15. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Aria
I keep the gun pointed at the door.
If Sal decides to show his fugly face around here, I’m not going to hesitate to shoot him. He left scars on me that will never heal.
But with Finn… I’m starting to think that I don’t have to live in fear.
When I was kidnapped as a girl, I held onto that trauma for years after. Even therapy hadn’t helped. It’s partly why I put up my hard exterior. It was just easier to do that than face the reality that I was a scared little girl.
Then Finn kidnapped me and I never thought I would be able to escape that same fear that had hounded me for years. But now, he’s making me feel fearless, like I can do anything. It’s ironic. My kidnapper making me feel these things.
But it’s all there. I can’t deny it. I don’t fear Finn any longer. Not after he put his mouth between my legs and I did the same to him. I’m not worried he’ll hurt me physically.
Yet, I still can’t see my father again because of Finn. I managed to see Dante but I know that can’t happen again. Either Finn or Dante will go after the other one and one of them will die. I don’t know how to process that. I don’t know how to feel about that.
If Finn were to die, I’d be free to return home… only for my dad to marry me off to some old man I don’t want. With Finn, I could have an exciting life.
But also a lonely one. Already, I’m getting tired of being on the run, of not having my dad with me. Not having anyone else but Finn. I want more.
I want Finn and I want my family. How can they ever coexist?
Footsteps approach the front door. I undo the safety on the gun. Sal, I’m ready for you, you motherfucker.
The door cracks open.
“Aria, it’s Finn.”
Oh thank god. I lower the gun and put the safety back on. “I almost shot you.”
He opens the door. “I said I would tell you when I returned.”
“I know. But I thought you were going to do it before you opened the door.”
Finn steps inside with a woman. A middle-aged woman who looks a lot like Finn.
“This is my mom, Fiona.”
His mom. Holy…
“You’re introducing me to your mom?” I scramble off the couch and smooth down my shirt. It’s a little wrinkled from the time it spent on the floor when Finn and I got naked on the couch. I flush at the memory. Not in front of his mother.
“I am. She was a little upset to miss the wedding and I wanted you to meet her.”
“I insisted I meet you, actually,” Fiona says, coming to my side and giving me a hug before I can even react. “I wanted to meet the girl my Finn married.” She pulls back. “Let me look at you. Strong teeth. Good. Nice enough hips. You’ll carry children well.”
My mouth drops open. “Uh…” Children? With Finn? That’s something I never even considered.
Fiona laughs – it has a warmth to it that’s instantly comforting. “I’m just messing with you, honey. Finn told me everything. How you two met.”
“How he kidnapped me, you mean?”
“Yes that. And how he made you marry him. My son can be a bit of an ass, so I’m sorry for that.”
“Thank you,” I say, surprise thick in my voice. No one has actually apologized to me for getting kidnapped.
“Finn came to me because he’s conflicted.”
“Ma,” he groans. “I came to you in confidence. I never meant for you to storm over here.”
“Well, I’m here now. And I want to get to know your wife. It’s my right as your mother. I missed both of my sons’ weddings and I’m not happy about that. Sit, Aria. Sit.”
I glance down at the couch where Finn and I went down on each other. Fiona can never know. I try to keep the guilt off my face as I sit down. Her smile is big and wide. She’s the type of woman that you feel safe with.
I never had that in a mother. Mine died when I was young from breast cancer and the memories I do have were not the best. She was a cold, hard woman. Maybe I take after her in some ways. I shudder at the thought.
“Cold?” Fiona asks, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and wrapping it around my shoulders before I can even say anything.
“Thank you.”
“So, you’re married to Finn. I’m going to be blunt with you. Are you happy with him? I know he kidnapped you.”
I glance at Finn, who’s standing by the door with his arms crossed, looking completely closed off. “I’m… not unhappy with him.”
“That didn’t sound convincing, honey.”
I sigh. “He kidnapped me. But he also saved me from this insane hitman. I care for your son. I can admit that. But I still miss my dad.”
“I get that. I tried talking some sense into Finn. I told him to make a deal with Dante Moretti and make peace. I’m tired of waiting by my phone, worried that Aiden will tell me Finn has died.”
“I want him to make peace too. It would solve all of this. But I’m not sure Dante will agree to it. Or Erik Koslov. I think Finn’s burned too many bridges for that.”
“Is anyone going to ask what I want?” Finn mutters.
“Hush,” Fiona says. “We already spoke and I know you want to do something chaotic and stupid that I won’t approve of. Talk some sense into him, Aria.”
