Page 75 of Relentless Knight

But I can’t stay away any longer.

I love Quinn.

And every day without her is agony.

I’d hoped that after a few days, Killian might cool down and be willing to talk. I figured I could give him some space to wrap his mind around what happened. Probably scrub the traumatizing image of me naked in Quinn’s bed from his mind. I don’t blame him for reacting badly after the way he found out. That’s exactly how I didn’t want him to learn about us. But life just kept getting in the way.

Still, I’m grateful I didn’t let life get in the way of me and Quinn. Because over the past month, I’ve come to love her more deeply than I ever knew I could. Which is why I need to mend things with Killian—or at least get us back where he is not going to kill me for stepping foot on his property.

But even though I’ve given him time to cool off, I’ve heard neither hide nor hair from Killian all week. And I can’t keep waiting.

I need to see her. I need to make this right.

And though I’d ratherlivefor Quinn than die for her, I’m willing to do either. What I’m not willing to do is live without her. This past week has proven that. I feel like a hollow shell of a man when she’s not with me. Like the reason for life has been sucked away until all I’m left with is a gaping emptiness inside.

So I can’t accept Killian’s ultimatum.

Reaching into my pocket, I curl my fist around the small box there. I hope I get to use it.

I think Killian and I have a chance of working it out. After having known each other all our lives, I’m fairly confident that I can talk some sense into the man I still consider my brother. I’ve given him a week to cool down. It’s time to talk.

And more than that, I need to talk to Quinn—because she hasn’t reached out either. And I want to make sure that she still feels the same way about me as I do about her. That shewantsme in her life. If she doesn’t, I don’t know what I’ll do. But I know I can’t keep waiting for a phone call. I have to see her.

And if she does want me, then I intend to tie her to me in every way humanly possible. Because the last obstacle holding us back is gone. Killian knows, and either he can live with it or he can’t. But I won’t let that stop me from making a life with Quinn. I’ve already potentially planted the seed for that future. And I want her to know that I’m here for a lifetime if she’ll have me.

Taking a steadying breath, I climb the stairs to Killian’s front door. And Donnie doesn’t stop me, just gives his chin a subtle tip as he says hi and lets me walk on in. I’ll take that as a good sign. Though I doubt I’ll be met by any kind of welcoming committee. I’m sure Killian and I have plenty to hash out. But I’m ready for it. Whatever it takes to set things right.

Swinging the door open, I step inside. And the familiar sense of home washes over me. I’ve spent countless nights in this house, with Killian and his sister. And I’ve missed itconsiderably in the week I’ve been gone—second only to how much I’ve missed Quinn and Killian themselves.

“Hello?” I call, striding across the entry toward the main part of the house. But no one answers. It’s still early, so they might be having breakfast and I head in that direction.

As I round the corner, Killian’s there, standing outside his office.

“Hey,” I start.

But before it even has time to get awkward, Killian takes a step forward. And launches a right hook straight into my jaw. My head snaps back and I stumble backward, stunned by the unexpected cheap shot.

“What the hell?—”

With a roar, Killian launches himself at me, his shoulder slamming into my gut as he takes me down to the hard marble floor.

Apparently, time hasn’t helped him cool down. And as the air rushes from my lungs, I bring my hands up to protect my face from Killian’s next ferocious punch. He’s not holding back either as he hammers down on me relentlessly.

I’m all for expressing your anger, but I don’t entirely enjoy being pinned down to play someone’s punching bag. So I twist my hips, tossing Killian off of me so I can roll free of him.

That only gives me a brief reprieve, however, before he’s in my face again, swinging at me with the single-minded intent of causing as much damage as he can.

“Calm down, Killian,” I growl, throwing a single punch to make him back off.

It catches him on the temple, and Killian snarls as he shakes his head to clear it.

“I thought I warned you that I’d kill you if you ever came back, you lying sack of?—”

I launch a second punch, popping him in the mouth. Because I’m quickly losing patience if this is still about me not telling him about Quinn and my relationship with her.Sure, does that make me a bad friend?Yeah. I can see that. I’ve been grilling myself about it almost nonstop since the moment I realized I wanted Quinn.

But what kind of friend is he if he can’t even hear me out? How little must he think of me if he’s going to accuse me of taking advantage of her, of using her without regard for her feelings?

I gave him time to consider the bigger picture, and if he still doesn’t like it, then tough tits. I guess he wasn’t the friend I thought he was all these years.

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