Page 37 of Wretched Lies

“In public,” Mace clarifies with a smug grin.

“But,” Ash continues, “if he finds out someone’s planted a tracker while he’s staying at the estate, there’d only be two suspects. You, or the other member of staff there.”

“Jason,” Quinn says.

“He’d kill you both,” Ash says simply.

“Fine, I have other tricks up my sleeve.” Surprisingly, Quinn doesn’t sound too discouraged.

Ash swipes a hand across pained features at the same time Mace sighs. Whatever Quinn’s suggesting, I’m the only one who doesn’t follow. “What other tricks, Quinn?”

Mace fills the pause she leaves. “Let me guess. You think you can seduce your way into his life.”

“It’s one way of finding out where he goes,” she answers quickly.

The legs of my chair scrape against wooden floorboards. “Not a fucking chance!” I bark out, glaring at my phone as I stand. Heat burns my cheeks as my fury rises. “No, Quinn. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him touch you! So, if that’s your plan, I’m coming over there and I’ll make you leave. Right. Fucking. Now.”

“What my brother is trying to say,” Ash says over me, while Mace grabs my arm and shoves me back into my seat. “Is that your plan is foolhardy, and that’s me being polite. Ilya’s track record with women isn’t pretty, especially those women he’s intimate with. I’m sorry. I know this is painful to hear, but your sister was most likely drugged from a very early stage in their relationship, and Ilya would have used her growing addiction to control her. He’ll do the same to you before you can ever act to save yourself, or Blake.”

“I don’t take drugs.”

I slam my fist onto the table. “You won’t have a fucking choice. He’s not going to invite you to become a drug addict. And even if you could control everything you ate and drank, he’d inject you while you slept.” Tremors course through my body. “Christ! The thought of you sleeping next to him is… No, Quinn. Just no!”

“Have you finished?” Quinn asks, unable to disguise the shake in her voice.

“Quinn, will you just think straight for one–”

“We’re done.”

“Quinn, don’t you dare cut me off!”

I don’t know why I’m still talking because I can see the call’s been disconnected. I turn my anger on my brothers. Mace is the easier target.

“You fucking knew this was going to be part of her plan last night, didn’t you? And you let me leave her there!”

“And you didn’t work it out for yourself?”

“Of course I fucking didn’t!”

When I jump up, I’m not going to let anyone pull me back this time. Or push me around. I’m done being the brother who trails behind, never given a complete view of the path ahead, let alone the chance to contribute to the direction we take.

“I’m going after her.”

“The only kidnapping that’s going to happen is us taking you back to Chicago,” Mace warns.

I fold my arms over my puffed out chest. “Would you leave Lily?”

“That’s different. She’s my wife,” Mace says. “And I knew she was my wife from the moment I laid eyes on her.”

“Same,” I answer back. “So you know what I have to do.”

Mace shifts his gaze to Ash, and silent words are exchanged. This time there’s no mystery. I’ve just revealed the depth of my feelings for Quinn, and it’s as much of a shock to me as it is to them.

Ash leans his elbows on the table and drops his head into his hands. “Fuck. Not another one.”

Chapter 11

Quinn