“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he murmured, feeling her fingers dig into his flesh.
He covertly inspected her wound as little by little her muscles began to relax, but she didn’t release her grip. Healing well. No issues. Her breath panted across his shoulder and her eyes were squeezed shut. He forced his body not to respond to the way her backside pressed against his groin.
After a few minutes she whispered, “I’m doing it. I’m in the water.”
Quinn stroked a hand down the smooth skin of her back. “Yes, you are.”
He picked up a washcloth from the edge of the tub, dipped it in the water, and squeezed it over her shoulder. Lukewarm water ran down her skin and she relaxed even more. Over and over he smoothed the washcloth over her flesh, until every muscle was loose and she no longer gripped his neck, but rested against him. It was hell on his libido, but he did it for her.
“Quinn?” she asked, lifting her head and meeting his eyes. “Help me with one more thing?”
His body jerked in response to the request. Try as he might he couldn’t keep it down.
“What’s that?”
“Dunk my head underwater.”
Chapter Thirteen
Not what Quinn wanted her to say. Desperation shone in Avery’s eyes and he knew how important this part was. Being submersed in water was her fear. And she trusted him to help her overcome.
Humbled, he pushed his needs aside. “Hold your breath,” he said and she took a deep breath. He bent his knees and slid down in the water until they were both submersed, his eyes open. Avery’s eyes popped open and her body went rigid. Her fingers dug into his shoulders.
Then her eyes opened wide in what he thought was panic, so he pushed them upward out of the water. “Avery, I’m—”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, catching him completely off guard. “I did it! I can’t believe I didn’t panic.”
“Avery, I don’t want you to—” The door swung open and his mother bustled in. When she saw them she stopped short with a gasp. “Quinn! What on Earth? Oh, dear Lord.”
With that she spun around and walked back out, pulling the door closed with a small slam.
Avery pushed against him. “Go after her,” she ordered. “You have to tell her we weren’t doing what she thinks we were. I can’t believe she saw us bathing together.”
Quinn stood with her in his arms, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before depositing her on the floor. “I’ll handle it.”
Avery glared at him, her cheeks flushed. “I never should have let you talk me into this. Now your mother has another reason to hate me.”
“She doesn’t hate you.” He grabbed their clothes off the floor.
“She does now.”
His mother was not a judgmental woman, but walking in on them in the tub together wasn’t going to be an easy fix.
Swaying a little, Avery braced a hand on the wall.
“Damn it, get in bed.” He guided her across the hall to his bedroom. Before she could sit he dug a pair of shorts and spaghetti strap tank out of her bag and handed them to her. “Put these on.”
She took them out of his hand and he turned his back while she changed. When he heard the bedsprings squeak he turned around to see her lying in bed, eyes closed. He pulled the blankets over her.
“Make this right with your mother, Quinn,” she murmured. “Don’t give her another reason to dislike me.”
He smoothed a strand of wet hair off her cheek. “I’ll fix it.”
Her body relaxed at his promise, her breathing slowing. He picked up her wet clothes and walked quietly from the room, closing the door behind him. If it was the last thing he did he was going to keep his word.
****
After dressing in dry clothes Quinn went downstairs to find his mother. Kell met him on the landing.
“What the hell, Quinn?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“I hope not, because you aren’t stupid enough to break Rule Number One. Especially not under our parents’ roof.”
He scowled at his brother. “Hell, no. We weren’t having sex in Mom’s bathtub.”
Kell’s eyes narrowed. “Then what were you doing in there with her?”
Quinn pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nothing.”
“Pretty intimate nothing.”
“Nothing happened.” At least nothing he could share. He would keep Avery’s secret regardless of the fallout.
“I believe you, but convincing Mom is going to be difficult.”
“I know. She in the kitchen?”
“Yeah. She’s making a Bundt cake.”
“What flavor?”
“Lemon.”
He groaned. “Ah, hell.”
