“No, I won’t,” I answered, defiantly. It probably wasn’t a smart move, but I couldn’t let him think he had total control. I continued standing with my eyes closed, taking in slow, deep breaths to steady my beating heart.
Maddening silence filled the air. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought I was alone, but I knew he was there—waiting.
“I’m not opening my eyes, so you might as well go away.” I knew it was a long shot but I had to try. The lack of response was deafening.
I frowned, doubting my judgment when I heard him move slightly, his shoes scratching on the concrete. Next there was a whimper, which soon turned into an agonized gasp. Something was happening and as much as it killed me, I didn’t peek.
“Bri? It’s happened again, hasn’t it? Did I hurt you?” The helplessness in his voice gave me hope.
“Quinn?”
“Why didn’t you run?” he asked. “I don’t trust myself around you.” With those few words, the confusion and sorrow in his voice melted away my doubt and I surrendered.
“We need to . . .” Disappointment stifled any further speech.
Blue eyes stared back at me.
Chapter Six
I crumpled into myself as his cold blue eyes bore into mine. Chuckling, Quinn took a step closer.
“Surprise.” He feigned concern over my shock. “And you said I couldn’t act. Did you enjoy my performance?” He laughed as he offered a mock wave, a smirk spreading across his face. He didn’t even look the same anymore.
I started to close my eyes again, but he moved faster and grabbed my chin—squeezing it. With his arm pinned across my neck, he forced me to look at him. “Be a good girl now. I want to see those beautiful green eyes of yours.”
Not caring what he would do, I kept them shut and was rewarded with a sharp crack to the back of my head as he slammed it roughly into the wall.
“Let’s try this again. Look at me.” Using the grip he had on my face, he pulled my head forward, poised to strike it against the building again. “Don’t make me wait.” He didn’t appreciate my defiance and I was rewarded with another strike. “I will hurt you. Don’t try my patience.”
I was sweating, pain radiating from my head and travelling down into my body. Knowing I had no other choice, I raised my eyelids and was immediately caught in his penetrating gaze.
Feelings of anger boiled up within me—swirling to the surface. My pride screamed for justice over how I’d been manhandled and thoughts vied for my attention, telling me the only way to stop him was killing him. My fists clenched as adrenaline began coursing through my blood—preparing me to fight for my life.
As if he could read my mind, Quinn’s smirk widened and his satisfaction was obvious. Whatever he was seeing pleased him and that meant only one thing—I was converting. I fought hard against the pressure, pushing back in a battle of wills and just when I was almost defeated, the intensity faded. I was alone in my head.
Fury swept over his features, his nails biting into my skin as he tightened his grip. I whimpered, and a glint of excitement sparked in his eyes. Quinn tilted my face from side to side, trying different positions and vantage points so he could restart the conversion. In an act of frustration, he put more force on his forearm at my throat when I remained the same.
“Stop fighting it.” I froze for a second, thinking I heard a touch of desperation in his voice. It was shattered with his next words. “If you don’t change, I will kill you.” All warmth fled at his deadly threat.
Those four short words broke something inside me and I slammed my fist into the side of his face. He’d underestimated me and when he faltered, some pressure from my throat subsided. It was the opening I needed. I swung at him, not aiming for anything in particular. All I wanted was enough room to run. The punch I threw missed his jaw and landed instead on his shoulder.
The shock of my attack quickly wore off, and his furious snarl almost made me shrink back. His jaw clenched tightly, face flushed a mottled red, and I thought the vein in his forehead would burst from throbbing so hard.
“You’ll regret that, sweetheart. I was going to show you mercy,” he growled, reclaiming control. Instead of using his forearm, his hand grasped my throat and he lifted me off the ground, using all his weight to grind me into the wall.
“Quinn . . .” I croaked as my fingers frantically tried dislodging his. “Stop. Please.” My words fell to a mere whisper, tears now streaming down my face.
