Maximum Risk (27 page)

He heard his brothers’ voices in the kitchen and shook himself out of his thoughts. He may see the woman Avery was, but he couldn’t ask it of his family. She would always be a reminder of what they’d lost. And for that reason he would walk away from her when this was over.

With an ache in his chest that had been there since Azbakastan, Quinn tore his gaze from Avery and took the stairs down to meet with his brothers.

****

“If Macy is alive we have to find her.”

Quinn glared at Kell, who leaned his chair back on two legs, his shoulders braced against the wall. They couldn’t take on another mission before they finished this one. He wouldn’t leave his family unprotected.

“We finish this. Then we’ll put a team together and go into Azbakastan for the woman. She’s already been sold. There’s no guarantee she’s even alive.”

“What if she is? Waiting could cost her life.”

He pinned his brother with a hard stare. “The safety of my family comes first.”

Nate stepped in. “Why don’t I take Savat and do some recon on the woman while you handle things here.”

He didn’t like this, but he’d promised Avery.

Damn it.

“Recon only. Do not engage,” Quinn warned. “And I want SitReps every hour.”

Nate shook his head and strode toward the door. “Duly noted.”

Quinn met Chris’s eyes across the table, expecting flak. But his brother simply nodded.

“We tighten up security around here,” he said. “I won’t risk Avery being kidnapped again and I want these bastards taken down.”

Chris rose to his feet. “Roger that, brother.”

****

“Your powers of persuasion are impressive.” Avery sent Quinn a look across the seat, where he drove with one hand resting on the wheel and the other resting on the window frame.

Warm morning air blew through the open window, stirring her hair. Despite where they were going, she felt relaxed. Maybe because Quinn had woken her up by making love to her. Her body still tingled with aftershocks.

The corner of his mouth tilted as he braked for a curve. She loved that little half-smile.

“I still don’t like the idea of staying with your parents.” She turned her gaze to the road ahead.

“It’s the only way to keep you safe.”

“So you keep telling me,” she muttered.

His parents’ house came into view and he pulled to a stop next to his mother’s car. As they walked toward the front door she said, “I’m not happy about this.”

“I know.” Quinn ushered her into the house.

Ellen and Bailey were there to greet her. Chris, too.

“Just in time for breakfast,” Ellen greeted them. “Quinn, can you stay?”

The scent of eggs and pancakes wafted past her nose, making Avery’s stomach rumble. It had been a while since she’d had any appetite, but she couldn’t deny the delicious smells made her ravenous.

“Mom, I should go.”

Avery sent him a look and he held up a hand. “Breakfast, then I have to go to work.”

Ellen’s smile glowed and Avery realized at that moment how important it was to her that her family be together. Even for a simple breakfast with her son.

What would it be like to have someone who cared like that? To have grown up in a family who sat down to dinner every night. To have a mother who left Tupperware bowls of homemade food in your fridge every day.

A hand touched her shoulder and she looked over to see Quinn standing there. “Come on.”

She followed him to the dining room and ended up sitting between Quinn and Chris. It wasn’t nearly as uncomfortable as she expected. Maybe Chris was on his best behavior for his mother’s sake. Either way, she’d take it. Of all the brothers, he made her the most wary.

The food tasted as delicious as it smelled and Avery cleaned her plate. Ellen’s pancakes were the best she had ever eaten. Light and fluffy and covered with pure maple syrup. She even had seconds. Something she never did.

As she forked a couple more onto her plate, she caught Ellen’s eye and approving smile. Warmth spread through her as she poured syrup over them. It was a small thing, but it made her feel good.

Afterwards, she offered to help clean up but Ellen insisted she rest. Already feeling like a third wheel, she followed Quinn out to his truck.

“You better come get me as soon as you catch Ramil Diakameli,” she instructed.

“Promise.”

“I’m still mad at you.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “I know.” Then he climbed in the truck and brought the powerful engine to life.

She stepped back, shielding her eyes from the sun as he backed out of the driveway. He gave her a two-finger salute as he drove away. She waited until his taillights disappeared around the bend before taking a deep breath and going back inside.

