CHAPTER SIX
“April, we are exactly who we said we are,” said Patrick. “We have technology that’s often sold to the U.S. government. Some of that technology is so secure only we use it. It makes us very good at what we do.”
“Yes,” she said with an exhaustive sigh. She leaned back against the sofa again, staring at the ceiling. “My grandfather bragged on you all the time. You obviously impressed him. What I don’t understand is why he would say my grandfather was protecting me. He didn’t live near me. He lived in Manassas, Virginia.”
“He might have meant it in a different way. Maybe not that your grandfather was there, near you, physically protecting you. But maybe he knew something about the airline or someone with the conglomerate,” said Elena.
“I need some air,” she said standing suddenly.
“I’ll go with you,” said Quinn. She looked at all of them and Margo smiled at the young woman.
“Until we know where this man Greg is, it’s better if someone is always with you,” she said trying to reassure her. April nodded as Quinn led her to the back patio area. It was completely hidden from the neighbors on all sides of them, behind massive trees and shrubs.
April took a seat in a big soft patio sofa and Quinn sat at the other end, trying not to crowd her. She started to nibble on her thumb nail and Quinn grinned at her, gently taking her hand away from her mouth.
“Your hands are too pretty to chew them to pieces,” he smiled. She nodded, putting her hand beneath her thigh to ensure she didn’t bring it to her mouth again.
“Will you tell me about you? Are you married? Kids?”
“You know a lot already,” he chuckled. “More than many people. You know I’m a triplet. My father is a triplet and grandfather is a triplet.”
“Whoa!” she said wide-eyed.
“Yeah,” he laughed. “It’s a ‘thing’ for the Jordan family. That’s my last name. As they all told you, we run a security agency on a property that we own. We have dozens and dozens of former military members on our team and they’re my family. Not just my friends and teammates, they are legitimately my family.”
“That sounds wonderful,” she said staring at the crystal blue waters of the swimming pool. “I just had my grandfather.”
“What happened to your parents?” he asked genuinely interested.
“My mother was in the Navy,” she smiled. “A nurse at Walter Reed. That’s how she met my father. He was in the Army as well. He was injured during a training accident. Nothing horrible, a torn Achilles, which I suppose was horrible enough.”
“It can be pretty horrible,” he smirked.
“Anyway, they were serious, got married within a few months and I was born. My dad went to pick her up from her shift and walked right into a hostage situation. My mother was the hostage. A guy who was there for his injuries wanted more pain meds and she wouldn’t give them to him.”
“I’m so fucking sorry, April,” he said reaching for her hand. She was surprised at how wonderful it felt. The warmth and size of his compared to her own.
“I was just a baby. My grandfather was babysitting me at the time. I never knew them, not really. My grandfather would tell me stories about them. I suspect many were made up,” she smiled. “They weren’t married long enough to have so many adventures.”
“He sounds amazing,” said Quinn.
“He was,” she nodded with tears running down her cheeks. “I miss him, Quinn. I need him right now and I don’t know what to do.”
Quinn pulled her tighter to his body, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. He wasn’t sure what to say to her. Speaking to the female population wasn’t his forte. Saving them was.
“We’re going to be here for you, April. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“You can’t promise that,” she sniffed.
“I can. I promise that no one will touch you or hurt you again.”
“Why? Why would you do that? You don’t know me.”
“Then tell me about you. I know you were orphaned, lived with your grandfather in Manassas. What else?” he said smiling at her.
“Um,” she started, wiping her eyes and sitting up a little straighter. “I went to an all-girls academy in Virginia. My grandfather insisted.”
“I bet he did,” smiled Quinn. “One less thing to worry about.”
