Page 53 of The Condemned (Echoes from the Past #6)

FORTY-THREE

Quinn found Logan in ICU, sitting next to Jude’s bed.

Jude’s skin looked gray in the pale light of the winter afternoon.

His eyes were closed, and his lips had a blue tinge that added to his corpse-like appearance.

Ugly purple welts decorated his neck where the belt had been tightened.

It must have been very wide, since the bruises fully covered his Adam’s apple.

Quinn let out an involuntary sob, her hand flying to her mouth.

Surely, they weren’t going to lose him. Logan stood and faced her.

His eyes were red-rimmed, and he was almost as pale as his brother.

Quinn put her arms around him, offering silent support.

Alex, who was now between them, thought it a fun game and smiled with delight.

“Is there anything I can do?” Quinn asked as she removed the baby carrier and unzipped Alex’s snowsuit.

“Just sit with me for a while,” Logan replied.

“You have to tell Sylvia, Logan. She’ll never forgive you if anything happens and she wasn’t here,” Quinn said gently.

“I know. I’ve tried ringing her several times but couldn’t go through with it.”

“Would you like me to do it?”

Logan shook his head. “It has to come from me. Just give me a few more minutes.” He buried his face in his hands. “I can’t bear it, Quinn.”

“It’s not your fault, Logan,” she assured him but knew her argument was falling on deaf ears. Logan would always blame himself if Jude died, or worse, remained a vegetable for the rest of his days .

“Even if it isn’t my fault, which is a big if, he’s still here, unconscious, fighting for his life. He’s my brother. Losing him would be like losing a limb.”

“Logan, he’s young and strong.”

“Plenty of young people die every day, some because they have no choice, and others because they’re stupid bloody wankers who take their life for granted and would sell their soul for a hit.”

There wasn’t much Quinn could say to that, so she pulled up a chair and sat next to Logan.

He reached for Alex and held the baby against his chest, burying his face in Alex’s silky hair.

“Don’t ever do anything stupid, you hear me?

” Logan whispered to him. “Don’t ever destroy the people who love you. ”

Alex raised his hand and tried to grab Logan’s nose, making him smile despite his misery.

He sat the baby in his lap and kissed the top of his head.

“Jude was so sweet when he was a baby. I hated him something fierce, of course, but he was just like Alex, always smiling and wanting to play. Mum had me watch him when she went out to the shops and Jude wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace.

I had to mind him every minute or he’d fall on his head or poke out his eye.

He was such a pest,” Logan said quietly.

“I’d gladly watch him now if he’d let me. I’d keep him safe.”

Logan suddenly turned toward Quinn, giving her a piercing look. “’What were you going to tell me when you called?”

“I was going to tell you that Rhys found Jo. She’s in Germany, Logan. She’s been seriously hurt.”

“Oh God. I’m sorry, Quinn. You must be beside yourself with worry. Have you told Seth?”

“Not yet. You were the first person I called.”

Logan reached out and took Quinn’s hand. “You must go to her.”

“I won’t leave you, not when Jude is in critical condition. ”

“Quinn, I know what this means to you. She’s my sister too, but she’s your twin. You must go to her. I will look after Jude, I promise.”

“I know you will, but a few more days won’t make that much of a difference. Jo is in good hands and she’s recovering. Rhys is with her. What he’s done for me is amazing,” Quinn said, her voice breaking with emotion.

“He loves you, and he needs something to give him a reason for being now that he’s lost the baby and his girlfriend. His world tilted on its axis, and helping someone is the best way to forget your own troubles.”

“Yes, I suppose it is. Isn’t it amazing how that one night thirty-two years ago resulted in all these tangled, unexpected relationships?” Quinn mused.

“Yeah, Mum sure knows how to cock things up. If my dad were alive right now, I think he’d die all over again, from shock. Are you still angry with her for what she did?” Logan asked.

“I’m angry with her for lying to me, but I’m not angry with her for what happened.

It’s not for me to condemn her. It would have been just another night had she not fallen pregnant and decided to hide the birth of her children.

She should have used better judgement and turned to people who could help her, but she was young and frightened. ”

“And incredibly stupid,” Logan added. “It’s strange to think that my mum, who I always thought was so conservative and restrained, willingly shagged three blokes, got pregnant, and managed to deliver twins without anyone knowing. She’s a sly old thing, isn’t she?”

Quinn nodded. Sylvia was sly and endowed with an incredible gift for self-preservation.

Her actions had hurt so many people, including Rhys, who’d lived all those years with the guilt of believing he’d taken advantage of Sylvia against her will in his eagerness to lose his virginity. He deserved to be happy. They all did .

“Quinn, go to Jo,” Logan said again. “I want you to.”

“Will you ring me the minute anything changes?”

“Of course, I will. I will not leave Jude’s side until he wakes or?—”

“Don’t even say it. He will wake up. He will recover.”

Logan nodded. “As you say.” He took the monkey hat from Quinn and carefully slipped in on Alex’s head, then handed the baby back to her.

Quinn zipped up his snowsuit and placed him in the baby carrier. She kissed Logan’s cheek. “Ring me any time of day or night.”

Logan nodded. “Say hello to our sister.”

“I will. Ring Sylvia.”

Logan took out his mobile and held it up, indicating his intention to make the call. “I love you, Quinn,” he said softly.