Page 120 of Something like Redemption

“But there’s a catch,” I whisper, and Quinn tenses again.

“He was going to rat me out to the police because there is a quarter-million-dollar bounty on my head. He planned to make an anonymous phone call and tell them where I was, resulting in Phil and my dad also getting caught. He knew I’d tell the police everything, therefore bringing my dad and Phil down with me.

“And he, in return, gets the reward and is deemed a hero for trapping three wicked criminals. It’s actually quite clever. Too bad it was happening to me.”

And only then do I take a breath.

I don’t realize I’m crying until the tears sting my eyes, but these tears remind me that I’ve lived through this and I’m alive.

Quinn is deadly silent as he mulls over my revelations, and I understand he needs a moment to process everything.

But when that moment becomes a heavy, lengthy silence, I quietly ask, “Quinn, are you okay?”

I attempt to look into his face to read what’s going on behind those intelligent eyes, but his grip on me tightens, halting my movements.

“That motherfucker,” he finally sneers, his chest rising quickly.“He was going to rat you out…twice and get a fucking reward for your capture?”

I nod, my finger inadvertently tracing his nipple ring because I need something to do with my hands. Quinn’s breath hitches in his throat, but it’s not from pleasure.

Thinking back to what he did to Justin, I realize I don’t regret his death. I only regret that Quinn has to live with a murder on his conscience. Although I don’t have proof that Justin’s dead, I’m damn sure he is.

“What do you think happened to him?”

Quinn rubs his lips atop the crest of my head, contemplating his response.

“I left him as a message for your dad. So if I didn’t kill him, then I have no doubt your father will. Either way, he got what he deserved.”

Quinn did this for me. He’s got blood on his hands because of me. How can I live with myself, knowing what I made him do?

“I’m sorry,” I say into his neck, burying my face into his warm embrace.

“You’resorry?”

“Yes. I have brought you nothing but trouble. How can you still be here? How can you still want me?” I ask, my throat beginning to close over. “I’m a fucking mess. I should just do everyone a favor and turn myself over to my dad or the police. I’m nothing but trouble, and I will do nothing but bring you down with me.

“I need to let you go, Quinn. You deserve better than this!” I cry, spreading out my hand to gesture to the shitty hotel room we’re sitting in.

And with one final plea, I whisper, “And you deserve better than me.”

“Stop it! I’m not going anywhere!” he says angrily, pulling me out of his embrace to meet his wild eyes.

“It’s true.”

He attempts to calm me down, but the past nineteen years come crashing down, and I can’t stop.

The fact I was bound and gagged, about to be raped by a severely disturbed man, isn’t why I’m crying. The fact my father and his drug dealer are out for my blood isn’t the reason either.And the fact I’m on the run doesn’t even skim the surface.

I’m crying because of Quinn. I’m crying because he still won’t leave me despite everything I’veput him through.

He still looks at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He still looks at me like I’m pure and worth all this bullshit I’ve dragged him through.

“I don’t deserve you. No one in my entire life has ever thought I was worth anything.”

“Listen to me, Red. I’m not leaving you. Ever. You hear me? You’re my girl, and I will protect you until my last dying breath. I’ll happily kill for you, again and again, and not lose a night’s sleep if it keeps you safe. You’re all I care about.” He takes a deep breath before he confesses, “And you’re all I fucking want.”

Before I have time to respond, he sets me free and yanks me forward, settling me onto his lap as he smashes his lips to mine. My body protests since everything hurts, but Quinn feels too good, and I’d rather hurt than pull away.

“Oh fuck,” he groans between frantic kisses, his hands fisting in my hair.

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