Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Yes, Mom.” Quinn looks tired and a little wobbly.
“If anything happens to Quinn, I’m going to personally track all of you down,” Erika promises. She looks about as dangerous as a kitten, but I appreciate that she’s willing to use her claws.
“She’s safe with us,” Colt assures her in a tone that doesn’t leave much room for argument.
When we get her outside through a side door, Quinn sees the motorcycles. “I’ve never ridden on… ridden on…”
“It’s gonna be fine. I’ll hold onto you. Come on.” Her phone’s sticking out of her pocket, so I grab it and slip it into the inside pocket of my cut, then settle her in front of me, wrapping one arm tightly around her waist and pulling her close. She leans into my chest, soft and trusting. “Alright, we’re going. I got you.”
I don’t think I’ve ridden quite so carefully since my first time on a bike. Her place is an apartment in a fancy part of town. Nice to be a TV star, I guess.
“Hey, Quinn, we’re here. Are you with me, baby?” I hand her off to Colt, who lifts her gently.
“The air helped, but everything feels fuzzy,” she complains, but she’s up and walking on her own two feet, at least with the help of Sinner’s arm around her waist.
A guy in a uniform that looks like it belongs in an old movie comes out when we approach. He takes the four of us in and clearly isn’t convinced that we’re the right sort of people to be coming home with one of his residents. “Ms. Callahan! Are you okay?”
She lifts her head and smiles at the guy. “I’m fine, Clarke. Just had a long day. These are some friends from the show.”
His suspicion melts away. “Oh, right! The werewolves! My daughter thinks you guys are so cool.”
“Yeah, uh, thanks,” Colt says awkwardly.
Shit. Nobody can use their fucking eyes it seems. “Move fast, before he reads the backs of our cuts,” I whisper.
We get into the elevator and turn around. Sinner waves as the doors close. Quinn is asleep on her feet as she helps us find her apartment. She blinks at the digital pad next to her door long enough that I’m thinking we’re not gonna get inside, but then slowly taps a code and the lock clicks open. Maybe it makes me an asshole, but I watch as she keys it in, tucking the information away just in case.
“Nice place you’ve got here,” Colt says, looking around at the empty box she calls home.
It’s not minimalist. It’s fucking empty.
The main space is the usual open plan everything room. An ultra-modern kitchen separated from the living room by a marble topped island with built-in barstool seating. There’s a hallway towards the back where the bedrooms and bathroom probably are, and a balcony to the side overlooking the city towards the shore. The only furniture is an L-shaped gray couch and a glass coffee table. The only art on the walls are three generic black and white prints arranged together. The Eiffel tower, the Statue of Liberty, and Big Ben.
Quinn looks around like she’s seeing it for the first time. “I… I haven’t been here long.”
“Let’s get you something to drink before you zonk out.” Sinner opens the fridge. “Fucking hell, woman. Did you move in this morning?” There’s a few bottles of water, some yogurt cups and a sad assortment of pre-packaged sandwich toppings. He tosses me one of the waters.
I catch it. “Where’s your room, Quinn?”
She leads the way. It’s as barren as the rest. An air mattress on the floor pushed up against the wall, made up with sheets and a comforter. A couple of paperbacks lie next to the pillow end and there’s a phone charger plugged into the wall. There’s a massive suitcase in the corner and her closet is open, full of clothes. The place is nice, but it looks like she’s fucking squatting in it.
“I really haven’t been here long,” she mutters defensively.
I push her phone into her hand. “Call Erika before she phones the cops.”
Quinn obeys, and manages to drink some of the water before flopping onto the mattress fully clothed and passing out almost immediately. I brush the hair off her face, letting my fingers linger a bit on the softness of her cheek.
“You guys can go if you want, I’m going to stick around in case she wakes up,” I tell Sinner and Colt.
Sinner shakes his head. “Fuck that, I’ll keep you company.”
“It’s a rough neighborhood. Might need backup,” Colt adds with a smirk.
3
Chapter 3 - Quinn
I wake up feeling like leftover garbage.
How did I get home?
And why am I still wearing my Desdemona outfit?
I didn’t drink that much, did I? I remember the PR party. Meeting Heath and his friends. Sexy friends even. Heath all grown up and looking like a bad idea and a good time rolled together. Calling himself Priest now.