“I met with the head of the Brotherhood, Clevenger, recently. I guess they found out and made assumptions.”
“Okay, then just tell them that’s not true.” Quinn gives me a bright look.
Ben shakes his head.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Nova says around a mouthful of cake.
“Why not?” Quinn frowns.
“Because they came for me. The Red Dragoons came for me at my home and at your doctor’s appointment. They intended to kill me, and they would’ve taken you out, too, Quinn.” My hands turn to fists. “This is no longer a simple misunderstanding. This is far more than that. The moment they put you in danger is the moment this became an untenable situation.”
“Untenable. Good one.” Nova smiles, still a little loopy from the drugs. “What he means, darling Quinn, is that we’re going to fuck them up. Big time.”
“And then they’ll never screw with us again.” Ben reaches over and wipes a gob of stray icing from Nova’s mouth.
“It sounds really dangerous.” Quinn shakes her head. “I don’t like it.”
“This is what I do, sugar. This is what I’m good at. You’re going to stay here with Nova while Ben and I go out and get the lay of the land. That way, we can—”
“No.” She grips my hand. “Don’t go out there.”
“I have to, sugar.” I push back from the table and pull her into my lap. “I have to make it safe for you and the baby. I need you to trust me on this. I promise I’ll return to you. I promise.” I press my forehead to hers. “Do you believe me?”
She puts her palms on my chest and takes a deep breath before giving me a little nod.
“Good.” I kiss her. “Sit tight. We’ll be back.” I kiss her once more, then sit her down beside Nova.
“I’m ready.” Ben rises and strides toward the armory.
“I promise,” I tell Quinn again as she looks up at me with big eyes.
Nova scoots over to her. “Let’s see if we can eat this entire cake, okay?”
Quinn laughs, though it’s a little strained.
Nova pulls her closer. “Ugh, don’t worry about them. They’re doing what they do.” She waves me away. “Fuck off out of here and have fun storming the castle.”
I shake my head at her, though I admit my heart is beating a little easier now that Nova is back at Quinn’s side.
“I love you,” I tell Quinn, then kiss her crown one more time.
“Love you too.” She watches as I turn and head to the armory.
I hate leaving her, but I have work to do. Bloody work.
Nova’s voice carries down the hall. “Now have you ever considered what an awesome baby name ‘Nova’ is?”
17
Quinn
“Logan told you I’m pregnant.” It’s not really a question. Nova’s teasing smile drops from her lips. She looks down at the counter, her shoulders drooping. Guilt hits me hard. She was hurt while protecting my home, and now I’m giving her a hard time. “I’m sorry. That was—”
“Deserved,” she says, cutting me off. “Don’t apologize. It makes it worse.” She lifts her head. “My job is to always know where you’re going. Logan told me to keep me in the loop so that I could protect you.”
“Job,” I repeat, that one word stinging.
“Quinn, shit. You’re not only a job.”
“But I am.”
“I’m fucking this up.” She scrubs a hand down her face.
“Should we get you back to bed?” I suggest, not wanting this to upset her right now. “You need to be healing and not worrying about me.”
“That right there”—when she lifts her head again, I can see the tears forming—“is what makes it easy being a friend to you. You should be pissed at me, but here you are telling me not to worry about you. I want to make some things clear. Yes, I considered you a job at first. But that only lasted about five seconds. You know more about me than anyone else.”
“I don’t want to hurt your feelings, Nova, but I’m not sure I know you at all.” It pains me to even say those words, but it’s the truth.
She takes a deep breath. “Even the small things I’ve told you are more than I’ve ever told anyone else.”
“Oh Nova.” I don’t think people grow up in happy homes and end up hitmen or whatever they are. Nova probably has an entire history that would do nothing but make me cry. I try to balance that with the betrayal I feel.
“We all thought Logan lost it when he went off and fell in love with some girl. That was until we met you.”
“You make me sound like I’m some sort of angel or something.”
“You’re a warm light. I’m sorry if I hurt you; it was never my intention.”
I can see the remorse and sincerity in her eyes. I already know I’m going to forgive her because it’s in my nature. I’m not one to hold grudges. I believe in giving people a second chance. And even though I’m hurt that she kept something from me, I know she loves me.