Love Squared

by A. E. Neal

  "Remember who we're dealing with here, Quinn. I hate to remind you again, but Beckett is smart and no matter how much you think he cares about you, just remember what he's done to you. I can assure you he's only doing this to better his situation."

  "He does care about me...he loves me. That has to mean something."

  Cole's brows furrowed and his pulse quickened. "But do you love him the way he loves you?"

  Sure, it was a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, but Quinn couldn't find the right words to say.

  "I don't know. Everything is so complicated right now. I thought I did once, but now I don't know what to think."

  "Yes or no?" Cole asked again, sternly.

  Quinn hesitated, then answered quietly, "Yes. I guess I still do."

  Cole's heart sank, but knowing he also had a job to do, he turned on his heel and headed for the door. "Then I'm afraid you're too much of a liability. I'll have to do this on my own."

  He opened the door, swung it back so hard that it connected with the wall, leaving an indent in the drywall behind it, then walked out without another word.

  Chapter 40

  Quinn was released from the hospital the next morning. She gathered her things that Cole had recovered from her hotel room and headed down to meet the car Jaysen had arranged for her pick-up.

  As she walked through the busy hospital hallways, searching for Cole, hoping to see him one last time because she felt like she had betrayed his trust. She promised to help find Jaysen, but her thoughts were clouded by the words she had last heard before he hung up the phone. I love you, Quinn. So much so, it hurts not having you by my side right now.

  Quinn stood waiting for the next elevator to take her down to the lobby and when she closed her eyes for a moment, the only face she could see was Cole's. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but she didn't want to be the one behind Jaysen's arrest, she'd never be able to live with herself knowing she put someone she thought she loved behind bars, possibly for life.

  What was wrong with her? Jaysen probably killed Trenton and here she was, ready to jump back into their old routine like nothing happened. What the hell was she thinking? After everything he put her through, she was going to just forgive and forget? No!

  As panic set in, Quinn dug through her bag and pulled out her phone. She dialed the number and waited.

  "Hey."

  Quinn let out the breath she had been holding as soon as she heard his voice.

  "From the very first time we met, I knew there was something about you, something I really admired and cherished. Then, I got to know you and everything in my gut told me you were the one I'd been waiting for all along. I just never thought I'd ever feel that way about a guy ever again, let alone two...and for some stupid reason, it took me this long to realize it."

  "Realize what?"

  The perfect words were on the tip of her tongue and for the first time in a long time, she didn't have any reason to second guess what she was about to say.

  "I'm in love with you," she said as her breath caught and her heart raced.

  As she held the phone to her ear for what seemed like centuries, he had yet to reply and her stomach dropped. "Hello?" she asked cautiously.

  "I'm here," he said and she heard his voice echo through the phone and from behind her.

  Quinn swung around to face the man she almost lost. She sucked in a breath at the sheer sight of him: his messy hair curled delicately around the collar of his dress shirt as his big deep blue eyes stared back at her, gleaming.

  "I'm in love with you, Cole. Not Jaysen, not Trenton, just you."

  Cole was still holding the phone to his ear as he took another step closer to her. "I've made a huge mistake," he spoke softly into the phone.

  "A mistake?" she repeated.

  "The biggest mistake I've ever made in my life...was not telling you how much you meant to me," he took another step closer, keeping his gaze trained on hers.

  "Tell me now," she breathed as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. "Unless you think it's too late."

  He lowered the phone to his side and closed the space between them. "I hope I'm not too late to tell you that I love you too, Quinn. It should've been me all along, not him."

  Quinn lowered her phone as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. It was as if she belonged in his arms, like she was meant to be there since the day they'd met. As she parted her lips, Cole wrapped his arms around her, pulling her warm body against his, then returned her kiss with his own. Their tongues danced together in perfect harmony as the busy hospital hallway around them disappeared.

  Out of breath and barely able to stand on weakened knees, Quinn tucked her head in the crook of Cole's neck. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

  "Sorry? For what?"

  "I'm sorry I hurt you."

  "It's okay. We'll have plenty of time to make up for it."

  "Over pizza, beer and Die Hard, I hope."

  "Absolutely."

  The elevator doors had opened and neither of them had even noticed. Cole's lips came crashing down on Quinn's as her hands explored his muscled back through his shirt.

  "Not here," Cole whispered against her lips.

  Taking her bag in one hand, he led Quinn into the elevator, placing his other hand on the small of her back.

  A couple of nurses stared at them, knowingly. One of the women smiled and said, "Ah, young love. Isn't it glorious?"

  Quinn's cheeks flushed as she entwined her fingers with Cole's as they waited impatiently for the elevator to reach the bottom floor.

  Cole hadn't taken his eyes off of her from the moment he saw her standing in the hallway: the most beautiful, smart, witty, foul-mouthed girl he'd ever met was finally by his side. Where she should have been since the day he met her. For the first time since meeting his LA from 3-A, he knew nothing else in his life mattered more than the woman by his side.

  Instead of waiting for Jaysen's prearranged transportation, Cole hailed a cab. It wasn't until the taxi pulled onto the freeway, reality actually set in for the both of them and Quinn shrugged against his shoulder.