Kell clapped him on the back. “Good luck, brother. You’re gonna need it.” He strode away.
“Where are you going?”
“For a run. Dad and Bailey have the clean-up handled.” He disappeared down the hallway and Quinn continued into the kitchen. His mother was furiously beating batter in a bowl with a wooden spoon.
“Mom,” he began.
She continued to stir.
“I’m sorry.”
The stirring stopped. “Under my roof, Quinn? And today of all days.”
A heavy weight settled on his shoulders. “It wasn’t what you think, but I’m sorry.”
The bowl landed on the counter with a thud. “Then what was it? Because from my stand point it looked like my son was bathing with his charge.”
Sometimes he forgot how much his mom really knew about his career. As much as they tried to protect her from the details she managed to put the pieces together very efficiently.
“I can’t tell you anymore, but that was all that happened. You have my word on that.”
Her gaze met his and his chest tightened when he saw tears glistening on her lashes.
“I believe you,” she said. “But, I’m disappointed it happened. She’s in your care, Quinn, and she’s sick. She didn’t deserve that from you.”
“I know.”
She nodded and picked up the bowl. “Then I trust you’ll do the right thing.”
Quinn walked over to her side, pressed a kiss to her cheek, and left her alone to finish her cake. Yes, he would do the right thing and fight his feelings for Avery. He had never broken Rule Number One and he didn’t plan on it now. Too many things hung in the balance. Losing the respect of his mom topped that list. He’d done enough already and he would do everything in his power not to make matters worse.
He entered his old room quietly and sat down in the chair across from the bed. Avery’s soft breathing filled the room. Images of her naked body rushed through his head. Her happiness when she overcame her demons. Despite disappointing his mom and having to live with that, he didn’t regret doing it for Avery.
Fatigue pulled at his eyelids. He rubbed a hand over his chest to ease the ache that had been there since Azbakastan. He’d fucked up too many times. He wasn’t going to do it again. Strictly business from this point on.
The only way to survive.
****
A hand on his shoulder brought Quinn instantly awake. He looked up to see his mom standing next to him, a book in her hand. The room was dark except for the dim lamp sitting on the desk.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting up straight.
His mom held a finger to her lips. “Shhh. Nothing. Go lie down in one of the other rooms. I’ll take over here.”
He glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. Midnight. “What are you still doing up?”
“Couldn’t sleep. Go on, I’ll watch over Avery.” She nudged him out of the chair and he rose stiffly to his feet.
“That chair seemed more comfortable fifteen years ago,” he murmured.
“You were younger then.” His mom replaced him in the chair. She adjusted the lamp so it shone on her book and pulled her housecoat over her knees.
Feeling as if there was a wall between them
, Quinn opened his mouth to speak, then closed it.
“I’ll be in Kell’s room if you need me.” He left the door cracked on his way out so he could hear if his mom or Avery called for him.
Without turning on a light, he rolled into Kell’s bed and let exhaustion pull him into sleep.
****
Avery woke to the scent of chicken soup and fresh baked bread. Sometimes she caught scents from the bakery down the street early in the mornings, but this smelled ten times stronger than usual. Her stomach rumbled and she looked around the room with a frown. Not her room.
Quinn’s childhood room.
Memories of the funeral and Quinn’s mother walking in on them in the bathtub invaded the blissful moments of waking and brought her fully awake. She sat up in bed and gripped her head. God, it felt like a hammer was chipping away at her brain. And why was it so damn hot in here?
Kicking off the thick quilt, she swung her feet to the floor. No bandages. Did she bleed on the sheets? She threw back the blankets and saw dots of blood.
“Crap,” she muttered, spying her bag on the dresser. Hopefully Quinn had grabbed everything and there was a spare pair of socks in there. Bandages she could forgo until she got the bed stripped.
