“Keith’s talking to him now,” Dave said.
Keith held the phone away from his ear. “Some fucker’s slashed his tires.”
Quinn frowned. “His car?”
“His bike. He’s gonna get a car here.”
“Give me the phone,” Quinn ordered. Keith handed it over without a word. “Ian, this is Quinn. Give me your address, and I’ll send someone to get you.”
He put the address in a text message to Doug and sent it to him with a request he investigate the slashed tires. He wouldn’t put it past Strada to target the band just to inconvenience Cade. Doug returned the message with a thumbs up.
Quinn handed the phone back to Keith and looked at the band. “He’ll be here soon.”
Cade smiled but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Guys, go in the studio. I’ll be there in five.”
Dave studied Cade for a moment, then he steered Keith away from the remains of the breakfast, despite his loud protests, and out of the kitchen.
Cade turned to Quinn. “Do you think the slashed tires had something to do with Eric?”
“I don’t know,” Quinn admitted, “but I’m not taking any chances.”
“Thanks for taking care of my friends too.”
Quinn nodded. It was part of his job, but the praise felt good. He was used to being in the background and ignored, except when they needed his help. He liked the control he had this time. Cade hesitated, then he vanished after Dave and Keith.
Their voices faded as the studio door closed behind them. Quinn took a deep breath, knowing Cade was safely installed in the studio for the rest of the day. His phone buzzed and he checked the screen. Ian was fifteen minutes out. Quinn took his time clearing up the kitchen. He needed to make a phone call, but he didn’t want to risk Cade overhearing. The dishwasher was loaded and the counters clear when he heard Doug’s voice.
“Quinn?”
Quinn walked out to the entry, hand on his holster, but relaxed when he saw the man standing next to Doug.
“Ian. Good to see you.”
The young guy was the antithesis of Cade. He looked as if he’d stepped off a Californian beach with his surfboard rather than a member of a pop band. His long, streaked by the sun, blond hair flowed around his shoulders and his skin was a sun-kissed tan all year around. From Quinn’s memory, he was that color all over. He wore baggy shorts and a large shirt. Quinn hadn’t put two and two together when he saw his name.
Ian turned with a huge smile. “Hey, sir. Great to see you. I thought that was you on the phone, but you disconnected before I could ask.”
Doug’s eyebrows raised at the ‘sir’. Quinn ignored him. He reached out a hand to shake Ian’s but found himself with an armful of Ian and a mouthful of blond hair.
“Why are you mauling my boyfriend?”
Quinn turned, still holding onto Ian and looked into Cade’s icy-cold gaze.
Still clutching Quinn, Ian beamed at Cade. “I didn’t realize you got yourself a new Daddy. You lucky boy. Daddy Quinn’s one of the best.”
If anything, Cade’s scowl deepened. “You know each other?”
Ian didn’t seem to notice the drop in temperature. “A long time ago.” He tilted his head to look up at Quinn. “I haven’t seen you for, what? Four years?”
Quinn extricated himself from Ian’s grasp. “Something like that. I didn’t realize Ian was your guitarist.”
Ian pouted at being let go, but Quinn fixed him with a stern look, and he subsided.
Cade grunted and turned on his heel to stalk back to the studio. Ian finally realized he’d put both feet in it and grimaced at Quinn, mouthing “Sorry,” before he hurried after Cade.
“Oh brother, are you in trouble,” Doug snickered.
Quinn sighed. “You have no idea. Ian’s a lovely guy, but he’s got no filters. I’ll be lucky if Cade’s even talking to me by the end of the day.”
“Were you and he…?”
“Together?” Quinn shook his head. “We played together a few times, but he wanted something different from me. He wanted a 24/7 Daddy/boy relationship, and I could never be that for him. Work took me away too much. He’s fun though, and has the biggest heart I’ve ever met.”
“Really.”
Unseen by Cade, Quinn closed his eyes in a wince. Did Cade have to come back at that moment?
“I’m out of here,” Doug muttered and vanished out of the front door.
Coward!
Quinn turned to face Cade, who glared at him furiously. “Okay, what are you most angry about? The fact he hugged me or that we’ve played together in the past?”
Cade chewed on his bottom lip. “You’re supposed to be my fake boyfriend and I find you hugging him.”
“He hugged me,” Quinn said, “but it was only to say hello. I haven’t seen him for over four years.”
“You like them young?” Cade snapped.
Quinn stiffened. “I only play with men over twenty-one. Check with Ian if you don’t believe me.”
Cade curled his lip, but he didn’t respond. Quinn felt rage flood through him, and he fought to control it. His reputation in the Daddy community was one of the things he truly valued, and he didn’t need some kid badmouthing him. Job or not, he’d be out of here, if that was the way Cade thought about him.
“If that’s what you think of me, if you think you can’t trust me, I’ll call Dominic now and arrange for my replacement.” Quinn pulled out his phone.
Cade’s eyes went wide. “No. I didn’t mean—”
“Do you want me to stay or not?” Quinn demanded.
“Yes.”
No hesitation. Good. But Quinn was still angry.
“Go back to your rehearsal,” he said and turned his back on Cade.
“Quinn, I—”
“Not now, Cade.”
He walked away before either of them said something they’d regret.
In the kitchen he waited to see if Cade would follow him. There was nothing but silence, then footsteps away and the sound of the studio door opening and closing.
Quinn slumped against the kitchen counter. “Fuck,” he muttered.
His fake boy was a jealous boy. This was going to be fun. Not.
He poured more coffee, sat on a stool at the bar, and scrolled through his phone contacts. He tapped the screen and waited to connect.
“Fuckoff.”
Quinn grinned at the sleep-roughened voice. “Leo.”
There was a long pause and Quinn wondered if Leo had gone back to sleep.
“Ryder?” Leo sounded more awake, if a little wary.
“Yeah.”
“What are you doing calling at this hour?”
“I thought you’d still be awake.”
“Early night,” Leo said. “Got to bed about four.”
“Sorry, I can call back.”
Leo yawned in his ear. “’Wake now. What do you want?”
“Eric Strada.”
“What about him?” Oh yeah, Leo definitely sounded wary now.
“What do you know about him?”
“Why?”
Quinn huffed, frustrated at the word play. “Don’t play games, Leo.”
“What’s Strada to you?”