Manacled Hearts: an Age Gap Mafia Romance (The Sanctum Syndicate Book 3)

CHAPTER 40

“Do we have more bubble wrap?” Maya asks as she walks around the living room, looking between the half-packed boxes.

“Yes, in the corner by that empty bookcase there’s a big roll.”

She skips with a bit too much enthusiasm in her step for someone who’s currently packing moving boxes. There’s so much more left to do. I barely packed half the living room, and I’m already bored out of my mind. The ache in my shoulder and limited mobility isn’t helping. Maya, though, she’s treating it like it’s the most fun activity ever.

I must admit it’s endearing to see how she treats all these books. Layers upon layers of bubble wrap around them to make sure they reach their destination completely intact. She seems to take greater care of Finnigan’s books, picking the older volumes out and wrapping them individually, like she’s protecting memories, not bound paper. She insisted that the books are her responsibility, and she’s actually made much more progress with them than I’ve made with the rest of this room.

“When do you think we’ll be able to go visit Aaro?” Maya asks in her little voice.

Her friend left with Ronan and Annika only two days ago, returning to their home and leaving an open invitation for us. Considering the photos I’ve seen of the idyllic island paradise they live in, I’m keen to go as soon as we’re settled in our new home and we’re free.

“Next school holiday. You’re back on a proper schedule, you know that.”

“But that’s not until Christmas!” she protests. “Ugh, fine… I miss not having to go to school.”

“I’m sure you do.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Now keep packing.”

“Can I help?”

His warm, rich voice fills my chest with comforting heat, and I whip around to find Finnigan leaning against the wall, arms crossed against his chest.

“What are you doing up?” I rise to my feet and rush to him. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”

I look down at his torso, checking to make sure he’s okay and hasn’t ripped a stitch. Three weeks have passed since his surgery, the skin sealed by now, so I’m aware I’m being a bit over the top. It would take much more than rising from bed to tear it open.

“It goes both ways, Evie darling.” He brushes his knuckles over my cheek, pulling a smile from my lips. “You know we have people coming who will pack everything.”

“I know, but we wanted to focus on the more personal things,” I explain.

“Your shoulder needs to heal.”

It won’t take as long as his lung, but he’s not wrong; the bullet that tore through him and lodged in my shoulder did some damage. Those armor-piercing rounds are absolutely ruthless. Madds and the others still feel guilty for missing the guy who shot us, and considering that one of their own almost died, it’s probably not going to go away for a while. Finnigan has his own guilt about me, and I’m hoping to squash that soon, because I truly couldn’t care less about a wound as long as he’s alive and well before me.

Also, there is something creepily romantic about sharing a scar from the same bullet with Finnigan.

After the doctor came out of his surgery and confirmed he’s alive, in critical condition but he was going to live, Sloan, Maddox and the rest of the guys apart from Ronan, left Queenscove and decimated what was left of Bartiste’s organization. They kept prisoners who gave them all the details they needed, and along with Carter and his hackers, they found what was left of Bartiste’s people. Which wasn’t much. Turns out that due to the access to the ports in Queenscove, and some of the best trade routes, the asshole was set on taking the city from The Sanctum and establishing his trafficking empire here.

His dream crashed and burned. It died slowly, just like he did, bleeding out on the cold concrete floor while watching the video of his disgusting son being eaten by pigs. By the time we left the warehouse, the pigs were halfway done and Bartiste was dead.

We’re free.

I’m free.

“She misses Aaro?” He quirks an eyebrow, gesturing to my sister who’s wrapping up books in a corner.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head, “This is not even the first time she mentioned him since we woke up. The kid’s only been gone for two days.”

“Told you—boyfriend.”

He chuckles and I would smack him if he wasn’t seriously hurt.

“What about you?” I counter, “Do you miss your brother?”

On a deep sigh his gaze drifts out the windows, but there’s no tenseness in his features. That puts a small smile on my lips.

“I think I do. I spent so long punishing him in my mind, blaming him, bashing him, but… it took a simple confrontation to realize it was me I was punishing. Retribution for my own failures. I guess being trapped on a hospital bed for days and not having any choice but to talk to him was all I needed to fully patch up my relationship with him.”

I shrug. “Maybe, but it’s not just that. You’re not the same person you were then, Finn. The pain is not fresh anymore and you’re older, more mature. You process these things differently now. Either way, I’m happy you have your brother back.”

“Look at you, though.” He turns his gaze back to mine. “You’re younger now than I was when it all happened to me, but you’re ten times more mature.”

“Eh, I’m a woman. We’re smarter.”

He bursts into a full belly laugh, clutching his abdomen, and for a moment I freeze.

“Stop it.” I hiss, “You’ll hurt yourself. You know you can’t strain your lungs.”

“Yeah, yeah. Come on, smart-ass.” He turns me and smacks my ass, urging me to move, but I don’t miss the slight cough. “Come, sit with me.”

