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He ignored this, which wasn't surprising. So I decided to ignore it as well. I couldn't change Quinton even if I wanted to. And I didn't want to. He could be as outrageous as he wanted to and say the most ridiculous crap and it wouldn't matter to me. I'd still love him very much.

I backed up against the counter beside the stove and between the fridge. I placed my palms behind me, flat against the countertop, and hoisted myself up. I sat my butt on the counter and scooted back until I was comfortable. My feet no longer touched the floor and they dangled in front of a cupboard.

"What are you making for breakfast?" I asked curiously, deciding to completely ignore everything else.

"More like lunch," he replied and I whimpered.

"Nooooo," I whined. "It can't be lunch yet. I haven't had any caffeine yet today. And you didn't answer my question."

"I stuck two energy drinks in the refrigerator for you. Sugar free Red Bull. I think you'll like them. And I'm making cheeseburgers because it's easy and good. I also brought up a tub of pasta salad I made yesterday. It's in the fridge."

Right.

Okay, well that was surprisingly easy. And I already knew that I liked normal Red Bull, but I'd never tried the sugar free kind before. But Red Bull was Red Bull so I was sure it would be delicious.

I moved to heft my butt right back down from the counter, but stopped when Quinton's palm landed on my knee and he gave me a gentle squeeze. "I'll get one for you. Stay put."

That I could do. Easily. I smiled sweetly at him in thanks. He went to the refrigerator and brought me back a large can of sugar free Red Bull. He went back to the stove and I popped the tab on the can and took a large swig. Not as sweet as the regular kind, but it definitely did not suck. Plus, caffeine, so it wouldn't have mattered either way.

"So," Quinton said while he flipped burgers in the pan, "talk."

My immediate reply? "I'm going to need you to trust me."

Those dark brown eyes of his came to me immediately. There was a sweetness to them and his face had gone entirely soft.

"I do trust you," he said with confidence.

See, here was where I had a problem. If he trusted me entirely then why the firing squad? Why the seven thousand text messages and phone calls? Why get my dad involved and upset? All of that screamed the exact opposite of trust.

I didn't say any of this to him because I could see it in his eyes that he really, truly believed his own words despite his actions, and me bringing it up would just start a fight between us. I didn't want to fight with him anymore.

"I figured out a way to go and search for Romero," I informed him while glancing over my shoulder at the door that led to the stairs, making sure it was just the two of us. Still, this conversation definitely did not need to be overheard.

"Oh yeah?" Quinton said curiously. He opened up single slices of cheese and slapped them down on top of the burgers sizzling in the pan. He moved around the kitchen, getting out plates, forks, and the tub of pasta salad. He scooped some out onto each plate and put the tub back into the refrigerator.

He went back to the stove to check on the burgers, and I figured it was now or never and I needed to get it over with before I psyched myself out and lost my nerve.

"Adrian," I blurted, and Quinton cocked his head to the side, now alert and focused on me as he used the spatula to remove the cheeseburgers out of the pan and into the open hamburger buns he placed on the plates. Even though his hands were busy, I knew I had all of his attention.

"What about him?"

I closed my eyes briefly and forced myself to relax. Then I laid it out for him.

"Adrian is how we're going to get Romero. Right now, he wants to make amends with me, he's almost desperate for it. But there's something he wants more and that's for me to join the Council. Now, you and I both know I'd rather gouge out my own eyeballs with an ice cream scooper than join the Council, but... what if I called him and told him I wanted to join, that I'd changed my mind? He'd be all over that, Quinton, and you know he would be. If I were out at the motel, then I could look for Romero. Since I gave him my blood and it's me who has a tie to him, unless you've changed your mind and want to tell Dash about everything now, it'll be easiest for me to find him. It's not safe for you guys to be roaming the property there right now, but if I do this they wouldn't so much as question me."

I knew everything that had come out of my mouth was the truth, but I still knew Quinton would argue with me about it regardless. And he did not disappoint.

His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits and the friendly expression left his face, making him look incredibly angry, and someone who didn't know him would probably say he looked terrifying.

"Are you out of your god damn mind?" he whispered, and for some reason he sounded scarier being quiet than he would have if he had yelled at me. "You cannot honestly think I'd ever be okay with you going to the motel and the Council on your own without us there to back you up. Where in the—"

See, this is what I was talking about with the trust issues we had. I cut him off before he could say something we wouldn't be able to come back from, and I'd never be able to forgive him for.

"Quinton. Shut up."

His mouth snapped closed and he glared at me. I let it just deflect right off me almost as if I never saw it in the first place.

"We started this by you telling me that you trusted me. Then not two minutes later you shot me down. So either you trust me or you don't. If you can't get on board with my plan, then let's hear yours. Come on," I goaded him, "tell me what you think we could do to get him out. What's your bright idea? Tell me, Quint, I really want to know."