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“You’ve got a good man, Quinny, plus a baby on the way,” she said. “These people are dangerous and I should’ve put a stop to this years ago. I’m going to talk to Chief Matthews.”
“What if he doesn’t believe you?”
“Then I’ll go to his mother, Rose. She was there.”
“When?”
“Today. Enough is enough.”
Her timeline meant I had to figure out how to explain it all to Alec, like yesterday, or risk him finding out by other means. Even before my mother’s revelation, my stomach had been tied in so many knots, I tossed and turned the entire night, positively sick with worry.
I hadn’t exactly lied when I told Alec our hike brought up old memories, but my early morning meet was the true reason for my hasty departure from his apartment. There was nothing more I wanted than to stay curled up, safe in his arms, while the world spun around us. Unfortunately, safe was the last thing I was feeling at the moment.
“Hey, Quin,” River called out.
She was sitting in a booth with Rico, who’d arrived about an hour ago. It wasn’t uncommon for him to pop in to see her, occasionally multiple times a day. Something seemed off about his sudden appearance that morning though, I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Maybe it was because he’d stayed longer than normal, or maybe it had to do with the few instances I caught him staring in my direction.
“What’s up?”
“Are you okay? You’ve been cleaning the same spot on the counter for the last five minutes.”
Shit.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just lost in my head, I guess.”
“Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” she offered.
“Really?
“I think I can handle the masses,” she chuckled, waving her hand around to indicate the empty room.
“Or better yet, come hang with us for a bit,” Rico suggested, looking tense.
The bell over the front door sounded and he visibly relaxed. Turning to greet the customer, I was instead met with Alec’s stormy gray eyes.
“Hi.” I smiled.
His nearness instantly lifted my spirits until I noticed the hard set of his jaw and the furrow of his brow. My earlier instincts flared once again. Something was indeed, very wrong. My stomach turned over when he spoke.
“We need to talk.”
He knows. Oh God, I was going to be sick.
Those four words, in my opinion, were the worst the English language had to offer. They were the same ones the damn doctor used right before he tore a gigantic hole through my and my parents’ world.
“Sure.”
My voice was steady, but my legs shook uncontrollably as I led him to the closest booth. I slid in and waited while he did the same on the opposite side.
“Let me preface this by saying I love you, Quin.”
“I love you too.”
His lips tilted up in a brief grin and his facial features relaxed ever so slightly.
“I know, baby.” He reached across the table and took both my hands in his. “Which is why I want you to know I’m here for you. I really wish you’d trusted me enough to tell me so we could’ve done something sooner, but my brothers and I will help in any way we can.”
“I appreciate it, but can I ask how you found out?”
