“Andrew,” I grunt, and refrain from letting my gaze slide to the window where Quinn is standing.
She can see us, and through a speaker system she can hear what’s going on inside the room.Andrew, however, can’t see her or knows she’s here.
“I’m going to need you to answer a few questions you already gave me the answer to,” I inform him.“Tell me about Quinn Caldwell, who is she to you?”
Andrew hangs his head and mutters a few words.
“Speak louder,” I order.
“Quinn is the daughter of the woman I once loved after my first wife died giving birth to Micah.A woman I had murdered when she said Quinn wasn’t mine.I gave her all and she fucking betrayed me.She kept the secret for years because she wanted a father for her child instead of living in a damn trailer.”His voice is laced with disgust.“She didn’t want to become her mother, a waitress without a future, and lied to get a life she wanted.She never loved me, she used me.Just like Quinn with her needs to do computer shit.Leeches, women are leeches, every single one of them.”
“What about your son?”My voice stays neutral while I want to carve off a few inches of skin to make him hurt for speaking about my wife that way.
Andrew shakes his head.“All he keeps talking about is his sister.He knows she’s not his sister.No fucking blood connection and still he considers her family.I wanted a clean break, to rid myself of all the leeches in my life.”
The door swings open and Quinn steps inside.The fury on her face enhances her beauty.I don’t get off on exposing the truth to inflict unnecessary pain.I torture when necessary and only those who deserve it.Seeing the anger laced with pain and disbelief on Quinn’s face feels like a punch to the gut.
“You’re the leech,” Quinn throws out.“Because a leech doesn’t have a spine.You don’t even have the guts to tell me to my face.All these years, the lies, the deceit.I’ve known you all my damn life, but it’s clear I don’t even know who the hell you are.And honestly?Fuck you, asshole.You sold me off to a man, who the hell does that?Even if I’m not your blood you still raised me.I knew you didn’t love me; you made that freaking clear, but I loved you.”
She chokes up and takes a step back.Eyes red, tears already brimming, threatening to spill over.A protective streak flares up inside me, and I hold out my hand in Quinn’s direction.I rarely initiate contact unless it’s to inflict pain or a statement.This woman seems to be the exception to many of my rules.
Her fingers glide over mine, our palms connect and I gently pull her body against mine.The need to protect her settles some, knowing no one can come near her when she’s close to me.She leans into my body, head resting against my chest and her other hand on my stomach.I glance down and bury my nose into her hair to breathe in her scent.
Keeping emotions in check is something I’ve been able to handle for decades.It’s an inner fuel for me to use when it comes to rational thinking in heated moments.Though, inhaling Quinn’s scent is definitely soothing.One moment I’m holding her, the next she’s out of my embrace and blood is spraying every-fucking-where.
Andrew is screaming, panic in his huge eyes.Quinn is still lashing out, arm swinging to let the small dagger she’s palming slide through his chest.I should intervene, not for Andrew’s sake but for Quinn’s.Yet, I stay rooted because the sight of this woman wielding her fury is utterly captivating.
At this point Andrew is gurgling, and I know he’s seconds away from dying.I’ve seen men die and couldn’t care two shits, but Quinn will.Maybe...well, definitely not now, later?She’s going to get swallowed by guilt.
Stepping forward, I wrap an arm around her waist, grab her hand and easily take the knife from her.Turning her slightly I create the space I need to kill Andrew by slicing the fucker’s throat.
“Why did you do that?”Quinn snaps.“I was busy killing him.”
“I know, little tempest, it’s the exact reason why I robbed you from doing it.Killing a person in an all-consuming rage is an extreme impulse which will inflict a mountain of guilt you’ll be buried under in the long run.”
She leans into me and a few heartbeats pass when she suddenly whispers, “He had my mother killed.Everything makes sense now.He deserves to die for what he did.”
“Agreed,” I fiercely tell her.“It still wasn’t your punishment to dish out.We’re married; it’s my damn job to slay anyone who fucking hurts you.”
“Fine,” she huffs.“I have a list.”
I can feel myself frown.“What?”
“A list.I have a list.When you say it’s your job to kill anyone who hurts me?Well, I have a damn list.Cillian is at the top of it.Okay, maybe he’s the only one on it now so it’s more of a Post-it note, and not a damn list.Though, I want to have my brother back.He’s not dead, is he?”
Quinn might think she has a list, but there’s no way this woman is vicious enough to hold grudges.Cillian is dead either way.He touched what’s mine with the intention of taking her from me before I could keep her safe.It won’t happen again; I made my choice.
“We’ll find out,” I promise her.“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.Then we’ll go home so you can take a bath.”
Glancing down at herself, she grumbles, “Oh yuck.Yes to cleaning up, but I’m going to need my computer.All my life I thought my mother left me.I have to see if I can find out something, anything.”
I throw my dagger into the bucket of bleach.“The past is rooted for a reason.Which means you have time to breathe and take care of yourself.”
Drying off the dagger, I place it back into my belt where Quinn took it from.Reaching for a clean cloth I gently wipe the blood from her cheek.
“Fine,” she murmurs as she stares up at me.
She looks so damn innocent and yet she sliced a man to near death a mere moment ago.My gaze drops to her mouth and her lips part.So.Damn.Captivating.A thirst creeps through my veins, planting a little seed of curiosity in my brain.How would it be to merge my lips with hers?A kiss.One kiss, to simply lean in and get rid of the curiosity.
