“Look,” I say, my gaze fixed on the console and the brothers I can’t see. “I know I’m a potential sleeper agent that Ilya will try to activate at some point, so if you want to send me away, I’ll understand. Give me my car back and I’ll… I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll manage. I won’t let Ilya use me against you.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Reid says gruffly.
He’s staring at the console too, waiting for the others to respond. It feels like an age before anyone else speaks.
“You didn’t have to tell us your true identity, Quinn, and we appreciate your honesty,” Ash says. “But we can’t ignore the risk you pose. We’re going to have to think about this, and Reid, we will be speaking to you separately.”
“I trust Quinn,” he says.
“Reid,” I interrupt. “I wouldn’t trust me. You shouldn’t either.”
“For the moment,” Ash continues, “it serves our purposes better if you remain close, Quinn. But we’re going to have to put some measures in place to protect ourselves. And before anyone asks, no, I have no fucking clue yet what those should be.”
“Great,” Reid says, sounding as miserable as Mace. “Are we done?”
“Get some rest, and we’ll figure this out,” Ash promises.
The call is cut just as Mace, or possibly Hunter sniggers at the suggestion we’ll be resting.
Reid and I sit in silence, digesting what’s been said. Our fingers are still entwined, and he strokes his thumb over the back of my hand, deep in thought.
“This could get messy,” I say, not daring to look at him. “It might be better if we went back to hating each other.”
“I never hated you, Quinn.”
“I’m pretty sure Mace does.”
“Do you have plans to fuck Mace?”
Shocked, I turn to face him. “No.”
His eyes bore into mine, sharp, focused and full of determination. “Do you want me to fuck you?”
“That’s not the question you should be asking, Reid,” I tell him. “You heard what I just said to your brothers. I’m a potential threat. You shouldn’t want me near you.”
“My needs haven’t changed. My feelings for you haven’t changed. Now answer the goddamn question, Viper.”
I swallow hard as I try to hold back my emotions, but what I’m feeling right now can’t be contained. It can only be released. “Yes, I want you to fuck me.”
Reid’s features soften and his mouth pulls into a smile. “Right answer.”
Chapter 21
Reid
Ishould take time out to think about the discussion that’s just taken place. I really should. But I’ve been thinking about getting Quinn Jamieson – or whatever her name is – into my cabin for a hell of a lot longer, and that’s the only thing on my mind as I jump out of the SUV.
Quinn gets out too, and before I can reach her, I see one of our guys stalking over to us. It’s Levi. He was controlling the drone that night I tracked Quinn in the woods. He knows what she means to me.
I raise a hand to stop him in his tracks while I carry on towards Quinn. “Whatever it is, it can wait,” I call over. “Jake should be back soon, check with him. And tell him I don’t want to be disturbed.”
It’s a little unfair on Jake since we’re sharing accommodation, but I’m pretty sure he’ll be just as eager as I am to switch living arrangements now that Quinn will be sharing my bed.
Levi nods, or I presume he does because I’ve reached Quinn. I grab her upper arm like I might a captive and march her towards the cabin. Once we’re inside, I spin heraround so she’s pressed up against the door I quickly bolt. My arms cage her and she has to tip her head to meet my gaze.
“You said I shouldn’t trust you,” I remind her. It was a hard truth to hear, but I’d be a fool to ignore the fact that she’s compromised. If I were in her shoes, if Ilya had one of my brothers, I’d break every oath and promise to get to them.
“Youcan’ttrust me,” she says, her chest heaving.
