She gave up trying to smooth it as much as possible and put it in a high ponytail. Mekhi’s t-shirt was too big, but it smelled so good.
He was waiting for her when she came out and led her to the living room. It was spacious with lots of couches and love seats.
“Where is the pizza?” She was starving. That may have been the most energy she ever expended at once. They played to win.
“It’s coming. We are having trouble picking a movie. All three of them are military. One has two brothers fighting on different sides. The other is just an all-out bloodbath. The last one has several brothers infiltrating the enemy trying to do what is expected so they can be free afterward.”
She knew which one Jabari wanted to see, but it sounded good, so she picked the third one. When the pizza came, she sat next to Mekhi eating way too many slices.
The movie started out gentle showing the brother's and their family until they were forced into war. She bit her fingernails as each of them faced trials that might kill them. Once they realized that the deck was stacked against them, they fought against what was happening. The blood and the gore, the near misses and the ones who died saw her curled up and pressed against Mekhi as she held her breath hoping all the brothers would live.
“Fool!” Akron was on his feet yelling that he was making the wrong choice. She caught something strange out of the corner of her eyes, but before she could get a good look, his hands were behind his back, and he sat.
“Sorry,” he murmured.
She looked at Mekhi, and that haunted look was back. She didn’t understand, but she knew pain when she saw it, and all of them were living with it.
Her face was buried against his chest when the oldest brother beheaded the general who came after them. The brothers turned to go home ignoring the headless body.
“Was movie night too much?”
“No, but I think I should get the pick the movie next time.” They all groaned, but she could hear the laughter in their voices.
“I’ll walk you out.” She smiled and walked with him to the front door.
“I had a good time.”
“I’m glad. We’re not used to having company and all of us, especially me, was happy to have you stay the day. We’ll call you and finalize when the job will start.”
She nodded just standing there waiting.
He lowered his head watching her eyes until he finally placed a kiss on her lips. It was soft and sweet. He backed away, and she knew she should let it go. She put her arms around him and kissed him. It was all it took he pulled her body against his and nipped at her lips until she opened. His tongue delved deep taking her breath away and making her pussy beg for a bed.
When he let her go, she could feel the high beams against his t-shirt, and she sighed with pleasure.
“I can follow you home.”
“There’s no need to worry, I’ll call you when I get there.”
“You have Slade’s number, not mine.” He gave her his number and stood back.
She watched him out of the rearview mirror until she couldn’t see him anymore.
Shaking herself out of her memories, she got out her truck. It was the best day ever.
Chapter Nine
Quinn pulled off her hard hat and ran her hand through her hair. It had been a busy two weeks. She decided that instead of moving another trailer onto the land it was time to upgrade. She drew the plans for an office, one with a kitchen, a space for a secretary, and a much bigger bathroom than before. Then she got her crew working on it. They had the office space all framed up, and it looked good.
“Hey, boss.”
“Carrie, what are you still doing here? Don’t you have a sweet little girl to pick up?”
“Rick’s getting her tonight, and he swears he’s taking care of dinner. That means either take out, or he’ll order in.”
“That sounds good.”
“It’s heavenly. I get to go home and relax in a shower put on something comfortable and spend time with my two favorite people in the world.”
Quinn thought about being next to Mekhi on the couch watching the worlds bloodiest movie, and she wished she could do it again.
“I don’t want to keep you from your family.”
“Not so fast boss. You’ve been moving quickly, which means you don’t want anyone asking you questions. Seriously Quinn, how are you dealing with this?”
She let her shoulders sag a little. “They found the detonator and pieces of the explosives. The police have decided I didn’t do it. It was a professional hit job. That sounds all kinds of wrong to me. What kind of professional would do this and why?”
“Did you get an alarm system for your apartment?”
“They’re coming next week.”
“Quinn, you and Tee could stay with us until that happens. Rick wouldn’t mind having you around.” She deepened her voice. “Finally, someone you and Isa can talk to about dresses. As if Isa can talk yet.”
Quinn laughed. Carrie's husband was a big teddy bear that adored his wife and their daughter. Again, she thought of Mekhi. She hadn’t seen him for two weeks, and she missed him.
“I’m going to go home. There’s this guy I may or may not be seeing. He’s been gone for the past two weeks with his brothers. They are on business, and I think he might get home tonight, and I’m hoping he’ll want to do breakfast tomorrow.”
“I knew it! I kept saying she’s smiling too much for it to be I beat the insurance company.”
She laughed and leaned over giving her an impromptu hug. “I won’t celebrate my victory over the insurance company until I have the check in my hand.”
“They are holding it up?”
“We are processing your check, Ms. Connor. I think they’re pissed that I didn’t do it.”
“Ignore them get the check and buy a dress.”
“Maybe, someday. Now go home and relax.”
“I’m going, but I want to hear more about this guy. That means we’re planning a Sunday brunch.”
“You’re on.”
