Page 44 of Breaker

"Who do I need to kill, Goldie?" I whisper against her head.

She hums, leaning against me, rasping, "Slime," completely confusing me. I lean back, causing her to look at me, her dark blue eyes shining with unshed tears, which I'm guessing has to do with her dad. I raise a brow at her, needing more of an explanation, and she chuckles.

"I thought it would be a good idea to let the kids use slime for weight measurements today. I'm pretty sure Noah was the only one who behaved."

I snort and shake my head, causing her to lean against me again. I rasp, "That's because he loves you. Now, how did you hurt your arm?"

She sighs. "I slipped on some slime. I tried to grab my desk, but I bashed my wrist against it as I hit the floor. It flipping hurt, too."

I sigh, holding her tighter to me, careful of her wrist, enjoying her closeness after so long. We stay like this for a few minutes before she speaks.

"You shouldn't be here, Alex."

I smile at the use of my given name and reply, "I wouldn't be anywhere else, Goldie. Getting that message that you were here…." I hold her tighter. "Fuck, it was like a dagger to my heart."

She grips my arm around her waist with her uninjured hand. "Dad thinks it's just bruised but wants an X-ray to be sure. I'll be okay," she says.

My hold tightens. The thought of any of her bruised angers me. She was hurt, and I wasn't there.

Fuck….

I place my nose on the top of her head. From the doorway, there's a rustle, and then someone clears their throat before rasping, "Hey, Breaker…."

Fucking Becky, trying to sound sexy when, in reality, it comes out nasally and whiny.

Quinn's hand tightens, making me smile a little at the possessiveness she refuses to acknowledge.

Without even looking at her, I rasp, "If you're not here to tell me the x-ray is ready for my woman, then fuck off."

She gasps, but again, I don't look at her. Instead, I keep my arms around the love of my life, my nose to the top of her head, finally feeling centered. Like fuck am I allowing a patch chaser to ruin this.

She wants Doc, but any patch will do. That's why no brother has touched her.

She clears her throat again. "X-ray is ready."

I nod, kissing my girl's head before allowing them to escort her to an x-ray with me right by her side.

Like fuck am I letting her out of my sight.

Two hours later, after confirming that her wrist was just bruised and sprained, I pull up in front of her apartment.

Fuck, I hate this place.

I squeeze the steering wheel tightly, looking at the building, and ask, "Are you going to let me in, or am I sitting outside the door?"

Fuck, I'm hoping she lets me in. After this evening, I'm barely holding on by a thread.

She sighs before whispering, "I think it's for the best if you go home ,Alex."

I shake my hand, chuckling darkly. "Better for who, Quinn? You or me?"

She sniffles as she grabs the door handle and rasps, "For everyone," then climbs out.

Does she really think I won't follow her?

I curse before jumping out of my truck and running after her, not willing to allow her to shut that door in my face again. I fucking can't.

Careful of her sprained wrist, I grab her uninjured hand and spin her around, making her gasp before I guide her to the wall just around the corner of the building entrance, making sure she doesn't bang her head against the wall. My heart pounds in my chest.

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