Cold Shadow (Cold Country #2)(10)

"Why, Quinn, if I didn't know better, I'd swear you are upset about that." He smiled at the look that crossed the blond's face.

"Yeah, so, it's not like I'm looking to marry you or anything, Walker, but I sort of like you enough to worry about Nate finding your body in a couple of days …  with no fingers or tongue."

"Why the fuck are we standing in the damned woods talking about this shit? I'm not going to find his fucking body in a couple of days … " Nathan paused, his face going pale. "I'm going to have to put a man in there with you, aren't I? To make sure you don't go missing too. That's all I need, the damned FBI all over me because I lost one of their own." It would have been funny if it wasn't for the stark horror that came into his eyes. "I'm starving. Mama is probably bringing back bird food. She's been on a health food kick lately. I need a steak, or a burger or two. I'm going to take a shower."

Drew watched Nathan disappear in the dimly lit woods, the dragon on his back seemed to glare at him until he was gone completely. "Was it something I said?"

"I don't know. He's been on edge lately." There was worry in Quinn's voice, and a touch of sadness as well. "The nightmares are back. He's not sleeping again. But he won't talk about it. Sometimes I just wish-"

"That he really would give up the job?" Drew said softly. Sometimes he knew how Quinn felt, like now.

"Yeah. He won't take my money. He thinks it'll make him a kept man." One of Quinn Anders' famous smiles replaced the worry in his eyes. Mischief sparkled when he hooked his arm through Drew's and led him along the trail and into a clearing where a modern version of a mountain cabin stood. An SUV and a sports car parked in front, a couple of motorcycles in the garage. Kid stuff everywhere. It looked nothing like Quinn and everything like Nathan.

"I was expecting a palace." Drew liked what he saw, rich wood façade and a modern tin roof, it blended in with the surrounding trees. It looked homey.

"I tried to build one, too, but he had a fit. We don't need ostentatious. I can be that on tour, out here we need normal. Emma needs normal. He was right."



       
         
       
        

"Why would Nathan worry about living off your money? Sorry, Quinn, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. What you said just sort of clicked. I mean he has his own money to fall back on, he doesn't need the job or you."

"Kimberly, his second wife, she knew about us, about him. She was going to have her lawyer use it against him. She married him for money. He gave her the trust fund his grandfather set up for him to keep her quiet. She went after the property, too, but his dad sicced his lawyers on her." Quinn looked at the ground as he spoke. "Don't tell him I told you that. I'm not sure his parents even know about the money."

"He has a college degree. I mean, he can't be where he is in the department without one. He has options, right?"

"Well, sure, he actually has a law degree despite railing against it. It's where he wound up anyway. Criminal law, not business law. All he has to do is pass the bar and he could move to the other side of the courtroom. But-"

"But where is the fun in that? God, I know how he feels. Some days I'd rather just be fishing or surfing or hell, doing anything besides this. I was supposed to go into medicine. I was supposed to go to medical school after the Corps. I went into criminal justice instead. I like carrying a gun and a badge. Most days."

"You know you seem different somehow." Quinn opened the back door and led him into the kitchen. Stainless steel and granite were everywhere. Expertly decorated in shades of black and white and gray, the kitchen had Quinn written all over it. "Great, isn't it? If Nathan had his way, we'd have a rustic wood-burning stove or something. He has absolutely no style at all. Come on in, what can I get you? We have beer, that's about it in the alcohol department. Juice, if you'd prefer. Even some in those fancy little boxes. Sodas. Pretty much anything you want."

"Beer will be fine." He watched as Quinn grabbed a beer and a can of Coke for himself. "Still on the wagon?"

"Seven years and counting. Not even one of those in all that time." He nodded to the beer in Drew's hand. He seemed to have forgotten his earlier comment about how Drew had changed since the last time he was here. Drew wasn't going to remind him.

"And Nathan?" After the attack, Nathan fell heavily into the bottle. The last time he saw him he was in bad shape.