Finn (17 page)

“Not this time,” she whispered.

“The fuck you say?” He leaned back to look at her.

She stomped hard on the arch of his foot. He howled in rage, letting go of her arms. She lashed out with the razor blades and sliced along his face. Three deep gashes stained his cheek.

She knew time was short, and her attack wouldn’t stop him, but she just hoped to make it to the door. Alyssa ducked under his flailing arms. She raced to the door and swung it open. He closed behind her. The ding from the elevator caught her ears. If there were people in it, they might be able to help her.

Alyssa ran as fast as she could, staying just out of reach of his hands as they lunged at her. The doors opened.

“Wait,” she yelled, and the doors stayed open.

She rounded the doors of the elevator and lunged through. Shaking, she landed in a pair of warm arms. She breathed in deep and knew instantly she was with Finn.

“You bitch,” Mike roared.

She looked over and saw Liam had his gun raised. Mike stopped in front of the door and stared. Blood from her slice trickled down his neck, and he shifted off the foot she had stomped on.

Finn raised his gun, his arm still wrapped around her.

“Get on your knees,” he said.

Mike looked at her, pleading with his eyes that she do something for him. She didn’t want to see him killed, but a good part of her wouldn’t have been sad to see him beaten a little.

“Are you here under Boris’s orders, or are you doing this on your own?” Finn said.

Mike spit on the floor.

“You broke my jaw and stole my woman. I’m here to kill you, and that’s just a benefit to Boris.” His smile chilled her.

“You’ve told me everything I need to know for now.” Finn smiled at him and looked at Liam. “Take care of him. I’d talk to talk to him more later.”

Liam hit him on the side of the head. He slumped to floor.

“What are you going to do with him?” she asked quietly.

Finn turned to her. “He’ll live,” he said.

She winced. Much like with lying to cops, his method of questioning was something she wasn’t used to.

“And after you’re done questioning him?” She looked up to him.

Finn sighed. “I don’t really know what to tell you,” he said. “You know who I am. Sometimes there are things I have to do in order to make things safe for the people I love.”

She nodded.

“I’m just going to say I’m exercising a lot of control in this.” He glared at Mike. “This piece of shit already hurt the woman I love. And then he wanted to do it all over again today. He’s lucky I didn’t put a bullet in him as soon as he stepped in front of the elevator door.”

Liam cleared his throat. “The men are here to take out the trash.”

Finn nodded and looked over to Alyssa. “So can you deal with me?”

She wrapped her arms around him and sighed. “Yes.”

He might not be perfect, but he would do everything in his power to protect his family, and that meant something to her.

She watched as a few men carried Mike away. A part of her wanted to feel pity, but anything he got in life, he more than deserved.

Chapter Twenty

Alyssa smiled as she entered the hospital room. The fresh flowers in the corner were a sure sign Haley had already been there to visit.

“How you doing today, Noel?” She smiled at him.

He constantly kept his head turned, so the burned side of his face wasn’t visible.

“Still keeping me in here,” he said quietly. “Your friend was here.”

She nodded at the flowers. “I see she brought you some new flowers.”

Noel grunted. “I don’t know why she bothers, it’s not like some flowers are going to fix anything.”

“Maybe,” she said. “So when do you get out?”

He frowned. “Not for another week. I’m sick of being here. Cops keep coming by trying to get something out of me. I’m a sitting duck for them and any other asshole.”

She turned away to keep from laughing. Although he had suffered some serious psychological issues, this had nothing to do with that. Haley had been more than a little persistent, but they all figured it was something to take his mind off what had happened.

“Well I just stopped by to see if you need anything,” she said. “It’s my last day of aquatic therapy.”

“Lucky,” he said. “They’ve got me on more therapy in a day than I even thought possible. Mostly just to teach how to deal with the scars and what that means for movement.”

Alyssa nodded. “Keep at it,” she said. “It might not feel like it’s working now, but in a month it will be such a difference.”

She paused at the door and looked back at him. “How’s the group therapy going?”

“Shit,” he said. “How am I supposed to relate with them if I can’t even tell them what really happened?”

“Maybe you should take Finn up on his offer for private therapy,” she said.

He grunted. “Maybe.”

She knew the conversation was over. This was something she mentioned nearly every time. Alyssa just wanted Noel to find some peace. She worried that it ate at him, that he spent too much time thinking about how he was going to get Boris back.

“Bye, Noel,” she said and walked into the hall.

At least now he was admitting there was an issue. Maybe someday he would be able to get the help he needed.

She pushed the worries away and thought of something happier. At least for her, it was her last day of therapy.

