9. Chapter Nine #2
And… if I’m being honest with myself, I want Finn to see. A dark part of me likes it when he eyes me over. It fills me with power.
“I should fuck you,” he rasps.
“But you won’t. You said you wouldn’t rape me.”
“I should just do it so you’ll stop looking at me like I’m good. I’m not fucking good.”
I shiver. “Why are you trying so hard to be evil? You spared a woman’s life tonight, Finn. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. And we’re married now. Don’t you want me to like you?”
“Do you?”
“No,” I answer right away. “I don’t like you at all.”
“But?”
“There is no but.”
He leans right over me until we’re chest to chest. His lips are a fraction away from mine. “There is a but. You don’t like me but…”
“But…” My heart is beating fast. Why is it beating fast? Why is my body responding in this way to him? “But I did lean into you when you took my wedding dress off.”
“Why?”
“I…. for a moment, I wondered what it would be like to have you touch me.”
His eyes darken and a heat goes straight to my core. I can’t even explain it. Without another word, he lowers his head to my chest. His lips press against my upper chest, right where my heart is.
I gasp.
His hands encircle my waist. Goosebumps break out on my skin. I should stop this. I don’t want this.
But…
Finn keeps his eyes glued to mine as he places his lips around one of my nipples. His other hand grabs my other breast and squeezes.
All the air leaves me. A fire is starting to spread through my body. A fire that I’m worried I won’t be able to put out no matter how hard I try.
Finn releases both of my breasts and sits up. “So, if I fucked you right now, would you stop me?”
I don’t know how to answer that.
I want to say ‘Yes,’ I would stop him. A part of me means it. I want to be worshipped and respected and Finn is not the man for that.
But I also want to say no. That I would not stop him. A dark, dangerous part of my mind wonders what it would be like to be ravaged by a man like Finn. Once I’m taken, I would be free from the shackles I’ve had around myself all my life. From the shackles of my good reputation.
My father never let me date. If I had the choice, I probably would have found a man already. I probably wouldn’t still be a virgin.
I want to live a little.
My lips part but no sound comes out. Fear cripples me. I want to answer both ways but I know I can’t and it’s stopping me.
Finn smirks like he can read my mind. “Thought so.” He lets me go and stands up. I can finally suck in air again.
“Thought so what?” I snap. I resist the urge to put the shirt back on.
“You’re still afraid of me as you should be.”
“One act of kindness doesn’t outweigh all the bad you’ve done.”
“Good. I don’t want you to see me as a good man, princess.”
I sit up and this time, I can’t help but bring the shirt to my chest. Being half-naked in front of Finn is making it hard to think. “Why?”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“You’re confusing,” I admit. “You relish being disliked. Who wants that? That sounds… lonely.”
My words seem to strike a chord with him as his eyes open wider. “Enough,” he growls. “It’s still dark out. I need to get some sleep.” He leaves the room without another word.
When he shuts the door behind him, I hear it lock.
Finn hasn’t changed at all but for a moment, something got through to him tonight. If he’s not evil, then I can work with him to release me. I can make him see that it’s the good thing to do.
But convincing Finn of doing a good thing is going to be an incredibly challenging task.
Finn
Viktor is back to war with Erik and Dante, just the way I want it. Just the way I orchestrated it.
I need something to do to push Aria from my mind so I go to Viktor the next morning. He tried to kill me in the past and I’m pissed at him for that but he’s still my best chance at taking Dante and Erik down. He has the power to do so.
Viktor’s house is swarming with guards. They force me to stop before I can even reach the front gate.
“Tell Viktor that Finn Murphy is here and he wants to talk.”
They call Viktor and after a minute, motion me on through. They do take my gun with them. Bastards.
Viktor meets me at the front door. “Finn.”
“Aren’t you going to let me inside, Vik?”
“I told you to never call me that.”
“Fine. Viktor.”
“You’re the reason I’m at war with Erik and Dante again.”
“Well, technically, you did that to yourself.”
Rage courses over his face as he grabs my shirt and hauls me close to his face.
“You started it when you kidnapped Aria and blamed me for it. Elio believed you without hesitating and attacked me. I couldn’t stand for that.
I refuse to be treated like that. But this all started with you, Finn. If you had just stopped, then…”
“Then what? You really think you could have peace with Erik and Dante? With my brother? After how they all treated you. I know you never forgave them. I know you hate them. So, let’s just work together again to bring them down.”
“We tried that for a year and it got us nowhere.”
“No. We weakened Dante and Erik’s drug shipments. We made them lose millions of dollars.”