Blinded by his ire, he simply stood there, breathing heavily as he tightened his clutch. “It didn’t have to be this way. All you had to do was stop fighting me . . . the compulsion,” he hissed.
My body started to droop and I struggled to keep my eyes open. The lack of oxygen made it hard for my brain to control the rest of my body and I began to fade.
Tumultuous emotions flickered across his face. The rage was still present, followed closely by primal arousal. His actions were turning him on, but what was hidden underneath the surface surprised me—he felt sorrow and regret. He wasn’t completely lost and with one last burst of energy, I raised my arm and made a weak attempt to break free.
Everything slowed down—time stood still—seconds trickling slowly into minutes. I watched my hand travel on its way to connect with his jaw, images flashing through my mind. I wanted to laugh at the cliché as my life flashed before my eyes—my life with Quinn.
He’d bumped into me at the Book Nook. I’d been minding my own business when we collided; the books I’d been carrying tumbled to the floor, clattering loudly. Before I could stop the gorgeous stranger, he’d begun picking them up—pausing when he caught a glimpse at the covers.
“Got a thing for shirtless . . .” He turned one in his hand so he could get a better look at the title. “Highlanders, do you? Let’s see what else you’ve got here.” He grinned as I knelt beside him, embarrassment flaming across my face.
I remember feeling like I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. He paid no attention as I frantically scrambled to gather the scattered novels—proceeding with his critique of my reading choices.
“Oh, this one looks fun.” He chuckled, flipping it over and reading the blurb. “It says here they both have a burning desire for each other . . . one they desperately try denying.” He glanced at the seductive pose the male model stood in, his muscles bulging. “Let me guess, paranormal romance?”
I cringed at how fast he’d discerned my tastes. “Yeah, vampire,” I muttered, not sure whether to run or enjoy the way he was flirting. Somewhere beneath the blush, my stomach fluttered with nerves.
“Of course, I should have known. My sister loves reading this stuff.” He grinned and I was temporarily rendered speechless. I knew I was gaping like a fool, but he’d caught me by surprise. He reached for the next one and I moved quickly, trying to intercept him. Unfortunately I wasn’t fast enough.
“What do we have here . . . ?” He paused, staring at me. It was then I realized he was waiting for my name.
“Brianna. My name is Brianna.” I smiled. It wasn’t every day I talked with a man who looked like he’d stepped straight out of the stories I loved reading.
“Pleased to meet you, my name is Quinn.” He grinned and to my complete horror, began flipping through the paperback. “So, why were you trying to hide this from me?” He scanned the pages, snorting in places until he stopped, looking at me with a sparkle in his eyes. “Let’s see.” And he began reading out aloud.
I felt the blush that burned furiously across my cheeks as he added extra emphasis on certain parts—making them sound cheesy. I thought he’d read the entire chapter when he abruptly closed the book. “So you like this kind of stuff, huh?”
Something stirred within me—a confidence to fight fire with fire. “I do, but the truth be told, I prefer this story.” I looked on the floor for a different title. I knew it was cheating, but the book I grabbed was a well-loved favorite and in desperate need of replacing. My copy was at home in tatters
and was falling apart from countless reading—so many times I practically had it memorized.
I quickly turned to a section that had been the source of many late night fantasies. Raising an eyebrow, back in control, I handed him the novel. “By all means,” I paused for emphasis. “Read it out loud.”
He chuckled as he took it, clearly not worried about what he would find. Goosebumps erupted over my skin as he spoke the words of the hero—my favorite scene unfolding. He must’ve skimmed ahead because he swiftly began choking, his face turning a startling shade of red. His wide-eyed expression was priceless.
I gently retrieved the book from his hands, crouching to pick up the others. He stood still, his expression flooded with desire and it stirred something deep inside me.
“Did you enjoy what you read? See anything you like?” I asked sweetly, giving what I hoped was a look of pure innocence. His Adam’s apple bobbed and I laughed, letting him off the hook. “Here’s a word of warning,” I whispered, moving in closer. “Never mess with a woman whose obsession is romance novels.”
