Page 11 of Cruel Titan

“Yep,” I acknowledge, knowing that it’s clear this won’t end well for either of us. It was never an option—all of this was set in motion long before Quinn arrived at Golden Olympus, long before she set foot in Nathan’s house, and long before I watched her climb Chappell Canyon with Stanley all summer. And there’s not a damn thing I can do to protect her from what’s to come, even if I wanted to. And the truth is, I do want to protect her. Even when she sends me into a blind rage with the sick hold she’s got over me. After all, that’s what swept me deeper into this shitstorm, and it’s what threatens to drown me … I keep sinking lower into it.

10

Quinn

Walking down the hospital corridor, I’m still unnerved by everything that happened with Asher. I didn’t go to last period, instead opting to escape while I had the chance in order to check on Davis and Lindsey. Something about Asher’s words unsettled me more than I care to admit. The sincerity in his voice made me long to believe him, but there’s no way I can trust him. Asher’s mind is twisted and dark. His only mission is to make my life miserable, so I can’t fall for it again.

Gently knocking on the door, I wave to Lindsey as she looks up from her phone. She waves me into the room, standing to greet me with a hug as she’s done every time I’ve visited.

“Hey, Quinn.”

The optimism in her tone gives me hope that there is some good news regarding Davis’s health. “How’s he doing?”

“Really good, actually.” Lindsey launches into details about how the doctor started the process of waking him from the medically induced coma but said the process will be slow. So far, Davis is showing positive signs. She explains that he fought the equipment, pulling at the breathing tube, which she said doesn’t surprise her and gives her hope because he wouldn’t be Davis if he wasn’t being stubborn or fighting against what was helping him.

“Do you think he’ll remember what happened?” I ask, hopeful for more than one reason. I want to know who is responsible for my dad’s death, but even more pressing in the moment, I want the person who did this to Lindsey and Davis to pay … no matter who it is. And I can’t help but hope it’s not Asher when he pops into my mind. But if he’s responsible, then he deserves everything he has coming his way.

“The doctors said they won’t know much until he wakes up.” Lindsey moves next to his bed, resting her hand on Davis’s. “Honey, Quinn is here to see you.” She speaks in a soothing voice as he stirs a bit.

It must be a good sign because she looks to me with a smile, motioning for me to join her next to the bed.

Looking over the once intimidating, tough detective, my heart aches at the sight of tubes and wires coming from him. I want him to wake up so bad. Even if he can’t help me find out the truth. He doesn’t deserve this and neither does Lindsey.

“You can talk to him if you want. The doctors said the stimulation can be good for him.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper, feeling strange as I look to a person I barely know but care about more than I realized.

“Anything at all. It’s probably the only time he won’t give you a hard time.”

I can’t help but smile at Lindsey’s joke, knowing how unfriendly her husband could be at times, which was mostly every time I spoke to him. Leaning forward, I whisper, worried that someone might be listening, “I need you to wake up, even if you plan to give me a hard time. You’re the only person I trust.”

He continues stirring as Lindsey says, “He’ll be just fine.” She pats his hand before looking back to me. “He has to wake up.” She slumps forward, burying her face in her hands as she sobs.

The sudden outburst from the person who is usually so put together throws me a bit. I hesitate for a moment before wrapping my arms around Lindsey. I don’t know what else to do other than stand there while she breaks down. Even the strongest people can only take so much before they succumb to their fear. Looking over to Davis, I wish for nothing more than him to open his eyes, wake up, and be the one comforting his wife.

“He will be okay,” I whisper, praying for my words to be the truth. I keep my arms wrapped around Lindsey as she continues weeping for her husband. The person that makes her world make sense. “He will be okay.”

* * *

Exhaustion weighs heavily on me as I flop against the smooth leather of the driver’s seat. The only thing I want to do is crawl into my bed and shut out the world, but that’s not an option. After leaving the hospital, I decided the best way to figure out what’s going on is to embed myself in the middle of it all. Surely, if someone wanted to hurt me, they’ve had plenty opportunities on numerous occasions. The only thing I need to do is make sure it looks like I’m just going on about my day, not that I’m searching for any and every clue as to what happened that night on Devil’s Summit when my dad’s life ended and mine was changed forever. There’s no answer that will make any of this better, but I have to know who is responsible. Studying the building that houses Nathan’s company, Vast Perception Marketing, I pray that Nathan isn’t one of them.

Taking my time, I walk through the glass doors, spotting the receptionist as she gives me an annoyed stare which tells me she remembers my last visit. Giving her a curt smile, I wait until she sets the receiver down before speaking. “I’m here to see Nathan.”

Picking up the handset, she speaks into it before signaling me to the elevator, “You may go up now.”

“Thanks,” I mumble. Inside the elevator, I can only wait as it slowly takes me to the eighth floor. I only thought I was anxious the last time I was here. My arms fold and unfold across my chest; I can’t seem to settle my nerves, feeling like I’m ascending to my doom where I’ll discover horrible details linking Nathan to the accident. But every part of me hopes that’s not the case.

Stepping out of the elevator, I’m greeted with the beaming face of Nathan’s secretary. The powder-blue suit she’d worn the last time I’d met her is now replaced by an equally exquisite cream-colored pantsuit. At least this time when she pulls me into a tight hug, I’m not worried about spilling coffee on her.

“It’s so nice to see you again! Nathan mentioned that you were considering helping out.” She releases me, then signals for me to follow her down the hallway. “I’m hoping you’re here to take him up on the offer.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“That’s great news!” She lightly knocks, then pushes Nathan’s door open, waving me in the office before swiftly closing the door behind me.

I’m still not sure what to make of her but at least she is more welcoming than the receptionist downstairs. Nathan sits behind the grand wooden desk, waving for me to sit as he motions to the phone he’s holding up to his ear.

“That’s correct. I’ll get it handled ASAP,” Nathan confidently assures whoever is on the other end of the line as he picks up a single sheet of paper on his desk, glancing at it quickly before setting it back down.