She watched as Carrie walked to her vehicle. Then she did one more visual inspection of the building and the land before she headed towards her truck. Old faithful it kept moving when she needed it. She gave it a pat before she climbed in and started for home.
Her phone rang.
“Answer.”
“Quinn.” Mekhi’s deep voice spoke into her ear. “I’m calling early today because I’ll get in sometime tonight.”
He called her every night to check up on her and make sure she and Tee were fine. He asked to speak to Tee most nights, and she sat and listened.
“I’m glad you’ll be back tonight. I take it everything went well?”
“It did. This was an unusual situation that we all needed to go, but I think we have the problem well underhand.”
“Do you work for the government?” It was the only thing that made sense to her.
“We do odds and ends for them. This was an odd.”
She laughed and let the questions drop.
“I have to go the plane is waiting. What are you doing tomorrow?”
“Having breakfast with a handsome male.”
“Who?” His voice was whip-sharp.
“Sorry, I was assuming. I hoped we could have breakfast together.”
“Oh, I mean yes. I’ll pick you up in the morning for breakfast. Later Quinn.”
“Later.” The line was dead, but she still wanted to talk to him. Mekhi scared her a little at times. He would never hurt her; she was confident of that. Would he hurt someone else like the guy he thought stole her attention? Maybe and that scared her. She hoped the other side of him that showed itself when he was around her would make it possible that she could date him and even be happy.
She parked and went inside. “Hi Tee, it’s just you and me tonight.” She got her food and went to take a shower before she fell asleep on the couch.
*~*~*~*
She woke up to a sound out of place. Tee
was nestled on her stomach; her head was arched, and her eyes were bright reflecting in the glow of the television screen. She hissed making Quinn more concerned that something wasn’t right. Her hand went to the floor as she groped under the couch looking for her baseball bat. When she found it, she gripped the handle and quietly walked through the apartment.
Her bedroom light was on. Had she forgotten to turn it off? She walked into the room checking to see if she saw anyone. Her door slammed shut there was someone behind it. She lifted the bat to take his head off, but he kicked her in her stomach knocking her across the room.
“Where is it?” Another man came out of the closet.
Then two more entered her room probably from the bathroom.
“Where is what?” They each had on a mask, and she didn’t recognize any of the voices.
“The plans you stole?”
“I never stole anything. What are you talking about.” Keep them talking she told herself as she looked for a way out.
“I don’t like liars, especially when they’re female. Lying should be a man’s game while you wait in the kitchen bare-chested making me dinner.”
“Not happening ever.” He leaned over and smacked her.
She put her hand to her cheek. “Still not happening.”
“We want the plans.”
“I don’t have them.”
“You have a week to get them. If you don’t turn them over, we’ll be back.”
One man left the room and came back with Tee.
“What are you doing? Put her down.” She screamed and tried to get up, but a gun was pointed at her head.
“We mean business.” He took Tee and slammed her against the wall three times before he dropped her limp body on the floor. “I hate cats.” He raised his foot to stomp on her.
Quinn ran across the room ignoring the gun and dropped to protect Tee’s tiny body. The male brought his work boot-clad foot down on her shoulder. She heard the bones when they broke.
“We’ll be back.” They went out the bedroom window.
She went to her knees using her good arm. “I should have gotten that security system a long time ago. I’m so sorry, Tee. She was lying there with pain in her half-closed eyes. There was blood around her.
Quinn picked her up with her good arm and then used her legs and the side of her body that was crushed to push herself up from the floor. She was staggering, but she made it to the living room where the phone sat on the table.
"I have to put you down Tee to call for help. She put her on the couch and then fell to the floor. Pain ripped through her broken arm as she used the good one to reach for the phone.
“Mekhi,” she said when she heard his voice. “Help.”
The phone slipped out of her hand, and she slipped in and out of consciousness.
Chapter Ten
The sensation of being picked up made her open her eyes.
“You came.”
“Yes.” He picked up Tee and made a deep growling noise. His brothers surrounded him looking at her cat.
“You brought the cavalry.” She was trying not to cry even though tears were pouring down her face. Tee was to still; she was waiting for him to tell her that her cat was dead.
He placed her on Quinn’s chest.
“You need to say goodbye.”
“No, we have to take her to the vet please.”
He picked her up and started toward the door. “You know what to do,” he told his brothers before walking to the truck.
He placed her inside and made sure she was holding Tee without hurting her before he got in and started the engine.
“Where are we going?”
She gave him directions before placing kisses on Tee’s head. “It will be okay. The vet is magic he’ll fix you up. I’m so sorry Tee. I should have been able to protect you.”
She whispered to her cat the whole way to the vet. When they arrived, the nurse was standing at the front desk talking to the receptionist.
“Is Doctor Young in. Doctor Young?” Quinn called out his name making sure he could hear her over all the talking and the animal noises. “Please, Tee needs you.”
A tall black male walked out of a room.
