Chapter Twenty

Quinn woke up alone, but she remembered Rogue staying with her, curled and nestled in the bed. She’d woken up a few times, unable to find peace in her mind, twisting and turning. Or at least she tried. Rogue had a hold over her even in his sleep. It was constricting, and considering the night's events, it may have been better for her to move freely. But she didn’t resist. He saved her.

She got up from the bed, glancing at the clock. It was after two in the afternoon. She slowly turned and gasped when she saw him standing a few feet away.

“Good morning,” she whispered and swallowed the lump in her throat. Quinn shouldn’t have been embarrassed. Last night was beyond her control. It was stress-induced. There were probably methods to control her panic, but she hadn’t found a solution. She clasped her hands, twisting her fingers.

Rogue stared back. His harsh angles were softer than usual. His eyes didn’t give off any type of heat.

She slowly walked toward him. She was at a loss for words. So she said nothing. She stopped inches away, wrapped her arms around his stomach, and hugged him, resting her cheek against his chest. His heart beat faster than hers at the moment.

“Thank you for taking care of me last night.”

Quinn dropped her hands from his back and attempted to step back, but Rogue wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back in. She glanced up, and he cupped her jaw, brushing his thumb over her cheek. The silence should’ve been awkward and menacing, but she welcomed it.

“How’d you know how to settle me?”

He ignored her question.

“That happen a lot?” She shook her head, and he narrowed his gaze. “Don’t lie to me.”

She gulped and shrugged slightly. “It happens sometimes when I get too far in my own head. You know…scared?”

Rogue gave a small nod, his gaze scanning her face.

“What scared you?”

This time, Quinn ignored his question thinking back to the day before.

“I wish you’d just told me. That way, I could’ve been prepared.” She choked on her words. “It would’ve been easier if you were there.”

His brows knitted. “Tell you what?”

“I wouldn’t have tried to run. Just been prepared for it.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Quinn blinked. “Meeting with Killcreek.”

His eyes darkened. “When the fuck did you meet with them?”

What? He didn’t know?

“I-I thought you…”

“When?” He shouted.

“Last night. Some guy named Sal came over and…”

“Sal was fucking there?”

Quinn nodded. “He was the one who brought…who brought me to Oz’s place.”

Rogue’s whole demeanor changed, and his hold over her jaw tightened. She had a feeling he hadn’t realized. His instinct was kicking in.

One second he was holding her, and the next, he was gone, leaving her staring at the empty doorway.

****

Rogue was so fired up he didn’t wait on his security. He drove over to Oz’s himself and pulled into the driveway, stopping only inches from the gate. It opened immediately, and he raced in, slamming his brakes at the last minute before driving into the car in front of him.

He threw the car in park, jumped out and started across the driveway. When he made it to the stairs, he saw Trey talking with Nash by the door.

“Did you fucking know?” he shouted, pointing to Trey.

Trey furrowed his brows and turned.

“If you fucking knew, Trey…”

Trey straightened, stepping away from Nash. “Knew what? What are you talking about?” Trey eyed him. Rogue could only imagine what he was seeing.

“Rogue,” Nash said, but Rogue completely turned on him, lunging forward.

“Shut the fuck up ’cause I know you fucking knew, asshole. You were there.”

Nash’s eyes peered over Rogue’s shoulder seconds before he heard boot steps from behind. Rogue whipped around. Three members of security had closed in. They were still a good distance away but prepared to step in.

“Oh, you want to come at me, boys ? Fucking do it. I’ll take every one of you motherfuckers out. And you know who’s not gonna say shit? Fucking Oz.”

Trey stepped in front of Rogue. “What the hell is going on?”

“Did you fucking know they were bringing her in?”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Oz called me in this morning.”

“Quinn,” he snapped. “He brought her in to meet with fucking Killcreek yesterday.”

Trey straightened and darted his gaze to Nash. This was his only saving grace. Had Trey known about it, it would have been the ultimate betrayal.

“Oz is in his office,” Nash said.

Rogue stormed in, bumping Nash’s shoulder in the process. He didn’t bother looking around and kept his focus on the back end of the house where the office was located. Rogue threw open the door so hard it slammed against the wall. Neither Oz nor Sal flinched. They were obviously waiting on him.

“What the fuck, Oz?”

Oz arched his brow and sipped his drink. Rogue stalked through the room, stopping a few feet from his brother.

“You fucking put her in front of Killcreek?”

“Yes, surrounded by an army of security, a deal with Killcreek, and a threat to ensure her safety.”

“Without me,” Rogue snapped.

“A simple thank you will do.”

“How ’bout a fuck you!”

