Kennedy came to the side of his bed.Her gaze lowered to his hand, linked with Josie’s, and her eyes rounded.
Josie slid her fingers away and he wanted to snatch them back, but the movement would take too much effort.“It’s my fault—”
“It’s not your fault,” he growled.“Actually, it’s mine.”
Kennedy held up her hands.“I don’t care whose fault it is.I just want to know why you’re shot.”
“Cody Randal shot me.”
Her mouth hung open.“But he’s—”
“A traitor, an embezzler, and a murderer,” Josie finished.
Quin reached for the cup of water on the tray beside his bed.Josie quickly passed it to him, guiding the straw to his lips.His hand shook as he held the cup, and what dignity he had left plummeted to nil.
“Where is he?”Kennedy’s soft question rode on currents of hate.
“He was in bad shape, but I haven’t talked to Hank since they took him away,” he said.
Kennedy relaxed and sat on the edge of the bed.“Why are you here, Quin?You never called to tell me you were in town.”
He grinned.“Wasn’t that kind of visit, honey.”
Her eyebrows rose.“You’re not staying?”She swung a suspicious eye to Josie and then to him.
Josie straightened.“I’m going to make a call so you two can catch up.”
Kennedy snagged Josie’s arm.“Oh, don’t go!Sorry I was too panicked about Quin to say hello.I’m glad you’re here with him.”
Josie gave her a weak smile but continued to stand.“I’ll stick around.Dez is probably frantic waiting for an update, so I need to phone her anyway.Good to see you, Kennedy.”She squeezed his sister’s shoulder and moved away from the bed, her chin tucked.
Something had upset her.
“Quin, what the hell is going on?”Kennedy took Josie’s seat, her gaze hard and not at all like that of the little sister who’d never questioned his judgment before.
“I knew something wasn’t right about Liam’s death.After the fire, I was certain.I came back to do some digging and find out what happened.I made the mistake of going to Cody first, thinking he could be trusted even if he was pissed at me for leaving.”
“How do you know he killed Liam?”
“Because he tried to kill Josie after I arrived.Because I made the mistake of telling him that Josie got a voicemail from Liam the morning he died saying he needed to talk to her and something wasn’t right.So I guess that spooked Cody into thinking she had suspicions.”
Her brow furrowed.“I’m so confused.You and Josie...what’s that about?”
He rubbed his thumb along the fingers of his good hand.He didn’t have answers for Kennedy, not when he didn’t even have answers for himself.There was only one thing he was certain about.“I love her.”
Kennedy slouched in the chair.“Holy cow.”
“Why’s that so surprising?”
She shook her head.“That’s amazing.I just...wow.Never saw that coming.But I’m happy if you are.”Her gaze turned pensive.“Does she feel the same?”
He shrugged.“Honestly, that’s all I know right now.But when I figure it out, you’ll be the first I tell.”
“That’s all I ask,” she said with a wink.“You know how word travels here.I can’t be the last person to find out that you finally settled down.”
Knock,knock
Jesus, now what?He just wanted out of this damn hospital bed.To be at home.With Josie.So he could make sure she knew he was in it for the long haul.
