saw him again.”
“You saw him?”
“Yeah. He came to visit me.”
Q sat up straighter and ground his jaw. “He’s been keeping an eye on you the whole time, hasn’t he?”
“He’s been watching the both of us,” I clarified.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Do you really think you would have wanted to know? You’ve spent the last ten years avoiding your past.”
His fist slammed down on the table before he ground out, “That doesn’t give you the right to keep this from me.”
“And Diana? What’s the story between you two? You never told me you knew his daughter.”
“You didn’t even know she existed before.”
“Exactly my point. You hid things, too.” We could have spent all night hurling accusations but we both knew it wouldn’t get us anywhere. “What did you mean he used her to make money?”
“Your golden boy isn’t clean. He’s as dirty as they come,” he spat.
“I know. He’s greedy, but he isn’t Arthur.”
“Then obviously you don’t know half of what you think you do.”
“Enlighten me, Quentin,” I snapped, using his words from earlier.
“Did Mario ever tell you why he broke his partnership with Arthur?”
“He said Arthur was becoming too suspicious, and his cover was in jeopardy when he started pressing the issue against child pornography.”