Broken Promises (The Brianna Lane Series)

by Belinda Boring

  He didn’t answer straight away and I silently willed him to tell me. I was sure I could convince Liam and the others to help retrieve him and we could lock him away until a cure was found.

  ”Eager for more, are you? That’s one thing I can say about you . . . you always were insatiable. Don’t worry, we’ll have quite the reunion soon.” Hardness crept back into his tone and it sent a shiver up my spine.

  Images of him pinning me to the wall and choking me rose to the surface. “Don’t you want to be like it used to be?”

  Quinn paused and chuckled—a low seductive sound that any other time would’ve excited me. “I enjoy the new direction our relationship is going. Hurting you will be fun. You know I love it when you scream.” My chest tightened. This wasn’t him at all.

  “I love you,” I said. It was the only thing I could find the words for. “I miss you.”

  “That’s nice.” He sounded bored now. “You know if you’d just convert, it wouldn’t be like this. Maybe that’s where I need to be focusing my energies—less on satisfying my need to break you and more on making you like me. It’s addicting to have all this power stirring inside—all this rage, and if you could just taste it, I know you’d join us.”

  “Us?” I didn’t like the way his voice now hitched with fevered enthusiasm.

  “The Fae. They’ve selected the humans they think will best serve their purposes and promised once the purge is complete; those who survive will be granted special privileges. Frankly, I don’t really care. I just want to be on the winning team. If it means siding with the greater force, so be it.”

  “But they want to take over the world. Do you really think when it’s all over, they’ll just hand you a small piece of it and be okay?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” His answer was short and full of impatience. I’d never pegged Quinn for a fool, but I knew there’d be no arguing with him. If I did, it would drive him away and I needed him close for when I had a cure.

  I suddenly hear sounds from his side of the line, and the noise of a busy street filled the earpiece. “Look, where are you? All this talking has me craving to taste you.”

  “I’m at . . .” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him when the door opened and Liam called my name. I could almost feel the shift in temperature over the phone.

  “Who are you with?” Quinn’s tone was practically arctic.

  “Just someone I met . . . he’s part of this group . . . there’s so much to tell you.” I knew I was rambling, but the change in his voice scared me.

  “Put him on the phone.”

  “You don’t need to talk with him. Tell me where you are, and I’ll bring him for you to meet.”

  I looked up as Liam’s tall frame blocked the entrance to the closet. He pointed to the phone with a confused expression and I mouthed I was talking to Quinn. A frown appeared and he leaned against the doorway.

  “Put him on the phone. Now.” There was an added layer of steel to the icy tone.

  “He wants to speak with you.” Apologizing to Liam, I hesitated passing him the device when he reached for it. “You don’t have to, you know. I can just tell him no.”

  “It’s okay. This should be interesting.” Liam grinned and placed the phone to his ear.

  Fear settled in my stomach. Nothing good could come from this—nothing at all.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The instant Liam’s body tensed and his eyebrow cocked, I wanted to know what was being said. Quinn had always been a social person—polite and well mannered—but this new change left me doubting that was the case now. When I saw Liam’s fist tighten, I knew it was time to take control again.

  “I think you’ve made yourself pretty clear.” His response was spoken through clenched teeth. “I’ll make sure to keep Bri safe while you’re busy.” Before I could ask what he meant, Liam ended the call. He stood still for a moment, staring into nothing, his jaw clamped shut as he raked his fingers through his hair.

  “Your boyfriend is a complete douchebag. Just saying.”

  “What did he say? And what did you mean you’ll keep me safe?”

  “Trust me, you don’t want to hear the garbage he just spouted. For someone who claims to love you, he sure is possessive and has no problem staking his claim in graphic detail. He made it clear I’m not to touch you and always remember you belong to him.” Liam snorted.

  “And the keeping me safe part?”

  “That was simply me jabbing back. He can think all he wants, but it’s me who’s watching out for you right now. Not him.” He released a short sigh and offered a crooked grin. “I’ve probably made it worse, but I don’t care. No one talks that way about a woman, especially one they care for.”