When she walked in she forced a smile and asked, “Who’s up for a game of cards?”

****

Unable to sleep, Avery crept downstairs for a glass of water and stopped short when she saw Ellen sitting at the kitchen table, a pot of tea in front of her. She looked up when Avery walked in.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Avery explained awkwardly on her way to the cupboard. “You either?”

“No. I made a pot of tea if you’d like a cup.”

Foregoing a glass of water, she nodded, sensing Ellen wanted to talk.

“Take a seat.”

Sitting across from her, she wrapped her hands around the china cup Ellen poured for her and pulled her legs up. Cool night air drifted through the kitchen window, carrying the sound of bullfrogs and crickets.

There was serenity in the noise, in this house, that she never felt in her apartment. Quinn was very lucky to have grown up here.

“So, tell me about you and Quinn.”

Avery’s head snapped up. “What do you mean? He’s my bodyguard.”

Ellen’s eyes held no judgment. “That’s not all, is it?”

Uncomfortable, she averted her gaze. “Quinn is my bodyguard.” God that sounded weak, even to her own ears.

“I see the way you look at him. And the way he treats you. I know what love looks like.”

Mortified, she shifted in her seat. “I really don’t want to talk about this.”

“It’s all right, dear. The heart loves who it loves. We can’t help that.”

Something inside her broke. Tears flooded her eyes. God help her, she did love Quinn, and it terrified her more than the man hunting her. She was responsible for his brother’s death and accepting that, accepting her, was more than any family should have to do.

Lifting her gaze to meet Ellen’s she said, “I’m so sorry about your son. I wish it had been me.”

Ellen’s face softened and she reached across the table to cover Avery’s hand with her own. “No, dear. It wasn’t supposed to be you.” She patted her hand. “Now, drink your tea and get some sleep. I’ll show you how to make a pot roast tomorrow. It’s one of Quinn’s favorites.”

Ellen rose to her feet, put the teapot away, squeezed Avery’s shoulder and walked softly from the room. Too stunned to do anything but sit there, Avery stared at her cup.

Ellen didn’t blame her for Ryan’s death. She nurtured Avery when she was sick. She welcomed her into her home when danger knocked. As much as it should be wrong, she felt at home here. Cared for. 

Unable to process, she spied Chris’s car keys sitting on the counter. Without a second thought she grabbed them, fetched the cell phone Quinn had loaned her, and snuck out of the house. Without a sound she climbed inside. The scent of leather and man surrounded her as she put the key in the ignition, then paused. She’d wake the entire household.

Instead, she dialed Quinn’s number. He answered on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”

“Were you even sleeping?”

“Avery.”

“I need to see you.”

Silence. Then, quietly. “What happened?”

She slid down in the seat, tears floating in her eyes. His voice calmed her nerves, wrapped around her like a warm blanket, made her feel less out of control.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” she said with a small laugh as she wiped a tear off her cheek.

“Tell me.”

So she did. She purged it all. Her parents’ passing, how scared she’d been when she moved in with her aunt, who made it very clear she couldn’t afford her. How alone. How the kids treated her in school, how she felt like she didn’t belong anywhere. Tim’s ultimatum and her broken engagement. Which led to telling him about Dembe and how she’d gone back to Uganda a year later, during summer break, with boxes of donated books only to find herself in the middle of a war that she had helped start. She’d escaped with her life, but Dembe hadn’t. Deep down, she knew the war started long before she went there, but that didn’t erase the fact she had let that little girl down.

She couldn’t stop the words from pouring out: her fears, her vulnerabilities, her secrets. And when she was finished she felt open and raw. Confused. Uncertain where to go next. Not even Macy knew her deepest, darkest secrets and now that they were out there she wanted to take them back.

This deep connection she felt with Quinn terrified her. Made her want to run.

“I’m sorry about your brother,” she said, knowing that would drive a wedge between them. That it would sabotage the intimate moment. But, wasn’t that what she always did?

“Nothing we can do to change it.”

She smiled sadly, feeling him slip away just as she knew he would. “I know. Goodnight, Quinn.”