I rose on my tiptoes and bravely grazed my lips over his cheek. “You never stood a chance, but nice try.” I patted his chest, ignoring how hard his muscles felt. “It was nice to meet you.”
I turned toward the cashiers, my heart beating fast as excitement washed over me. Even though it had started off embarrassing, it was worth the empowered feeling stirring within me. Walking away, I added a little sway to my hips.
“You don’t think we’re finished here, do you?” His voice called out, putting a smile on my face as I twirled around.
“Did you want to read more?” I replied, holding the book out.
He crossed the distance between us and took hold of my elbow. His fingers felt hot through my long-sleeved sweater, but I didn’t move a muscle. I could smell his cologne, the minty gum he was chewing, and I was intrigued with what he had planned. Glancing down at his hand, he appeared bashful before he released me.
“Well for starters, you can take my number and promise you’ll call me. I’d love to take you to dinner . . . talk more about books and such.” I looked at him confused. Although I hadn’t dated recently, it was pretty much a given that the guy asked for the woman’s number. “This way you don’t have to worry that some psycho stalker has your number. You call the shots,” he added.
His considerate offer touched me, and I entered his number into my phone. I told him I’d call him later that night and we parted ways—me to the checkout stations and him behind a nearby shelf. Just when I thought our encounter was over, I heard him call my name again in a voice that carried over the store.
“Here’s something for you to think about too. See those covers?” I nodded, unsure where he was heading.
“If you play your cards right and treat me nice, I might let you see how I compare to those guys with my shirt off.” Quiet laughter broke out throughout the store and a blush hotter than before crossed my face. Adding his own swagger, Quinn laughed and winked. “Hope I hear from you soon, Brianna.” He disappeared behind the stack.
The strength of the memory made what was happening even more tragic as it was just one of hundreds we’d shared together. We’d been dating for almost a year, loving each other completely, and now it was all slipping away—lost.
My fist missed his jaw completely. The ring on my hand grazed his chin leaving a slight scrape that raised a few tiny beads of blood. I’d failed, and now I was going to die.
Feeling myself fall deeper into darkness, I almost missed Quinn loosening his grip and him lowering me to the ground. The pressure on my throat lessened before disappearing completely—a signal I could breathe again.
I pulled huge, greedy gulps of cold air into my lungs, sagging against the wall. My legs were like jelly, and my head spun as my vision slowly began clearing. I fought to regain control over my body, not understanding why he’d stopped. He’d gone quiet again and wore a look of complete devastation.
Unsure what game he was playing, I held myself back from throwing myself into his arms—refusing to be fooled twice. My focus narrowed on his stare, my heart sinking with relief. His eyes were brown.
“You did it. You fought it!” I crashed into him, clinging desperately as I cried. He’d never felt as good as he did right then, and he intensified his embrace. It was a short-lived victory, however. His body stiffened and he stood back—holding me at arm’s length.
He searched me for any damage and faltered when he saw the bruising around my throat. He knew he’d been the cause, and judging by the blanched expression he wore, he was sickened.
“I knew it,” he whispered. “You’re not even safe from me.” He staggered backward, putting more distance between us. He looked frantic as he raised his hands to stop me from approaching. “Listen. I don’t know how much longer I can stay this way. It’s building again so you need to promise something.”
I opened my mouth to argue. Knowing me like he did, he quickly interrupted.
“No. You need to get as far away as possible, and no matter what happens, you don’t come looking for me. If there’s a cure, I’ll find you. Promise me.”
“But I don’t want to leave you.” I knew I sounded desperate, but I didn’t care. We rarely spent time apart—the idea appalled me.
“Promise!” he shouted, a tremor moving through him.
“Okay, I promise!” I cried. I watched as he convulsed and his eyes began flickering again.
“Now run, Bri. Run!”
