Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 590(@200wpm)___ 472(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
The familiar sensation of sickness rose up and closed my throat. “Maybe later.” Placing the tray on the side table, I took Ily’s hand again.
Was it my imagination or did she flinch away from me?
Did she not want me to touch her?
Did she hate me for letting this happen?
Bowing my head, I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Get it together.
She loves you.
You know this.
Do not fucking doubt it now.
I jolted as Q planted a hand on my healing shoulder and squeezed.
Ily might not have changed in two weeks, but my body had. Despite not eating much, my back had knitted together just enough not to be a constant misery. The doctor changed my bandages every few days and removed my stitches yesterday. An awful tightness remained, and I hadn’t gotten up the guts to look in a mirror yet, but I felt halfway human instead of something peeled off the bottom of Victor’s shoe.
“You and I need to talk.” Q squeezed me again, then let me go. “Follow me. This isn’t a request.”
He stalked to the door and glowered when I didn’t move. “She’ll be fine for ten minutes. Come.”
“We can talk here.”
He glanced at Ily prone like Sleeping Beauty. “She can hear us. And what I have to say is for your ears only.” He snapped his fingers rudely. “Now, Henri. Otherwise, I’ll get Franco to carry you.”
Fresh annoyance flushed through me as I kissed Ily’s knuckles and stood. The room didn’t swim like it used to, but it still took effort to walk. “I’m not going any farther than the corridor.”
“We’re going to the roof. You need some fresh air. You haven’t been outside in weeks.”
“When she wakes, then I’ll do whatever you want. Until then, leave me be.”
He narrowed his eyes, then struck into a fast march. “Follow or be carried. Those are your only choices.”
Ah, for fuck’s sake.
Rachel appeared from her room and padded toward me in jeans and a white jumper. “I’ll sit with her.”
I exhaled. “You’ll come get me if—”
“I’ll scream until you come running.” She pressed her hand on my chest before ducking past me into Ily’s room.
“Perfect. Now come along.” Q stalked up the corridor.
I struggled to keep pace with him.
Every step leading me away from Ily felt wrong, unnatural. My entire fucking soul screeched to go back to her. To not let her out of my sight.
But I’d gotten to know my half-brother over the past couple of weeks.
He cared but…that caring had a limit. And when he wanted something…he fucking got it.
Bastard.
We didn’t speak as he led me up a winding staircase and pushed a wooden door with brass hinges that reminded me too much of the battlements in Joyero. My steps faltered. I turned to go back.
Q cleared his throat. “You take one step, and I’ll drag you up here by your hair.”
My gaze snapped to his. “I’m taller than you. Let’s see how that would go.”
“You weigh as much as an emaciated cat. Take me on, Henri, and you’ll see just how much you should’ve been eating when I told you to.”
“You’re such a pain in my ass.”
“I’m happy to stab that ass if you don’t do what I say.”
“Stab me, and I’ll wring your neck.”
“Hurt me, and my wife will hurt you back.”
I sighed and scrubbed my face. “This is stupid. Juvenile.”
“It is, isn’t it?” He chuckled. “Rather amusing actually.”
“You’re acting as if you’re enjoying this.”
His laughter faded. “Can’t say I ever wanted a brother, but…I’m starting to get used to having you around.”
I stilled. I had no idea what to say to that. “What did you want to speak to me about?”
Drawing himself up, he cleared his throat. “Out here.” Stepping onto the roof, he waited for me to join him and shut the door.
My heart pounded a little from the climb up, then skipped with surprise as I made my way to the parapet and studied the grounds beyond. The night I’d come here seeking help, it’d been dark, and I hadn’t seen much apart from the entry and driveway.
And now, I had no desire to go anywhere while Ily remained unconscious, so I hadn’t explored. But standing there as the sun set on yet another day, I couldn’t hide my appreciation.
Patchwork quilts made from daisy meadows and buttercup fields scattered all around us. A mowed airstrip to the west with a windsock and a private plane. A huge stable block beyond, an orchard, another few buildings, and a beautiful black-and-white tiled courtyard below with beanbags and the longest picnic table just waiting for a family barbecue.
Two dogs barked and bolted into the closest meadow, cutting through the wildflowers.
Q sighed beside me, his gaze catching the last fire of the sun. “I used to hate this place. I had dreams of tearing it down. But after I killed him, I made it my own. I used the rooms to help instead of hurt.” Glancing at me, he shrugged. “When you came to visit me last year, you mentioned the depth of your loneliness. I get it. I was so fucking lonely until Tess. I think that’s why I was so hard on you that night. You reminded me far too much of myself, and I know what I was capable of back then, so…I sent you away, and… I’m sorry.”