Atonement (Angel's Halo MC 5)

Her head jerked back in surprise. “That’s not funny.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.”

“I don’t need you to take care of me, Raider.” The tears were all gone now, replaced with a simmering anger that made her blue eyes flash fire at me. Seeing that fiery temper of hers coming out was sexy as hell. “I don’t need you, period.”

“That’s okay. I need you enough for both of us.”

“Oh, my God.” She laughed somberly, shaking her blonde head in exasperation. “You just can’t stop, can you? That charm oozes out of you so effortlessly that you don’t even realize it, huh? Well, I’m not one of your damn sheep that will fall at your feet just because you decide to talk all sweet to me. I’m no longer blind to what you really are, Raider Fucking Hannigan.”

“I’m not trying to charm you,” I assured her, trying again to pull away from Bash’s hold on me. “You are mine, Quinn. We both know it. I’ve just been too stupid to admit it to myself until you showed me the truth.”

Uncertainty filled her expression. “What truth?”

“That we are meant to be.”

Quinn rolled her eyes. “Nice try. Colt must have beat your head in harder than I realized. You might have brain damage. Might want to get that looked at.” She turned her back on me, completely shutting me out as she faced Colt once again. “Will you please come home with me now? We should talk about what happened earlier.” Her voice was so soft, so imploring that it sounded almost like they had been doing something intimate.

My jealousy became explosive, and I jerked against my brother-in-law’s hold. “What the fuck happened earlier?” I yelled at her back, fury burning through my body like a living entity.

She didn’t turn to look at me, didn’t so much as flinch to acknowledge that she had even heard me.

Colt glared at me from over the top of her head for a long moment before giving her his full attention. The hardness in his green eyes softened when they traced over her face. I wanted to put my fist through his skull.

“You can’t run away from this, Quinnie. As much as I love you, I can’t let you.”

Her shoulders drooped, and she folded her arms over her waist. “I know,” she said so low I had to strain to hear her. Then she lifted her head, a defiant tilt to her chin. “But it doesn’t have to happen right this minute … right?”

“No,” he said with a long sigh. “No, I guess it doesn’t.”

Chapter 20

Quinn

My stomach had calmed down by the time I got to work. I was late getting to the diner, though, something that rarely happened. Aggie was waiting for me at the kitchen door, concern written on every one of the wrinkles on her beloved face.

“Girl, I heard what happened last night.”

Of course she had. I was pretty sure everyone in the damn county knew what had happened the night before.

Aggie opened her arms for me when I just stood there, unsure of what to say to her as the first wave of shame at what I had been doing came crashing down on me. I let her enfold me in a hug. My chin began to tremble, but I refused to let the sudden sting of tears fall from my eyes.

In that moment, I missed my mother more than I had ever imagined possible. Aggie had been a welcoming substitute, but she couldn’t fully replace the mother who was now gone. Right then, I would have given almost anything to have had another day with her, just one more hour. I needed her to wrap me close like Aggie was doing and tell me everything was going to be okay.

I didn’t know what I was going to do now. I was pregnant with Raider’s baby, and even though he was acting like he wanted me now, I didn’t trust his newfound affections. I ached to leave, to get as far away as I possibly could, but Colt had begged me not to run away.

While I looked at what Flick had done as brave, Colt and the Hannigans looked at it as abandoning them. As much as I needed a new beginning with the life growing inside of me, I couldn’t do that to Colt.

Now I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but right then, having Aggie hug me made it feel like maybe it would be okay.

Eventually.

I just had to grow up and deal with everything like an adult.

I felt Aggie’s lips touch my cheek, and then she was pulling back enough to look down at me. “What can I do to help you, Quinn?”

I sighed deeply and stepped back. “You can’t, Ag, but thank you. I’ll figure it all out.” Forcing a smile for her, I moved around her so I could put my purse up.

“Honey, if you need money, I can give you a loan. Whatever you need, just say the word.”