Page 116 of Fall of a Kingdom

“Confront her, Quinn. Have it out with her if that’s what you need.”

“You really mean that?”

“I do,” I said. “I can’t tell you what’s going on with her, but I can tell you that she needs you.”

“She’s going to think you sent me.”

“So what if she does?” I demanded. “Do you love her? Like family?”

“Of course I do.”

“If Shannon were acting this way, what would you do?” I inquired.

“I’d march into her house and tell her to stop being a prat and tell me what’s going on.” She paused. “Ah. Okay.”

“Exorcise the truth from her, Quinn. We’ll all be better off. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a bottle of vodka to finish.”

“Say hello to Dimitri for me,” she said.

“Will do.”

I hung up and went back to Dimitri’s side, but I didn’t sit down next to him, for fear I wouldn’t be able to get back up again.

“I’m ready for the Russian baths,” Dimitri said. “And a woman.”

I tightened my left hand into a fist and sighed. “I’m in agreement about the Russian baths, but I’ll have to pass on a woman.”

Chapter40

QUINN

I stoodat the threshold of Ash’s home, feeling only marginally guilty that I was showing up unannounced. I’d driven to Barrett’s house first, with Helena in tow, but the security agent at the gate informed me she wasn’t home.

Ergo, I deduced that she was with Ash.

It should’ve been my first thought. Those two leaned heavily on one another when things were tough, and right now, things were tough.

Part of me had wished that Ash and Barrett had reached out to me so we could all be together during this insane time.

The fact that they hadn’t… I tried not to let it hurt my feelings. I tried not to think anything of it, but old narratives ran deep. Barrett and I were close. But she and Ash were closer. Had she confided in Ash what was wrong?

I knocked on the door and gathered Helena closer, hoping to shield her from the slanting sheets of rain.

A moment later, the door opened. Barrett stood in the doorway, her eyes widening.

She frowned for a second and then said, “Quinn. What are you doing here?”

“Nice to see you too,” I said sarcastically. “Do you mind letting us in? We’re getting soaked out here.”

Barrett stepped back, but it was clear she was reluctant to do so. “You’re just like your fiancé,” she muttered. “He shows up out of the blue, too. You could’ve called.”

“Youcould’ve called,” I said. “But you didn’t. I was in the house all alone, sitting in a room with mustard yellow decor and tartan wallpaper with no one to talk to.”

“Sorry about that.” Her face was wreathed with guilt. “I was—I got distracted. Have you talked to Sasha?”

“Yes. What do you mean you were distracted?”

“I got a migraine. I was down for the count. How’s Sasha?”