Quinn dove back toward Johnny; he just got his hands back around his neck when someone else grabbed him, wrapping their arms around him from behind. They actually lifted Quinn off his feet as they hauled him back. Whoever it was had smartly pinned Quinn’s arms down to his sides, rendering them immobile. Quinn fought hard to get away so he could finish what he started, kicked and bucked, but the strong hold on him wouldn’t budge. Margot suddenly appeared in front of him; she roughly grabbed his face and forced him to look at her. Quinn blinked at her for a moment as reality slammed back into place. He stopped struggling against the arms that held him.
“What the hell has gotten into you, Quinn!” his father exclaimed from where he was, kneeling down next to Johnny.
“Are you cool? Can I let you go?” Henry’s voice asked from behind him.
Quinn jerkily shook his head because if Henry let him go, he was going after Johnny again, no doubt about it. Margot’s hands moved down to his chest as if she could hold him back if Henry did let go, but Henry kept his arms around Quinn and backed up slowly. Margot’s hands fell away as she let Henry back them up.
Christian appeared in front of him and followed. Sebastian, who was holding the bottom of his t-shirt up to his bleeding nose, also followed. Henry took them out the front door. Christian and Sebastian went with them, and Sebastian shut the door behind them. It was now only the four brothers standing out on the walkway. With Christian and Sebastian blocking the door, Henry slowly released Quinn.
“Wanna tell me why you bloodied my nose?” Sebastian asked with an eyebrow cocked in question, blood running down over his lips and chin.
“I’m sorry,” Quinn rasped.
Sebastian waved his hand dismissively. “What’s going on?” he asked as he pulled his t-shirt off, balled it up, and pressed it more firmly to his nose to stem the bleeding.
Henry placed his hand on Quinn’s shoulder and squeezed. “You can tell us, Quinn.”
For the first time, Quinn didn’t flinch and pull away. He needed the comfort, welcomed it even. Quinn pulled in a deep breath then blew it out shakily; he swallowed hard and looked at each of his brothers’ faces. They were all concerned, but there for him. Did he have the courage to tell them the secret he gas kept inside for most of his life? What would they think of him once they found out?
“Quinn, what is it?” Christian asked, placing his hand on Quinn’s arm.
Quinn hesitated for a moment before speaking the words he has never wanted or expected to say to his brothers. “When I was ten...Johnny...he...he raped me before moving to Texas,” Quinn said, his throat tight.
Christian and Henry both sucked in a sharp breath and Sebastian just stared at him, his face eerily blank.
“What?” Sebastian asked low and deadly, lowering his now bloody shirt from his face.
Quinn grimaced. “Please don’t make me repeat myself,” he whispered.
“Quinn,” Christian breathed, his face was a mask of pain and anguish as he rubbed his chest with the heel of his palm.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?” Henry asked hoarsely.
“I was ten and he made me promise not to. I didn’t know any better,” Quinn croaked.
All the emotion that he forced himself not to feel all of these years exploded out of him. A ragged sob burst out of him. He slapped a hand over his mouth and squeezed his eyes shut. He held it in for so long that now that it was coming out, he couldn’t stop it. Christian was the first to act, practically slamming into Quinn, wrapping his arms around him. Quinn tucked his face in Christian’s neck and just sobbed, clutching the front of his brother’s shirt for dear life. Henry and Sebastian moved in and wrapped their arms around both Christian and him.
Quinn had no idea how long the four of them stayed like that because they didn’t let Quinn go until he stopped crying. When they finally broke apart, Sebastian slammed his shirt to the ground and started for the door.
“Sebastian? Where are you going?” Christian called after him.
“I’m going to kill that motherfucker,” he growled and tore open the front door.
“Shit!” Henry said and started after him.
Christian looked at Quinn. “I wish you would have told us sooner,” he said softly.
“I...I couldn’t,” Quinn said, his voice pained and he shook his head.
Christian nodded in understanding. Before either of them could say anything else, they heard Sebastian screaming viciously, “YOU SICK BASTARD! I’LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID TO MY BROTHER!”
Quinn groaned. Dammit! Now everyone was going to know. Christian placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Quinn. It’s not going to matter. We love you and we’re here for you. Mom and Dad, too. You know that,” Christian murmured gently. “Now let me go help Henry restrain Sebastian.” He sighed and trotted into the house.