Redemption - A Darla Gray Novel Read online

  Her hands glided over her hips, across the smooth fabric of her beautifully tailored, tight fitting skirt, working at removing creases that weren’t actually there. Turning her attention to the neckline of her jumper she smoothed her fingers around the fine edge of the cashmere before pausing to remove a fallen hair. Finally checking that both cuffs were pulled firmly down over her wrists, she flicked her abundant mass of curly red hair over her shoulder and squared her back.

  Instantly her persona was transformed. Her perfectly proportioned face now glowed beneath a breath-taking smile.

  “Now then sugar,” her eyes swung to Quinn whom she was fully aware was still glowering in anger. “Shall we go find you an answer to that ‘lil old question of yours?”

  Darla watched amazed at how elegantly the redhead moved across the room in a skirt that barely left enough room for breathing. The click-clicking sound she made as she crossed the floor indicated a pair of stiletto heels completing her perfect ensemble.

  Lowering herself gracefully into one of the desk chairs her hands began gliding smoothly across the computer keyboard, as Quinn paced restlessly back and forth in front of the desk.

  After just a few minutes of continually punching buttons on the keyboard, her hands stopped dead. Turning the screen slightly in Quinn’s direction she motioned for him to approach. “These were the co-ordinates you were contacted with? Correct?”

  Checking the figures on the screen Quinn nodded “Yeah that’s them.”

  “Okay.” Her fingers rapidly stroked the keys once more. “Oh! Well that’s strange.” Checking the information on screen for a second time Maisey frowned.

  “What! What’s strange?” Resting his hands on the back of her chair Quinn lent over her shoulder in order to get a better look.

  “The drop-off co-ordinates were sent through from Mamma Grace.” More taping of the keys followed. “All downloaded as normal through the correct channels.”

  “Okay, so what’s strange about that?” Quinn asked puzzled

  “Here.” Maisey pointed to a line of information on the screen. “It clearly states that the incoming was a human.” She hit several more keys in rapid succession. “A twenty-eight year old female, name of Darla Gray!”

  Both sets of eyes peered up and over the computer screen at the woman patiently waiting in the corner.

  Noticing how intently Darla was watching the two of them, Maisey’s face broke into a breathtakingly smile that radiated a warmth Darla found welcoming.

  “Hi there sugar. Am I correct in assuming you’re Darla? Darla Gray?” She asked her voice laced with a deep southern accent.

  “That’s right.” Darla nodded

  “Well, I’m very pleased to meet you Darla.” Maisey gave a gentle wave in her direction. “My, aren’t you just the most gorgeous thing ever! I’m Maisey White by the way and I run this here little establishment. Now Quinn and I just have a few more things we need to get finish and then I’m all yours and we’ll be able to get you settled in. I’m sure you have a million and one questions that need answering. That okay by you?”

  Darla nodded finding Maisey’s warmth refreshing. Tension gradually draining from every muscle in her body leaving her relaxed for the first time that day. Clearly this was someone who could offer her some answers and maybe figure out what she was doing here.

  As if reading her mind Maisey smiled once more. “Trust me, I know how hard this has been for you and I’m sorry for the delay but you hold tight for just a little longer and I’ll have all the answers you need. Okay?”

  “Okay”

  With Darla reassured, Maisey sank back into her chair and returned to the task at hand. “Right where were we?” Rapidly working the keys once more she began mumbling to herself. “If Darla had been logged in as human... which she clearly had... the block alert on your file should have automatically registered ruling you out as the retriever. And... ” More tapping on the keys. “Yep, there you go. Your files are all in order.”

  Quinn read the warning note- highlighted in bright bold red- across the top of his file. –RETRIEVER EXERCISES HIS RIGHT TO OMIT HUMANS FROM ALL RETRIVAL ALLOCATIONS DUE TO PERSONAL REASONS.

  “So how come I was still given the retrieval co-ordinates?”

