Page 37 of Brutal Savior

She steers her further into the store as my mobile rings. I grab it, not recognizing the number. “Hello?”

“Jacob West?”

“Yep.”

“Lionel Baskins here. I run the Future Leaders in Biotech conference. We have you down as attending tomorrow.”

I frown. I’d booked a spot, as I always do, to attend, but canceled when I realized the conference clashed with Suzy’splanned arrival. Hadn’t I? I’d asked my assistant to give my apologies. Maybe it slipped his mind.

“I was supposed to, but I’m afraid something has come up. I won’t make it.”

A long pause.

“Oh. That would be very unfortunate. I’m calling to beg a huge favor of you. Our keynote speaker, Greg Jenkins, has suffered an accident and won’t be able to present. I’ve seen how you captivate and inspire students. Many of them are traveling across the country for the event, and there are plenty of international visitors. I’d be honored if you’d step in and do the keynote presentation tomorrow.”

Shit. The Future Leaders event is close to my heart. When I left the specials and started my formal education at Cambridge, I received an invitation to attend along with a bursary funding the flights. The trip cemented my plans to pursue biotech as a career.

Ordinarily, I’d have bitten Lionel's arm off for the chance to present, and as an added bonus, this year’s conference is only an hour away by chopper. I could be in and out in four hours flat, but the timing couldn’t be worse.

A giggle catches my attention. Annie holds up a top, and Quinn shakes her head, laughing. She looks relaxed until she catches me watching and stiffens up, turning away.

I force my attention back to the phone. “I’ll give you an answer in an hour. I appreciate the opportunity.”

“You’d be saving my life. Really, Jacob. I don’t know what I’ll do if you don’t accept.”

“I’ll call as soon as I can.”

I end the call. As I churn through potential options, the girls approach. Annie speaks respectfully. “Sir, tomorrow evening—”

Quinn cuts her off. “Annie is having a girls’ night tomorrow, and I want to go.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Girls’ night. I don’t think so.”

Quinn pouts. “Why not?”

“It’s much too soon.”

“It’s not. And it’s just girls having drinks, not a three-day coke bender.”

Annie puts a hand on Quinn’s arm. “If I may. It’s just a few of the younger Wards meeting at my place. My Patron is away for a couple of days. We’ll have some food and a few drinks, that’s all. And Eve is coming—you work with her, sir, I think?”

Smart and diplomatic, this one. But Quinn’s face has dropped. “Oh, I don’t think I should be around Eve. I’m sure she won’t want me there. And I know he won’t.”

Annie’s forehead creases, and she glances at me before returning to Quinn. “You mean Gabriel? I don’t see why he’d mind.”

Quinn wraps her arms around herself. “He will after what I did.”

Annie stares. “What did you do? You’ve only been here a day!”

“Smacked her in the head with a toaster. I thought it was someone else.” She turns to me as Annie gasps. “I’d never have done that to her on purpose.”

She gazes at her feet, and her voice shrinks. "I really am sorry. I want to apologize to Eve, but I—I don't know what to say. And he won't let me near her even if I did.”

Shit. Her guilt touches something in my chest. She deserves the chance to make things up with Eve, and I want to see the happy version of her I caught a glimpse of. Maybe tomorrow can work out well for both of us, after all.

I give a theatrical sigh and shake my head. “I must be stupid. You can go. And don’t worry about Gabriel. I’ll handle him.”

Quinn draws in a breath, staring at me. Then a smile spreads across her face, and she shrieks and high-fives Annie. “I’ll bring the tequila!”

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