Page 214 of Quinlan

This half-plea, it’s new to me. I hate feeling this raw and vulnerable. To have to ask.

Even though Damien and Liam have been offering it for years. And Quinlan, she stood there in our kitchen this morning picking out a knife for today.

The awkward feeling in my chest lasts for all of a second.

They don’t make it weird. No one comes over with open arms to hug me.

They move. Then they’re there. Liam and Damien crouch at Joseph’s feet. Liam rubs his hands, Damien twists one of Joseph’s feet left and right. Warming up by the looks of it.

“No knives?” Quinlan rounds the two barely alive people, stopping next to me, closer to Joseph’s head. Still standing, she taps her sneaker.

“I can get you one from the kitchen.” Anne’s smile widens.

“You know, I thought I’d need one too. But…” She squats down, talking to Anne with her gaze on me. “Rome taught me a few moves yesterday. I’d like to try them.”

Pride. And love. And this peaceful sense of finality.

“Go right ahead.” I rub her arm. My hand stays there, guiding her, as Quinlan rears her arm back, bending her elbow. Aiming for maximum impact.

“Wait.” Damien’s smirk is so fucking audible, it makes Quinlan giggle.

“What?” Suddenly, I don’t want to be here anymore. I want these people dead. I want the men we hired for this to clean this shit up and be home.

I want Quinlan in one of our beds.

“It’s going to be a good one,” Liam comments. “I can feel it.”

“Talk.” Anne elbows Damien, her eyes glimmering. “I have a husband to get back to.”

“What if we all did it together?” Damien’s eyes bounce between us. “Anne, you kill this bitch up there. Quinlan and Rome, you’re in charge of pretty boy’s face. Liam and I have ankles to break.”

“Oh my God, yes,” Quinlan and Anne high-five while Joseph keeps fading in and out of consciousness.

While he and Elaine bleed out on their precious floors.

“Damien, you’re a genius.” She beams at him.

“Well, I am the one who suggested we kidnap you, so, yeah.” His tone bathes the room in warmth.

“Oh, fuck. I’m so sorry.” Her smile falters when she turns to me. She nibbles on her bottom lip, her hand cupping my cheek. “I’m so rude. I got caught up and forgot to ask. What doyouwant, Rome?”

My hand’s on her neck, pulling her in for a bruising kiss. A punishing one, for being the least rude, most considerate person I’ve ever met. “I want this. I want us. Together.”

“Good.”

This is what love feels like. This is what home is.

I shake my head, unable to suppress the smile on my lips.

“You did it.” Quinlan traces her fingertip over my wounded knuckles. “I adore you. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Let’s do this.” Anne looks at us, then at her other two big brothers, Damien and Liam.

We assume our positions.

Anne’s at Elaine’s head, cupping her jaw in a faux-loving grip. She’ll bash her head into the floor until Elaine’s brain drips out. That’s what this hold means.

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