Page 48 of Remade
A breath gusted out of me, and I wanted to both laugh and cry. Today had been so damn overwhelming that I could barely tell what was up and what was down. But the thought of leaving Hillcroft behind me was impossible. My own world, my little house of cards, was small and still fragile, but it was my own. I was building this for myself. I was making friends. I had Bo… I was crazy about him. I wascrazyabout him. And I loved training too. I wanted to be here.
I sniffled and wiped at my cheek. “Darius managed to live in Washington and still work here, right? I’d like to visit a lot. But Hillcroft has become my home.”
Willow pursed her lips and looked a little harrumph-y, then ripped two sheets of notes off, and she didn’t show me what was on them.
Option 2. Go figures. You’re a Quinn. Of course you’re gonna go off and risk your life.
Unfortunately for you, I can pull strings around this place, and I will tell you right now. You’ll never go on assignment without me in your ear. I’m making an appointment with Quinlan and Coach today to make sure I’ll run intelligence and comms on all your future cases.
Was that a threat?
“Okay,” I said, clearing my throat. “That works for me.” Why wouldn’t it? Ryan had said she was brilliant.
She made eye contact briefly and narrowed her eyes, as if she didn’t understand why I’d agreed so quickly. Had she genuinely considered that a threat, then? As something I’d fight against?
Instead of saying anything—or writing it in a note, rather—she nodded with a dip of her chin and ripped off another two notes from the pad.
The next one looked to be the last.
I don’t have any other notes. Do you have questions?
I took a breath and thought about it, but after everything today…? Christ, I’d probably need two weeks of recovery before my brain could come up with any questions.
“I think I’m too overwhelmed to process anything right now,” I admitted. “I’m just happy to have met you. And that nobody told me to go to hell or called me a liar.”
She stared at me blankly for a second or two before she went to write a new note, presumably an answer to what I’d said.
A moment later, she showed me the notepad.
Ryan told Darius that you’ve known about us for a while but were afraid to reach out. It was mentioned that you looked us up on social, but you couldn’t have done it in a suspicious way. I have software in place to pick up unusual activity from four different browsers, as well as social media platforms. If you’d behaved like a stalker, I would’ve known. (It’s a safety measure after years of worrying about Darius and Ryan potentially coming home with targets on their backs. I am their supreme leader in cybersec. And in Darius’s case, general tech support. He’s useless with technology.)
My mouth twitched, and I nodded minutely in understanding. “Once I found Ethan on Instagram, I’d usually find some of you in the comment section. Your sister is private on Facebook, but her Insta is more open. I mean, I can see her comments. She doesn’t have many photos. She does, however, have many witty responses to whatever Ethan posts about.”
My favorite was the time she replied to one of his motivational posts about working out at home with, “My God, you need a cupcake.”
Willow flashed a quick smile and wrote something else on the pad.
Elise and Darius are Ethan’s biggest trolls. It’s fun.
I grinned. “I didn’t know Darius was on there too. I’m assuming a very anonymous account.”
She nodded in confirmation and jotted another note for me.
I’ll make sure everyone adds you today. Not that Darius’s account is interesting. His purpose on social media is to leave comments on Ethan’s posts. You’ll usually see something like, “It’s way too early for this health bullshit. Pick a better time. I haven’t had my coffee yet.”
I chuckled. Fucking hell, this was surreal. Each sentence spoken about anyone in the Quinn family was a new puzzle piece falling into place.
“I only post memes of dad jokes and Army stuff on my account,” I admitted.
She raked her teeth over her bottom lip and wrote me a response.
If you set your account to private, I can teach you how to be safe online and still share a bit of your life. You’ll have an entire family in Washington jonesing for updates. Even Mom has accounts.
I took a breath and let another rush of relief run through me. They were including me in things, and nothing made me happier.
“I’d like that.” I mustered a smile as I pushed back my emotions. Enough was enough. I’d cried in front of everybody already.
She nodded firmly and wrote a shorter note next.
