Page 78 of Wretched Lies

Quinn manages a smile as she leans forward to rest her forehead against mine. “As aspirations go, that sounds…”

“Achievable,” I say. I kneel forward, positioning myself between her legs. I ghost my lips over hers, and kiss her gently just once. “When you break everything down into smaller steps, it’s not so daunting.”

She kisses me in return. “One step at a time.”

“Exactly.”

“But what if I take a wrong step?”

“Then I’ll guide you back,” I reply, praying that time never comes. She won’t betray us. She won’t betray me.

“What if I get lost?” she insists, determined to break my resolve. Or my heart. Or both.

“I’ll find you, Quinn. No matter how far you stray.”

She offers a trembling smile. “Then I promise to leave breadcrumbs for you to follow.”

“I’ll just follow my heart because you have it. Every beat of it.”

Taking my hand, she places it over her own heart. It’s beating wildly. “And you have mine, Reid. I need you toknow that,” she whispers. “Whatever happens, my feelings for you are real.” She presses my palm harder against her ribcage. “This is my truth.”

“I believe you,” I say.

Quinn kisses the corner of my mouth, then trails her lips softly along my jaw to my neck. “Reid?” she whispers in my ear.

“Hmm, hmm.”

“I think it’s time for your dick to reenter the conversation.”

Chapter 25

Reid

When the elevator doors glide open, I’m not surprised to find Mace barring my way into the offices. We occupy two floors of the high rise we own, but this level is strictly reserved for our inner circle, and the single elevator is exclusive for our use. No one comes here except by invitation, and Mace is alerted to everyone who steps into this particular elevator.

“Sorry. Not happening,” he says in his usual non-apologetic tone. He’s not looking at me. He’s looking at the woman who’s holding my hand so tight that her fingernails are going to leave dents in my palm.

“That’s OK,” Quinn says. “I don’t want to gatecrash.”

“She’s just here to say hello,” I add. “And to remind you that she’s a human being with feelings, not a data set on a computer screen.”

It had been a joint decision to come into the office together, and neither of us were under the illusion that Quinn would get an enthusiastic welcome. Levi is waiting downstairs, and he’s going to take her straight back to the hotel while I settle in for round two with my brothers.

“I’m well aware of who Jade Holloway is,” replies Mace.

Quinn’s fingernails dig deeper. “Have you had any luck searching for Blake yet?”

“I’m still working my way back.”

“Working back?” she repeats. “Looking into Blake’s past, or mine?”

Mace shrugs. The fucker’s been wasting time trying to dig up dirt on Quinn.

“Thanks for telling me you hacked into her phone,” I tell him. “Hopefully it still works after being left out on the hotel balcony all night.”

Mace doesn’t look fazed. “It still works.”

I hate my brother sometimes, especially when he has that smug grin on his face. It’s sparked plenty of fights between us, and I’m contemplating starting a fresh one when Ash and Hunter round the corner.