  "What are we going to do? He'll know something is wrong if I don't board that plane."

  "It's alright," he said leaning over to kiss her forehead. "I have everything figured out."

  "I trust you," she said.

  "I hope so, because the next six hours aren't going to be easy for either of us, but I want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm prepared to fight for us."

  "Charming, Mr. Davenport. Really charming," she scoffed.

  "Hey, someone has to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

  "Just don't get yourself killed in the process, okay?"

  "Deal."

  * * *

  As per Cole's directions, the driver dropped Quinn off just outside the airport. Quinn still had no idea what sort of plan Cole had up his sleeve, she just prayed it wouldn't get them both killed.

  With her bag in her hand, she watched as the taxi drove off and because Cole was concerned someone was watching her at all times, he didn't say goodbye, wish her luck or even give her a kiss and it felt like she would never see him again.

  Crossing the parking lot, she approached the private terminal and looked for any sign that Jaysen might be there.

  "Miss Langley, I presume?" a gentleman in a black suit and tie asked, snapping her back to reality.

  "Sorry. Yes, that's me."

  "A shuttle is waiting to take you to the aircraft. Please allow me to take your bag."

  "Of course," she said handing it to him.

  She followed the man to a small shuttle parked just outside of locked gates. Once she was inside, she took a seat near the back and closed her eyes. This will work, this will work, she chanted in her head over and over again.

  A few minutes later, the shuttle stopped near the familiar private jet she and Jaysen had flown into Jackson Hole. Her heartbeat quickened in her chest once the doors opened and she was escorted
onto the plane.

  "Hi Dawn. Nice to see you again," Quinn said as she took her seat.

  "Miss Langley, always a pleasure. May I get you something to drink?"

  "I'd really love a vodka soda, if you have it."

  "Of course. I'll be right back," Dawn retreated into the galley.

  Quinn stared out the small oval window, watching baggage handlers load a few bags and several boxes into the belly of the plane. She dug her fingertips into her palms as she felt her anxiety start to take over.

  Dawn returned with her drink and before she had a chance to set it down, Quinn took the glass, downing half of it in one gulp.

  "Thank you," Quinn said with her cheeks full of ice cubes.

  "Sure. Just let me know if there's anything else I can get you."

  Once the bags were loaded, Dawn performed the cross check and the aircraft began to move.

  "Good evening and welcome aboard. I'm Captain Merrick and will be assisted by Captain Davenport on our short trip to Denver tonight. So, sit back, relax and enjoy your flight."

  Wait! What? She couldn't have heard that correctly? Or maybe it was just a coincidence. Yes, just a coincidence, she tried to convince herself.

  Quinn felt her cheeks flush and finished the remainder of her drink.

  "Would you care for another one, Miss Langley?"

  "Yes, please."

  In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but to think how terrible Cole's plan was and had to remind herself to ask him later if he even knew how to fly a plane.

  "Dumbass," she muttered under her breath.

  Once they had reached cruising altitude, Quinn rose from her seat and made her way to the lavatory near the back of the plane. She needed a moment alone to think, without Dawn hovering over her.

  She closed and locked the door behind her, then took a seat on the plush ottoman, which made the lavatory less like a airplane bathroom and more like a luxury hotel restroom.

  Why hadn't she asked Cole for some kind of code word in case they'd gotten into trouble? She trusted him with her life, but not knowing what his plans were, infuriated her.

  After a good fifteen minutes in the bathroom, she began to feel woozy because the vodka had finally kicked in, so she rose to her feet, steadying herself against the wall and unlocked the door. Her vision was fuzzy and suddenly it dawned on her what was really happening. She had been drugged.

  "Oh fuck," she said before she hit the ground and blacked out.

  Chapter 41

  The voices outside of Quinn's door alerted her, causing her to shoot up out of bed. She rubbed her eyes, blinked a few times as everything surrounding her came into focus. She was in her own bedroom. She rose from her bed, pushing the covers out of the way and placed her ear against the door. She heard the distinctive voices of a female and a male.

  "Hello?" Quinn called, her voice sounding shaky.

  "She's awake," the female said.

  "Who's there?" Quinn asked again, trying to sound more assertive.

  Footsteps approached the closed door and Quinn braced herself against it.

  "Tell me who you are!" she shouted.

  "Relax, Miss Langley," the woman said calmly.

  It took a moment for her recognize the woman's voice, but once she did, she opened the door cautiously.

  "Dawn?"

  "Hello, Quinn. Would you like some water?" she offered.

  "Why? So you can just drug me again?" Quinn snapped.

  "We had to take precautions, in order to keep you safe, Miss Langley."

  Quinn mock laughed, "Yeah, because being drugged on an airplane made me feel real fucking safe."

  "Please come have a seat and I'll explain everything," Dawn said taking another step closer to her.

  Quinn shook her head, holding her hand up to stop Dawn in her tracks. "I think you should leave."

  "Come with me," Dawn said, taking another step towards her.

  Instead of protesting, Quinn followed her into the kitchen.

  "Does Jaysen know you're here? Does he know you drugged me?"

