36. Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter thirty-six
Peter
Edith had told me to stay upstairs while she talked to Hummingbird, and I found it hard to stay away.
I glanced at the basement door for the millionth time, worried about her.
The woman was a beautiful paradox. She was brave, yet terrified.
Strong, yet fragile. Full of life, yet guarding it with everything she had, and I wanted nothing more than to make sure she didn’t have to do it alone ever again.
I’m not sure how much time had passed when I finally heard the door to the garage open and people walk into the house.
“Peter?”
I glanced up and then stood when I saw Quinn standing in front of me. “Yes?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Want to tell me why Edith’s car is here?”
Here we go. “You have a minute to talk?”
“Is everything okay?”
I shook my head. “No, not entirely. And before you go worst-case scenario in your head, no one is hurt.”
Phil cocked his head to the side, trying to read the situation. “You need me here, or do I need to take a lap?”
“Actually, you should stick around for this.”
Quinn's brow was still furrowed. “Peter, what’s going on? Is talking in here okay, or do we need somewhere private to chat?”
“Wherever you’re going to be comfortable.”
Her eyes went wide. “That kind of conversation? Damn. Okay.” She kicked off her heels and walked to the fridge, opening it and reaching inside.
“You want something to drink?” When Phil and I both shook our heads, she pulled out a can of pop, turned, and sat on the grey couch. “Sit and start talking.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Once I was seated next to her, I dove in.
“The short version is Edith and I have been helping protect someone. The knowledge of that person’s location has been compromised, so they couldn’t stay there anymore.
Their life was in danger.” I let out a sigh.
“Per direct instructions, I brought them here. Edith is downstairs with them right now.”
Quinn’s eyes went wide as she sat up with a start. “What? Holy crap. Poor thing.” She paused for a moment. “I’m assuming this person isn’t a threat to us?”
“No.” The opposite, if anything.
Quinn now nodded. “And they are staying in your room?”
“For the moment, yeah.”
“Do they need anything? Clothes? Snacks? Medicine? A doctor?”
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly in relief as I realized Quinn was not only accepting this but completely embracing it. “I think they are okay but thank you.”
Quinn nodded. “Of course. Will I get to meet this person or get to know anything about them?”
Her question gave me pause. As much as I wanted Quinn and Hummingbird to meet, it wasn’t my call. “I’ll have to check with Edith first.”
A grin appeared on Quinn’s face. “She’s the one in charge?”
I shook my head. “Nope, she’s second.”
Quinn’s eyes went wide in disbelief. “There’s someone Edith will play second fiddle to?” She let out a low whistle. “Damn. Never thought I’d see that day.”
If you only knew. “Trust me, if you knew who was in charge, it wouldn’t surprise you. I can ask Edith what we can tell you… or you can ask her. I wanted to give you heads up about the secret house guest. Both of you.” I glanced over at Phil, who was nodding slowly.
He leaned forward. “Well, I’m at least going to need to know what they look like, so if we run into each other in the hall, I don’t assume the worst.”
“I know. I’ll happily introduce both of you to her once I can. I needed to fill in Quinn about it first. Lady of the house and all that.”
She rolled her eyes and smirked. “What did Lukas say when you called him with this?”
I froze. “He doesn’t know.”
Quinn’s eyebrows shot up. “Why not?”
“I can’t yet. I need permission for that, too.”
She narrowed her eyes at me as she pieced together the information. “But you brought the person here.”
I let out a tense breath. “I was told to bring her here by the person Edith answers to. This was the safest place we could use on such short notice.”
Quinn tensed up slightly. “She’s in that much danger?”
It was then I realized I’d dropped more than one non-neutral pronoun. Too late now. Quinn was going to meet her soon enough anyway. “She is. If the wrong people found out where she was, it could be life-ending. She doesn’t need to be here long, just long enough for us to find somewhere—”
“She can stay here, Peter. Please.” Quinn cut me off. “There’s no need to rush her out of here. If a safe place to hide is what she needs, then that is exactly what she’s going to get. I’ll deal with Lukas if the need arises.”
There was a determined protectiveness to her tone, and it made me smile. “She’s been living a life of terror… Not unlike your experience with Jeffery.”
She shook her head. “I wish that on no one. I’ll let you head back downstairs to relay the message that Edith and her guest are welcome to stay as long as they both need, and that I’d love to meet her once I have clearance, if she’s feeling up to it.
And if the three of you need anything, please text me. ”
“Thanks, Quinn.”
Phil was hot on my heels as I went downstairs. “Does this have anything to do with the uptick of errands on your days off?”
I turned to face him as soon as we were off the stairs. “Noticed that, did you?”
He nodded. “Yeah. So, I’m right?”
“Yep.”
Phil stared at me for a moment. “You’ll fill me in when you can?”
“I promise.”
He let out a sigh. “Must be a pretty big deal if there’s this much secrecy about it.”
A tight half-chuckle came out. “You have no idea.”
Once he walked into the security room, I went to my door, knocked, and then quickly walked in, closing the door behind me.
“What’s the verdict?” Hummingbird’s eyes were wide with fear, and it surprised me how much it hurt to see it there.
“Not that it was ever going to be an issue, but Quinn says you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need. Also, she would love to talk to you as soon as she has permission, but only when you are feeling up to it.” A smile appeared on my face.
“You should know she’s already ready and willing to throw hands for you. ”
Hummingbird’s eyes went wide with shock. “What? Why me? I’m no one to her.”
But you’re someone to me. I let out a nervous breath. “When I mentioned your life depended on us keeping your whereabouts unknown, and that this was the safest place we knew to go, she became your biggest ally.”
Edith nodded, a sad smile on her face. “That brilliant woman figured it out without you having to say another word.”
Hummingbird looked back and forth between us. “What is going on? How did she figure out who I was?”
Edith reached over and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “She doesn’t know who you are, but Quinn can relate to you and your situation more than you know. She has lived some of the same fear you have… and fairly recently.”
Stepping forward, I sat on the edge of the bed closest to Hummingbird. “It’s actually the reason Lukas brought Phil and I out here in the first place. To make sure she was safe and stayed that way. Quinn is amazing. You’re going to love her when you’re ready to meet her.”
Hummingbird sighed deeply. “I’m going to be meeting a lot of people pretty soon, aren’t I?”
I glanced at the door and then returned my attention to her face. “At minimum, Quinn, Phil, Cole, and Lukas, but only because they all live and work here. I suspect there might be more later, pending how we move forward with keeping you safe.”
“Four people. Tonight?”
“No.” I shook my head. “We can keep it to Quinn tonight, and only if you’re up for it.”