Crown of Lies (Pretty Ruthless Monsters #2)

11. Quinn

11

QUINN

Back at home with the Princes, I can finally sink into one of the plush armchairs in the living room, if only for a few minutes’ rest away from prying eyes and ears. Nico, Killian, and Atlas seem to have the same idea, flopping down onto the comfortable furniture with expressions ranging from pensive to outright grim.

“Alright, so we’ve established that we still don’t know a fucking thing,” Nico begins, his frown deepening. “We have no idea how much The Saint might or might not know about what really happened with Silas and the fire at the clubhouse.”

A muscle ticks in Killian’s jaw as he gives a nod of agreement. “We need to figure out a way to keep Quinn safe while we find out who the fuck this asshole really is.”

From the couch, Atlas clears his throat and leans in a little. “What if we make it look like we’re still working for him? The longer he thinks everything is back to normal, the safer Quinn will be.”

The room falls silent as we all mull over his suggestion. It’s not a bad idea, really. For all we know, that creep in the mask could’ve been someone else hired by The Saint to watch me. If he thinks the men have backed out of their deal, he might just send another psycho after me.

“It could work,” I admit slowly. “At least until we can get to the bottom of who he really is and why I’m so damn valuable to him.”

Nico exchanges a weighted look with Killian before giving a decisive nod. “Alright, we’ll go with Atlas’s plan for now. But we need to be careful about how we go about tracking The Saint down.”

“His communications are all encrypted,” Killian grunts. “We have no way of tracing his identity from the messages alone.”

We’re essentially flying blind here, with zero leads on the twisted bastard who seems hell-bent on ruining my life. My fingers dig into the arm of the chair as a surge of anger rushes through me. I’m so sick of being caught in the middle of everyone else’s messed up power plays and revenge plots. For once, I want to be the one calling the shots, not just reacting to whatever fresh hell gets thrown my way.

“Well, we have to start somewhere,” I huff, straightening in my seat as an idea begins to take shape. “I have to go talk to someone. They might be able to help us find a lead on The Saint.”

Nico, Killian, and Atlas exchange a look before rising in unison, their expressions hardening—almost as if they’re preparing for an argument.

“We’re coming with you,” Nico states flatly.

I can’t help the flicker of irritation that sparks within me. I’m perfectly capable of handling this on my own, but I bite back the sharp reply that’s burning on the tip of my tongue. If we really are working as a team now, I have to let them do their part. And for better or worse, their part includes shadowing me—both to keep up appearances and for my own safety.

Without saying a word, I grab my jacket and head for the door, the Princes falling into step behind me. My mind is racing during the drive across town, with the desperate hope that Willow and her men might be able to shed some light on our current situation.

“What is this place?” Nico asks as we pull up in front of a large, plain warehouse.

“A friend—well, acquaintance—of mine should be here,” I mutter as I double-check the most recent address I have for Willow. She sent it to me after she and her men moved in, saying she wanted to make sure I had a way to contact her. “Hopefully.”

I take a deep breath as I approach the door, steeling myself for anything unexpected. Not that I think Willow or the three brothers she’s living with would try anything unprovoked, but there’s too much crazy shit going on in my life right now to take any chances.

Plus, I mean, look at us. Nobody is going to mistake us for vacuum cleaner salespeople.

Thankfully, Willow answers almost immediately. Her large brown eyes wide in surprise as she takes in the sight of me and the Princes.

She always struck me as a sweet woman—too sweet to be hanging out with the three tatted up brothers who came to my father asking for help, honestly—and true to form, a smile spreads across her face as she meets my gaze. I can see a tiny flicker of worry behind her eyes too, which means she’s probably already figured out that this isn’t a social visit.

“Quinn! I wasn’t expecting you. It’s—it’s good to see you again.” She gives me a quick, friendly nod, then glances behind me, taking in the Princes as she adds, “And I see you’ve brought company.”

I dip my chin in acknowledgement. “Yeah, these are some… associates of mine.” I’m not sure how much to divulge about the nature of our relationship just yet, so I keep my description as vague as possible as I gesture to each of them, introducing them in turn. “This is Nico, Killian, and Atlas. Guys, this is Willow.”

The men give tight smiles in greeting, their expressions completely unreadable. Willow’s eyes flit between them and me, a slight furrow appearing between her brows—like she’s trying to piece together how exactly we’re all connected.

Before she can ask any questions, she seems to realize we’re all still crowding her doorway and gestures for us to follow her inside the warehouse. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry. Um, come in. Sorry about the mess.”

As we trail behind her, the large open space comes into view—an eclectic mix of furniture and random objects scattered around. I’m guessing this place doubles as both a living space and a hub for whatever side hustles Willow and her men have going on.

The sound of a door slamming draws my attention to the back of the warehouse, where a familiar figure walks in with a scowl. The man striding toward us has thick dark hair, gray eyes, and hard features, and although I’ve only really met him once, his name is stamped in my memory so deeply that I know I’ll never forget it.

Malice.