“Quinn? What’s wrong with Tee?”
“Men broke into my house. They smashed Tee against the wall. Please save her, you did it before.”
“Quinn.”
“Please, she’s my friend, and I don’t have many of them.” She sagged against Mekhi, who had his arm wrapped around her.
“Follow me.”
He took them into an examination room.
“Tee needs an x-ray.” He looked over her body shaking his head.
“Quinn—.”
“I’ll pay, whatever it is, please.”
He placed her on a bed for a cat and took her to x-ray.
“She’ll be all right. He does marvelous things for animals. He saved her life a long time ago.” She looked up at Mekhi trying to read his expression. Eventually, she gave up.
The nurse wheeled Tee back into the room.
“We gave Tee medicine for pain, so she’s resting comfortably. Dr. Young will be in soon.”
Quinn got up and walked over to Tee rubbing the side of her face.
“She loves face rubs. I fell asleep before I got to hold her and rub her like I do at night. When I woke up, she was curled up on me. How could I fall asleep? I’m so sorry Tee. I love you, baby.” Her tears started up again as her nose started running.
Mekhi stood and handed her tissues before he wrapped his arms around her and held her as she stroked Tee.
Dr. Young walked into the room his eyes looked red.
“I’m sorry Quinn, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Please.” Her tears came out faster as she tried to catch her breath. Her cries became shrieks of anguish.
“I can help Tee transition.”
Quinn would have hit the floor if Mekhi wasn’t holding her.
“We’ll take her with us.” He looked at Quinn, who was devastated.
“I’m sorry Quinn.” He turned and left.
“Tiny warrior you have to pull yourself together so you can carry Tee.”
“I will.” She stood, still not able to stop crying, but she held Tee like she was gold when they walked out.
He picked her up and placed them in the truck before getting in.
“Tell me about Tee.” He started the engine and pulled out the lot.
“I found her in the daytime.” Her voice was whisper soft. “It was raining like it is now, with large booms of thunder and lightning going across the sky. Tee was wet like she is now.” Quinn was trying to dry Tee off, but her tears kept rolling over her tiny face.
Mekhi looked at the sky it was clear.
“She was so wet. Her body was shaking, and she couldn’t walk. I took her to the twenty-four vet, and Dr. Young was there. He said she was about four weeks old, and it looked like someone had kicked her. He wanted to ease her pain, but I begged him not to. I told him I would pay all the bills. He didn’t think she would make it, but she did. When I took her home, I promised I would always protect her. So much for my word.” Her tears once again became sobs of pain.
He pulled in front of his home. “Quinn, I need to take you to the emergency room.”
“I can’t Mekhi. I have to stay with her as long as possible.”
He nodded and left the truck and went to get them. He carried them to the living room where her sobs went through the whole house. One by one his brothers came. They were agitated their eyes changing shape.
“You have to help her,” Slade demanded of him.
“I can’t, I wish I could.”
“Her pain.” Phoenix doubled over.
Mekhi looked at his tiny warrior. Her pain was soul deep. Each of them had experienced that kind of pain.
“I can’t,” he said again.
“Mekhi, you have to try, especially if she’s yours.”
He knew Slade was right, but
he had failed when it counted. Why should this be any different?
He walked back over to Quinn. “I may be able to save Tee, but it might not work. I need you to say yes before I try. She may be a little different; it's up to you.”
Her green eyes lifted to meet his. They were covered in so many tears that they were as reflective as Tee’s.
“Please.”
He nodded and picked her up. He carried her through the kitchen to a small hallway that led to stairs that went to the basement. This was where his operating room was.
“Your people would call me a doctor, but I can work on both animals and humans as well as the Created.” He sat her down in a chair he pulled closer to the operating table before he took Tee out of her arms and laid her out.
“I’m the youngest brother in this family, but I used to be the third born. There were six of us. There are always six of us that’s what makes a functional family. Even though there are six of us, we're broken.”
He laid a thin see-through piece of material over Tee. “I operate differently. He ran his hand over the top, and he could see every vital organ inside of her. Several of her bones were broken, and a rib bone punctured her lung. He understood why Dr. Young couldn’t operate.
He concentrated moving his hands as he told each bone where to connect. Several bones were crushed; he reconstructed them. Then he pulled the bone out and reconstructed the lung. After several hours of work, he looked Tee over and hung his head. Nothing had changed. She was dying.
Slade walked down the stairs and stood staring at Tee. Her insides were still visible.
“You did it.” His voice held awe.
“I couldn’t do it. She's dying.”
Quinn’s soft sobs became a little louder.
“Mekhi looked at her.”
He raised his head to see Tee breathing easier.
“What about the blood?”
“I’ll drain it and then she’ll need a transfusion.”
“You can use my blood.”
He smiled. “Human blood won’t work. Do I have permission to transfuse her? I don’t know what will happen.”
Mekhi (The Broken Book 1) Page 5