  “Thanks.” I stared at the floor, not sure what to say. I’d never been in a situation where I’d needed defending and it didn’t sit well with me. I knew I should make some kind of excuse for Quinn, remind Liam he wasn’t always like this, but I was tired.

  “Look, sorry I called him a douche. He just got under my skin. I only came to see what was taking so long. Did you get the necklace?”

  I picked up the keepsake box. “Not yet. Let me get it and we can leave.” Carrying it to the bed, I placed it on the quilted surface and flipped the lid open. I shuffled through different items—old letters, certificates, photos, and sure enough, at the bottom was something wrapped in crinkled tissue paper.

  I carefully unfolded the layers to reveal a silver heart locket on a simple chain. Memories stirred, and I remembered seeing my mother wearing something similar. Prying the halves apart with my fingers, it snapped open and I let out a surprised gasp.

  “What is it?” Liam asked, peering over my shoulder.

  “There are photos in here. See?” I tilted the trinket in his direction, and he leaned in for a closer inspection. “This was my mother.” There was pride in my voice, and I softly kissed the picture. It felt good to have something of hers with me, like she was supporting me.

  “Let me help you put it on.” Liam took the necklace, and I brushed my hair to the side. I ignored the way my skin flushed when his fingers traced the chain after he fastened the clasp, or the brief moment where he hesitated before removing his hands from my shoulders. “Done. We need to get going. Is there anything you need while we’re here? You might want to grab some clothes or something. Who knows when you’ll get the chance to return?”

  I nodded, already opening drawers and pulling out shirts. I dropped to my knees and reached under the bed for an overnight bag. My fingers connected with something—a backpack—and within a few minutes, I was ready.

  Liam took it from me, easily slipping it over his shoulder and led the way out. My stomach fluttered as I walked through the apartment and when he stopped, I looked to see what he was focusing on.

  “Is this him?” He was staring at a photo of Quinn and me.

  “Yeah.”

  “Good to know.” Liam studied the picture again and then realized I was staring. “Just in case.” He didn’t finish his sentence, but I understood his meaning. Just in case something happened. Just in case I was attacked. Just in case he had to protect me. He removed the photo from the frame. “So I can show the others.”

  I locked up, and we raced down the stairs to rejoin the others. Before we’d left Rebel Central, Noah had introduced me to Marshall and James, asking they come along as a precaution. On the way over, Marshall had helped keep the intensity of the situation at bay by cracking jokes. James was reserved, solemn, and his gaze never stopped scanning. When we finally exited the building, he was bouncing on his toes, hands in his pocket.

  “We good to go?” James glanced around, and raked his hand through his short blond hair. “I have a bad feeling. It’s too quiet.”

  I touched the charm at the base of my throat and nodded. “It was exactly where my grandmother said it would be. Are we heading back?”

  “Yeah, but we’ll go the long way so we can do some recon as well,” Marshall answered. “It gi
ves me a little longer to sweet talk you as well. Let you see what a fine catch I am.” He winked, flirtatiously. I tried not to laugh when James rolled his eyes in disgust and Liam glared. Shrugging, Marshall took my hand and tugged. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go see the sights.”

  With James leading the way and Liam coming up from behind, we crossed the street and started weaving our way through the neighborhood. It was disturbing how altered things had become, and the way everything appeared abandoned. I shuddered, wondering where everyone was—had they converted or had something more sinister happened?

  “Try not to think about it, okay? It’ll drive you crazy and we need to keep focused. We’re helping no one if we crumble and live in fear,” Marshall whispered and he gently squeezed my hand. It was then I made the mental decision to keep my attention on what was in front of me. We’d only walked a few blocks when my skin prickled, and I suddenly stopped.

  “I believe you’ve got something that belongs to me.”

  I found myself being wrenched from Marshall by an iron clad grip and dragged into the hard chest of Quinn. My body didn’t have time to respond as the pain radiating from my wrist made me cry out.