“The only way to bring those men down is to kill them. It’s something you’re capable of, isn’t it? If you want to work together again, Finn, then go kill Erik. Should be easy for you. But can you kill Dante? You were once friends.”
“I can kill Dante.”
“But can you kill Aiden? Your own brother?”
I try not to waver but it happens. It fucking happens.
Viktor huffs and lets me go with a shove. “I thought so.”
“I may not be able to kill my brother but I can kill Dante. I can kill Erik. They’re the ones running the show. Once they’re gone, we can swoop in and gain power. You know it.”
“You tried to turn me against my own wife.”
“Inessa lied to you about who she really is. I was just making you aware of it.”
Viktor looks like he could punch me. “You really are an asshole, you know that? If you want to work together again, Finn, then you need to prove yourself. Kill Dante or Erik for me and then we have a deal.”
I want to cuss Viktor out for acting all high and mighty with me. He’s a fucking Bratva man who’s killed people, no better than I am.
But he has more resources than I do. More power than I do. I need him more than he needs me.
“Fine,” I grumble. “I’ll fucking prove myself to you, Viktor. Once Dante and Erik are dead, we can run this city. But if you go back on your word, I’m coming for you and your wife.”
“You will never go anywhere near Inessa again.”
“Or your sister then.”
“You will never even set eyes on Julia. Leave my wife and sister out of this. This war is between us men, not the women. Give Aria back.”
“I married her, you know.”
“I heard.”
“So, I can’t give her back. She’s mine now.”
“Then you better kill Dante soon or he’ll kill you. Watch your back, Finn. Or don’t.” He slams the door in my face.
Fucker. Fine. I’ll go kill Dante or Erik. But I will never be able to get close enough to them at their houses or any of the businesses they own. Not when they’re surrounded by guards.
I need to draw them out.
And I have just the idea.
My brother will not be expecting me to attack him. I have no desire to kill Aiden but I need to do whatever I can to draw Dante out.
Aiden isn’t as well protected as Dante and Erik are. He lives in a luxury apartment building with one security guard out front. I know which apartment my brother lives in. If I spook him, he’ll go straight to Dante and I can kill Dante that way.
I walk right past the security guard and head to the elevators. If you act like you belong somewhere, no one will question you.
I knock on Aiden’s door.
But it’s not Aiden who answers.
It’s his wife, Elena.
Long brown hair, doe-eyes, beautiful. I can see why my brother fell in love with her.
Her face contorts into utter terror at the sight of me as she tries to slam the door closed. I killed her father a few years ago and she’s never forgiven me for it.
I shove my body into the door and push it open, making her stumble back.
“Finn, what are you doing here?” she demands.
I slam the door behind me. “Is your husband home?”
She hesitates a beat too long and it tells me everything I need to know. Aiden is not here.
“He’ll show up if you call him. So why don’t you call him for me.”
“Just get out. You won’t hurt me.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Is that why you think I’m here? To hurt you? I want to talk to my brother so call him. Don’t piss me off, Elena. You know I’m not your biggest fan. You stole my brother from me.”
“If you kill me then -,”
“Then what? Aiden will kill me? I’m not going to kill you, Elena. Stop being stupid. Just call my brother.”
With shaky hands, she picks up her phone from the coffee table and calls Aiden. “Finn is here,” she says after he answers. “You need to hurry.”
“Hang up,” I snap.
She does as I say. “Aiden will be here soon.”
“Good. Good. You and me are going to wait until he returns.” I place my arm around her shoulders. “So, how have you been?” My eyes land on her belly. It’s larger than I remember it being. I suck in a breath. “You… You’re pregnant.”
She places her hands over her stomach. “Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt my baby.”
I let Elena go. “I hate you. You know that. But even I won’t kill a pregnant woman. Get a fucking grip, Elena. Stop begging me. It’s fucking annoying.”
“Sorry,” she cries.
She’s so different from Aria. So afraid. How the hell does my brother even stand her? Aria is fierce and bold and brave. That’s the kind of woman I like. Not this scared, simpering girl that Elena is.
Elena and I stand in the living room, facing each other until the front door bangs open and Aiden enters. Took him long enough.
“Aiden,” I say. “Nice to see you again.”
He lifts his gun. “Step away from my wife.”
“I’m not here to hurt her. I’m just here to deliver a message. I’m coming for Dante. He should get his affairs in order because I’m going to kill him.”
“No,” Aiden says, right before he pulls the trigger. The bullet hits me in the shoulder, knocking me to the ground.
Aiden grabs Elena and gently pushes her to the door.
My brother shot me. He actually shot me.
He’s never done that before.
To say I’m pissed and betrayed is a fucking understatement.