“I … think she’ll know that I did it out of loyalty.” Kara jutted out her lower lip. “She’ll know I did it for her.”
“I think she’s going to be furious,” Quinn said. “I also think she’s going to turn your loyalty into a harrowing tale she tells at college. She’ll be the victim … and get a lot of sympathy from her new friends. You’ll be in prison and she won’t even bother visiting.
“I think that’s the type of person she is,” he continued. “I don’t think she can help herself. You, on the other hand, are out of options. You can either turn yourself in now and throw yourself on the mercy of the court and possibly get a sentence that will see you gaining freedom in twenty years. If you add harming Rowan to the mix, you’ll never get out of prison.”
Kara’s mouth opened but no sound came out. She was obviously mulling Quinn’s words.
“Let Rowan go,” Quinn repeated. He held up his hands when security personnel began flooding into the area. They were armed, which made Rowan nervous. “You’re out of options, Kara.”
“No, I have one more option,” Kara said, her voice tinged with sadness as she released Rowan’s hair and took a step back closer to the railing. “There’s one more thing I can do.”
Quinn’s eyes widened as he realized what she had planned. “Don’t!”
It was too late. Kara hoisted herself up on the railing and flipped over the side, not even a second of hesitation as she disappeared into the murky darkness below. Quinn raced to her, his hands outstretched. She was already gone, though.
He sighed as he sank to the ground and ran his hand over Rowan’s sore head, drawing her close and letting his emotions get the better of him. “She’s gone.”
“She’s been gone for a very long time,” Rowan murmured, burying her face in Quinn’s neck. “I’d be surprised if she was ever really here.”
23
Twenty-Three
“How is she?”
Rowan frowned as Quinn focused on the doctor rather than her when he asked his question, making a big show of shifting in her hospital wing bed and making an annoyed face. “I’m fine.”
“I was talking to the professional,” Quinn chided. “You relax and be quiet. Here’s some juice.” He shoved a glass of orange juice in front of her face and leveled his gaze on the amused doctor. “Well?”
“She’s got a slight concussion,” Dr. Hebert replied. “She needs to spend the night here for observation, but other than that she should be fine. The most important thing now is that she gets some rest. That knot on the back of her head will be tender for a couple of days, though.”
“That’s good.” Quinn nudged Rowan over so he could settle on the bed next to her. “I’ll stay here overnight and observe her.”
Rowan’s mouth dropped open. “You will not.”
Quinn ignored her. “She’s in good hands, Doc.”
Hebert chuckled, amused. “I can see that. I’ll be back to check on her in a little bit. Try not to rile her up or anything.”
“No promises.”
Quinn and Rowan lapsed into comfortable silence as Quinn lifted her hand and flipped it over so he could trace the lines of her palm. The silence lasted so long Rowan finally had to break it … or go crazy.
“Any news on Kara?”
“The Coast Guard is sending out cutters, but the odds of finding her are slim. It’s just one of those things.”
“But … she might still be alive.”
“And she might already be dead. There’s nothing we can do about it. We have to leave it to the professionals.”
“I guess.” Rowan wasn’t happy with his answer but she understood the rationalization behind it. “How did you find me?”
“I went to your room to pick you up and found the table knocked over. I knew something happened. I questioned the engineers, but they were under constant surveillance. I ordered my entire staff to search for you. One of them got lucky and heard you arguing with Kara.”
“Why didn’t he approach?”
“Because I told him to let me do it,” Quinn replied, his fingers soft as they stroked her hand. “I wanted to hear what she had to say. Plus, well, I didn’t trust your safety to anyone but myself.”
“Some people might think that makes you a control freak.”
“I got you back safe and sound, so I’m fine with that,” he said, forcing a bright smile as he shifted his eyes. “How are you really feeling?”
“Tired and relieved. I feel a little thankful, too.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I’m thankful to be alive,” Rowan clarified. “I guess I’m thankful you showed up when you did, too. I’m not sure I should admit that, though. Your ego is already out of control.”
Quinn barked out a laugh, delighted. “I’ll keep it to myself.”
“That would be great,” Rowan said, her eyes drooping as she slouched down in the bed and rested her head on Quinn’s shoulder. “What happens now?”
“Now you go to sleep and I figure out a way to tell Kylie and Hayley what happened,” Quinn replied. “Then tomorrow everyone leaves the ship and we have three days of downtime before we do it all over again.”
“That sounds fun.” Rowan was barely hanging on to consciousness. “Thank you for coming after me. I thought I was in trouble until I heard your voice.”
“Technically that was part of my job. I would’ve come after you no matter what, though. I was … freaking out … when I couldn’t figure out who took you. I knew no matter what happened, though, it couldn’t be good.”
“It’s okay. We’re both okay. Kara is … no longer a threat. Even though we don’t have Jessica’s body we know what happened to her. That’s at least something to offer her parents.”
“I’m not sure that will make them feel better,” Quinn said. “That’s really out of our control, though. We can’t fix it and we won’t be part of the corporate wheel when they settle with the parents.”
Despite her exhaustion, Rowan’s eyes popped open. “Settle?”
“The cruise liner will be sued no matter what. That’s how it always goes. They’ll offer a settlement and the parents will take it. That’s why this thing is insured to the gills.”
“But … it’s not our fault. Kara was a murderer. She was unbalanced.”
“The corporate suits only care about making this go away as fast as possible,” Quinn explained. “They don’t care about what’s right or wrong. I would fight it tooth and nail until the bitter end … and still risk losing. They’d rather not waste the time and money.”
“That’s kind of sad.”
“That’s the way it is these days,” Quinn said, exhaling heavily as he slipped his arm under Rowan and tugged her so she could rest her chin on his chest. “You should get some sleep. You need your rest.”
“I’m sorry about our date,” Rowan offered. “I was looking forward to it.”
“I was, too. It doesn’t matter, though. We’ll have plenty of other dates.”
Rowan’s chest warmed. “We will?”
“We will,” Quinn confirmed, smiling into her hair. “I’ve given it some thought and I want to see where this goes.”
“But … you don’t want a relationship.”
“Life is fluid, Rowan,” Quinn said. “What one person wants changes on a regular basis. I did not want a relationship … until you. Now I don’t want to waste this opportunity. Things shifted for me.”
“That’s kind of romantic.”
“Just wait until you’re feeling better. Then you’ll see romantic.”
Rowan giggled as she pressed her eyes shut. “Are you sure? I don’t want to force you into anything you’re not ready for. If you need more time … .”
“I don’t need more time. I know what I want.”
“And that is?”
“I can’t promise you anything because I have no idea where this is going to lead,” Quinn answered. “I’m looking forward to the adventure, though.”
&n
bsp; “So … you’re ready to set sail?” Rowan’s voice was light and teasing even as sleep stalked her.
“I’m definitely ready to set sail,” Quinn replied. “I’m hoping for clear skies and calm waters from here on out.”
“Me, too. We probably won’t get that, though.”
“Then I’m ready for whatever happens. The adventure is just beginning, Trixie. Batten down the hatches, because here it comes.”
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Acknowledgments
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Lily Harper Hart
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Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival
Deadly Rivalry
Deadly Memories
Deadly Adventure
Deadly Reunion
Deadly Conflicts
Deadly Payback
Deadly Waves
Deadly Forever
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns
Grave Discovery
Grave Decisions
Grave Seasons
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times
Wicked Places
Wicked Warning
Wicked Fog
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues
Ghostly Deceits
Ghostly Worries
Welcoming Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 1) Page 20