“Hey, Solnyshka,” he rumbles, his eyes fixed on Willow as he closes the distance between them in a few long strides.

Before Willow can get a word out, Malice hauls her against him and kisses her deeply—so passionately that it nearly bends her backward.

I can’t help the spike of awkwardness that rushes through me as I watch them, shifting my weight from one foot to the other and averting my eyes. It’s not like I’m a prude or anything, but seeing such a blatantly shameless display of affection feels a little weird, given how strained things are between me and the Princes right now.

Willow seems to remember we’re here after a few heated moments, breaking the kiss with a breathless laugh as she gently pushes Malice back.

“We have guests,” she tells him quietly, and his gaze shoots to us.

His focus lands on me first, a flash of recognition crossing his features. Then his attention shifts to the Princes. I’m not sure if he knows who they are or not, but he can clearly read the ‘fuck around and find out’ vibes that all of them radiate. His stance shifts, his expression hardening into a scowl as he wraps an arm around Willow’s waist and pulls her closer protectively.

“They’re with me,” I say quickly. I’m not sure how I feel about making that statement, but I need to make sure Malice doesn’t see any of us as a threat. Given how protective he and the others seemed to be of Willow when they came to Blood and Ink to meet with my father, I doubt he’ll agree to help us if he thinks it’ll put her in any danger.

His eyes narrow slightly. “I see.”

Before anyone can say anything else, two other men walk down the stairs into the wide main living space. Just like Malice, their names and faces are burned into my memory. Victor has short dark hair, and his features are somewhat similar to Malice’s. Twins, maybe. Beside him, the man named Ransom shoots a curious look at me and the Princes. He’s got messy brown hair that’s lighter than either of his brothers’, and he’s holding a tiny bundle swaddled in a pale pink blanket.

“Ah, there’s my favorite little girl,” Willow coos, crossing the room to take the baby from Ransom’s arms. She cradles the infant close, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“This is Dayana,” she says, glancing over at me and the Princes. “Our daughter.”

Nico gives a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment while Killian and Atlas remain silent and unreadable. I’ve never really known what to do around babies, but I can’t help but smile a little as Dayana scrunches up her face, letting out a little noise. I had no idea that Willow had had a baby since the last time I saw her, and although I barely know her, I’m glad that she and her men seem to be doing well. They’ve fucking earned it.

Victor gives me and the Princes a once-over, his gaze a little too perceptive for comfort. “What are they doing here?”

“I’m not sure,” Willow admits, that flash of worry appearing in her eyes again. “They just got here. I’m sure you remember Jonah’s daughter, Quinn. And these are her… associates. Nico, Killian, and Atlas.”

She gestures vaguely at the men, like she’s still not quite sure how to categorize them.

Victor’s wary expression makes him look even more like Malice than ever, and he steps closer to Willow, radiating the same protectiveness. Ransom is the only one who seems even a little bit at ease, although he moves closer to Willow too.

“So?” he asks. “What are you doing here?”

I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I meet their questioning gazes head-on. “I need to call in the favor you owed my father… and which you all owe me now.”

Malice’s eyes are full of distrust, his jaw clenching so tightly I can see the muscle twitching beneath his skin. Victor’s shoulders tense, and Ransom lifts his chin, his expression growing more serious. Behind me, I can feel all three of the Princes shift a bit, flanking me closely.

Willow draws in a deep breath, bouncing Dayana lightly as the little girl’s eyes drift closed.

“You’re right. We owed your father a favor, and with him dead, that means we owe you. It’s the least we can do.”

She shoots her men a pointed look as she says that last part, as if trying to head off any arguments they might have, but all three of them nod.

The knot of tension in my gut unwinds a bit. I didn’t really think that they’d refuse to help me, but it’s a relief to know that they’re willing to honor the agreement they made with my father.

“I really am sorry about what happened to him,” Willow adds softly. “All four of us owe him our lives. If he hadn’t agreed to help us, there’s a good chance none of us would’ve walked away from that fight. He was tough as nails, and he seemed like a good man.”

Her simple words, and the sympathy I can hear in her voice, hit me harder than I expected. I’m not sure I ever gave myself enough time to grieve his passing—there were too many pressing things for me to deal with as I stepped into his shoes, working hard to keep Enigma together and carry on his legacy. And even a year later, it hurts to think of him, like opening up a fresh wound all over again.

I swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat, blinking rapidly to get rid of the telltale sting of tears pricking my eyes. I can’t afford to get emotional. Not here. Not now.

“He was a good man,” I say simply. “The best.”

Shoving my thoughts and memories aside with a hell of a lot of effort, I force myself to focus on the reason we came here.

“I need your help tracking down the identity of someone who’s been communicating with the Princes,” I state, keeping my voice carefully level. “He goes by the name ‘The Saint’, and he’s hired them anonymously for some jobs. He’s been communicating via encrypted messages.”

Willow exchanges a weighted look with Malice, Victor, and Ransom, some unspoken thought seeming to pass between the four of them. Even little Dayana seems to sense the sudden tension in the air, waking up and letting out a soft whimper.

