Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)(60)

“These people … there is likely much more to them than you could ever know. You should let his parents decide the best course of action.”

“I know. I just … I have to do something.”

“When we get through this, I will do what I can. I know all sorts of sordid people in the seedy underworld of Immortality. I’m sure I can find a safe way for you to help Quinn.”

“You’d do that?”

“If it keeps you home where you belong and not out trying to get yourself locked away in a cell right next to him, then yes. I will see what I can do.”

“You’re not so bad, Jay.” Sasha smiled, her hopes soaring at the thought that he might be exactly what Quinn needed.

“Well, you’ve turned out to be a good student and not nearly as annoying as I thought you’d be.” He gave her a wink and she threw her almonds at him.

“What’s with the face tattoo?” she asked. She’d been curious about it since she met him. “That has to have an interesting story behind it.” The black lines were faded with age, and she couldn’t quite make out any distinctive shapes.

“It does.” His smile was forced.

“Maybe you’ll tell me about it one day?”

“I hope never to speak of such things with you, angel.”

It was the first time, “angel” wasn’t an insult.

~~~





CHAPTER

TWENTY





Quinn: Fall


Atlanta, Georgia


“Sit,” Livia barked. “Don’t get in the way, and don’t even think about wandering off when you think I’m distracted. It doesn’t work, so don’t try it.”

Santi and Quinn took their seats at the back of the private jet in a secluded alcove set apart from the rest of the team. The white leather double seat was roomy and comfortable, with footrests and a television on the opposite wall. A fully stocked bar and kitchenette occupied the other side of the aisle.

“Nice digs,” Santi said as she took the window seat.

“I hate flying but I could get used to this.” Quinn sat beside her. He could still see what was going on with the other passengers beyond the curtain, but this was definitely where they stuck the captives.

“The seatbelts have locks,” Santi whispered. “Look, the headrests have places to hook into a collar. That’s so messed up.”

“Still a better way to travel than the way I arrived at Soma.”

“Didn’t you fly? This is Livia’s plane. It goes everywhere she does.”

“Yeah, I flew. With the luggage.”

The jet was small but luxurious. Livia sat up front in the lounge with her team, preparing for takeoff. The flight attendant took their drink orders while the pilot did her final preparations.

“It’s about time you showed up,” Livia called as a passenger boarded in a rush at the last minute. “I was hoping to leave without you.”

“Hello to you too.” The voice wasn’t a familiar one. Quinn leaned into the aisle to see who had joined them.

“Come. We don’t have long to brief you.” Livia snapped her fingers.

“Did you forget how to say please?” the man asked. “I don’t want to be here any more than you want me to be here, Liv. I was actually in the middle of something important.”

“I didn’t call you here. You’re free to go back to whatever third-world hellhole you crawled out of.”

“We both know I’m not. He wants me here, so I’m here. Deal.”

“Then stay out of my way, and remember this is my mission. Not yours.”

“It’s my job to make sure this is a success. You know you need me, so let’s play nice and get the job done so we can go back to pretending the other doesn’t exist.”

“That’s the dream.” Livia turned back to the small conference table with the other members of her team.

“It’s him,” Quinn whispered, clenching his fists in his lap. He recognized the man with the face tattoo. The man from the photo with Sasha. Without thinking, he slipped out of his seatbelt.

“What have you done with Sasha?” Quinn said in a dangerously controlled voice as he made his way down the aisle. “Where is she?”

“Quinn, get back to your seat,” Livia demanded.

“Quinn?” The man gave him a once-over. “Yeah, she talked about you.” He nodded. “Way too much talking, that one.”

“Jayesh, don’t bait him,” Livia said.

“What have you done with her?” Quinn took another step forward, itching to put his hands around the man’s throat.

“You don’t want to know,” Jayesh said. “Let it go, man.”

Quinn lunged at him, but Michael had him flat on the floor with a knee in his back before Quinn’s fist could make contact with Jayesh’s face.

“Get him back to his seat,” Livia snapped.

Michael and Ryan dragged Quinn to the back of the plane and belted him in.

“You get up again and you’re going skydiving without a chute,” Michael said.

Quinn watched helplessly as the man who’d held Sasha’s freedom in his hands went back to the conference table.