Dylan was out there in the living room. Malik, too.
But what…?
Memories from yesterday crashed in on her, adrenaline making her pulse spike. Setting out for the castle. The bee-sting prick in her arm. The warehouse.
And Quinn…
He’d risked everything to save her from Lewis.
“Hey, it’s all right, love.” Quinn sat up, rubbed a big hand over her bare arm, kissed her shoulder. “It’s over.”
“And you’re not being charged with anything?” She vaguely remembered him saying something along those lines last night when he’d brought her upstairs.
“Naw. Smith thanked us. You’ve got a debriefing wi’ him at eleven.”
“Oh, yes.” Then she remembered something else, something that made joy blossom behind her breastbone. “Quinn McManus, you told me you love me.”
“Aye, I did.” His blue eyes looked into hers, not a hint of teasing. “I’ve loved you since the day we met. It just took me a while to own it. I didnae think a woman like you would even look at a man like me.”
“A man like you?” She rested a hand on his chest. “You mean a courageous man who would risk anything for me? A man who’s sexy and ripped and strong and fucks like an angel?”
He chuckled. “I’ve no’ spent much time in church, I admit, but I dinnae recall hearin’ much about the sex lives of angels.”
She laughed, imitated his accent. “Ya daft bampot.”
“I’m no’ educated like you. I’ve no talents aside from combat—and carryin’ heavy things.”
“That’s not true.” She wished he could see himself the way she did. “You’re funny. You’re brave, intuitive, and smart. Yes, I said smart. You dance really well, and you sing. You’ve got the biggest heart of any man I know. You must have broken a half dozen laws to save my life.”
“I’d do it again.”
“I know.” She stroked his beard. “I think I’ve loved you since you barged into the airport and threatened to feed that bastard’s nuts to your dogs. Do you know how romantic that was?”
He chuckled. “I do like to sweet-talk you.”
She was serious now, her throat going tight. “That’s the most afraid I’ve been—until yesterday.”
He drew her against him. “When I discovered they’d taken you, I was scared, truly fuckin’ scared. If I’d lost you, Lilibet—”
He held her tighter, Elizabeth yielding to his embrace.
Shouts and laughter came from the living room.
Elizabeth drew back, looked up into Quinn’s eyes. “If I didn’t love you before, I would have fallen in love with you on this trip. You never lost faith in Jack—not for a minute, not when the evidence seemed to pile up, not when I was certain he was dealing.Youare the reason he’ll get justice now. You’re the best friend a person could have.”
Grief slid across Quinn’s face, his jaw going tight. “He was my brother.”
Elizabeth’s stomach growled. “Sorry.”
“You’re hungry.”
“Famished.” She hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast yesterday.
“Are you ready to face those bastards out there? They’re on the wrong side of the clock. Jet lag. They’ve been playin’ video games for a few hours now, yellin’ at each other to be quiet so you can sleep.”
“I guess our secret’s out.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “Dinnae let it worry you. We’ll work it out.”