Page 66 of Fall of a Kingdom

Igor glowered. “No one asked me ifIwas hungry.”

“Flynn?” I asked, trying to hear myself think over one very annoying and stubborn Russian ghost. “Will you and Sasha head up to the attic and get Hawk’s old crib?”

Flynn looked at Sasha and slapped him on the back. “What do you think, old man? Are you up to the task? It’s heavy and solid furniture.”

“Who are you callingold man?” Sasha demanded, shooting Quinn a flirtatious wink. “I’m in better shape than you.”

“Prove it,” Flynn goaded.

“Oh, I’ll prove it all right. Let’s go.”

The two of them continued to rib one another as they left the den.

Quinn grinned at me. “Things are all right between them.”

“Thank goodness.” I sighed in relief. “Are they good between us?”

“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t they be?”

“Quinn,” I began. “Igor’s house.”

“What about it? That has nothing to do with me.”

“It didn’t bother you that he didn’t tell you about it until he had to?”

“I’m long past the point of thinking your secrets with Sasha mean anything more than deep abiding affection and loyalty. We’re good, Barrett. Truly.”

“She’s lying,” Igor said.

Shut up, ghost.

Chapter23

SASHA

I watchedBarrett all through an afternoon meal that was too early to be dinner and too late to be lunch. Even though she laughed, there was a strain around her mouth, as if her smile was being summoned from deep within her, but it was neither sincere nor joyful.

I knew Barrett like the back of my hand. And the crinkles at the corners of her eyes when she laughed at something Hawk said were staged. In a random, unguarded moment, I saw a flash of panic streak across her face before she hastily buried it.

I studied them together, her and Flynn. His hand went to the leg of her chair, and he pulled her closer to him. Even after all the strife they’d been through, it hadn’t broken them.

“Will you show me your sword?” Hawk asked me.

Flynn raised his brows at me and smirked. “Good luck.”

“I didn’t bring my katana,” I told him.

Hawk leveled me with a look that told me I’d fallen down a tier in his estimation of the man he thought I was.

Quinn laughed and set her hand on my thigh, giving it a hearty squeeze. I knew what she said with that touch. She understood without me having to say a word. I loved Helena; she was the daughter of my heart. But there was something about having a son. I was a man who yearned for a legacy.

I thought of the child Quinn and I had lost.

Ciaran.

I wish I’d been there for Quinn when she’d buried him.

Barrett and Flynn had everything they’d ever wanted. They should’ve been happy.