Page 81 of The Boss

“Luna,” he warns. But then he adds, “Keep talking to me. I need you to stay awake.”

“I know how you could keep me awake,” I tease again.

More Irish cursing.

I try to laugh.

But I can’t.

I try to stay awake.

I can’t.

•••••

“Quinn?” I hear myself searching for him with my voice and my hands, even though my eyes are still closed. It’s concerning that my half-conscious self asks for him, not Ellie or Z or Papa. Shit, my lids are heavy.

“Right here,” his deep voice replies.

Channeling all my strength to my lashes, I pry my eyes open. Quinn’s frowning down at me, a tired, angry warrior. I’m in his room, his bed, he’s next to me in a normal-sized chair that of course seems too small for him.

“Shouldn’t you be out killing that guy?” I ask.

He grunts, “What guy, there was a guy?”

“Are you…are you trying to joke around with me right now?”

“I’m trying to punish you for doing the exact opposite of what I asked and getting yourself hurt.”

I close my eyes and try to swallow but my mouth is like a desert.

“Here,” he says, handing me a cup of ice water with a straw.

I take a sip and then say, “I can think of better ways you can punish me.”

“Fuck my life,” he sighs.

I laugh and then wince. I look at the light coming through the windows and wonder aloud, “What time is it?”

“Afternoon.” He straightens up in the chair, “And no, before you ride me about my responsibilities, no, Ihaven’tbeen here all morning watching you. But I’m not sure I should leave because the second I do, you’ll be up and crawling through the bushes again.” I shrug, he glares. His voice is serious as he tries to boss me around, “You have stitches. No crouching or squatting for a while, Luna.”

“I think what you meant to say is good job defending yourself, Luna. Thanks for distracting that guy, Luna. You’re a badass, Lu—”

“You’re reckless! Distracting him? You gave him a fucking prize on a platter!” Marlon squeaks beside me at Quinn’s booming voice. I pick him up and put him on my lap.

“Prize? Me?” I try to interrupt, “Mac’s more of prize, I don’t know jack shit. I’m useless.”

He goes on, “God help me, if you hadn’t stabbed him before he reached you…”

“But I did!” I point out. Quinn runs his hand down his face in frustration but I press him. “Admit it, I did well.”

“If I do, will you promise to stay here for the day?”

“Sure,” I smirk up at him.

“Luna,” he says, his face still looks annoyed but his voice is…different. On the verge of breaking in two. “Listen, I have to go and Sheila can only come by to check on you every hour or so, take Marlon out, get your medicine. I can’t…if you…if you go sneaking and pass out in a bush somewhere, I—”

“Alright, alright, I won’t do any crouching.”