Page 144 of Quinlan

“Quinlan.” The moment I say it, I’m vaguely aware of the door shutting. The light’s out.

I can take care of her. I. Will.

The bed dips with my weight, and I inhale Quinlan’s scent. She smells of sex and ofherand it alleviates the pressure around my lungs. There’s no smoke in the room. None.

“I couldn’t catch him. He fell.”

I’m there, between her legs. My hands are on her cheeks. Firm, but not too firm. It’ll make things worse, startling her into waking up.

“I’m so sorry.” Her apology sounds a lot like mine. Her face is all pain. She looks like she’s crumpling from the inside out. “I tried. I tried. I was stuck. I’m so sorry.”

“Quinlan.” My forehead presses to hers. I’m here. I’m saving her. That’s what it means to be mine. I’ll save her every fucking time. “Wake up, little flame. Wake up, beautiful.”

“Ohno.”

I do the only thing I have left in my arsenal. I dip my mouth to hers, finding her lips.

This isn’t a kiss. It’s my lips on hers. It’s my soul calling for Quinlan out of the depths. Out of that pool. Out of that horrible night.

“Little flame,” I whisper. No, I demand. I imagine my voice is my hand, and I outstretch it to her. Dig into her dream and pull her the fuck out. “Come back. I’m not asking you again.”

Part-gasp, part-scream, and then—thank fuck, gray eyes flash in the dark.

“Liam.”

Impossible. It’s impossible to describe this feeling in my chest, to have her recognize me. She was a million miles away, trapped in her dream, and here she is. Seeing me in the dark.

“I’m here, little flame,” I repeat the name so she can hear it. I’m doing what I haven’t done before with anyone other than Rome or Damien. I crack my soul wide open for her to lean into. “With you. In your room. In your new home.”

“What happened?” Quinlan’s focused on me one moment, the next she’s trying to pull her arms close to her body. The relief in her eyes disappears the longer she tugs on her restraints. “You tied me up. You tied me up. You tied me up. Let me go. Please, let me go.”

Let me go.

The fire returns as if it’s never been extinguished in the first place. Thick smoke curls around me.

Let me go.

She’s right. She’s absolutely right.

We tied her up.

Let me go, Aria.

She never did, didn’t she?

Fuck. Fuck.

Without my Zippo in my palm, there’s no telling how long I’ve got. The panic will win over. I know it will.

Soon.

Calling Rome or Damien isn’t an option. Quinlan saidmyname. She needs me and I’ll die before I let her down.

I push through, just barely. I’m here again. My throat seizes and my muscles refuse to play along, but I’m done asking them for permission.

Bright gray eyes stare at me from under. Begging.

“Liam.” A breath. Just a soft breath, and I’m propelled into action.

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