Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three) (42 page)

“I think we should keep it under wraps until we get a plan together.”

“Henry?” Elaina came up behind me. “Why are they all wearing the same thing?”

“I don’t know. Maybe they were some sort of militant group or some cult or something.”

“Yeah, maybe…,” she said, peeking at the bodies once more.

I looked her over. “You’re a mess, love. Let’s get back inside and clean up.”

The four of us headed back into the building. Thomas went to his room, and I sent Elaina to go clean up in the shower area. Because he fell, Gunther was nearly covered from head to toe.

“I think we should burn these clothes,” I muttered in disgust.

“Yeah, tell me about it. I hope Quinn didn’t see me go down. She would’ve had a meltdown.”

In a low voice, I said, “Let’s figure out this situation before anyone suspects anything.”

“He
has
to be here. Shit… I was hoping he wouldn’t show his face with our tracking devices destroyed.” He glanced down at his forearm. “Leaving is just not an option for us with so many depending on us to keep them safe. That would be impossible out there now.”

“You’re right. We need to stay put until we figure something out. Remember what he said back at the last meeting?” Gunther narrowed his eyes while I continued talking, “He was going to set off when he saw you moving north. When did you remove your device?”

“After I started moving north.” He dropped his face into his hands. “God, I’m such an idiot.”

“I always wondered why he was sailing over. Goddamn it,” I muttered. “This was the plan all along. A fucking game to him. How could someone be so sadistic and twisted to the point of using others as pawns?”

“Can’t exactly fly an army of undead soldiers into an area when you have no idea what the airport looks like. I can tell you this was not what was planned with me, Drew, and Kellan.”

“Here’s what I think. You know how the ship we used for training had jail cells?” Gunther nodded. “He loaded them with prisoners, recruits, and whoever he managed to convince, made it to port, then injected and released them.”

Gunther crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I bet he’s going to release them in cycles.”

“How would he know we’re here? We cut our devices out.” I ran my finger over my scar on the underside of my left forearm.

“Good question,” Gunther sighed.

“We’re going to have be on high alert at all times. How do we do this without scaring the others?”

“Let’s mull it over for a few days and think about what we can do. We need to devise a plan,” he muttered.

“For fuck’s sake… I was really hoping the bastard wouldn’t show. Let’s go clean up. I need to get this shit off of me.”

With Grey still in her arms, Quinn jumped from the chair and ran to Gunther as soon as we strolled into the cafeteria after cleaning up. Elaina and I headed toward the pantry to grab a bottle of water.

“Oh god! I thought you were going to die!”

He grabbed her. “It’s okay, love. I’m fine. I just slipped on the mess and went down. I wish you hadn’t seen that. Don’t watch again. Please.” She cried into his chest. He did his best to try to calm her down. “Come on. Let’s go back to our room.” They turned around and James was standing in their way. “Excuse us,” he growled.

Gunther tried to push past the sorry excuse for a man, but James stepped in front of him. Again, he tried to step around James, but he promptly stepped in front of them.

Elaina elbowed me and nodded. “Shouldn’t you do something?”

“No. I think he’s got it covered,” I murmured with a grin.

Elaina and I sat back and watched. Sadly, we didn’t have popcorn or movie theater seating. I would’ve stepped in if it went too far…maybe.

“What the fuck do you want?” Gunther snarled through clenched teeth.

James had a smirk on his face. “You make her cry way too much for my liking.”

“Are you fucking for real?! It’s none of your concern!”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure I am.” James pinched his arm. “Yes, definitely real. And yes, definitely my concern…since she is
my wife
.”

“You lost her when you walked out on her. And what are you going to do?! Play the valiant knight and try to connive her into leaving me? Because, I assure you, that won’t
ever
fucking happen.”

“No. Deep down inside, I know she still loves me. You see, I have known her for quite some time and I know how she is.” He looked at Quinn. “She will leave without my influence and walk right into my waiting arms.” James curled his lips into a grin as Gunther filled with rage.

Quinn wiped the tears from her face. “James, stop it!”

“No. I know I will get you back.”

“What about Savannah?” she asked.

With a lifted brow, he smirked. “Savannah who?”

Gunther had enough. He grabbed James and slammed him against the wall. Gripping the front of James’ shirt, he twisted it in his fist, pushing it to his small, pointed chin. Gunther planted his face right in front of his. “Over my dead motherfucking body,” he growled. “You stay away from my family or you will find yourself wishing you never showed up here. You hear me?”

“Gunther… Not in front of the baby. Come on.” Quinn grabbed his arm. He didn’t move, nor could she overpower him. “Please…”

Gunther shoved James once more, smashing the back of his balding head into the wall. “I mean it. If I even catch you looking at them again, I will eat you for breakfast. Don’t fucking test me.”

Quinn took his hand and led him off. A little stunned and still against the wall, James rubbed himself from head to chest.

“You think he’s okay?” Elaina whispered.

“I don’t know. I warned him ages ago to stay away from her.” I shrugged. “He’s a nutter for messing with Gunther.” I popped the last bit of carrot into my mouth.

“I
will
kill him, Quinn. I swear on my life,” Gunther raged as they walked away.

“I know. You have to calm down. Please. Grey needs his daddy.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. He just pisses me off to no end with his fucking almighty attitude.” Gunther opened their door and allowed Quinn to walk in first. He closed the door, locking it behind them. She turned around, her eyes full of tears. “Love? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” she cried.

