“Listen.” I kiss her forehead. “When I first met you, I tried to walk away, to leave you alone.”
“What, why?” Her eyelashes flutter against my throat.
“Because of who I am, sugar. Because of what I do. I didn’t want to expose you to this life or to—I don’t know—to infect you with all the bad parts of me. The dark parts. The ones I’ve kept hidden from you.”
“You never had to hide,” she says quietly.
“I couldn’t risk losing you. It’s why I tried to leave you alone at first.” I chuckle. “As if I ever could. I failed. Miserably.”
“I’m glad.” She kisses my Adam’s apple.
“Me too, sugar.” I press my lips to her hair. She really is the best decision I’ve ever made. In fact, she wasn’t a decision so much as a fucking lightning bolt. One that hit me right in my stone-cold heart. Woke me up.
“I would’ve loved you anyway.” She runs her fingers down my bicep. “Even if you’d told me you do terrible things, it wouldn’t have mattered.”
My eyebrows must hit my hairline. “Really?”
She nods. “I like to tell myself I’d turn my back on you and forget you—if you’d been honest from the start. But I know that’s a lie. It doesn’t matter what you do. I love you. It’s silly that it’s just that simple, but it is. You, your heart, I can’t stop my love for every bit of you. It’s probably sick or codependent or something, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
“It’s not sick.” I shift her up my body and kiss her deeply. Loving this woman is as easy as breathing, and goddamn, I try to memorize her words and lock them away inside. I want to think about them every day for the rest of my life, because I feel the same way for her. I could never leave, not even at the very start. We’re bound, both of us locked in love. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
When I break the kiss, she cups my cheek and stares into my eyes. I’ve never felt so seen. Like her soul and mine are having a silent conversation.
“Come back to me.” She ghosts her lips across mine. “Do whatever you have to do to keep me and the baby safe, then come back. That’s all I need. You.”
“I promise, sugar.” I kiss her again, slowly, deeply, fully. When I pull back, she gives me a small nod, sort of like a coach telling their best player to get it done.
I will. It’s what I’m good at, second only to loving Quinn. Slipping out of bed, I turn and pull the covers up over her.
“Get some rest.”
“You wore me out.” She yawns and watches me as I open the closet panel to my armory.
“I’ll leave it open for you,” I call back to her as I dress and load up. “I have some men coming to guard you while I’m gone. If one of them even looks at you funny, come in here, grab a gun, aim it at his face, and pull the trigger.”
“Yes, that sounds like me.” Her sleepy voice is laced with irony.
“Fine, I’ll tell Nova to handle it.” I finish strapping my blades down, then almost trip over Harley. Bending down, I scratch him behind his ears as he peers into the now-open armory. “Keep her safe,” I order.
He trots past, hopefully not on his way to accidentally discharge a firearm.
When I re-enter the bedroom, Quinn is all but asleep. I smirk, because I really wore her out. It’s the only way I knew she’d relax at least a little while I’m gone. I kiss her once more, then creep out of the room and into the hall.
Nova and Ben are having a heated conversation outside the kitchen, Nova’s back is against the wall and Ben’s hands are on either side of her head.
They part quickly when they see me.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Fine!” They both answer too quickly.
“Nova, I know you’re still recovering, but—”
“I’m good.” She waves my concern away as Ben trots to his room to get his weapons straight.
“Protect her.” I grab a water from the kitchen counter. “The Brotherhood guys are already here stationed around the warehouse. Snipers, the whole nine yards. I told Clevenger they aren’t allowed to set foot into the compound unless there’s been a breach.”
“If there’s a breach, I’ll drop the intruder before those fancy assassins even get their safeties off.”
I don’t doubt it. “Message me immediately if anything happens.”
“Will do. But you’re the one who’s running face-first into danger.” She shakes her head. “Are you sure taking this fight to the desert is the right move?”
“It’s the only move. They need to know I’m still freelancing and still deadly as fuck. This is the only way they’ll get the message.”
“Break into their house and take a big shit on the dining room table, right?” Ben grins as he comes out with his tactical vest loaded with flashbangs, percussion, and fire grenades.
“Great imagery.” Nova wrinkles her nose.
“Just keep her safe. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Will do.” She pats the Glock at her hip. Even injured, she’s still lethal as hell.
Quinn is in good hands.
I have to walk away from here knowing Quinn is safe, because if she isn’t, I’ll never be able to leave and handle business.
“Just go. Jeez, quit hovering.” Nova throws her hands up.
“No good luck kiss?” Ben asks.
Nova gives him both middle fingers and strides down the hallway toward the bedrooms.
He shrugs. “She loves me.”
I give him a quizzical look but don’t ask any questions. After all, I know plenty about how unexpected love can be. Quinn taught me that.
We head to the garage, and I jump into the driver’s seat of the Rover. “Let’s do this.”
The private airstrip is close by, and then we’ll be airborne.
After that, we go to war.
21
Quinn
“How do you do this?” I sigh as I walk on the treadmill. I read in one of the baby books that it's a good idea to get a bit of exercise. I thought with being stuck in a warehouse, the treadmill was the best idea. I was wrong. This is the worst idea I’ve ever had.
“You can get a runner's high. It’s addictive,” Nova informs me. She’s sitting on some weightlifting bench doing a few stretches that the doctor told her would be okay. I’m keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.
“Can we get a normal high?” I tease, making her laugh.
It’s been over a week since Logan left. I haven't heard even a peep from him. I try to keep myself busy so I’m not in a constant state of worry. Nova said they’ve gone dark because it’s the best way to protect all of us. If he was dead or the crab rangoon people had him, we would have found out by now. None of those things settle my mind when I lay my head on the pillow at night.
I used to hate when Logan went away for work. That was before I knew what he really did for a living. Now I not only miss him, but I know his life is in danger.
I pull the cord Nova attached to me when I’d gotten on the dreadmill, stopping it instantly before I hop off.