Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Then I shook my head and ran for the bus, not wanting to be late. I was nervous as I walked in, wondering how the staff would treat me. If Finn would be waiting. But I was greeted in the same warm fashion, and Finn was nowhere to be seen. The morning was busy with checkouts and getting reservations organized for a large group arriving on the weekend, and it flew by. I had my lunch by the fireplace, feeling strangely bereft. I glanced at the cameras, somehow aware that Finn wasn’t watching me back.
I recalled his words. “I’m not playing this game with you, Una.”
I had to swallow the lump in my throat. Had he given up this time, knowing the bumps ahead were too large to smooth over between us?
On the way home, I sensed eyes on me, but when I looked around the crowded subway car, I saw no one I recognized. No mysterious man leering at me.
I was overtired and upset and seeing things that weren’t there. Jumping at shadows.
I stepped out of the elevator, rounding the corner, shock stopping my feet when I saw Brian outside my door.
“Brian?”
He blinked, looking surprised. Or was that guilt?
“Hey, Una. I was just leaving. I knocked, but you weren’t home.”
“I was at work. You know that. And you didn’t answer my call or text last night.”
“Yeah. I don’t have the old phone anymore. I, ah, had to give it back.”
“When you quit.”
“Guess I’m not surprised you know about that.” He scratched his head. “Can we talk?”
I went past him, glancing down. He had some keys in his hand. “What are those?”
He looked down. “My keys.”
“Do you have a key to my place?”
He looked annoyed. “No. I gave it back, Una.” He held up the ring. “These are to my new place and my car. Jesus,” he muttered, pushing them my way. “You want to check?”
“No.” I huffed a sigh. “Come in.”
He went past me, and I wrinkled my nose. “Have you started smoking again?”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re not my mother. I bummed one earlier. I was tense.”
I looked at him. He was thinner, his dark eyes almost black. He seemed on edge. Unhappy.
“Are you on drugs, Brian?” I asked.
“Fuck’s sake, Una,” he snapped. “Not you too. You and the mighty Finn. So fucking moral.” He snorted.
“You saw Finn?” I gripped the back of the sofa, relief pouring through me. He’d seen Finn, and he was alive.
“He sent his men after me, so yeah, I went and saw him.” He winced as he sat down. “We had words.” He leaned back. “Really, Una. It’s been a day. Can I have a whiskey?”
I poured us each a finger in a glass and handed him one. He tossed it back and held out his glass for more. I poured him another and he frowned, so I added a splash more then sat across from him.
“What happened?” I asked quietly.
“Oh, your boy was full of questions and accusations. I had to prove to him I wasn’t some sort of low-life arsonist. I’ve been busy with Juan, building our business. I don’t give a flying shit about Finn or his world anymore. That fucker Roman Costas filled his head with lies.” He sat back with a smirk, an ugly one. “I set the record straight.” He took another sip of whiskey. “And I paid him the money I owed him, so I am free and clear of him.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew an envelope. “And there’s yours.”
I gaped at him, not touching it. “Brian, what are you doing to get that sort of money?”
“We got an investor in our company. I told him everything. And you know what? He didn’t care. He fronted us the money, and Juan let me take this to pay off my debts. I’ll draw a lesser salary to pay it off. Without fucking interest. I owe nothing to you or your fucking precious Finn.”
I shook my head. “What sort of investor does that? What have you gotten yourself involved with?”
“Why am I not surprised that my sister has zero faith in me? First, I had to listen to Finn all afternoon. Get tossed around. Swear my fucking fidelity to someone I hate.” He took a drink of whiskey. “And now, you’re all sanctimonious, as if you’re so fucking pure.”
He narrowed his eyes, and I shivered at the look of them. Empty. Cold. Angry. And far too black. He leaned close, the scent of cigarettes and something else washing over me. It was all I could do not to gag or lean back.
“You think you’re all high-and-mighty, my little sister? Fucking big bad Finn? Throwing me to the wolf and walking away? You think he can always protect you?” he laughed, the sound unpleasant. “Yet I’m here with you. Alone. I could slap you around, hurt you, and he could do nothing.”