Page 47 of Never Again

“Excuse me,” Bailey said, deciding that this was a good time to use the bathroom as she stood up, ignoring Quinn when he said her name and took a step towards the bathroom, only to mumble another, “Excuse me,” when she nearly ran into their waitress. She moved to step out of the way as a large man made his way past them and-

Felt her stomach drop when she saw the knife in his hand.

CHAPTER26

“Let me see your hands, Bailey,” Quinn said, trying to keep it together as he placed her on the kitchen island and-

Oh, fuck…

There was so much blood, Quinn thought as he took her hands in his and turned them over, looking for the source as he struggled to keep it together, only to feel his stomach drop when he couldn’t find it. He ran his trembling hands over her arms, pushing the sleeves out of the way as terror tore through him when he still couldn’t find anything.

“Baby, I need to know where you’re hurt,” Quinn said, moving his trembling hands over her, pushing blood-stained clothes out of the way, barely aware that she was saying his name or that she was trying to stop him.

He needed to make sure that she was okay.

He needed-

Oh, Christ, he never should have let her leave that fucking table. One minute, he was telling himself that it was time to put a stop to this before it was too late and the next…

He couldn’t move fast enough.

“Baby, please, just tell me where you’re hurt,” Quinn said, running his hands over her shoulders and-

“It’s not mine,” Bailey said, reaching up to cup his face in her hands. “It’s not mine, Quinn. I’m fine.”

Swallowing hard, Quinn met beautiful blue eyes that he thought he’d never see again as he said, “Be sure.”

“It’s not mine, Quinn,” she promised him as she gently caressed his face. “He didn’t hurt me.”

Licking her lips, Bailey said, “He didn’t hurt me,” again as she dropped her hands away and gently pushed him back so that she could climb off the kitchen counter and take his trembling hand in hers.

“I’m fine,” Bailey promised him again and gave his hand a gentle squeeze as she turned and took a step back, her beautiful blue eyes never leaving his as she moved. He clenched his jaw tightly shut as he allowed her to lead him into the bathroom as he thought about that knife and-

“I’m fine, Quinn,” Bailey promised him again as she pulled him into the bathroom.

She kept telling him that she was fine as she reached for his shirt, quickly unbuttoning it and pulling it free before pushing the blood-stained item off as he stood there, unable to look away from her as he thought about just how quickly he’d been cut off from her, the flash of silver, the screams, and-

“Tell me again,” Quinn said hollowly as she carefully pulled his holster free and placed it down on the bathroom counter.

“I’m fine,” Bailey said, reaching for his belt.

“Again,” he said as she quickly undid his pants while he toed off his shoes.

Slowly exhaling, she said, “I’m fine,” as she pushed his pants down.

Nodding, Quinn said, “Again,” as he reached down and pulled his socks off, tossing them aside, his focus never leaving her face as she quickly discarded her shoes and socks and pulled off her blood-stained shirt.

“I’m fine,” Bailey said, dropping her shirt on the floor before she pushed her pants off, taking her panties down with them as he spotted the blood staining her neck and stomach and-

“I’m fine,” she promised him as she reached back and released her bra, dropping it to the floor before she was reaching for him again.

“Say it again,” Quinn said as she took his hand in hers and stepped back into the large shower.

“I’m fine,” Bailey said as she blindly reached back and turned on the shower.

Swallowing hard, Quinn stepped inside as he thought about the moment that knife moved and-

She was fine.

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