Page 101 of Crown of Lies

A slow grin spreads across my face. “That’s good. Real good.” I stand up, moving closer to her. “Saves us the trouble of having to wipe them out completely.”

“Exactly,” Quinn agrees, her eyes meeting mine. “Nico seemed pretty pleased with himself when he told me. Can’t say I blame him.”

“Smart move on his part. Gotta hand it to him.”

Quinn nods, her eyes distant. Her fingers trace abstract patterns on the bedspread, and a shadow passes over her face.

“It doesn’t bring back my people though,” she says softly. “The ones who were killed.”

I watch her closely, noting the slight slump of her shoulders, the tightness around her eyes. Every death weighs on her, I can see it plain as day.

“I know.” I match her tone. “It’s the same for Nico. For all of us, really.”

She looks up at me, a question in her eyes.

“Nico feels that weight of responsibility to his people,” I explain. “It’s part of why he was so pissed about the clubhouse. That shit didn’t just affect us three, you know? It hit the whole gang.”

I watch as Quinn’s expression shifts. She’s clearly taking my words to heart.

“I know,” she says softly. “If someone fucked with my gang, I’d do whatever it took to get my revenge too. No matter the cost.”

“I know you would. You and Nico… you’re so much more alike than either of you can admit.”

Quinn huffs out a laugh, not able to deny it. The sound is a mix of amusement and resignation.

“Yeah, I guess we are,” she admits, shaking her head. “Both stubborn as hell, always ready for a fight. Protective of our people to a fault.”

I can’t help but smirk. “Don’t forget the part where you’re both hot-headed and impulsive as fuck.”

She rolls her eyes at me, but there’s a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Look who’s talking, Mr. ‘Let’s-chop-off-hands-first-ask-questions-later.’”

I shrug, unrepentant. “Hey, it sent a message, didn’t it?”

Quinn’s smile fades, and I can almost see the gears turning in her head. Her eyes lose focus, and I know she’s not really seeing me anymore.

“What is it?” I ask, leaning in closer.

She blinks, coming back to the present. “I was just thinking… about The Saint.”

I tense at the mention of that bastard’s name. “What about him?”

“Why he’s after me. Why he thinks I’m so valuable. It’s been bugging me ever since we found out.”

I nod, understanding her frustration. “Yeah, it’s a fucking mystery.”

“But now…” She pauses, her eyes meeting mine with a new fire. “Now I need to know. I have to find out what this supposed ‘value’ is.”

“Why the sudden urgency?” I ask, although I think I already know the answer.

Quinn takes a deep breath, her hands clenching into fists. “Because if I’m valuable to him, maybe I can use that. Maybe I can leverage whatever it is to make things right. To make amends for what I did to you guys.”

I see the determination in her eyes, the set of her jaw. She’s on a mission now, driven by a need to atone for the chaos she caused.

“You’re talking about the clubhouse?” I ask, just to be sure.

“Yeah. And everything else that’s happened because of me. If I can figure out why The Saint wants me so badly, maybe I can turn it around. Use it to our advantage somehow.”

I nod, but she’s already on to something else before I can say anything.

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