Page 139 of Quinlan

“I told her not to,” Rome grunts, folding his arms over his chest. “She won’t listen. She demanded to be a part of this. And she demanded to meet Quinlan.”

“See? It’ll be fun. Anne will make everything less morbid. She always does.”

“That’s true. We’ll see.” A weight seems to have been lifted off his shoulders. Mine too. “Is that what you did in Quinlan’sbedroom? Went into detail about what Rex did to you? Why you’re doing this?”

“Fuck no.” I’m about to say,I’ll never tell her, except that’s a lie. There’s no running from it, even if she’s never leaving. “She asked if I was molested, I said no. Then she asked what happened and I gagged her. No big deal. I’ll tell her later.”

“You don’t want her pitying on you, either.” He doesn’t care that I gagged her. Probably because we both know she likes it.

“No. Maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

I smile. “After I tell her, I can fuck the pity out of her.”

“Yeah.” Rome’s eyebrows pinch. His eyes darken. “Better than her thinking we’re out there, just looking to kill people.”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, then.” Rome comes closer. In a very rare show of affection, he places a hand on my shoulder. “Good night, Dame.”

I’ll never be able to sleep with her bound and beautiful in the next room. I tell him anyway, “Night, Rome.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Liam

Silence.

No fingers tapping on keyboards. No rustling of papers. No hushed voices or heated conversations.

No softwhooshof fridge doors being opened and closed. Nothing sizzles on the stove.

No moaning or sobbing or accusations.

Everyone’s asleep. Tucked in their rooms.

Good.

The things I have to tell Damien will have to wait for tomorrow. He’ll be glad to hear Rex is growing madder by the second. Her half-brother read Quinlan’s email to her parents on his way home, and he was pissed. Shouted “Fuck!” in the empty street.

I read it too. I have it memorized.

Hi, Mom,

How are you? How’s Dad?

I’ll be gone for a while, but please don’t worry about me. I’m doing great!

This place I’m in is really nice. The people are nice.

Your doctors have Rex’s number, so they’ll talk to him. Email me if you need anything, please, Mom.

Love you. Please don’t worry about me.

P.S. I would’ve called, but I dropped my phone in the toilet. Oops!

Happiness dripped from her words. Whether she did it to calm her parents or she actually likes it here, it doesn’t matter. We counted on that, and without ever knowing it, Quinlan delivered.

---