Page 52 of The Condemned (Echoes from the Past #6)

FORTY-TWO

Quinn tossed her mobile onto the sofa and sprang to her feet.

She wasn’t the type of person who paced when she was anxious, but she couldn’t have remained immobile if her life depended on it.

She prowled the length of the room, her mind going over her conversation with Rhys again and again in an effort to determine if he’d held anything back.

She knew him well enough at this stage to notice when he was being evasive or trying to deftly maneuver her onto another topic, but he’d seemed completely upfront.

Jo had been badly hurt, but she was all right—or would be once she had time to recover. Quinn would see her tomorrow.

TOMORROW! her mind screamed. She would meet her twin tomorrow. Quinn increased her pace to match the racing of her heart at the giddy thought. Never had she been this excited and nervous, not even the day before her wedding.

She longed to shout the news from the rooftops, but a small part of her wanted to hold on to this moment for just a little longer, to hug the knowledge to her chest like a wonderful gift that she wasn’t quite ready to show anyone just yet.

She finally sat down and wrapped her arms about her legs, resting her chin on her knees.

Her initial burst of excitement was beginning to wear off, while anxiety settled in, and all the questions that had been gnawing at her for the past several months reared their ugly heads.

Why hadn’t Jo responded to her letter? She must have received it before leaving for Kabul.

Why had she severed ties with her brother and sister and chosen not to attend their father’s funeral?

Why had she not been in contact with Charles Sutcliffe?

Surely he’d be one of the first people she’d call. What if Jo refused to see her?

Quinn reached for her mobile. She needed to talk to Gabe, but the call went straight to voicemail.

She glanced at the time on the screen. Of course, Gabe had a staff meeting at three, and it was now half past. He wouldn’t be available for at least another half hour, and then he’d go directly to Emma’s school to collect her.

Quinn would tell him about Jo when he got home and was able to give her his full attention.

She’d tell Seth once she had more information.

Seth was the type of person who’d get on the next flight to Germany, and Quinn wasn’t at all sure it’d be a good idea to spring him, or his unsavory past with their mother, on Jo this soon.

One surprise at a time was probably all the poor woman could handle in her present situation.

Logan. She had to tell Logan. He would be as excited as she was but wouldn’t do anything rash.

Logan understood that although Jo was his sister as well, Quinn was her twin and needed to be the first to speak to her.

Logan would be supportive and talk her through this without making the situation all about himself, as Sylvia would if she got wind of the news.

Quinn selected Logan’s number and pressed the call button. He answered on the first ring.

“Logan, I’m so glad you picked up. I have to talk to you. Something’s happened,” Quinn blurted out. Now that she had Logan on the phone, she couldn’t wait to share the news.

“How did you find out, Quinn?” He sounded tense and upset, not at all like his usual happy-go-lucky self.

“I just got the call a few minutes ago.”

“From whom?” Logan demanded. “Please tell me you didn’t tell Mum.”

“No, I rang you first. Why are you so upset?” Quinn asked, taken aback by Logan’s reaction.

“I’m sorry, sis. I’m just really scared right now.”

“Of what?” Quinn asked. “It’s really good news, under the circumstances.”

“I know it could have been worse, but it’s touch and go at the moment,” Logan replied. “We’ll know more in the next few hours. I wish Colin would get here. I could use the support. ”

“Logan, what are you talking about? What’s happened?” Quinn asked, realization dawning that Logan wasn’t speaking about Jo.

“I thought you knew,” Logan replied. “I assumed Colin rang you.” He sounded confused as well, and distracted. Quinn heard hospital sounds in the background. Someone was being paged.

“No, Colin never called. I wanted to tell you about Jo,” Quinn explained. “Rhys called from Germany.”

“Jo?”

“Our sister. Logan, what on earth is going on? You’re scaring me.”

“Jude was brought in about an hour ago,” Logan said. He sounded as if he were about to cry. He was crying, Quinn realized.

“Why?” Quinn’s excitement fizzled, instantly replaced by an icy dread spreading through her chest and chilling her heart.

“He overdosed, Quinn. He’s in a bad way. I thought he was doing well. I thought he had a chance this time.”

“Was he alone when it happened?” Quinn wasn’t sure why it mattered, but she supposed she wanted to have someone to blame.

“Bridget was with him.”

“Was she the one who called an ambulance?”

“Not exactly.” Logan sniffled loudly, then blew his nose. He sounded a wreck.

“Logan, please tell me.”

Logan took a shuddering breath. “Quinn, as you probably know, Jude is into erotic asphyxiation. Sometimes, he did it on his own when he wanked off, but he also did it with Bridget. He had her tighten the belt around his throat when he came. He said it took the orgasm to a different level.”

“I thought you said he overdosed.”

“He did. He had a seizure and lost consciousness. Bridget was flying high on heroin and thought she’d pulled the belt too tight.

She was too terrified or too strung out to call for help.

Her flatmate found them when she came home.

Bridget was huddled in the corner, and Jude was on the bed, the belt still around his neck.

He’d been unconscious for some time. They won’t know for certain till he wakes up, but he might have suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. ”

“Oh God. I’m so sorry, Logan. Sylvia doesn’t know?”

“I don’t know how to tell her this, Quinn. She’ll be devastated. She tried so hard to help him get clean. I’ll never forgive myself if he dies,” Logan sobbed. “It’s all my fault.”

“How can this be your fault?”

“We argued last night. I should have listened to him, but I got angry and gave him a right old bollocking instead. I told him to get his shit together and stop blaming everyone else for his failings. I told him I’d never forgive him if he cocked up this chance.”

“So, he was upset and broke down and rang Bridget.”

“Exactly. I should have stayed and talked to him. I should have taken him out for a coffee or a film. I should have never left his side, Quinn. I should have known he’d self-sabotage. Instead, I rushed home because Colin was making dinner for me and I didn’t want to keep him waiting.”

“Logan, you can’t be by Jude’s side every minute of every day. Jude’s an addict. You can’t save him from himself. Only he can do that. ”

“I must. He’s my baby brother, and I let him down. And now Mum will blame me too. She always does. She says Jude might have never started using had I not abandoned him.”

“You didn’t abandon him.”

“No, but I should have been there for him when our dad died. I should have paid more attention to what he was going through. I was too busy with my new relationship and my job. I chose Colin over Jude.”

“Logan, you did nothing wrong. You’re allowed some personal happiness in your life. You can’t be held responsible.”

“But I am,” Logan moaned miserably.

“I will be there shortly. We’ll talk then.”

“Thanks, Quinn.”

“No need to thank me. You’re my brother and I love you.

” And she loved Jude and would be devastated to lose him, she realized, as she threw things into Alex’s baby bag.

She added a bottle of formula and went to get Alex.

He’d be cranky at being woken, but she couldn’t afford to wait. Logan needed her, and so did Jude.