I don’t reveal how angry I am, but I’m pissed. Pissed at myself for knowing something was wrong and ignoring it, and pissed that I’m dealing with this shit when all I want to do is go find Quinn.
“What else aren’t you telling us?” Evan shakes the vampire as I get to my feet.
Rand licks his lips. “Will you let me live if I tell you?”
“I don’t know, but I can promise your death will be a whole lot less painful if you do.” Evan drops Rand back onto the chair, and he struggles to right himself.
“It’s not just me. They have other people in other schools, maybe even here,” he finally divulges after a long pause.
I shake my head, disgusted with this entire debacle. “I’m going to give you one chance to tell me the truth. Did anyone besides Michelle know what you were doing here?”
“Not my part, no,” he answers immediately and with conviction. I’m inclined to believe him, but I’m not going to let him know that.
“I can’t look at you for another minute, or I’m going to snap your puny neck.” I stand up and straighten my suit coat.
“Let’s lock them up, this time we’ll use the dungeon,” I sneer at Rand. I’m not going to place him in the containment rooms near the kids, those are way too comfortable. “He can live for now. I still have more questions.” I look at Evan to see if he agrees.
“Fine by me. Get up.” He kicks Rand’s chair, and it squeals as it scoots on the wooden floor. The woman is already standing in anticipation of what’s to come, wringing her hands helplessly.
Chapter 20
Quinn
I’ve looked at my phone a hundred times, checking the time. I wish I would have skipped the bath and went straight to bed, then maybe I would have slept through the message instead of being stuck in Evan’s office.
I get a flutter of anticipation in my stomach. Evan is my first thought. With my eyes locked on the door, I get to my feet. Within a minute, there’s a soft knock. “Quinn, it’s us.” I’m already rounding the desk to unlock the door. The flutter of awareness is gone, but I’m left with another feeling. This one is a little harder to describe. It’s more like relief, but not in a physical sense.
As I unlock the door, the knob is already turning, so I step back and Evan comes into view. His face is drawn, and there’s a noticeable slump to his shoulders. “Everything okay?” I step closer, compelled to comfort him.
He tries for a smile, but it never reaches his eyes. “Better now.” He nods encouragingly. “Are you ready?”
I look behind me, realizing my phone is still on his desk. “Just one second.” I half jog over and grab it, then rush back to his side. “Ready.”
Once we exit, I see Griffin leaning against the wall. His eyes roam over me quickly, but not in the heated manner I’m used to. There’s definitely been a change in their dispositions since I left them. What the heck happened at the meeting?
The journey up to the third floor is quiet. Evan doesn’t chat, and Griffin doesn’t reach for my hand. It leaves me feeling a little discombobulated. I use my key to unlock the door when we reach it. Griffin edges his way in first and looks around. Seeming satisfied, he moves farther in and allows us to enter.
I was tired when I was waiting, but now I have too many thoughts racing through my mind to be tired. Evan heads right to the bathroom, and Griffin sprawls on the couch. I take a moment to toe off my shoes, then walk in his direction. I’m feeling strangely tense, like if I try to sit with him, he may reject me, but my feet carry me toward him anyway.
“May I?” I point to the open space next to Griffin.
“You’re not tired?” he asks while opening his arm. I take it as an invitation.
“I was, but you guys are kind of weirding me out.” I decide the truth will work best. “You both seem so far away. I’m not trying to pry. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Griffin wraps his arm over my shoulder and pulls me a little closer. Nothing about his embrace is forced or faked, and I’m able to settle against him. “There were a few unexpected developments, nothing for you to worry about.”
“What about you? Is it something you need to worry about?” I tilt my head back so I can see his face.
Griffin raises one brow. “I might have to speak to a few people over the coming days and be civil. It’s a lot to ask.” He delivers the line with a straight face. I only know he’s joking because he starts slowly tracing his finger along my neck.
I pout. “However will you manage, you poor dear?”
“I know.” He sighs dramatically. “I could use some incentive.” The way he lowers his voice sends a tingle of awareness down my spine.
“I’m very familiar with the reward system. What were you thinking?”
Griffin bends forward, reaches his left hand across our bodies, then hauls me onto his lap to straddle him.
