Page 52 of Property of Quake

“Then don’t apologize because I don’t regret it either.”

15

QUAKE

“Ishould probably get back to Melissa.”

Whitney might not regret the kiss, but she’s suddenly shy, and I can tell something is going on in that head of hers. Figuring out whether it’s the moment we shared, Tom, Melissa, or something else entirely will have to wait, though, because I shouldn’t have been gone this long.

“Yeah,” I say, thrusting a hand through my hair. “I need to get back to the others, but I should be back in a few hours. Maybe we can watch a movie or something?”

“Sounds like fun.”

I press my palm against the biometric lock, and the door slides open. Once I know she’s settled, I leave, and the walk across the clubhouse, through the common room to the large space where church is held is really fucking long.

I tell myself not to think about the kiss. Unfortunately, my traitorous brain refuses to cooperate. So does my cock, if I’m being honest.

Forcing my thoughts to what Romeo uncovered, I manage to cool the lust coursing through my veins by the time I step into the room.

Romeo is waiting for me, as are Lyric and Zombie. One look at my face and Lyric immediately rises from his chair.

"You tell her?"

“Not everything but enough.”

"And?"

I think about her reaction, the shock, the betrayal, the hurt. And that leads to thinking about the kiss which isn’t something they need to know.

"She's taking it hard."

"Can't fucking blame her," Zombie mutters.

"Nope."

I drop into a chair and slide Romeo's tablet across the table. The photo of the volunteer is still pulled up, and I study it.

“Figure anything else out?” I ask.

Lyric shakes his head. “Not much. Tom Wilkins, volunteer at Sacred Haven for six years, as far as we can tell.”

“Too damn long,” I snarl.

“Couldn’t agree more,” Zombie says. “Piece of shit also volunteers at an elementary school and park, doing lawn care. His employment of record is as a groundskeeper at the college where Jackie attends, which further supports the ties between him and Keith, which isn’t his real name, by the way.”

“Jesus fucking Christ!” I shout.

“Keith is his middle name. I have no idea how that slipped by us when we invited him to prospect. The only explanation I can come up with is that there are bigger players here. People who can change legal documents, falsify records, that kinda shit.”

“I’m gonna kill him,” I promise.

“Yeah, you are. But we need to confirm all of this first,” Lyric says. “Which is why I called him.”

My head snaps up. “What?”

“He’s on his way in. Told him we had a job for him to do. He was all too eager to jump on it.”

“We’ve only got bits and pieces, Quake,” Zombie adds. “We need information. Can you keep your shit together long enough to get it?”