* * *

Finn strolled into his most recent purchase. The building was older but had so much potential. Even the location had the ability to be more than it was. Just on the outskirts of town, they could actually have a parking lot and even build around it if they wanted. He liked the idea of an empire.

Liam met him at the door to the smaller hallway off the main area.

“How’s he doing?” Finn asked.

Liam shrugged. “He’s fine. I think we’ve gotten all we can from him.”

Finn sighed. He really was a small fry.

He walked into the makeshift cell and looked at Mike. The large man was haggard and covered with bruises. Over all, he was really more trouble than he was worth. They’d had to feed and clothe the piece of shit. He was tired of babysitting.

“Well, Mike,” he said. “Looks like your time with us is finished. We’ll be letting you go tonight.”

“What,” he said, his expression incredulous. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” Finn nodded. “There’s nothing else we can get from you. Besides,” he smiled, “I bet Boris is just sick with worry for you. Why I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out there right now. Combing the streets for you.”

“You can’t do this.” He stood and shouted. “You’re sending me to my death.”

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you myself, you son of a bitch.” Finn crossed the room in a flash and stood in front of the big man. “You made a deal with the devil, and now you want me to show you some mercy?” Finn leaned in closer. “Looks like you made a deal with the wrong devil.”

Finn turned and walked to the door. “Good luck out there,” he said and went through the door.

Liam was on the other side waiting for him. “Will Boris kill him?”

Finn shook his head. “Likely not, but I’m betting Mike doesn’t stick around to find out.”

“So where does that leave us in all this?” Liam asked. “Boris is out there waiting for his shot to take you out, and Ennis has quite a few men now.”

Finn smiled. “Yeah, but what Ennis and Boris don’t know is they aren’t the only ones with a plan. This little pact they have going on is just hanging by a thread. All it would take is one man on the inside and the whole thing would come falling down.”

Liam stopped and grinned broadly. “This changes everything.”

“I certainly hope so.” Finn nodded. They stepped outside into the warm sun. “Have him released tonight. Give him pocket money if you feel it necessary,” he said.

“Feeling generous?” Liam asked.

“You know what I’d do if I didn’t have to answer to Alyssa,” he said flatly. “No, then I can say to her that I did what I could without it being a lie. The less she’s involved in all this, the better.”

“Understandable,” Liam nodded.

Finn climbed into his car. “Last day of aquatic therapy. I hate to admit it, but I’m going to miss watching her swim around in that little bikini.”

Liam laughed. “I’m pretty sure she’d give you a private viewing.”

Finn winked. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

He revved the engine a few times and sped off down the road.

* * *

Alyssa grinned at Steve as he signed off on the last of her therapy papers.

“Now, just remember, you still need to stretch the muscle out before doing any wild stunts.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Got it,” Finn said behind her. “Stretching before bed.”

She blushed when he winked at her.

Steve chuckled behind her.

“Come see me sometime,” Steve said. “Maybe a follow up in three months?”

Alyssa smiled and nodded. “Sounds good.”

“Good,” he said and walked to the men’s locker room.

“How was Noel?” Finn kissed her and wrapped his arms around her wet body.

“Grumpy.” She frowned.

Finn laughed. “I’m not so sure that’s much different from before.”

“Maybe when he’s out of there he’ll feel a little more relaxed. He said the police keep stopping by.”

Finn frowned.

“Maybe I’ll see if I can hire Kace to be on-duty there,” he said. “If anyone can get rid of the cops, it’s an ex-cop.”

Alyssa watched him carefully for a moment before speaking. “Did you take care of your business this morning?”

Finn sighed, and for a second, her heart leapt into her throat.

“We’re letting him go tonight,” he said. “Liam’s going to give him some cash to get out of town.”

She leapt into his arms and pulled him in for a searing kiss. When she pulled back, she couldn’t help the smile that came to her face.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “You know what I wanted to do with him.”

She did. He’d only said it about a million times over the last few weeks, but he hadn’t. He specifically hadn’t for her.

“You know,” she smiled at him and walked toward the locker room, “we’ve got the place for another hour.”

“Oh?” he said and kept his eyes fixed on her body.

It always made her feel like she was something special when he did. She winked at him as she walked through the doors.

“Oh look at that,” she said and tossed the top to her bikini behind her into the pool room. “My top seems to have come off.”

He growled. “Let me just get that for you,” he called.

She laughed and let the door shut behind her. It was always fun to make him work for it a little.

A Note from Madison

Thank you for reading
Finn
. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.

The next book in the series,
Conor,
is scheduled to be out April.

ALSO BY MADISON STEVENS

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