  As soon as he presented the question Maisey’s fingers worked their magic on the keyboard until finally tapping one last key. A bright white light emanated from the small screen illuminating both their faces with its glow. Quinn raised his hand shielding his eyes from the stark brightness while Maisey started reading, completely affected by the lights intensity.

  “There’s your answer. You were specifically asked for by name. The retrieval was intended for you and you alone. The orders came down directly from Big G himself. He’s the only one that can override all the failsafe’s. ” Maisey leaned back in the chair, extremely pleased with herself in resolving the discrepancy. “You should know by now Quinn, I don’t make mistakes.”

  Quinn seemed even more annoyed than ever by the cause of the discrepancy. “So what’s the big deal? Why is she so special? Big G doesn’t normally get involved in retrieval’s, so why all of a sudden now?” His eyes briefly flicked across to Darla.

  Maisey shrugged. “Doesn’t say why and it’s not for us to question his reasons, especially as it was a successful retrieval, of a human no less. Not something to be taken lightly. No harm was done and as for the whole, ‘I don’t do damn breathers’ thing,” she said impersonating his gruff tone, “you’ve been well rewarded. You’ll receive a double finder’s fee. So I guess we’d better start processing her and let you be on your way.” Without waiting for a reply Maisey began taping at the keys once more, the illuminating glow vanishing from the screen.

  “Right I just need a check in time and your authorisation code and you’re good to go. Money will be transferred to your account by close of business as per usual.” Maisey lent to the side to allow Quinn to punch the information into the computers system.

  Leaving her to tie up the necessary loose ends he turned to re-join the patiently waiting Darla. Under the watchful glare of the woman he had bellowed at earlier, Quinn opted for taking the more civilised route, lifting the access hatch in the centre of the long wooden counter. Fixing her with a hard glare of his own, she finally backed down and looked away.

  “Okay. Well that’s me done. I’m outta here. Maisey will take good care of you now; tell you all you need to know.”

  Darla abruptly stood. The thought of Quinn leaving suddenly filled her with a feeling of anxiety. Angry or not there was no denying he had kept her safe in this strange world. His presence was the only constant she’d had known since falling into Redemption, and now the time had arrived to say goodbye it wasn’t something she felt ready to part with. He wasn’t something she felt ready to part with; at least not without knowing exactly what was going on.

  Her mouth suddenly felt dry and her heart pounded in her chest. “I don’t know what to say. I...I... nothing makes sense to me right now. I keep expecting to wake up and find that this is all some crazy mixed up dream.” Unable to stop herself, Darla threw her arms around his neck clinging desperately to him. “Thank you.” She whispered softly not knowing what else to say.

  Stunned at her unexpected response, Quinn found himself slipping an arm around her waist pulling her closer. He could sense the fear and nervousness radiating off her, something that ordinarily wouldn’t bother him and yet strangely it did. “For what?” he asked, not quite ready to let her go.

  “For saving me.” She whispered.

  With her soft body pressed tightly against his Quinn was struck at how vulnerable and fragile she suddenly appeared. His body responded with a commanding need to protect, keeping her safe from harm.

  Goddamn it! What the fuck is up with me? She’s a breather! Nothing good ever came from a breather. How is this one any different?

  Angered by his voice of reason Quinn released her and stepped back extracting himself from her embrace. “Yeah well
, just doing the job I’m paid for. A man’s gotta eat you know.” Unable to bring himself to make eye contact with her he stared down at his feet. “Well gotta go.” Coughing awkwardly he added, “I hope it all goes well for you.”

  As he turned to leave Darla reached out and grabbed his arm. “Quinn! What you did, it may not mean much to you but it did to me so thank you all the same.” Stretching up on tip toes, her lips lightly grazed his cheek.

  Quinn froze. The touch of her lips sent a charge of electricity rippling across his skin, his body surging with desire. Fighting an urgent impulse to drag her into his arms and devour her soft pliable lips until she struggled for breath, he quickly turned his back.

