Loving me?
“You ever need to talk about it with someone who’s been there,” Ripper says quietly, “you give me a call.” He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a brand new cell phone—same model as my old one. “We keep a bunch of these around as spares. Because what we do? You wouldn’t believe how many phones we drop, step on, or throw.” He almost smiles. “Wren got your info from the carrier, so it should be just like your old one was never destroyed. My number’s in there. Along with everyone else’s. Just look under Family.”
* * *
Graham
I trust Ripper with my life. But I have no idea if Q was ready to talk to another person. Not up close, one on one. I didn’t want to leave them alone together, and my momentary pause had Rip arching his brows and staring pointedly towards my bedroom. Though he’s one of the hardest guys to read—harder even than Ryker—the meaning was clear.
Get the fuck out and give us a minute.
So I set Clementine’s bed on the low dresser next to the window, clean out half my top drawer for the clothes we brought from Q’s place, find a spot for the litter box in my bathroom, and then stop short before I reach the hallway.
I want to see his things here all the time. Or seeourthings together somewhere. Anywhere.
Before I return to the living room, I pull off my boots and tactical vest and shove them into my go bag. Ryker installed an industrial strength washer and dryer at the warehouse, and it’s the only thing that can get the stench of blood, sweat, and gun oil out of fabric.
Ripper sits next to Q with Charlie leaning against both their legs. “I mean it. Any time,” Rip says. “Don’t pretend it didn’t happen. And for fuck’s sake, don’t hide anything from Graham. He got me through the first couple of days, and he understands. Probably a hell of a lot more than you think.”
Q nods, and the tears on his cheeks catch the light.
“Ready to go, Charlie?” Rip asks. As soon as he stands, the dog pops up, tail wagging, and after a beat, takes Ripper’s place on the couch and noses Q’s hand.
For a second, nothing happens until Q, with Clementine perched on his shoulder, wraps his arms around the dog. This is Charlie’s gift. He just knows what people need.
When Q lets go, Charlie licks Clementine’s side gently, and the kittencoosat him and starts purring even louder. I can’t believe they bonded so well in under twenty-four hours.
Then again...Q and I? We shouldn’t be here. At this stage where if he weren’t so confused and exhausted, I’d be confessing my love for him.
So many members of my little family—West, Inara, Ryker, Ripper, Dax, Ford, Trevor, even Austin Pritchard—found their forevers. Some took longer than others. Hell, Ford and Trevor needed decades. But seeing them with their partners? It taught me something. It taught me a lot of things.
Your family? You get to choose them. I found most of mine at Hidden Agenda. But the last piece? The one who makes me feel complete? He’s sitting right in front of me. Found by chance and bravery and pain. And unless he asks me to...I’m never letting him go.
* * *
Quinton
Light filters in from a crack in the curtains. I’m not sure what time it is. Only that Graham’s sleeping next to me and we’re safe.
After Ripper and Charlie left, Graham helped me shower. I could barely stand, but smelling Alec’s cologne on me? It was making me sick. Then he tucked me into his bed and offered to sleep on the couch.
I must have managed the“Are you serious?”look well enough, because he only left me long enough to check the locks before climbing in next to me.
I reach for his hand under the sheet, and as soon as we touch, he links our fingers and yawns. “Figured you’d sleep all day,” he says, then turns to me and pushes up on an elbow. “How do you feel?”
“Like I was beaten up, handcuffed to the floor of a crappy van for fifteen hours, drugged, and forced to sign over my entire company.”
Graham’s eyes widen. His hands frame my face, and he touches his forehead to mine. “Q? Ripper and Wren are tech geniuses. Rip knows the ins and outs of every bank in the world, and Wren…you’re going to be shocked as hell when you meet her. She’s this petite little thing with red hair and she never curses. Ever. But she basically lives her entire life on the dark web.”
I’m not sure why he’s telling me all this. Holding a coherent thought for more than a few minutes is still harder than it should be.
“Baby, you didn’t lose anything. Wren intercepted the electronic paperwork and made it disappear. Alec had managed to hack into your bank accounts to empty them, but Ripper got it all back. Plus everything he took from you in Dallas.”
It takes a few minutes for his words to sink in, but when they do, my eyes start to water. “All of it?”
“Yes. Silver Star Technologies is still one hundred percent yours. As is Zen Oasis. And the townhouse. Everything.”
Shifting onto my side, I stifle my groan. Graham carried me out of that basement. Across the yard. On and off the plane. He’s held me every minute he could.