Hobbling over to the dresser she dug inside the bag and pulled out a pair of socks. Unable to balance on one foot she sat in the chair next to her and put them on. Head swimming, she moved to the bed and began to strip the sheets off. If she could get them in the washer before the stains set, she might save them.
A gasp sounded behind her and she turned, startled, dropping the sheets on the bed. Bailey stood in the doorway holding a wooden tray. Before Avery could hide herself, Bailey said, “You were tortured.”
Damn it. Snatching the quilt off the bed she quickly covered herself. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”
Bailey entered the room, set the tray on the nightstand, and closed the door. “So it’s true? You were tortured before my brothers found you?”
Trapped, Avery met her eyes. “You can’t tell anyone. Promise me you won’t.”
Bailey’s features softened. “My brothers already know.”
“But your parents don’t. They can’t know.” The thought of Quinn and his brothers and Bailey knowing made the breath trap in her throat. Too many people who knew her secret. How was she supposed to put it behind her if they continued to look at her with pity?
“I won’t tell them if you don’t want me to. What about your aunt? Isn’t she worried about you?”
Not a day in her life. “Look, can you just forget about what you saw? Not talk about it?”
Bailey frowned. “I can’t forget it, Avery. Someone hurt you. That isn’t something you just get over.”
Avery pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. No, it wasn’t something you just got over. Unless you had no other choice. What would remembering do except cause more pain? Reliving those three days wasn’t something she relished.
Her ears began to ring and her head pulsed.
“Avery? Are you all right?”
From a distance Avery heard Bailey speaking, but her vision tunneled. Reaching out, she tried to stop herself as her legs gave out.
“Quinn! Get in here!”
Bailey rushed to her side, sliding an arm around her just as she crumpled to the floor.
“No,” Avery mumbled. “I’m fine.” She tried to push Bailey away, but the woman held tight.
“You are so not fine,” Bailey chided. “Come on, I’ll help you into bed.”
“No sheets.”
“Crap. Why’d you strip the bed?” Bailey muttered, maneuvering around until Avery leaned on her.
“Have to wash the sheets. Blood on them.” Was she slurring? What the heck was wrong with her legs?
“You’re worried about the sheets? That’s it. I’m calling Rachel.”
“Who?”
“A friend. She’s a doctor.”
Panic shot through her. “No. Quinn will fix me. He’s qualified. No one else can know.”
“And I thought my brothers were stubborn,” Bailey muttered, pulling them both to their feet. For a slender woman she was tougher than she looked.
“What the hell happened?” Quinn’s voice filtered through the ringing in her ears and the next thing she knew she was lifted off the floor and held against his chest.
“She collapsed again. She needs to see a doctor, Quinn.”
Swallowing past her dry throat, Avery tried to speak. “No—” Only to be cut off by Bailey.
“She’s more stubborn than you are.”
“Oh, dear, she can’t sleep there. Take her to Bailey’s room.”
The order was given by Quinn’s mother. Before Avery could protest, Quinn carried her out of the room and down the hall. She was really getting tired of being carted everywhere.
“Quinn, we need to talk.” Another male voice. Urgent. Kell.
“In a minute.”
“No. Now.”
Something was wrong. Quinn’s muscles tensed. “Call Rachel,” he said and the next thing she knew she was in another bed with Quinn’s mother and sister hovering over her.
Weak and dizzy, she looked around the girly room. “Quinn?”
“He had to go, dear. You just relax while I make you a cup of tea to go with your broth,” Ellen said.
The wonderful smell came from Quinn’s mom’s kitchen, not the bakery down the street because she wasn’t at home. She was trapped in a nightmare.
Blankets covered her and someone fluffed her pillow. The scent of ginger surrounded her. Not Quinn’s mother; she carried the scent of fresh cut roses. Bailey.
“No doctor.”
A hand touched her shoulder. “Don’t worry. Rachel is a family friend. Your secret is safe.”
Bailey’s promise sank through the fog in her head. It was just too hard to fight so she let her body go numb. In the distance she heard Bailey talking softly.