“Vic can probably help with that,” Willow says, adjusting Dayana in her arms. “If anyone can trace encrypted communications and find out who’s behind them, it’s him.”

Victor gives a confident nod, his expression sharp. “I’ll need access to the messages, but even with heavy encryption, I should be able to give you more information about who’s been sending them.”

Nico nods. “We can give you access to the messages right now.”

“Good.” Victor jerks his chin. “Come upstairs. All of my computers are up there.”

“Quinn, you can stay with Willow,” Malice adds. “The other three, come with us.”

His gaze cuts to the Princes, clear distrust still simmering in his eyes—but at least it isn’t outright hostility anymore.

Nico seems to bristle slightly at the challenge in Malice’s tone, but he doesn’t argue. I get the feeling he’s trying to keep things as civil as possible, for my sake. Or maybe just for the sake of getting the information he wants.

With a few brief words exchanged between them, Malice, Vic, and Ransom head for the stairs, gesturing for Nico, Killian, and Atlas to follow.

All three of the Princes shoot me a version of the same concerned look, but I give a subtle nod, letting them know that I’ll be fine down here with Willow. I know she’s a lot tougher than she looks, but she’s holding a baby, for fuck’s sake. It’s not like she’s gonna jump me as soon as my men leave the room.

The men , I correct myself mentally, grimacing. Not my men .

All six of the men disappear up to the second level of the warehouse, and the tension in the air finally eases a bit once I’m left alone with Willow and baby Dayana. I find myself relaxing slightly as Willow settles onto a nearby couch and gestures for me to join her, cradling her daughter close.

“She’s cute,” I offer somewhat awkwardly, glancing at Dayana as she nestles deeper into her mother’s arms.

“Thanks.” Willow chuckles, her tone fond. “She’s got all three of her daddies wrapped around her little pinky finger already. I caught Vic singing a lullaby to her the other day. It was so fucking sweet.”

“I bet,” I say, although I honestly can’t imagine the stone-faced man singing any song, much less a lullaby. Then again, I saw how he looked at Willow, and at Dayana too. So I guess it’s not that unbelievable.

“So…” Willow glances over at me, her tone casual but her eyes sharp with curiosity. “Those three men you came in with seem pretty protective of you. What’s the deal there?”

I blink, almost choking on my next breath. I can’t believe she picked up on anything between us, and I’m completely caught off guard by the question. If she’d asked me something about Enigma or the current threat we’ve been facing, I would have a ready answer for her.

But this? I have no idea what to say.

“It’s… complicated,” I admit, settling back against the couch cushions. “We’re not… I mean, there’s nothing going on between us. Not really.”

Willow raises an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Come on. I saw the way they were looking at you. The way they all stood close to you like that. And I saw the way you looked at them too.”

I shake my head, feeling a familiar twist of frustration in my gut. “It’s not like that. They’re my enemies. This is just a temporary truce while we deal with this Saint situation.”

“Enemies?” Willow echoes, her brows rising. “That’s a pretty strong word.”

I let out a heavy sigh, twisting a lock of teal hair between my fingers. “Yeah, well, it’s accurate. We’ve got a complicated history, and not in a good way. Trust me, once this is all over, we’ll go right back to hating each other.”

Willow nods slowly, her gaze growing thoughtful. She glances toward the stairs where her men disappeared with the Princes a few minutes ago. “I felt that way too, once. I was sure I would hate the Voronin brothers forever. And then one day, I realized I didn’t. Not only that, I realized they were the only ones who would have my back no matter what.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, shaking something loose inside me that I’ve been desperately trying to keep buried. The conviction in her voice, the certainty in her eyes—it rattles me in a way I can’t quite explain.

I open my mouth to deny the implication behind her statement, but the words seem to catch in my throat. Swallowing hard, I force out a dismissive scoff. “For you and them, maybe. But your story isn’t mine. The Princes and I may be working together for now, but we’re never going to be more than allies of convenience, at best.”

Even as I say it out loud, a tiny flicker of doubt flares in the back of my mind. I can’t afford to dwell on it though.

Willow studies me with an expression that’s full of so much empathy and understanding that I can’t help but feel like she’s been exactly where I am at one point in her life. I squirm a little under her gaze, glancing away as silence falls between us.

I really don’t want to talk about whatever shit is going on between me and the Princes anymore, and thankfully, Willow seems to pick up on that and doesn’t push the issue, letting the subject drop. We talk about mundane things for a few moments, her catching me up on her life since I last saw her, and me filling her in on a bit of what’s been going on with Enigma since I stepped into the role of leader.

Several minutes later, the sound of footsteps on the stairs signals the return of the Princes and the Voronin brothers.

“It’s going to take a while,” Victor announces. “I’m working on decrypting and tracking the messages, but I won’t have any answers for you for several days, at least.”

I rise quickly to my feet, eager to get out of this place that suddenly feels a little too full of love and domestic bliss for my liking.

“Fine. We should get going,” I announce, not meeting anyone’s gaze. “We’ve got a lot more work to do.”