“Me? You think I can convince him? I’m not sure I can do that. I’m sorry.”
She grips my hands. “You have to try. I know this will probably be the last time I can see you for a while. I don’t want to draw Aiden’s attention to you two here.
It could put Finn in danger. But I’m tired of missing my son.
If you could bring him back home to me for good, that would be the best gift. ”
“I’m not sure I can convince Finn of anything. I would imagine he would listen to you more than me.”
“You’re his wife.”
“But that doesn’t mean he loves me.” My eyes flash to Finn and he lowers his gaze.
Fiona gives my hands a squeeze. “I know my son. I heard the way he talked about you.”
“Ma.”
“And I know he cares for you,” she continues. “I know. Convince him to make peace. Please. I don’t want to see my son in a body bag. As his mom, I deserve to go first.”
“I’ll try.” That’s all I can promise her. Finn is an unmovable force and a tough nut to crack.
With another hug and a smile, Fiona leaves.
“So, I just met your mom.”
Finn sighs as he slumps onto the couch. “She insisted.”
“She has a point, you know. You’re going to die soon if you keep this up.”
“I can’t make peace with Dante and Erik. Viktor wants them dead and I’m still inclined to agree with him.”
“So, we’ll just spend the rest of our lives on the run? Is that it?”
“You don’t sound happy about it.”
“Of course I’m not happy about it!” I stand up with a huff. “I miss my dad, Finn. I miss Dante. I miss my friends. I miss my old life.”
“Your dad was going to marry you off eventually and then you would have had a husband you didn’t love. You wouldn’t be in any different position than you are in now.”
“Maybe so. But at least I wouldn’t have been kidnapped. I’m not happy, Finn.”
“Thanks,” he mutters, clear sarcasm in his voice.
“You excite me. You’re thrilling. But I deserve a home. Stability. And you’ll never be able to give me that. Not unless you try to make peace with Dante and Erik.”
“They’ll never listen and you know it. So, it’s a moot point. I might as well kill them and go on with my life.”
“But what about my life? What happens to me if you kill Dante and Erik? Am I forced to never see my dad again?”
“It’s better than him being dead.”
I flinch. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, I could have killed him and I didn’t.”
“So… what? I should thank you for not murdering my dad?”
Anger flashes in his eyes as he stands up and towers over me. “In fact, you should thank me. I’m a killer, Aria. It’s what I do. And the fact that I didn’t kill your dad when I had the chance says something.”
“It says that you’re not completely psychotic but you’re almost there.”
“I can never make you happy. I know that.”
“Why do you even want to make me happy?” I ask. “I’m your prisoner.”
“You’re my wife!” he shouts.
I hold my ground. “I am. And you should want to make me happy. Go to Dante and Erik and make peace with them.”
“The second they see me, I’m dead.” He eyes me over. “I’m sure that will make you happy. Then I’ll be out of your life for good.”
“Yeah. It would make me happy. Because then I wouldn’t have to deal with some annoying, crazy, insane asshole like you.”
“Thanks for that, princess.”
“Just stating the truth,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “You are annoying and crazy and insane and an asshole.”
“I think you like that about me.”
“Oh no.” I turn away from him. “I’m not going to let you seduce me again.”
“Why not? I did it so well earlier. You came on my mouth, princess. I’ll never forget it and I don’t think you’ll ever forget it either.”
“I hate you,” I hiss.
“Not surprising. But you didn’t seem to hate me that much when you were moaning as I ate you out.”
I turn around and smack him across the face. “You did this to me. You kidnapped me and now you’re making me feel all these… things I don’t want to feel. It would be so much easier if you just died. Then I could move on with my life.”
“And if I don’t die?”
“Then I’ll be worried about you for every second of every day, just like your mom.
Because for some inexplicable reason, Finn, I actually do care about you.
You saved my life and that’s not something I’ll ever forget.
But I hate you for putting me in this impossible situation.
If you make me choose between you and my dad, then I’m choosing my dad. ”
“Good to know where I stand,” he sneers.
“Yeah. Good. Why is it so hard for you to just be happy? If you made peace with Dante, you could live. We could try to start a life together. Why can’t you just do that?”
“Because I can’t! Because Dante pissed me off when he teamed up with Erik Koslov. My brother pissed me off when he left me in the dirt for some girl and joined ranks with Dante and Erik. I’m pissed, Aria. And I can’t let go of that anger.”
“Why not?”
“Why can’t you?”
I blink and take a step back. “What?”
“You’re full of anger too. I can sense it in you. It’s partly what drew me to you. Why can’t you let go of your own anger?”