  “Good luck.” He croaked, the words wedging tight in his throat.

  Heading for the door he refrained from taking one last look at her, feeling her eyes still on him. Each step weighed heavier. His chest tightened. Damn it! I just need to be outside. Breathe the somewhat less than fresh air. The day had just gone from bad to worse from the moment he’d met her, and the sooner he could get as far away from Darla Gray as possibly, the better. She was most definitely a complication he could well do without.

  “Quinn!”

  He had managed to make it halfway down the hallway when Maisey’s voice caught his attention.

  Fuuuccck!

  “Sugar, you’re gonna need to see this.” She called, her deep southern accent echoing in the narrow space.

  Releasing a heavy sigh his shoulders slumped and he suddenly felt incredibly weary. Jeez’, what now?

  Reluctantly returning to the large room the first thing he was faced with was Darla standing exactly where he had left her looking lost and alone. Guilt slammed into him.

  Finding Maisey still taping away at the keyboard Quinn fixed her with a cold hard stare. His voice hard and clipped, “This better be good. There’s a hot shower and a bottle of whiskey with my name on it.” Avoiding Darla he made his way to Maisey’s desk, staring down at the computer screen.

  “You’re not gonna believe this, I’m being refused log in.” she said her fingers working furiously across the keys.

  Quinn leaned in one hand resting on the back of her chair, the other on the desk. “Are you sure? It’s never happened before. You entered the right codes?”

  Maisey nodded. “Checked it twice. It just keeps repeating the same message.”

  “Which is?” His brow furled in frustration.

  Maisey hit a key and the computer lit up with instruction.

  *****CUSTODY TO REMAIN WITH RETRIEVER*****

  “You have got to be kiddin’ me.” He ran his fingers through his hair before settling his hands on his hips. “This ain’t part of my contract; I didn’t sign up for this.”

  Maisey looked up at him her face full of concern. “I can’t keep her here. Not without log in. She either stays with you or she’s out there on her own.”

  “Fuck! Fuck!” Quinn closed his eyes inhaled deeply trying to calm himself. No way was he leaving her alone. An innocent like her wouldn’t survive 10 minutes in a city like central. “How long?”

  Maisey tapped the keyboard once more. “Holy crap!” She gasped out loud. “Agents have been dispatched! The handover takes place back here tomorrow, 10A.M.”

  “What the fuck is going down here?” Turning his gaze to Darla he lowered his voice to a whisper. “I ain’t heard of them using an agent in years, what’s the deal with her?”

  Maisey shrugged. “I’m as baffled as you are. There’s nothing in the system to explain this. Leave it with me and I’ll see what I can find out, but for now... she’s all yours.”

  “Well that’s just peachy. What the hell am I supposed to do with her?” He snapped.

  “Well you could offer her a shower and maybe start filling her in on how things work around here. Poor mite, must be wondering what the hell is going on. It’s standard procedure for a newbie.”

  Quinn shot Maisey one final glare before storming across to Darla. “Looks like you’re with me for the foreseeable future.” Without waiting to see if she followed he once more headed out of the door.

  “Food and water!” Maisey shouted at the hastily departing figures.

  “Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he growled without slowing his pace.

  “Oh and Quinn…be nice!” Maisey giggled at the string of obscenities that followed.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Confused by the turn of events Darla yet again found herself struggling to keep up with the stringent pace set by a very irate Quinn. Not even attempting to disguise his feelings; his entire demeanour shouted out the extent of his anger at being burdened with her for the second time in the same day. Ploughing onwards through the heaving crowds of people she pooled all her concentration on keeping apace, terrified at the thought of becoming separated from him in the mists of a city completely alien to her.

  An angry and impulsive urge to demand he slowdown was instantly silenced by a furtive glance in his direction. His eyes glaring rigidly at the path ahead along with the pulsing muscle twitching at the corner of his jaw was enough indication that he was well beyond angry at the situation.

