Quinn
Isatinthelivingroom, aching all over. Warner and Raleigh were on the couch, and Roman was in the armchair across from mine. The news ran quietly on the TV. We’d been glued to the manhunt coverage for Amos. I wasn’t sure what else there was for us to do right now.
August, Reid, and Fox had left almost an hour ago. They wouldn’t have any new information until they reached the safehouse and Fox started digging into the security feeds. He was the company’s badass cyber security tech, apparently.
Raleigh sat curled against Warner, Hailey still asleep in her lap. She ran her fingers through the little girl’s dark curls as she stared at the TV with a tired, haunted expression.
I didn’t know how to process any of this.
My upper arms still ached.
I couldn’t believe Preston had thought I’d have something to do with his escape. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. Perhaps he was trying to find a scapegoat for the absolute disaster this all was.
The firm was in a complete meltdown. As far as representing a client went, the worst-case scenario was them breaking out of jail and becoming a fugitive with the nation watching.
For once…I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next.
When a commercial break hit, I pushed myself out of the chair. My muscles were stiff, my mind even worse.
Raleigh’s attention turned my way, and she gave me a soft, exhausted smile. “Going to bed?”
I nodded.
“Try to get some sleep, honey. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, and started toward the staircase.
I meandered down the hallway toward my bedroom on the second floor. My eyes automatically went to a closed door at the far end. It was the room Graham was staying in until…well, until they made the decision it was safe not to anymore. He’d gone to bed shortly after his brothers had left. He hadn’t wanted to leave my side after what happened with Preston, but I’d needed some space. And Roman offered to take the first night shift, so Graham was instructed to get as much sleep as he could, while he could.
It had been Roman who insisted he go up and rest.
A sliver of light seeped from under the gap at the bottom of Graham’s door, and I passed my room without thinking about it, my feet guiding me. I stopped at his room, shifting uncomfortably. There was no sound from inside, but I glanced at the light again.
I had a feeling he was still awake.
Lifting my hand, I hesitated briefly, and rapped my knuckles over the old, scarred wood. It was quiet enough that it shouldn’t have woken him if he was asleep.
There was a pause. I almost stepped away.
“Come in.” His voice was barely audible.
I twisted the knob. It was unlocked.
I slipped inside his room.
He sat in an armchair by the window, a book in his hand, though I don’t think he’d been reading it. His gaze seemed unfocused and far away.
I froze as the door snapped shut behind me.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt.
My mouth went dry. My brain misfired. Heat shot straight through me like I’d stepped into a furnace.
He wasn’t bulky like Roman or August, but he was strong. Lean, sculpted muscle that looked like it had been carved by a literal artist. He was all broad shoulders and defined chest. His arms flexed subtly as his grip tightened on the book.
I swallowed hard and tried not to stare, but failed miserably. He looked…good. Better than good. He looked dangerous in his own, quiet way.
“I—” My voice faltered. I tried again. “I just saw your light on and thought I’d check on you. Before I went to bed.”