  Dawn laughed, but didn't answer her question, she only rounded the tiny bistro table and motioned Quinn to sit.

  "Have a seat," she said.

  Dawn proceeded to pull two mugs from the cabinet and fill them with coffee. She returned to the table, setting one of the mugs in front of Quinn.

  "I trust you'll hear me out before you decide to call the police," Dawn said as she took a seat across from Quinn at the table.

  The thought had crossed Quinn's mind and all she wanted to do was get Dawn out of her apartment, but she was also curious as to what she had to say.

  "Fine. Talk," she snapped as she picked up her mug, eyeing it warily.

  "There's nothing in it."

  There was truth in her eyes, so Quinn took a sip and the coffee instantly warmed her.

  "Thank you."

  As Dawn held her mug, Quinn couldn't help but to notice how quiet it was, noting that there were two voices she heard outside the door earlier, not just Dawn's.

  "Who else is here?"

  "It doesn't matter. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but I need to tell you what's going on first."

  Quinn nodded and set her mug back onto the table.

  "One, I don't work for Beckett. I work for the FBI."

  "Oh," she replied, suddenly feeling like an idiot for giving her such a hard time.

  "Two, I only drugged you to keep you safe."

  "Safe huh? How exactly is drugging someone safe?"

  "I'll get to that in a minute, but I need to ask you something."

  "Then quit beating around the bush and ask me, for Christ sake," Quinn's voice was filled with irritation and she had to take a deep breath just to regain her composure. "Sorry."

  "Do you remember any part of the flight?"

  "That's a stupid question, since you know exactly how that turned out."

  "I understand you're upset, but let me explain. In order for us to gain access to Beckett, we needed to remove you from the picture so you wouldn't get hurt."

  "Hurt? I don't understand."

  "After the plane took off, the pilot was given specific coordinates as to where we would land, that way Beckett would be able to get to you without anyone knowing. We were a little over twenty miles from the landing strip outside of Aspen, when Special Agent Davenport took out the pilot and brought the plane down in a meadow. We knew Beckett was near Aspen and would follow the GPS tracker that had been installed on the plane and it was only a matter of time before he showed up. Cole covered you in blood and injected you with a drug that temporarily slowed your heartbeat," Dawn said as she took another drink of coffee. "He had to make it look like you were dead because he knew the sight of you laying there would be like a direct punch to Beckett's gut. We knew he would be caught off guard by it and it would be easier to capture him without having to use deadly force."

  Quinn's jaw hung open as she listened to Dawn's words. She knew Cole would have done anything to get to Jaysen, but she never thought he'd go as far as to fake her death. If Jaysen saw her laying there motionless, she knew it had to have killed him inside.

  "I know what you're thinking and no, Davenport didn't kill Beckett. Fifteen minutes after the plane crashed, Beckett and Croft showed up at the site and fortunately we were able to get them both into custody. They're currently being transported to county."

  Quinn's stomach churned and her heart sank. "What about Cole?"

  Dawn pinched the bridge of her nose and smoothed her hair back. Her hesitation tore at Quinn's heart and she knew right away something had happened to Cole.

  "He sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to DMC, but..."

  "But what?" The tears streamed down Quinn's face as she hung onto Dawn's last word.

  "He's in critical condition and it's not looking good."

  Quinn slammed her palms on the table, causing the coffee mug to crash to the floor. "Then why are we just sitting here?"

/>   "You need to calm down, Quinn."

  "Take me to see him! Take me now!" she screamed.

  "I can't do that. He doesn't want to see you."

  "That's bullshit!" Quinn shouted as tears streamed down her cheeks. "He's just confused. I know he'd want me there. I have to be there for him."

  Quinn rose from the table and dashed for the front door. As she swung it open and tried to run, she was grabbed by two men guarding her door.

  "Let me go!" she shouted as she kicked at them. "Let me go!" Tears continued to stream down Quinn's face as she felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces.

  * * *

  Cole had never liked hospitals, but lately it seemed like he was getting to visit a lot of them. He replayed the entire scene of the crash site in his head as the doctors and nurses tore at his clothes, loaded him up with morphine, and hooked him to monitors.

  Jaysen held Quinn's limp and bloodied body in his arms as Will stood over him with tears in his eyes. It was that exact moment when Cole realized Quinn had been right about Jaysen, he saw it in his eyes. He cared about her so much that he would have done anything for her. Hell, even Will looked like he had just lost the sister he never had. The whole scene made Cole's heart tear in two.

  He'd never met anyone like Quinn in his entire life and in one spilt second, she turned his world upside down. Just like she'd done to Jaysen and even Will. He loved her from the moment she sassed him in the hallway of their apartment building and hadn't stopped loving her since. Jaysen may have loved her, but he never loved her the way Cole did. Not for one second.

  Cole had found himself caught up in the moment, thinking about Quinn and that was all it took. It was already too late for him to reach for his gun by the time Will pulled back the trigger on his own gun. Pain seared through the flesh in his chest as he was thrown back against the wall. Through foggy vision, he saw Jaysen standing over him, then his fist connecting with Cole's cheek bone, before speaking the words that would haunt him for the rest of his life.