Page 206 of Quinlan

Choked laughter comes from all of us. If I’m not careful, I’m going to start getting used to this.

“What?” Anne shrugs when I stare at her, shaking my head. I’m so proud of how strong and resilient she is. How she didn’t let the call affect her. “We’re seeing them soon anyway. I wasn’t letting her ruin my mood. Not like it stoppedhimfrom trying.”

The room grows silent in an instant.

“Yup. He…” Four sets of eyes wait for Anne to finish the sentence. “Joseph texted me.”

“Fuck this guy.” Liam throws his arm over the back of the sofa, twirling a lock of Quinlan’s hair around his finger.

Her hair. Not the Zippo.

We have to get out of here, or I’ll start hugging everyone and, Jesus, this isn’t the day for it. No day is the day forthat.

“The asshole begged for help?” Damien’s loathing for our parents is audible. Tangible.

Since I don’t give a damn about what was on Joseph’s message, I stay silent. Observing Anne for any sign of distress.

Nothing.

“What did he want?” Quinlan sits up, sliding to the place between Damien and me again. She’s bristling. “If he sounded pathetic, I’d love to hear it. Please.”

Anne’s dark blue eyes that are so much like mine examine Quinlan. She cuts her gaze to me. “You should’ve kidnapped her sooner.”

Something in my body screams. It’s louder than the conversation in the room. It pushes me to my feet. Balls my hands into fists.

“That’s what I keep saying.” Damien’s up right after me, offering Quinlan his hand.

“Why is it neverwe should’ve asked her on a date sooner?” Quinlan places her palm in his and stands up.

“Because”—I grab her arm, bringing her to me for a quick, much-needed embrace—“this was a part of the plan.”

“Everything happens as it should,” Liam adds, unfolding himself from the sofa.

A laugh bursts out of Anne, and she’s shaking her head. She’s been around us her entire life. Has been there for some of our best and worst moments. Nothing could shock her anymore.

“Well?” I let my sister walk ahead of us.

“He said he knew it was you, Rome.”

Quinlan stays at my side. She senses the tension in the air. How volatile I’ve become at his accusation. At the fact that he mentioned my name.

The closer we get to the front door, the pressure in my head intensifies. The harder my fingers dig into my palm.

Quinlan senses it, and she’s there, prying my fingers open, holding my hand. I grip hers, the skin of my hand stretching over my knuckles. I’m a storm, and Quinlan thrusts herself onto me, consequences be damned.

“What did you tell him?” The corner of Quinlan’s lips curls into sneer.

She’s dying to hear how my sister humiliated Joseph. How she stuck the knife deeper between his miserable ribs.

“I told him to go fuck himself.” Anne steps outside into the hall, swiveling to us. “Delete this number. That was my second text.”

Liam locks the door behind us. The softclickannounces that this is it. I’m finally fucking doing it.

We’re actually going through with it.

After so many years, the feeling is surreal. Except I have my friends around me. I have my sister. We have the girl. A fierce woman who’s volunteered to help me kill my parents.

Her hand is on her belly while the others stand ahead of us, brushing her thumb over the bandaged scars we left there. Or maybe she’s stroking something else.

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