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“You got her out. Unbelievable.” Quill swiveled on a kitchen stool toward where they walked across the living room and gawked. “You’re one lucky SOB. What part of wait till I arrive did you not get? The whole damn city is screaming with sirens, and I’m up here sweating bullets about whether my best bro is alive or dead.” He scoffed. “I’m going to beat you to a pulp if you ever do anything like that again. You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“No,” Brendan growled, “but I wish I had. That bastard deserves a bullet.” He gently eased Genevieve onto a pale pink leather couch in the central living room. “Let me get Genevieve some saline solution to calm her eyes and some ointment for her feet—then I’ll bring you up to speed.”
Brendan rushed upstairs into his bedroom, grabbed the supplies, and hurried back down, shedding his suit jacket.
“Bro, that belt is wicked cool.” Quill trotted into the living room. “I see you’ve got a few extra flash grenades. Is that a gun?”
“Yeah, I had a gun in case, but attempting to fire it with my limited experience was more dangerous than running. The flash grenades were the way to go. Manning hooked me up and had one of his senior security officers show me how to use them in their training center.”
Brendan unclasped his tactical belt and handed it to Quill so he could check it out. Two unused flash grenades, the gun, and some ammo still remained untouched.
Quill’s face lit up with a giddy grin. “Gosh, I get here late, and I miss all the action.”
Brendan released an exhausted chuckle. “Let’s hope none of us have any more bloodthirsty action. I could do without Jed Marshall preying on Genevieve, having a pissing contest with that menacing creep, and dodging bullets. It’s not as exciting as it seems.”
“Dodging bullets?” Quill brushed his shoulder-length blond hair to the side, his eyes popping wide open. “They shot at you?”
“Yeah, several rounds.”
“Damn, bro, you are way more badass than I thought.”
“Yeah, he is,” Genevieve interjected, shooting a haughty look Brendan’s way. “But I’m going to beat him to a pulp with you if he ever does anything like that again.”
Quill chuckled, studying Genevieve with an ambivalent gaze.
Brendan helped Genevieve drop some saline solution into her eyes, then sat on the floor and rubbed ointment on the soles and sides of her cut-up feet.
“Mm, Brendan, that feels so good.”
Brendan cleared his throat. “So where are we at?” He locked eyes with Quill, trying to ignore his aching arousal at the sexy moans erupting from Genevieve. “Are you working on our potential court case?”
“Yeah, I’m on all of it, but I’ll admit I’m currently distracted. I’m taking notes on how to impress women instead.” Quill waggled his brows at Genevieve. “Flash grenades and foot rubs.”
Genevieve let out a muffled giggle, massaging a hand over her tear-dropped eyes.
Quill scoffed, and Brendan shifted his gaze, questioning him with a look.
“Uh, wow,” Quill said apprehensively, “you proposed to her already?”
“What?” Brendan shook his head and followed Quill’s glare, wrinkling his brow.
Genevieve tensed, pulling her feet from Brendan’s hands. “No, I had to appease Jed.” She yanked something off her finger before Brendan could see and slid open the patio door. Marching out onto the pool terrace, she cocked her arm back and swung her hand forward like she’d tossed something over the rail, then crumpled onto a pool chair and dropped her face into her hands.
“She had a mega-sized engagement ring on her finger,” Quill whispered. “Sorry, I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have said anything.” He blew out his cheeks and locked eyes with Brendan. “And I know I shouldn’t say this either, but I think you should tread carefully. You believe her, but I’m not so quick to do so.”
Brendan clenched his jaw. Taking a calming breath, he wiped his ointment-covered fingers onto a towel before responding. “What would be her motive to run with me if she wanted that creep, Quill?”
“I agree—she wouldn’t have. She was desperate to get away from him, but I’m not convinced she wants you permanently, either. That’s what I’m trying to get at here. She’s one heck of an actress if you ask me. I’m hitting you with this hard because you have such a big heart. Not everyone does, Brendan. She could be after more than your protection, for all we know. I’ll point out the obvious—your money.” He glared out the window, eyeing Genevieve. “I don’t trust her, and I’m not buying the act that she’s interested in you after forty-eight hours.”
Brendan’s chest constricted, a painful stab piercing his heart. Was he missing the obvious? Was she playing him? He squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his brow to ward off a headache. No, he didn’t believe that. His interactions with Genevieve felt real, and going with his gut had never steered him wrong before. He wanted to put a stop to this frustrating conversation with Quill and go to her, but he didn’t want to creep up on her after she’d escaped a man who did just that.
Brendan sighed, trying not to lash out at Quill for expressing his honest opinion. “And what would it take for her to earn your trust, Quill? Not that I’m giving you any power over my thoughts regarding the woman I love.”
Quill’s brows shot up, looking at him like he’d grown a second head. “The woman you love? Are you kidding me?” He snorted. “Damn, you’re talking crazy. This is what I feared with that caring heart of yours. You don’t know this woman well enough to be head over heels, man.”
Brendan flexed his hand. “That comment I made earlier today about busting your jaw…” He nodded. “Watch it or I will.”
Quill leaned toward him. “Go for it. Bust it up if it makes you feel better. You’re my best friend, and I will always give you my thoughts straight up. You’re the one making all the sacrifices for her, not the other way around. Don’t let her into your heart until you’re one hundred percent certain she’d lay her life on the line for you, too. Actions, bro, not words.”
