Quinn sighed and guided him over to a stone bench. “We need to talk.”
Cade turned to look back toward the calm waters of the lake, but Eric had vanished.
“It’s all right. He’s gone,” Quinn assured him, knowing one of the team would follow Strada.
“But where to?” Cade muttered.
“He’s not my concern at the moment. You are.” Quinn gently shoved him down on the bench and knelt in front of him to take his hands. “Agreeing to meet him was a stupid thing to do.”
“I know.” Cade found it hard to look Quinn in the eye. “He said he was going to return my gear.” Cade shook his head. “No, I didn’t believe him. I wanted to, but I knew he was talking out of his ass.”
“So why did you agree to meet him?” Quinn looked confused.
“Because you walked away from me,” Cade mumbled.
Quinn rocked back on his heels. “You agreed to meet the man who’s assaulted you, to get back at me?”
Put like that, it sounded pretty dumb.
“It was a stupid thing to do,” Cade said. “I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t,” Quinn said harshly. “You put your life in danger because you were pissed at me.”
“I didn’t think he’d do anything to me in public,” Cade protested, hating how feeling like a little boy being scolded by his parent gave him a thrill. He’d never had anyone in his life care whether he lived or died. Even his manager only cared how much money Cade made her. Quinn sounded as if he cared. Except, he was being paid to. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t fucking real.
He stood, tugging his hands out of Quinn’s. “It’s my decision who I see. Not yours.”
Quinn stood and looked down at him, and now there was only anger in his expression; the tenderness had vanished. “If you can’t cooperate with me, then my job is finished. I’ll contact CDR. They can replace me today.”
Shock washed through Cade and he stared at Quinn. “What?”
“I can’t work with clients who won’t listen or agree to basic rules about their safety. Jace will escort you home. I’m done, Mr. Connolly.”
Chapter 11
Quinn
Quinn saw the color drain from Cade’s face, leaving it ashen. He tensed, ready to catch Cade if he fainted.
“You’re firing me as your client?” Cade demanded.
“Yes.”
“You can’t do that.”
Quinn crossed his arms over his chest. “I think you’ll find I can. CDR contracts give me the right to walk away from non-cooperative clients.”
“Quinn—”
He shook his head. “No. I take my job seriously, Mr. Connolly. And I expect my clients to do the same. You obviously can’t do that. You need to find someone else. CDR will be in touch. I’ll collect my things and Mogs.”
It hurt Quinn to call him Mr. Connolly. He saw how Cade blossomed being called ‘Boy,’ but Cade flinched at the formal address.
“You can’t.” Cade’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Can’t what?”
“Can’t leave me. Can’t take Mogs. You’re my bodyguard.”
Quinn ignored the comment about the cat. Much as he felt sorry for Cade, he wouldn’t give up his Mogs to anyone.
“I’ve explained my reasons for leaving. I’m sure you’ll find someone else who’s suitable.”
“You’re supposed to be my Daddy.”
“You left your ‘Daddy’ to go visit with your ex-Daddy,” Quinn said. “What does that tell him about my relationship with you?”
“I didn’t think of that,” Cade admitted.
“You didn’t think, Cade,” Quinn said, weary now. Leaving Cade was going to hurt, even after such a short period of time. He needed to get away before his heart got any more involved.
Too late!
He told his traitorous heart to pipe down and looked over at Jace who stood nearby, keeping guard. He waved at him to come over. Jace looked surprised but he jogged down the path to greet them.
“Padraig is—” He stopped as Quinn interrupted.
“Jace, please escort Mr. Connolly home and arrange for one of the team to stay in the house at all times.”
Jace didn’t react beyond a slow blink at the ‘Mr. Connolly’, but Quinn knew from past experience he was going to be questioned later.
Quinn clenched his jaw. “I need to talk to Dominic. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Understood. Come on, Cade.”
Cade reached out but Quinn ignored his hand. “Quinn, please.”
“Take him home, Jace.”
Quinn walked away, not bothering to see what happened. He pulled out his phone and dialed Dominic’s number.
“Trouble in paradise?” Dominic’s acerbic tone was like sandpaper over a road rash.
“How the hell do you know that already?” Quinn rasped.
“Jace messaged Doug, who called me,” Dominic said, like it was obvious. “You need to take your boy in hand.”
Quinn grunted. “We’ve had this conversation. He’s not my boy. You need to replace me. I can’t work with a client who doesn’t cooperate.” He stared out over the lake, oblivious to the peace and beauty around him.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?” Quinn bit out. “It’s in the contract. I can walk away at any time.”
“Let me phrase it differently. No.”
Quinn clenched his jaw. “Let me phrase this simply. Fuck you!”
“Finished?”
Quinn did not appreciate being treated like a child having a tantrum.
“What the hell is going on, Dominic? You’ve never made me stay with a client if I’ve asked to leave.”
“One, you’ve never quit on a job. Two, where are your balls, man? He’s a scared, spoiled kid who needs taking in hand. Do it.”
“He’s a celebrity kid who’s been badly abused. You need someone else to play the boyfriend.”
“Did Strada make you?”
“I don’t think so. He knows me and my rep. He thinks I’m a loser for letting Cade—Connolly—out of my sight, but he still thinks I’m his Daddy.”
“Good. Then I don’t need to change anything,” Dominic said with satisfaction.
“Dominic—”
“Quinn, he’s connected with you. You know he has.”
“He’s ignoring my instructions,” Quinn said. “Last night and now. I can’t work like this.”
“Since when did you become a diva?”
That stung. Quinn was no diva. He was a professional bodyguard.
“I don’t have anyone else to take him over. Griff is busy, Craig is on assignment in Paris, and Mo isn’t returning my calls.”
“Then—”
“Incoming!” Jace yelled.
Quinn turned to see Cade charging toward him. He just had time to brace himself, when it didn’t look like Cade was going to stop. Cade slammed into him, Quinn staggered back, and his phone went flying into the lake, Dominic calling his name.