“I love you too,” Aaron said, the words coming out in a rush. “I’ve probably loved you since that day you crashed my party and kissed me. I love you, Quinn MacGregor, even though it’s taken me over ten years to say it.”
“I know.” Quinn kissed him again. “I’ve always known. You loved me way before I deserved you, Aaron.”
Aaron shook his head. “No.”
“It wasn’t just your dad who made me want to be a better man,” Quinn said softly. “It was you too. It was always you.”
“What happens now?” Aaron asked. Quinn stepped away from him, and Aaron felt suddenly cold. “Quinn?”
“I can’t be here. I can’t risk you.” Quinn moved to the kitchen door. “But this time, Aaron, I’m coming to find you when it’s over, okay? I’m not waiting another ten years for you.”
“Okay.” Aaron’s throat swelled with tears he wanted to shed. “You’d better not keep me waiting long.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Quinn said with a crooked smile, before he vanished into the darkness.
The kitchen door swung closed behind him, and the house felt emptier than before.
Chapter 17
Quinn battled between telling Aaron and Charlie to get out of town right the fuck now and wanting them to wait so he’d be able to go with. He wanted to keep his family safe, and so far, they were. Except Jimmy was keeping an eye on Aaron and that meant he was also doing the same to Charlie.
Day had no news, or so Quinn assumed, because he couldn’t get hold of his handler. And then the next morning, as he got ready to head to Karen’s for the funeral arrangement stuff, Charlie messaged him.
I swear I heard a bike when I got out of my car at the diner just now.
She was opening the diner with the owner, it was barely six in the morning, andalreadyshe could hear them?
Quinn frowned.Keep an eye out. Actually…
He changed into the group message he had going on with Aaron and Charlie.
Q: Charlie heard a bike in town.
Almost immediately, his phone dinged.
Aaron: Shit. What do we do?
Charlie: I’m going to work. I can’t not, you guys know that.
Suddenly, Quinn wanted to put his fist through his windshield.
Q: You need to be ready to leave. Tonight.
Aaron: What time? I’m all packed. I can get Charlie and Lennox because I have a better car.
Q: The funeral is at midday. I’ll be stuck with that until probably four or something, there’ll be a lot of people.
Charlie typed something, the little dots disappearing before she continued.
Charlie: We meet across the road from Aaron’s at seven thirty. If one of us doesn’t make it, the rest leave. For safety.
Quinn wanted to weep with relief, suddenly. Even if he wouldn’t live, they’d leave. He was so fucking grateful.
Aaron: Okay. We’ll figure out which car we take once we know who’s going. Charlie’s is a POS, mine is a bit better. Yours is…eh.
Q: Hey, stop dissing my wheels, man. Okay, seven thirty tonight. Stay safe. And let me know if you see or hear anything, I’ll try to keep an eye on my phone.
Charlie: Go handle the funeral.
