Page 73 of Beneath the Surface

“Both,” Dax said quietly, honestly, catching her by surprise. Quinn looked at him, but his eyes met her grandmother’s instead, unflinching. “It started as the job. But Quinn...she makes it impossible not to care. Not to fight. She’s the bravest person I’ve ever met.”

Her grandmother was quiet for a long moment. Then she said, “You’ll keep her safe?”

“With my life.”

“Even when she’s stubborn and reckless and runs headfirst into danger?”

Despite everything, Quinn heard the hint of humor in her grandmother’s voice. Dax’s mouth quirked.

“Especially then.”

Her grandmother nodded slowly, as if coming to a decision. “My son would have liked you. David had good instincts about people. And he would have trusted you with his daughter.”

Dax’s throat worked. “I’m honored, ma’am. I wish I could have met him.”

“You’re meeting him through Quinn. She’s so much like him.” Her grandmother’s hand tightened on Quinn’s. “Stubborn. Brilliant. Determined to save the world one truth at a time.”

“Gran...” Quinn’s voice was thick with tears.

“I’m proud of you, Quinny. So proud.” Her grandmother’s eyes drifted between Quinn and Dax. “Don’t let fear keep you from living. From loving. Life’s too short for that.”

Quinn felt Dax’s gaze on her, but she couldn’t look at him. Not right now. Not with her grandmother lying here, giving what felt too much like a final blessing.

“You should rest now,” Quinn said instead, adjusting the blankets. “We’ll be right here if you need anything.”

“Good.” Her grandmother’s eyes closed. “That’s good.”

Within moments, her breathing had deepened into sleep.

Quinn stayed kneeling there, holding her grandmother’s hand, until Dax gently touched her shoulder.

“Come on,” he said quietly. “Let her sleep. You need rest too.”

“I can’t leave her.”

“You don’t have to. But you can’t kneel on this floor all night either.” He glanced around the room. “There’s a chair. You can sleep there, stay close.”

Nathan appeared in the doorway. “I can take first watch. You two should eat something. When’s the last time either of you ate?”

Quinn tried to remember and couldn’t. Breakfast? Maybe?

“See?” Nathan crossed to her, gently pulling her to her feet. “Go. I’ll sit with Gran. If anything changes, I’ll get you immediately.”

Quinn looked at her grandmother’s peaceful face, the steady rise and fall of her chest. She was breathing easier now. The crisis seemed to have passed.

“Okay,” Quinn relented. “But just for a little while.”

***

The dining room table was covered with files and documents—everything they’d retrieved from the Seattle safe deposit box, everything Clara had provided, years of her father’s meticulous investigation into Wheeler’s crimes.

Quinn stared at it all, feeling overwhelmed. So much evidence. So much proof. And yet Wheeler was still out there, still free, still dangerous.

“Here.” Dax set a sandwich in front of her—something Nathan had made from whatever was in the fridge. “Eat.”

“I’m not hungry.” The thought of food didn’t even register. She felt…blank.

“Eat anyway.”