Page 103 of Lethal Vengeance

His entire body is rigid except for his lips. For a second, his lips soften and cling to mine, but they become firm again, and I know the kiss is over.

“Pancakes coming up.”

Gabriel claps, and the world starts spinning again.

Zane sets a plate of pancakes in front of me, and a few minutes later, Caroline arrives.

When they ask me to go to the warehouse with them, I shake my head. The disappointment in their eyes is almost more than I can take, but I refuse to let it sway me. I’m determined to see all the footage.

44

ZANE

Sterling’s staring at his phone with a troubled look on his face. When he suddenly smiles, and I know he’s switched his attention from Quinn to Gabriel. My gut clenches to see Sterling with Gabriel, knowing things are still up in the air for all of us. I worry he’s getting too close to the little boy. Hell, we’re all getting too close to him.

I peer over his shoulder. “Did she leave the house today?”

“She didn’t leave her room,” he snarls. “I know Raider and Cruz said to give her time, but since she’s been here, she hasn’t shown any interest in a life outside that room. I wish I knew what she was doing in there all day. We know she isn’t sleeping.”

Pulling on my best poker face, I try to calm him down. “She’s been here a week. If she doesn’t come with us tomorrow, I have an idea on how to get her out of the house. Okay?” When he nods, I wave a hand towards the kitchen. “I’m going to start dinner. Why don’t you grab Gabriel and let Raider get Quinn?”

When he’s gone, I let my own anger and frustration show. We all know she needs time, but I don’t have the first fucking clue on how to help her through it. As leader of the team, I am the glue that holds everything together, including us. And I’m failing her, and it’s driving me fucking crazy. She seems to be falling deeper into a hole and sleeping less. Her morning run started at four thirty a.m. today.

An idea came to me earlier when I was speaking to Henley about Gabriel. It’s worth a try. While my mind plots out all the details, my hands are busy pulling together grilled chicken tacos for tonight. Cooking helps me decompress from the day, and it’s a good way to get in some nutrition. The places we go to don’t always have healthy alternatives.

Gabriel’s singing a song when they grab a seat at the table. I can’t help but smile when he misses a few lines and begins singing the chorus at the top of his lungs. I believe Raider taught him that song. It’s his favorite. Sterling’s not the only one who’s becoming attached to Gabriel.

Quinn strolls into the room with Raider behind her. He’s laser focused on Quinn and frowning. It’s not a good sign. When I silently ask him about it, he flips his thumb down.

“Cruz is checking on a possible Rodrigo sighting,” I briskly inform Quinn, trying to snap her out of her apathy. “He’ll call us shortly to let us know if it’s valid.”

Her spine straightens, and she nods.

“Rodrigo bad,” Gabriel states solemnly. “Tío not like.” Anxious, his small fingers knead the napkin beside his plate.

Quinn’s eyes dart to Gabriel, and she lays a hand over his. “We will keep you safe, I promise.”

He studies her, as if judging her sincerity. “Promise?”

She makes an x over her chest. “Cross my heart. I promise.”

His little brow furrows, and he raises his hand to his chest.

She takes his finger and draws one line across his heart, then the other. “Cross my heart.”

When he successfully repeats it, she bends down and gives him a kiss. “Good job.” Her eyes shine with pride instead of sadness.

Delighted with learning something new, he does it several more times over dinner. We chuckle at his antics, and he preens with all the attention.

These two deserve so much more than they’ve been dealt. If only she would let us in.

* * *

The alarm chimeson my phone at four a.m. Bleary-eyed, I watch Quinn punch in the code and head out for a run.

I quickly send out a text to Sterling and Raider. “Let’s give her some space this morning. Our emotions are too hot to keep things neutral.”

Raider and Sterling text back their agreement.