And this time…Qhuinn let him go.
SEVENTY-FIVE
ONE WEEK LATER…
Where in life resumed its normal course, Qhuinn thought as he pulled his leathers up his thighs, yanked a muscle shirt on over his head, and grabbed his weapons and his leather jacket.
God, he couldn’t believe just seven nights ago he was inducted into the Brotherhood.
Seemed liked forever.
Leaving his room, he stalked down past the marble statuary, went by Wrath’s study, and knocked on Layla’s door.
“Come in?”
“Hey,” he said he went inside. “How you doing?”
“I’m great.” Layla shoved herself up higher on her stack of pillows and then rubbed her belly. “Make that, we’re great—Doc Jane was just here. Levels look perfect, and I’m sticking with ginger ale and saltines, so I’m good.”
“You should have some protein, no?” Shit, he didn’t want that to sound like a demand. “Not that I’m telling you what to eat.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. As a matter of fact, Fritz poached some chicken breasts for me and it stayed down, so I’ll be trying to do that every day, too. As long as food doesn’t taste like much, I can stomach it.”
“Do you need anything?”
Layla’s eyes narrowed. “As a matter of fact, I do.”
“Name it and it’s yours.”
“Talk to me.”
Qhuinn jacked his brows up. “About?”
“You.” She let out an exasperated curse, tossing the magazine she’d been reading to the side. “What is going on? You’re dragging around, you aren’t talking to anybody, and everyone is worried.”
Everyone. Fantastic. Why the hell didn’t he live alone?
“I’m fine—”
“You’re fine. Right. Uh-huh.”
Qhuinn held his hands out in quasi-submission. “Hey, come on, what do you want me to say? I get up, I go to work, I come home—you’re doing well and so is the young. Luchas is slowly recovering. I’m in the Brotherhood. Life is great.”
“Then why do you look like you’re in mourning, Qhuinn.”
He had to glance away. “I’m not. Listen, I’ve got to go grab something to eat before I—”
“Doyoustillwanttheyoung.”
Layla’s words came out so fast, his brain had to work to decipher what she’d said. And then he— “What?”
As her hands started to tangle in that way they did when she was nervous, he went over to the bed and sat beside her. Putting his jacket and his holsters full of weapons down, he stilled those twining fingers of hers.
“I am thrilled about the young.” Matter of fact, that baby inside of her was the only thing keeping him going at the moment. “I am already in love with him or her.”
Yup. Young were the only safe place to put your heart, as far as he was concerned.
“You’ve got to believe that,” he said stridently. “You really have to.”
“All right. Okay, I do.” Layla reached up and brushed the side of his face, making him jerk. “But then what has broken you, my dear friend. What has happened?”
“Just life.” He smiled over at her. “No big deal. But no matter what mood I’m in, you need to know I’m right with you in this.”
Her eyes closed in relief. “I am grateful for that. And for what Payne did.”
“As well as Blaylock,” he muttered. “Don’t forget him.”
How fucking ironic. The guy had stabbed him in the chest, but also given him a new heart.
“I’m sorry?” she said.
“Blaylock went to Payne. It was his idea.”
“In truth?” Layla whispered. “He did that?”
“Yup. Stand-up guy. Blaylock’s a real gentlemale.”
“Why are you calling him that?”
“It’s his name, isn’t it.” He patted her arm and got to his feet, picking up his gear. “I’m going out for the night. As always, I have my phone with me, and you call if you need anything.”
The Chosen frowned. “But Beth said you were off rotation.”
Great. So he really was a topic of conversation. “I’m going out.” As she looked like she was about to argue, he leaned down and put a chaste kiss on her forehead, hoping to reassure her. “Don’t worry about me, ’kay?”
He left before she could marshal another attack on his boundaries. Out in the hall, he closed the door and—
He stopped dead. “Tohr. Ah, what’s doing?”
The brother was leaning against Wrath’s doorway like he’d been waiting. “I thought you and I talked about the schedule last night.”