  “Let go. You’re hurting me.” I struggled to pry his fingers away, but it only caused him to tighten. I stared at him, pleadingly, and he finally relented.

  “You have some explaining to do, Bri. Last time I checked, you were mine. I didn’t give you permission to hang out with other men.” Quinn grabbed my chin and squeezed it hard. “Are you purposely trying to piss me off?”

  “You better back the hell up,” Liam growled.

  “This doesn’t concern you. I suggest you and your friends walk away before someone gets hurt,” Quinn responded. His voice was low and menacing. It was terrifying.

  “You heard Liam. Let her go.” James stepped forward as well, his lean body easily falling into a fighting stance.

  “Awww, how sweet. You’ve got the three musketeers here ready to dual for you. Shouldn’t we be drawing pistols at dawn or something?” Quinn let go of my face, and pointed at Marshall. “What about you, pretty boy. Got something to add? Want to tell me how if I don’t leave, you’ll make me cry?”

  Marshall’s face turned a mottled red and fury flashed in his eyes. He lurched forward, fists clenched, but Liam beat him to it. One second I was beside Quinn, and the next he was pinned hard against a nearby car by Liam, his arm cocked and ready to strike.

  “Liam, stop!” I screamed, racing forward only to be stopped by James. I looked on as Liam slammed his fist into Quinn’s face, and I gagged when it broke skin and sent drops of blood spraying into the air. Liam dropped his hand only to release a second strike—an uppercut straight into Quinn’s solar plexus. There was a soft grunt as he crumpled forward. Wasting no time, Liam jerked him back into a standing position with his grip.

  “Get your shit together before you approach her again. I get that you’re infected by the Fae’s influence and she loves you, but touch her again, hurt her in anyway, and there’ll be no warning. Hear me?” Liam slammed Quinn into the car for emphasis. “Now I suggest you leave. Don’t make this any worse than it needs to be.”

  There was silence as the scene in front of me continued to unfold. I mentally begged Quinn to walk away and not fight back. When he briefly closed his eyes, I thought he’d somehow heard.

  At first I wasn’t sure what the noise was. As it grew louder, I realized it was coming from Quinn—laughter. Shoving at Liam to put some distance between them, he wiped at the trickling blood down the side of his face and spat on the ground.

  “I’m fine with it getting worse.” Quinn wore a cocky grin that sent chills down my spine. I’d never seen him like this, and it stunned me. “You can throw your threats about. Hit me all you want. You can pretend you’re the hero by protecting the damsel in distress, but it doesn’t change the fact I came for Bri, and I’m leaving with her.” His gaze narrowed on me, and I took an involuntary step backward. “Come here.”

  The situation was getting out of control. James and Marshall looked livid, standing their ground, just waiting for the word to jump in. Liam pulled me closer, using his hands to place me behind him, out of Quinn’s reach. The tension so strong, it was almost palpable.

  “Enough,” I finally spoke up, and stepped around Liam. I laid my hands gently on Quinn’s chest, trying to placate him. “Please, let’s not do this. I don’t want anyone fighting. Haven’t we seen enough?”

  I pressed myself against him. I tilted my chin, staring into his icy blue gaze and smiled. The effort felt shallow, but I needed this to end.

  The tautness in Quinn’s jaw slackened, and he traced the curve of my cheek with his finger. “You offering a ride, sweetheart? You know I can’t refuse that.” He bent down and pressed a rough kiss over my mouth. His hot breath fanned over my skin and when he bit hard on my earlobe, I flinched. “Now say goodbye to your friends.”

  He took my hand and twisted it behind my back. Liam rushed forward at my yelp, but Quinn was too quick. Flipping me around so I faced everyone, his arm tightly secured around my waist, he growled.

  “Not another step. You’ve had your fun . . . time for mine.” Quinn lifted his other hand, gesturing, and from nowhere a group of men appeared. “Still think you can stop me?”

  I didn’t need to look at their eyes to tell they were affected—hostility radiated from them. I watched the silent communication between Liam, Marshall, and James. None of them spoke, but it wasn’t hard to guess they were assessing the situation and deciding their options.

