AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brendan tossed up a hand, releasing a tight breath. “Quill, I hear you, and I appreciate it. If our roles were reversed, I’d be looking out for you, too, but you’ve got it wrong. She has been acting. She protected me in that casino to the detriment of herself, bringing on Marshal’s wrath. She tried to get me to leave her behind, fearing for my safety, not hers. She put herself in front of the bullets, shielding me with her life. She cares about me, too. This isn’t one-sided.”
Quill jerked his head back. “She shielded you with her body?”
Brendan grinned. “Yeah, she did.”
“Fuck.” Quill crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. “Now I’m a little jealous.”
Slapping him on the shoulder, Brendan walked toward the patio door. “We’ll find you the one. Don’t worry.”
Quill huffed as if ‘the one’ didn’t exist for him. “I’ll keep everything you said in mind and try to withhold judgment, but I’ve still got your back. Just like you did me when you took me in ten years ago.”
Brendan’s steps faltered, and he glanced over his shoulder, shooting Quill an astonished look. Is this what his overprotectiveness was all about? The fact that he’d provided a place for Quill to live and had given him a promising job in their late teens after his foster parents no longer wanted to care for him? That was years ago. “You don’t owe me anything. You know that, right?”
Quill nodded. “I know. Doesn’t change the fact that I respect the hell out of you and always will. Nor does it change the fact that I’ll always look out for you, just as I know you will me.” He headed for the staircase. “I’ll be up in my room. Yell if Manning stops by.” He thudded up the stairs and closed his bedroom door loud enough to let Brendan know he was gone.
Brendan took a deep breath and made his way out to the terrace, trying not to let Quill’s words shake his confidence. “Do you want company or space?”
“Company, please.”
“Sorry about Quill. He means well.”
Genevieve shook her head. “Not a problem. I just didn’t want you to think that Jed’s ring on my finger meant anything. I had to play the game until I could get out of there.” She shifted her body on the pool chair to face him. “I’ll never play a game with you. Please don’t ever think I will.”
“I don’t. I saw that guy in action. I got a glimpse of what you were up against.”
“Yeah, Jed’s crafty.” She released a drawn-out exhale. “I’d be so much happier right now if I knew where my mom was. I’m hoping she’s safe. I overheard Jed arguing with his men about how they couldn’t find her before you turned The Outlaw’s casino into a war zone.”
Brendan sat on the pool chair next to hers and grasped her hand. “I’ll alert Manning so he can have his network keep a lookout for her. Manning hasn’t had long to react to any of this, nor have I, but as soon as I can, I’ll hire a PI crew to help out, too.”
Genevieve swallowed thickly. “Thank you. Her name is Roxanne Jane Hart. She goes by Roxy.” Her face scrunched up, and she blinked her eyes like she was fighting back tears. “You have no idea how much I appreciate everything you’re doing. It means the world to me.”
Brendan nodded. His heart ached for her. He couldn’t imagine anyone he loved being in danger. In fact, he’d hired security this afternoon to watch over his close family and friends in case Jed Marshall tried that angle to get to him.
“I’m exhausted,” she whispered. “I think I’ll climb into bed.”
“Good idea. I put your duffel and office bag in the downstairs master bedroom.” He pointed toward the villa like she could somehow magically see inside. “Through the patio door, turn right, then straight through the double doors.”
She cocked her head. “You’re staying there too, right?”
“Oh no, I put my stuff in one of the bedrooms upstairs.”
“Like hell!”
Brendan snapped his eyes wide open. “Uh…I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”
“I’m not staying in a different room than you. I’m staying with you where I belong. What part of we’re together—which was your idea, by the way—do you not understand?”
“I didn’t want to assume anything, and I figured after what you’d been through that you would?—”
“Want to be next to the man who makes me feel safe. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Ah, Genevieve, I’m not sure we can keep things platonic if?—”
“I don’t want platonic. I want you.”
Brendan gulped, adjusting his glasses.
Grinning, she nibbled on the corner of her mouth. “You’re cute when you’re rattled too. I like both sides. Just so you know, no woman wants a hothead all the time.”