With that she hung up and let the tears fall, because it was actually goodbye.

****

Quinn disconnected and held his cell in his hand for a moment before laying it on the coffee table. He hadn’t been sleeping when Avery called, but watching the late night news, unable to sleep. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed having Avery around.

She had purged the rest of her secrets about her childhood tonight. Admitting her fear and loneliness after her parents were killed. Not to mention an aunt who didn’t want her.

He couldn’t imagine what that felt like.

Then, to be given a choice between her job or the man she loved. Jealousy shot through his gut. If she’d truly loved the guy she would have chosen him. Then again, Avery had made a promise and nothing short of death would make her stray from that. Loyalty ran deep in her, despite being shunned by practically everyone in her life. Hell, she’d proven it time and time again with his family. The bastard didn’t deserve her.

Yet, despite all that, Avery had pulled herself out of the depths of despair and built an empire for a little girl who died in her arms. Giving herself to others, dedicating herself to her cause. She thought herself weak and vulnerable. He saw her as the strongest woman he’d ever known.

Guilt flooded him. He’d never really told Avery he didn’t blame her for Ryan. Despite knowing she carried that burden like a shield. Hell, she’d just used it to push him away. As she did whenever anyone got too close.

Maybe it was for the best. Distance would keep them alive.

Then why did he want to drive over there right now just to be with her?

God, he was in deep.

****

Avery opened her eyes to bright sunlight shining through the windows. With a groan she stretched and sat up. Rubbing the kinks out of her neck, she reached for the cell phone Quinn loaned her and checked to see if he’d called.

No messages.

Her spirits fell, which was ridiculous. What did she expect? She’d pushed him away.

An ache formed in her chest at the thought of Quinn’s brother. She and Quinn hadn’t really talked about the events of his death. Tiptoed around it, but never confronted his true feelings about it. About her.

Sex was sex. Didn’t have to involve feelings. She’d be a fool to believe Quinn could think of her as anything except a lover. He had let her go on the phone last night so the Wolff family could move on with their lives. Without her as a reminder of what they lost.

She pulled the key out of the ignition and slid them in her pocket along with the cell phone, climbed out, and headed inside. Instantly, she knew something was wrong. The house was unusually quiet. Normally, there were voices somewhere, people moving around. She thought for sure Ellen would be up making breakfast.

So where was everyone?

Uneasy, she walked toward the kitchen. Empty. No coffee made.

Voices drifted up the stairway leading to the basement.

Azebek accent.

Footsteps on the stairs.

Heart pounding, she tore out the front door, across the deck and ran for the woods. She’d never have time to start Chris’s car and drive away before they shot out the tires, so she opted for a hiding place before they discovered her presence. That way she could help save Quinn’s family. Not cause them more grief.

Voices on the porch had her ducking behind a large oak tree. Breath coming in short gasps, she reached in her pocket for the cell phone Quinn had given her. Only to find her pocket empty.

Panicked, she risked a peek around the tree and saw it lying in the grass next to the porch. Must have fallen out of her pocket when she jumped off.

Crap.

Now what?

They would find the phone for sure and know someone else was here. And now she couldn’t call Quinn for help. She could run to his house. But, risked getting lost in the woods. She didn’t know this area like the Wolff brothers did. Getting lost would help no one.

So, she couldn’t drive, walk or call for Quinn to help. And she couldn’t sneak up to the house for the phone with the two guards patrolling the deck. It was only a matter of time before they discovered the cell.

Bobbing back behind the tree, she forced calm.
Think.
Ramil wanted her, not Quinn’s family. She could trade herself for them. Walk right in there and demand a trade. Her for them.

What if he didn’t take it and hurt Quinn’s family anyway?

She refused to wear their blood on her hands too. One brother was bad enough. Protecting the remaining members of the family was all that mattered. Somehow, she had to make this right.

Now to figure out how to save the family and herself, because she sure as hell couldn’t go back into captivity.

A shudder worked its way through her. Maybe Chris had a weapon in his car. Wasting no time, she crouched low and darted through the bush until she reached the garage. With her back pressed against it, she followed it to the driveway.