Gunther grabbed her and held her. “Talk to me. What’s going on with you? I’m so worried. You’ve been so off.”

“I’m just so scared,” she sobbed. “Scared for us, for you, for Grey. What if something happens to you?” Her sobs were so harsh, she choked.

“You have to calm down.” The more Quinn started to fall apart, the more Grey cried. “Hey, hey, hey, little bear.” Gunther took Grey from Quinn’s arms, bouncing him and walking around. “It’s okay, Grey bear. Shh…” After he held him close, he calmed. He swayed back and forth until Grey went back to sleep. “Go lie down while I take care of him. He okay in the food department?”

“Yes. He should be fine for an hour or two.”

“Then, by all means, go rest,” he coaxed. “You’re knackered.”

“Are you sure?” She wiped her face, eyes leery.

“Yes, we’re fine. Now go. I will take him out of here so you can rest. If I need any help, I can get Cora.” Gunther kissed her on the forehead. “You need to stop worrying so much, love. It’s going to tear you to bits.”

In the forefront of his mind, he worried about how close Roger was. He hated lying to her, and had a gut feeling everything
wasn’t
going to be all right. After what happened outside, shit was real and it was getting more real by the second.

Tears were still streaming down her face. “It’s just hard. Ever since he was born, I’ve been an emotional nightmare.”

“I know,” Gunther said with a smirk. “You need to come down off the ledge, love. We’ve got it handled.” He pulled her into an embrace. “You know what you need?”

He kissed her ear and neck, her breath hitching every time his soft lips pressed against her delicate skin. When her hips pushed into his, he groaned. Gunther released Quinn and walked over to the bed, lying Grey down in a gentle motion.

Walking back over to her, he kissed her with a passion they hadn’t had in months. When she returned his desire and need, he picked her up and carried her over to the desk.

The urge for her was overwhelming.

The deep pull inside her body ached for the relief only Gunther could give her. It had been far too long since they had been one, but she was worried. Quinn feared he wouldn’t like how she looked since Grey. She was soft in the stomach and had some markings that mortified her, none of which happened when she was pregnant with Carrie.

Gunther pulled off his shirt, but when he started to remove Quinn’s, she stopped him. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I’m still a little, uhh…” She looked away, feeling embarrassed.

Sensing her insecurity, he touched her face. “Love…I think you are so much more beautiful today than the day I saved your foxy self.” With hesitation, Quinn lifted her shirt off. Close to drooling, he groaned, “God, woman. Look at you. So fucking beautiful. I want you so very badly.”

He pulled her pants down, then let his fall to the floor, as well. Deciding to take it easy on her, he was going to make passionate love to her and treat her like she was the most fragile gift ever given to him.

She lay back on the desk as he slowly filled her. Slapping her hands over her face, she cried out in pain.

His heart thudded on his chest. “You okay, love? I’ll stop.” He started to pull out.

“No, please, keep going,” she said through her tears.

“Are you sure? It doesn’t feel right with you crying.”

“It’s fine. Please…,” she coaxed, hands still covering her face.

He was afraid of hurting her further and stared down at her. “Are you sure?”

She lowered her hands and bit out, “Yes!” He swallowed hard. While it still felt wrong, he began to move in her.

She watched Gunther’s jaw slack and eyes roll. Thoughts of the confrontations with James rolled over her.

He stopped again, noticing she wasn’t with him one hundred percent. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do this because I want to.” Concerned over her tears and vacant expression on her face, he added, “I can’t do this if you are crying and not with me. It just feels wrong.” Then he stepped back enough to leave her empty.

Quinn panicked and was desperate to show Gunther that she was fine. She grabbed his arms. “No, please, I want this.”

“Quinn…”

“Please. Please make love to me,” she begged.

Still hesitant, he rocked his hips into hers. After a few gentle thrusts, she looked like she was enjoying him, but she could have been faking it.

Which was exactly what she was doing.

He couldn’t go much longer, and she felt just as good then as she did when he took the very first dip. But Quinn was far from her climax.

Unable to put the brakes on the train, he let go.

Limp and out of breath, he lay over her. “I’ll take care of you. Just give me a sec,” Gunther panted.

“No. No, it’s fine.” She pushed against his expansive chest, forcing him out of her.

The anger rolling off of her was true. They dressed in silence, which was a big difference from what he was used to. She avoided him like the plague.

“I’m sorry, Quinn,” Gunther said to her back as she put her shirt on. “I don’t even know what to say.”

In silence, she shuffled to the bed and snuggled with Grey, not even acknowledging him. He watched full of fear that the love of his life was falling away from him.

“Quinn… Please, talk to me. I don’t know what’s going on or what to do.”

“I’m going to lie down with him so I can be here when he wakes.”

“Do you want me to take him so you can sleep?” Gunther pulled his shirt on over his head.

“No. Just go…please.”

“Quinn… I’m sorry it sucked for you but, other than that, I don’t know what I did.” He was on the verge of crying. She had been shutting him out for weeks, but that moment was the worst it had been.

“I just need a minute, please,” she begged him.

He swallowed hard and his breath hitched. “Quinn, I love you with everything I have. Please, tell me what I did.”

“It’s fine. I just need some time.”

“Quinn…”

“Gunther, please,” she snipped. “Go.”