“I love you,” he whispers against my skin.
“I love you too,” I say back. That wall I’d been sensing from the beginning of our relationship has finally tumbled away. There are no longer any secrets between us. Despite everything, Logan is closer to me than ever, and that has to be enough for now.
16
Logan
“More.” I scoop some macaroni and cheese onto Quinn’s plate.
She wrinkles her nose. “I’ve already had too much. Ugh.” She rubs her stomach, but she still takes another bite.
“What’s the plan?” Ben finishes his beer and grabs another from the fridge, offering me one as well.
I’ve been trying to figure out where to go from here. I want to go straight to the Red Dragoons’ underground headquarters in the California desert and soak the sand with those motherfuckers’ blood, but I have to be smart. Their strength comes in numbers. They don’t have the suave know-how of the Brotherhood. The Red Dragoons are more of a blunt instrument, but they get the job done. At least they usually do. We survived … barely. Nova is still out, the doctor keeping a close watch on her for any changes or signs of infection.
“Why did they attack you?” Quinn takes another small bite of mac and cheese, her favorite.
I rub her shoulder, my arm slung across the back of her chair. “That’s a long story.”
She waves her fork around. “We’re stuck in this windowless prison for who knows how long. I think you can indulge me.”
Ben snorts a laugh, then composes himself when I glare at him.
“I’m a solo operative, so—”
“So how do Ben and Nova fit in?” she asks.
“Ben is my apprentice, like I said. Nova does her own thing, for the most part.”
“So you aren’t a solo operative. There are people you trust with your secrets. I just wasn’t one of them.” She stares down at her plate.
I pull her tight to me. “You are now. And it wasn’t a matter of trust. Not like that. I just didn’t want you to …”
“Run away?”
“Yes.” I nod. “That.”
“I’m still here, aren’t I? I’m not beating down the doors to get out of here, though I probably should be.”
“You’re taking it really well.” Ben cracks open his beer. “I’m surprised, but in a good way.”
“I’m tougher than I seem, I guess?” She shrugs.
“You are.” I kiss her hair. “And from now on, I won’t hold back.”
She turns to me, her eyes wide. “Do you mean in the bedroom or—”
Ben chokes on his beer.
I ignore him. “I mean everywhere. Everything about me. For you, I’m an open book.” I never thought I’d say those words to anyone, let alone my sweet Quinn. A woman like her shouldn’t be exposed to the darkness that lives inside me. But she keeps welcoming me with open arms and love in her eyes.
“Good. That’s the way it has to be for this to work.” Relenting, she snuggles against me. “I want to know everything.”
I take her fork and cut a piece of the chocolate cake I ordered for her. She takes it, her tongue darting out to get all the icing. Even though we just had sex, I want her again. I’ll never stop wanting her. But I need to focus. Getting her out of here safely and away from this mess is the most important thing.
“The Red Dragoons want me dead. They think I’ve signed on to work with a rival faction, the Brotherhood.”
“What’s a dragoon?” she asks.
Ben’s eyebrows go up. “You know, that’s a good question. I always figured they just misspelled dragon and were too stupid or too proud to fix it.”
“No, the dragoon was a mounted infantry unit way back in the forever ago. They fought in tight squads and carried some of the first muskets ever invented.” Nova leans heavily against the kitchen doorframe.
“You shouldn’t be up.” Ben jumps to his feet and goes to her.
“I’m fine.” She tries to elbow him away from her, but then she lets him help her to a chair.
“I’m so glad you’re okay!” Quinn leans over and hugs her.
Nova groans, and Quinn pulls back.
“I’m fine. Just hungry.” Nova eyes the chocolate cake.
Quinn goes to work cutting her a slice.
“So I was way off on the dragoon thing, huh?”
“Not surprising.” Nova gives Ben a wry smile. “You’re way off on most things.”
He makes a pfftt sound, but I can tell he’s relieved she’s on her feet again.
“Tell me more,” Quinn orders as she scoops extra icing onto the side of Quinn’s piece of cake.
“The Red Dragoons didn’t like me as a freelancer, but as long as I stayed neutral and did my own thing, they left me alone. They came for me because they mistakenly believe I’ve joined the Brotherhood.”
“Why would they think that?” Quinn leans back against me, her warmth just what I need.