“Rogue,” Trey warned, but it was a little too late for that.

Sal, who’d been quiet up until now, cleared his throat, gaining Rogue’s attention. “It was better on both ends that you not be there. Oz cleared it with me, and I agreed.”

Rogue spun around, glaring at the man. “I didn’t fucking agree, Sal.”

“Neither did I,” Trey said, looking between Oz and Sal. “In fact, I wasn’t even consulted. Is there a reason?”

Oz stared back at Rogue. “You know the reason, Trey.”

Trey wouldn’t have allowed it to go down without Rogue’s knowledge. Even if Oz had forbidden him to tell Rogue, Trey would’ve.

“And that should have been all the more reason you told at least me.”

Sal sat up on the edge of the chair and spread out his hands. He was in mediator mode. Rogue had seen it many times throughout his life with Sal, usually aimed at Rogue.

“It was safer for Quinn.”

Rogue snorted, which rolled into a laugh, and he looked back at Trey. He wasn’t buying it either.

“The safest place for her is with me.”

Sal held up his hands. “The deal wouldn’t have gone down as smoothly had you been there. You have too much bad blood and history with Killcreek, besides the fact that you’re too invested in her. It hits too close to home for you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“This,” Oz said, his voice completely calm and pointed at Rogue. “This is what he’s talking about.”

Rogue sharpened his glare, and Oz countered it by raising his brow. “You know I’m right.”

Rogue couldn’t argue that point. He understood the thought behind keeping him out. It was the betrayal he couldn’t get past. Or Quinn’s suffering.

“Son,” Sal said, getting his attention. “It all worked out. The deal Oz made keeps her safe and under our protection. Killcreek won’t cross that line. Ace knows better.”

It was exactly what he’d wanted, but not by sacrificing Quinn’s mental state. A vision of her from last night played over in his head. What would have happened if he hadn’t shown up when he did? She would have been left to suffer alone.

“It all fucking worked out, huh, Sal?” Rogue squared his jaw and clenched his fist. “That wasn’t how it looked when I walked in the bedroom, and she was practically on the ground, frozen in fucking fear. Choking to take a fucking breath.”

Sal straightened in his seat and flattened his lips.

“Any other way would have been better than the way this was handled, Sal.”

Sal started to speak, but Rogue was done listening to everyone. He turned and started to walk out.

Rogue was halfway out the door when Oz spoke. But not to him.

“A word, Trey.”

Rogue looked over his shoulder. Trey had been a few steps behind him and was now stopped, glancing back at Oz. The leader, the first King.

“That’s why you called me in?” Trey arched his brow. “You wanted me on damage control? Lessen the blow back when Rogue found out? Not this time, Oz.”

Trey turned back to Rogue and started toward him, lifting his chin to the door. Rogue couldn’t have faulted him for staying behind. When Oz called, everyone came. It was how they operated. Rogue walked out, still fired up and Trey followed him.

“Is Quinn okay?”

Rogue drew in a breath, trying to settle his nerves. It wasn’t working.

“She fucking freaked out. Panic attack or some shit.” He drove his hand through his hair, still completely on edge.

There was a small stretch of silence with only their footsteps on the marble floor.

“Like I used to have?”

Rogue gave a curt nod. There were some things from the past they never spoke of. Any sign that could be conceived as weakness was never brought up. Ever.

Trey grabbed his shoulder in a tight squeeze. “Go home to Quinn.”

Rogue parted ways with Trey and headed home. His thirty-minute ride gave him time to think about everything. Aside from Trey, Oz, and Sal, he’d never put anyone before himself. He lived and breathed everything he’d known since he was immersed into this lifestyle.

Quinn shifted that. She changed things. For the first time in his life, he was thinking of someone other than his inner circle. He tried ignore the growing incessant need to get home and be near her. Rogue was at a loss to explain his strong pull and draw to Quinn. Sounds like love, motherfucker.

He pulled the car up in front of his house and eyed security lined up on either end of the driveway. Although he wanted to, he couldn’t fault them for allowing Quinn to leave with Sal. The man had free rein in his house. Security wouldn’t have suspected anything wrong. Rogue made a mental note to change that rule.

He stalked up his front steps and into his house. It was quiet. He glanced up at the staircase. After the night she had, he wouldn’t have been surprised if she went back to bed early. He saw the exhaustion not only in her body but in her eyes earlier.

He made his way up the stairs, grabbed the doorknob, and opened it. It was dark with all the lights off, but the curtain allowed enough light to illuminate the room.

What. The. Fuck?

He flicked the light switch. He was getting a full view and not liking anything he was seeing.

“What the fuck?”