  Realising it was in her best interest to remain with him –at least until she could discover what exactly was going on- Darla continued struggling to match his lengthy strides, silently and without complaint.

  More than relieved at reaching their destination after only a short period of time Darla waited patiently while Quinn unlocked the door to an apartment inside an ordinary looking three storey brick building. Following him down the narrow hallway to his door she followed him inside wondering what to expect.

  Her first impressions on seeing the interior was ‘how very Quinn’. Masculine and unemotional there was not a single family photo insight, nothing of a personal nature to define who he truly was and yet the apartment had a warmth about it that she actually liked.

  The living and dining area was divided by a large comfortable looking sofa. The open plan- all dark wood- kitchen was dwarfed by the largest fridge she had ever seen and on the far side of the kitchen stood a breakfast bar complete with seating.

  The living room had a large arm chair that matched the sofa and an open fireplace, but the one item that was the biggest surprise to her was an entire wall dedicated to a floor to ceiling bookcase adorned with the most impressive collection of books she’d seen in a long while.

  A quick scan of the titles revealed works by Shakespeare, Darwin and Tolstoy along with many others she had never heard of. Darla would never in a million years have imagined Quinn as an avid reader. Edging closer to better study the impressive collection she lightly fluttered her fingers across the spines of the books .

  * * * *

  Quinn couldn’t take his eyes off her. Part of him had considered the option of refusing Maisey’s order. What the hell did it have to do with him if she was left abandoned and alone on the streets of Redemption? Nobody had forced her to attempt suicide. She may not have said that was what she had done but it was common knowledge that that was the only way humans could enter Redemption. But when he had turned to look at her, standing so alone and lost in Maisey’s office he had known immediately there would be no denying her the protection she needed, and that was what had been eating at him all the way to his apartment.

  No human deserved his sympathy much less his protection. For years he had been driven by hate of their entire species and yet in a span of a few hours some mere slip of a female shakes her tail, flutters her lashes and all the years of hate, loathing and most importantly a desire for revenge just float out the window. And for what, a few brief hours of pleasure between the female’s legs? But jeez’ what legs they were he thought.

  The image of her naked flashed into his mind provoking an immediate response. As heat surged to his cock Quinn knew in an instant that a few hours between the female’s perfectly proportioned thighs would be nowhere near long enough to do all the bad things that he wanted to her temptingly decadent body.

&nb
sp; It had been hard enough having her walk beside him on their short journey to the apartment- the way her scent had never-endingly blown across his path- but now… seeing her here in his own personal space……it was almost torture. He was a man used to having whatever female he wanted- after all he was always honest and upfront in the fact that sex was the only thing he wanted or expected from them. Never anything more, and as long as they understood that, then fine. But with Darla it was different… he almost cared about what she thought and that was something he was struggling to understand.

  Why her?

  Without thinking he found himself moving closer to her, like a moth to a flame.

  * * * *

  Sensing Quinn standing behind her Darla quickly snatched her hand away from his books not wishing to antagonise him when he was doing her such a big favour. She didn’t need a degree in behavioural science to figure out that he really didn’t want her there.

  “First rule of the house, touch nothing!” He instructed his voice sounding closer than she had first realised.

  Turning to apologise Darla smiled warmly up at him. “Sorry. I was just admiring your collection. You have some extremely old and rare books here...”

  “Yeah, well do as I say and you may just get through this unscathed. I don’t like my things being touched.” Dismissing any attempt at friendship he turned and walked across to the enormous fridge in the corner of the kitchen “Maisey insists that I feed you so are you hungry?”

  Seeing the almost bare interior of the fridge from where she stood Darla wondered if it would be more polite to lie. But having not eaten for nearly a full day the growling protest from her stomach would easily gave her away leaving her with no choice but to nod her head eagerly.

  “I’m actually starving.” She confessed reluctantly.

  “It looks like we’re ordering in then.” Closing the fridge he walked over to his jacket pulling out his phone. “Hope you like Korean,” he said already dialling the number.