Chapter 7
Sophie
"We don't have a lot of time," Finn mutters as he buttons up his shirt over my naked body.
"What are we doing?"
"Your father just walked in on us," he says.
"He did?"
"Yeah," Finn grunts, lifting me up into his arms.
"Why didn't you stop?"
"I couldn't," he says. "I didn't know he was there."
"I was kind of hoping you wouldn't," I mumble.
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry," I whisper, my cheeks burning. "I know it's kind of sick..."
His mouth sets into a thin line. He doesn't say a word, just carries me to the car. But before even make it to the door, three police vans pull into the driveway.
"Fuck," he groans.
"What is it, Finn?"
"Nothing," he mutters, setting me down.
"It's not nothing," I hiss.
"Get in the truck."
"Wait, why? What are you doing?"
"Just do as you're told," he hisses, and I shrink away from him.
"Finn, you're scaring me."
"Good," he mutters.
"Where are we going?" I whisper as several men get out of their vehicles, screaming for Finn to get away from me.
"I don't know," he growls, starting the engine.
"Stop, please," I gasp, as Finn puts the car into drive and floors it.
"I can't," he says, his jaw taut.
"Let me talk to my parents," I plead.
"They'll kill me," he hisses.
"You're already on the wanted list."
"This is different," he says.
"What do you mean?"
"It's personal," he says. "You're going to have my baby."
"Maybe," I say, a rush of adrenaline pumping through me.
"Yes," he hisses. "Yes, you will."
"Stop, Finn," I say. "Please, you're scaring me."
He shakes his head. "No, princess. We can't stop."
"Why not?"
"Because if I stop now, they'll take you away from me."
"Who will?"
"Your parents."
"Why would they do that?"
"Because I killed the woman who kidnapped you," he grunts.
"I... I know," I whisper. "But she was dangerous."
"I've been to jail before," he growls. "I.. I'm sure your parents will explain the rest of the story to you."
"Why not you?" I demand.
"I'll be going away for a very, very long time. If not for life, then for a long time. And if you don't have me in the picture, I'm not sure who's going to take care of you."
"Finn, you can't control everything."
"I can't?"
"No."
"But I can try," he says, his hands tightening on the steering wheel.
"Let me speak to them," I whisper. "Please."
"They don't care about you, Sophie," he says. "Not the same way I do."
"You're wrong," I hiss. "And it doesn't matter anyway, because you don't own me. I can talk to my parents. You can't just kidnap me and take me away and not let me speak to them."
"No," he snarls.
"Yes," I hiss.
"They won't give a shit," he snaps.
"They will."
"You think they care about you, Sophie?" he asks. "They have no idea who you are. I know who you are. I've been inside you. I'm going to marry you. They won't understand that."
I shiver as he speeds the car up. My shaky palm lands on his knee, and he twitches with a growl. I watch him throb through his jeans.
"Please," I whimper.
"Don't try that, Sophie."
"Try what?"
"You're trying to make me feel sorry for you," he hisses. "I've done that too many times to count, and you can't trick me. Not this time."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm not letting you go," he hisses. "Not now, not ever."
"But-"
"Enough, Sophie," he growls. "Get your hand off my lap, Sophie."
My fingers find his cock through the denim and I squeeze. He swerves the car, making me cry out. Then, I hear sirens behind us.
"Shit," Finn hisses, pulling the car over.
"What is it?"
"Police," he growls.
"Finn, listen to me," I hiss. "You don't have to run from them. Just explain what happened."
"No."
"What are you going to do? Go on the run forever?"
"If I have to," he mutters.
"Don't," I say, my eyes meeting his. "Don't run, please."
"Fine." His eyes finally meet mine. "You want to see your parents again?"
My breath catches in my throat. I force myself to nod. "Yeah... I think so."
"Okay."
"Really?"
"Yes, but there's something you need to do for me first."
"What is it?"
"Promise to marry me."
I blink, my head spinning. I don't know what to think. My mind is racing. Is this what I really want? Am I ready to commit my whole life to a man who has done bad things?
"Finn," I murmur. "This is crazy. But... yes."
"You'll marry me?"
"Yes," I whisper. "I'll marry you."
"Good," he growls, his eyes flashing.
"But-"
"No buts," he hisses.
"Can't I even talk to my parents about it?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's none of their business," he growls.
"Of course it is," I hiss. "You have to talk to them, Finn."
