Quintz sat on the sofa beside Eilee, looking up at Kinzer, obviously annoyed…like he was bothered they’d spent all this time planning while Kinzer was fucking around with Hayde.
He didn’t care, though. Not now that he knew the truth.
Hayde kept close to Kinzer’s side, the way Kinzer preferred it since he’d discovered the truth about what had happened to Maggie that night at Veylo’s mansion.
Aside from the relief of knowing Hayde hadn’t betrayed him, was the relief of his body after that release they’d shared. It had been better, more powerful, more exhilarating than anything they’d shared before. And he knew the release of all his hostility and rage was partially responsible for the experience.
Quintz rose from the sofa.
“What?” Quintz asked, eyes wide like he didn’t have a clue what Kinzer was talking about.
Kinzer indicated the collar around Hayde’s neck. “Now that we know he isn’t a traitor, we need to get this fucking thing off him.”
Quintz glanced between the two of them, surely trying to figure out what they were up to…just how strong their feelings were for one another.
“Quintz,” Kinzer said, trying to get a response from him.
Quintz shook out of his confusion before saying, “I don’t have a key for the collar, Kinzer. It’s back at the facility. Did you think I was going to risk bringing one along so that he could get it and escape? Come on, that would have been moronic.”
“Can we break it or something? I just want to get this fucking thing off him.”
“If we try to tamper with it, then it’ll set it off. And I wouldn’t try doing anything to your remote activator either for that same reason.”
“Fuck,” Kinzer said. “Hayde, I’m so fucking sorry.”
He turned to Hayde and pulled him close with one hand while pressing the other against his face, that soft face, his injuries from Treycore clearly visible in the room light.
“Are you okay?” Kinzer asked.
“He’s been in it for the past few days. I’d say he’s fine,” Quintz said, and Kinzer could sense his bitterness, petty as it may have been, over how he’d treated him the night before.
Kinzer figured it was best to ignore it, though. “I’ll get this off you once we get out of this mess, okay? I’m so fucking sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about, Kinzer,” Hayde said. “You did what anyone would have done—better than anyone would have done—considering what you believed I’d done to you…to Maggie.”
Kinzer kissed Hayde again, because he couldn’t keep his mouth off him. Not anymore. Not now that he knew he’d been so fucking wrong all along.
“Is there something I’m missing?” Quintz asked. Kinzer turned to him, and he could see the irritation in his expression. “One minute I have to keep you from slitting his throat, and now you’re suddenly coupled off.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Everything is fucking complicated these days.”
Quintz appeared hurt, as hurt as he’d been when Kinzer told him he wasn’t interested in anything more with him…or anyone. Now that must have seemed like such a fucking slap in the face.
“So, Hayde, I guess you aren’t going to fucking kill me now?” Kid asked. He sat with Treycore on the love seat, holding hands. His lips curled into a smirk.
Hayde shook his head. “I think I can give you a pass this time,” he teased. “And a thank-you.”
“You’d better,” Treycore said. “Unless you want to go again.”
“Oh, that’s my Trey,” Eilee said, and Kid’s gaze shifted to her quickly, his face turning red. He was obviously not amused with the way she seemed to claim ownership of her former lover.
“Okay, okay,” Yorro said. He and the rest of the crew were gathered around the coffee table. “I think it’s time we stop playing kissy-face, and talk about this End of Days bullshit. I can certainly say I am more willing to take this flit seriously after what just went down.”
Kinzer agreed, and they worked through the blueprints together, devising their plan of attack. After a couple of hours of debate, they agreed to leave for their work the following morning. They said their good-nights for perhaps the last time, all of them knowing it could be the end.
As Kinzer and Hayde entered the room Kinzer had claimed, Kinzer noticed how Quintz hung his head low before he entered his own room down the hall. Hayde must’ve noticed too since his gaze shifted to the floor before he said, “I kind of feel bad for the guy.”