He guides us on the sofa and pulls me into his side to cuddle me.

“No, I’ll hurt you,” I protest.

“Stop it, woman. I’m not made of glass. Don’t make me ask again.”

Reluctantly, I comply and cuddle into his side as he wraps one long, powerful arm around me.

“Are you going to miss this place?” I ask, watching the sheer, white curtains flow in the breeze.

“Probably not. After Ronan moved out, it rarely ever felt like home.”

I nod because, of course, I understand. After losing mom, Fleeton didn’t feel like home, and it had nothing to do with being homeless.

“Are you sure you like the house I found for us?”

Whilst he was recovering in the hospital he was adamant about wanting a fresh start. For all three of us. A place to fill with memories and everything we missed out on. So I went house hunting. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was the hasty, exorbitant offer I made to the couple whose house wasn’t even on the market, but it didn’t take as long as I thought it would to find the perfect place.

“It’s secure, on a private beach where I can go swimming whenever I want, and you assigned a giant room to build a library. What more can I want?”

I chuckle, remembering how his gaze twinkled when I told him about the double height space the owners were using for a tacky games room, which we could turn into a gorgeous library with a small spiral staircase and wrap around balcony. The prospect excited him so much, he told me I’m free to paint every room black and fill it with skulls and oddities, if I want, especially since he noticed I’ve been exploring my style more and more.

“Are you excited? Are you sure it’s what you want?”

I snort in response. “I never allowed myself to find out what I want, Finn. This… this is beyond any dreams I ever had.”

“You’ve dreamed of me though.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Once or twice,” I answer, trying to sound nonchalant and failing.

“The kitchen in that house helps, though. Right?” he says with a deep, rumbling chuckle.

“Okay, yeah, the kitchen helps.”

It’s gorgeous. Large enough to fit a decent size island in the middle, with a huge window stretching almost the entire length of the biggest wall, above the countertop, and two ovens already installed. I have plans to change the color scheme to deep violets and greens, but the configuration is fantastic. I can already see myself baking like a madwoman in there.

“Any reservations?” His tone is lower as he asks the question.

I hesitate for a moment. “It’s quite a transition for you. From a ‘one night only’ kind of guy to living with your girlfriend and a kid. I guess I just wonder if you’ll—”

“Stop wondering,” he interrupts. “You’re mine, Evelyn. Since the moment I laid eyes on you I knew you would be my end. I just didn’t know what kind of end. Turns out it was of just… existing. I only ever started truly living once you came into my life. You are everything.” He brushes his knuckles down my cheek, stopping under my chin and tipping it up until our mouths align.

His words hit so deep, goosebumps bloom over my skin, bursting from within my chest. He brushes his lips against mine in a ghost of a touch, then presses sweet, soft kisses to them.

“And your sister, she’s the bonus I never asked for and could never, ever let go. She’s part of you, Evelyn, which makes her part of me too. And I finally have someone to talk books with.”

“Thank you.” I whisper. My heart swells with his words. His acceptance of my sister, the one who is now officially in my custody because of him, means more than anything. “Though, she might grow out of reading at some point.”

“Eh, it will be good for as long as it lasts.” He shrugs.

“Are you talking about the new house?” Maya jumps on the opposite end of the sofa and nestles into Finn. No boundaries whatsoever. “I can’t wait for my little nook in the library. Can we build a tent? But like, inspired from ‘One thousand and one nights’, pretty and colorful, with carpets and pillows all over the floor.”

“How are you gonna earn the tent?” Finn asks her.

He knows I never give my sister everything she wants unless she earns it. I was never raised spoiled and I don’t plan on raising her the same.

She scrunches her eyebrows as she digs for the answer. “Umm… I’ll do well in school?”

“You have to do good in school anyway,” Finn says with a chuckle.

“Oh, okay. I’ll unpack the library after you build it.”

Finn turns to me with a surprised expression. “Actually, that’s pretty good,” he says, laughing.

“Yeah, not going to lie, I never planned on doing that myself. Plus, you know… bad shoulder and all.” I shrug, pointing at it.

“Aaah suddenly it’s a bad shoulder. Okay, I see how this will be.” He shakes his head, but the smile stays on his lips.

“So is that a deal?” Maya pulls at his forearm.

“No. You’ll help me unpack the library. It’s a big, slightly dangerous job, sweet girl. But you’ll be my assistant. How about that?”

“Yaaay! Thank you, Finn, thank you!” she wraps her little arms around his neck and hugs him tight, as I’m silently praying she’s not going to accidentally fall on his healing chest.

But she pulls away carefully, jumping back off the sofa and disappears somewhere behind us.

Finn chuckles, turning his attention back to me, squeezing me just a little harder.

“Me and her, Evie… it comes effortlessly. Never worry. You gave me something I’ve been missing for so long, you gave me family. Different from The Sanctum, because you and Maya, you’re all mine. Only mine.”

“Forever?”

“And beyond.”