I love you, I mouthed, and began running down the street, careful to avoid the fights that were still breaking out. Just as I reached the corner, I paused, hoping for one more glimpse of Quinn. He was standing where I’d left him, staring at me.
I couldn’t see whether he’d converted back, but as I waved goodbye, his face took on the predator appearance I’d seen earlier. With a sarcastic smirk that still seemed strange, he raised his fingers in a saluting gesture.
I received the message loud and clear—the hunt was on, and in that moment I knew the Quinn I loved was gone.
Chapter Seven
The farther I ran, the deeper the ache of separation tore through me. Step after agonizing step, reality drove home that he was gone and I had no clue what had happened—why he’d changed. The only thing I knew was I wouldn’t rest until I fixed whatever it was.
Every look he’d given me churned in my mind—every harsh word and tone echoed until all I wanted to do was scream. Nothing I did seemed to work as I frantically tried dismissing the repeated images of Quinn glaring with those hateful eyes. I couldn’t shake how he’d had no qualms in killing me.
I started crying and it infuriated me. Tears were a luxury I didn’t have time for—a weakness I couldn’t allow to take over. Now more than ever, I needed to keep strong. There was too much at stake.
The familiar streets of Penshurst became a blur as I fled down Wilmont, passing storefronts and restaurants. I didn’t stop for anyone, ignoring the shouts and protests around me, keeping a steady pace. I had no destination in mind and finally stopped when the stitch in my side threatened to cripple me. Resting alongside the large window display of Reese’s boutique, I held my stomach tightly as the fiery stab almost drove me to my knees.
Every instinct I had screeched to continue running, that no distance would ever be safe enough. An almost hysterical gurgle rose up as I realized how absurd that sounded. The only place I had ever felt protected was with Quinn and I’d been robbed of him.
A fresh shard of pain pierced my heart as the loss hit me again. Closing my eyes, I wished this were a nightmare—willing myself to wake up. My body ceased protesting, and exhaustion took control. I wanted to crawl into a tiny ball and fade away—somewhere the hurt couldn’t reach me.
His image flashed through my mind and I automatically flinched. Barely holding onto my sanity, I knew if I was reminded of those ice blue eyes one more time, I’d vomit. Willing myself to focus on the real Quinn, I pictured him whispering my name—a
gentle smile on his lips that lightened his entire countenance. He had given me many similar looks over the years and the memories rekindled my determination. Nothing was ever lost forever and it helped still the rising panic.
A mantra began to take shape and grew louder and more insistent until it overshadowed the other noise in my head.
You can do this. Quinn isn’t lost. Don’t give up hope. You can do this. Quinn isn’t lost. Don’t give up hope. Each time it repeated, I felt stronger and more empowered.
I tingled with purpose now, and I looked around to see exactly where I was. Judging from my surroundings, I was blocks away from the theater and in the heart of downtown Penshurst. Maverick Street was eerily quiet—the calmness you get right before the storm, and it was strange seeing it so empty. Usually the sidewalks were teeming with commuters and tourists, now they resembled a ghost town. I assumed it meant the effects of the charm hadn’t reached this far yet, and I breathed in relief.
Seeing no immediate danger and taking advantage of the peace, I reached into my pocket for my cell phone. Too tired to figure out time differences, I scrolled through the menu until I found my grandmother’s number and pushed send. She knew what was happening and I wasn’t going to hang up until she answered my questions.
My nerves were still strung tightly as I began cursing under my breath. On and on the phone rang until I heard the device switch over to her answering machine. Tapping my foot on the sidewalk, I counted down to the beep.
“Grandma, it’s Bri. Where are you?” My voice was impatient because all my hopes rested on her knowing what was happening. “They’ve got Quinn and you know who they are. Please pick up!”
I leaned my forehead against a cool brick wall, forcing myself to calm down. It didn’t matter how hard I tried steadying my breath or reminded myself to relax, the silence on the end unraveled it.
Broken Promises (The Brianna Lane Series) Page 6