"Like they'll see me," he growls. "I'll be thrown into jail... any second now."
Two cops are suddenly on us, both their guns drawn on Finn. I let out a sob and I put my palms up, my eyes wide.
"Calm down, sweetheart," one of the cops says.
"What is the problem here?" the other one asks.
"She's scared," Finn says. "I haven't done anything wrong. This is the long-lost princess. My name is Finn O'Reilly. I'm the one who rescued her."
The cops look at each other, then back at Finn.
"Get out of the car, please."
"What's the charge?" Finn asks, opening the car door.
"Driving without a license, driving while intoxicated, kidnapping, and murder."
"He didn't kidnap me," I hiss, feeling angry that my father has gotten involved.
"That's for a judge to decide, sweetheart."
"I'm not your sweetheart," I snap.
"I'm sorry, miss," the officer says. "Get out of the vehicle, please."
Finn gets out of the car, and the officer handcuffs him. I start to sob as I watch them lead him away.
"Wait, please," I cry. "Just give me a minute."
"We can't do that, miss."
"Please," I say, looking up at him. "I'm pregnant."
"You're..."
"Yeah," I whisper, knowing I'm about to play a very dirty game.
"With his baby?"
"Yeah," I whisper, my voice shaking.
"Miss, you..." The older cop's eyes take me in. Crying, messy, dirty, and upset. He sighs. "Fine. One minute."
I sit on Finn's lap, his hands cuffed behind his back. He groans when I straddle him and the cop finally looks away as I pour all my need for Finn to come back into one desperate kiss.
Finn growls, hands struggling against the cuffs, making me bounce on top of him.
Before I know it, the cop taps me on the shoulder and I have to leave. Tears pour from my eyes as the guy slams Finn's car door. My heart pounds.
"You have to let him go," I say to the cop.
"You have a minute."
"I need more than a minute," I say.
"Sorry, ma'am. We're on a schedule here."
"Please," I say, standing up. "I'm begging you."
"That's not my call, sweetheart."
"Stop calling me that," I hiss. "I'm the missing princess, and you can't speak to me like that."
"Sorry, ma'am."
"No, you're not," I hiss, feeling anger building inside of me. "You're not sorry at all. You're a fucking liar."
"Hey," the cop growls. "You can't talk to me like that."
"Watch me," I hiss, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks.
"That's enough," the officer snaps. "I don't need any more lip from you, miss."
He gets into the car and I pick up a fistful of sand and throw it at his back windshield as he races away. Fuck! Now I'm stuck in the desert... and I guess I'm about to meet my royal parents.
Iwalk into the private office of my father, shaking with trepidation. Before I even have a moment to collect my thoughts on the lavish interior of the room, I hear a sob and a woman throws her arms around me.
"Sophie," she cries.
"Mum?"
"It's really you," she gasps. "It's my daughter."
"It's me," I whisper.
"We thought you were dead," she whispers.
"No," I murmur. "Not quite."
"Thank god," she sobs.
My dad steps forward. I don't know him, but he has kind eyes and a warm smile.
"We never gave up hope, Sophie," he says.
"I'm not sure I understand," I mutter.
"Come on," Mum says, holding her hand out. "You look tired."
"Where are we going?"
"Your room, silly," Mum smiles.
"My... room?"
"Yes, sweetheart."
"I still don't understand," I mutter.
"We've been waiting a long time for you to come home," she whispers. "Now, we can finally live as a family. And I'll explain everything that happened."
"I just need to know one thing." I swallow thickly. "There's a man who saved me. His name is Finn..."
I watch my father's smile turn into a grimace.
"I want to know why he's been accused of kidnapping me," I hiss.
"Sweetheart-"
"Don't 'sweetheart' me," I hiss. "Tell me the truth. You owe me that much."
"Of course," Dad says. "It's a long story. Let's get you settled in, and we'll talk."
I swallow and nod. A maid helps me get ready and I'm left in a comfortable room. My mother joins me shortly, bringing me some tea and biscuits.
"Are you ready to hear the truth?"
"Yes," I hiss.
"Alright, then," she says, sitting down next to me.
"You were only one when you were kidnapped. The woman who took you, she was your nanny. You must have forgotten her."
"Oh," I whisper.
"She took you away. She thought that she could claim a reward and keep it for herself."
"But Finn-"
"She was the one who took you," my mum says. "But Finn... Finn is her son."