Dangerous Affection

The Decoy's Gamble

(LILA'S POV)

The shed was suffocating, not just from the cramped space or the stale air, but from Quinn's nearness, too close, too intense. His every breath seemed to make the walls close in on me, and my mind couldn't settle.

I thought about Jessica, her fragile form lying in that bed, waiting for someone to rescue her. The guilt gnawed at me, raw and relentless. How could we have let this happen? How could I have been so blind to the danger until now?

"What are you thinking?" Quinn's voice broke through the silence, softer than usual, but there was an edge to it I couldn't ignore.

I didn't look at him, too afraid that if I did, my resolve would crack. "I'm thinking about Jessica. About how we left her behind. How we might be too late," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of the words.

Quinn's knee brushed mine as he shifted. "You think I don't feel that too?" His tone was sharp, frustration and worry tightening his words. "I don't want to leave anyone behind, Lila. But charging in blindly won't help her. It'll get us both killed."

My heart raced, anger flaring in my chest. I met his gaze. "So what? We just hide here while they do God knows what to her? You're so calm about all this, and it makes me sick."

"I'm not calm!" Quinn snapped, his voice rising in frustration. His eyes locked onto mine with intensity that sent a jolt through me. "I'm trying to think straight, which is hard enough when you're second guessing me every damn step of the way."

The tension between us exploded, and for a second, all I could feel was the heat of his anger, and mine. But as his words settled, the harshness of them cut through me.

"You think I'm second-guessing you?" I shot back, every word like a punch. "Maybe because you've given me no reason to trust you. You've been nothing but trouble since we met."

His jaw tightened, and I braced myself for whatever he'd say next. But instead of lashing out, he leaned in closer, his voice lowering to something darker. "You think this is easy for me?" he asked, his words heavy. "Watching you throw yourself into danger like it doesn't matter if you live or die?"

I opened my mouth, ready to argue, but his words hit too close to home. I swallowed hard, the truth stinging.

"You don't trust me?" Quinn pressed. "Fine. But don't pretend like you don't need me, Lila. Because right now, I'm the only thing standing between you and a grave."

The weight of his words hung in the air, suffocating me. My breath hitched in my throat, and just when I thought I might snap, the sound of footsteps outside cut through the moment. Quinn's body moved instinctively, positioning himself between me and the door as the voices of the nurses grew louder.

"They're close," one of them muttered.

I could feel Quinn's hand brush mine in the darkness, grounding me, making me focus.

"I'll distract them," he whispered, his lips brushing my ear. His voice was a dangerous calm.

"No!" I hissed, gripping his arm. "You can't."

He turned to face me, his expression hard, his jaw set. "Stay here. Don't make a sound."

Before I could protest further, he slipped out of the shed, leaving me alone in the stillness. I could hear my heart pounding, louder than the footsteps creeping closer. The quiet was suffocating.

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