  My own thoughts scrambled. There wasn’t an outcome that didn’t result in someone getting hurt. I squirmed in Quinn’s arms, hoping he’d loosen his hold enough for me to break free. He hadn’t, and he chuckled in my ear.

  “Ready to watch your friends die? If you’re a good girl, I’ll let you choose which one can go last.” His words sickened me.

  ”You’re nothing but a monster—not even you anymore,” I spat out, stomping hard on his instep and seizing the chance to escape. I whirled around, slapping him hard across the chest. “I’m trying to save you and this is what you do?”

  “Who says I want to be saved, Bri? What if you’re the one who needs saving?” Quinn’s eyes held a fiery spark of danger, but I didn’t care. I was mad, and nothing would curb my tongue.

  “This isn’t you.” I poked him hard with my finger. “And you are stronger than whatever magic is at work here. You promised me, Quinn. Promised you’d never hurt me.”

  “Sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but promises were made to be broken.”

  “Not yours. Never yours. I believed in you . . . in us.” My voice cracked as my emotions rose to the surface. “If you let this destroy you, you’re nothing but a coward, Quinn Michaels.”

  “Careful. You’re treading a thin line.” His jaw clenched, causing a tic to appear.

  I snorted, refusing to look at him another second. “I’m leaving and not with you. Don’t follow me either.”

  “I’m not done with you yet. Do not walk away from me.” It was hard to ignore the implied threat.

  “I’ll contact you if I figure out how to reverse what happened to you.” I didn’t turn around to face him. I nodded at Marshall and James, and they took a step backward, never taking their focus off the newcomers.

  Liam still stood watching Quinn, and when I touched his arm as I passed by, he finally looked away.

  “Bri.”

  “No, Quinn. Something is wrong with you and I can’t go with you. I’m sorry.”

  “Do you honestly think I’m going to let you leave? Just like that?” He asked incredulously. He clicked his fingers and the strangers closed in.

  “Yes, I think you are.” I retreated, putting more and more distance between us. “I love you,” I whispered.

  “You’re going nowhere.” Quinn commanded, his goons tightening their circle around him. It would be a close fight—us against them—one I wasn’t sure who’d win. “T
ake one step and I’ll end this . . . right here, right now.”

  “Enough of the threats. She said she’s leaving, we’re going.”

  Liam placed his hand on my lower back, I started to walk away.

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I barely registered Quinn’s low warning before I was pulled back toward him and all hell broke out.

  I struggled against his iron-tight embrace while I watched my friends battle it out. No matter how hard I pushed or how much I twisted, Quinn matched my moves—stopping my escape.

  “Let me go!” I demanded, slamming my foot down on his instep.

  Quinn didn’t even falter from my attack. “The harder you fight me, sweetheart, the harder I get.” He lowered one of his hands to wrap around my hips and his arousal was evident.

  My body flushed and I hated it.

  A grunt from Marshall diverted my attention. He was busy defending himself against two thugs, and I cringed when he took a hard blow to the chin. The hit didn’t stop him, however. Bending over, he rammed his shoulder into the solar plexus of one of the men, forcing him to the ground.

  Liam and James were engaged as well and soon it would be just Quinn. Four against one was great odds. I wanted this confrontation over.

  “Your fun is over. Hand her over!” Liam demanded, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “We’ve defeated your mini army. Unless you want to take us on . . . you’re too much of a coward for that.”

  Marshall helped James up from the ground, and together they joined Liam.

  “I’m not sure I want him to leave, though. After everything I’ve seen, I’d enjoy kicking his ass,” Marshall growled, clenching his fists.

  Quinn was still, and I wondered what he was thinking. There was no way he could take all three of them on, but something told me he still wouldn’t back down.

  “Listen to them,” I said, attempting one more time to break free. His arms slackened and I left his embrace, returning to stand by my friends. “You should come with us. There are holding rooms you can stay in until this is all over.” Even after everything I was still hopeful.