When someone spoke her name she jolted awake, unaware she’d fallen asleep. She looked up to see a pretty brunette with striking blue eyes leaning over her. A stethoscope was looped around her neck.
“I’m sorry to wake you, Avery. I’m Dr. Rachel McBride. Is it all right if I check you over?”
Fully awake, Avery looked over to see Bailey standing inside the door, concern written on her face.
“No, really, I’m fine.” She tried to sit up, but Rachel put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. “You’re safe with me. I’m here as a favor. Off the books.”
Wary and tired, Avery lay back against the fluffy pillows. “Quinn knows you?”
Rachel nodded. “Since childhood.”
Then he must trust her or else he wouldn’t have had his sister call her. A spike of unexpected jealously shot through her.
Turning away before anyone saw it, she said, “Okay.”
****
“Found this on the security tapes,” Kell said, spinning in his chair and tapping a button on the keyboard.
Quinn joined Chris and Nate at the wall of computer screens in HQ. On the biggest of the six screens was the face of a man, dark skinned, dark eyes, with a copper earring standing at the edge of the deck at his parents’ house.
“Ut-eh,” he murmured. The signature of the Islamic Party of Azbakastan, IPA. Members of the terrorist group were identified by the small earring. Inconspicuous and overlooked by the average person.
“Christ, the guy’s at the memorial dinner,” Nate said. “And he’s damn close to Avery, who’s sitting alone.”
“How the hell did he get past our security?” Chris demanded. “You never should have left her alone.”
“Cool it, Chris.” Nate’s warning did little to ease the tension in the room. Chris was right. He never should have left her alone. Shouldn’t have underestimated the danger.
“Screw you, Nate. The bastard got past our security. I’m going over to Evan’s and warn him. This can’t happen again.”
Understanding his brother’s fie
rce loyalty to keeping the family safe, Quinn let him go. Chris was wound tight. He’d only pick a fight if he stayed.
“He needs to get laid,” Kell muttered when the door slammed closed.
“Evan will spar with him and get his head on straight,” Quinn said, turning back to the monitors. It would be a bloody battle, but Evan was a skilled fighter and would give Chris what he needed without someone going to jail.
“We need a football game,” Nate said quietly.
Quinn’s chest tightened. They all needed to let off some steam and deal, but how could they play with one of them missing?
“For now, we need to tighten security ourselves. Post someone at Mom and Dad’s, Bailey’s, and Dani’s.” That was the only way to keep everyone safe. They could do it under the ruse of grieving, which wouldn’t be far from the truth.
“I’ll camp out at your place,” Kell said.
Quinn shook his head. “I want you watching our backs.” Kell was the best at skulking around the woods and ferreting out whoever might lurk there.
“We’ll rotate watches.” Nate leaned over Kell and tapped a button on the keyboard, which zoomed in on the earring. “My guess, this guy was a scout sent in for recon. They’re gonna be coming in hot soon. We need to be prepared.”
“I’m taking Avery home tonight. She can’t stay at Mom and Dad’s. Too dangerous.”
Nate and Kell both nodded their agreement.
“Stay frosty so this doesn’t get out of control,” Quinn said, striding for the door. “And don’t go rogue on me. I need all our heads in the game.”
****
“Considering what you’ve been through, I think you’re doing pretty well. Dehydrated. Small fever, but all in all, I’d say you’re in good shape. You need to rehydrate and rest. Heal.”
Avery met Rachel’s vibrant blue eyes and nodded. The young woman had ordered everyone out of the room while she did her assessment. For that, she was grateful. Bad enough Bailey had seen her bruises. The more people that knew, the more danger of having her secret revealed. The more people would shy away from her and eventually leave her because they thought she was broken. She would never suffer that rejection again, so she pulled her secrets in tight. Damn the Wolff clan for digging them up.
Maximum Risk Page 15
