Chapter 6
Intelligence gathering under hostile questioning
Finn
The car stopped in front of a restaurant I recognized as the farm-to-table place Dom and Enzo had taken me to when I’d first returned stateside. Best short ribs I’d eaten in years. I climbed out and turned to offer Sasha my hand, relishing her touch when she took it.
The ma?tre d’ greeted Dom by name before leading us to a table near the back. The warm, low lighting and steady hum from the open kitchen were exactly what I needed after such an odd day.
I waited until Sasha was seated before sitting beside her, making sure I could see the front entrance. Dom was already discussing wine while Enzo asked about their burrata appetizer. I skimmed the menu, keeping half my attention on Sasha as she studied the art on the walls.
Our server returned with the wine and appetizer. Sasha declined her pour, ordered Perrier with lime, then asked detailed questions about preparation methods—especially whether dishes contained walnuts or pecans. I filed away the information.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Dom asked Enzo as they studied their menus. When our server returned, Enzo chose the pasta with mushrooms and truffle oil while Dom opted for duck breast with cherry sauce.
Sasha hesitated, asked a few more questions, then settled on herb-crusted chicken thigh. I handed over my menu with my order for ribeye and garlic mashed potatoes—unfussy and familiar without making Dom roll his eyes at my choices.
Enzo raised his wine glass. “To us,” he smiled at Dom before turning to Sasha and me. “And to the best siblings we could ask for.”
“Not that you had a choice,” Sasha murmured. Enzo didn’t hear, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from twitching.
“To all of us, then,” I added as we clinked glasses. I took a sip and laid my napkin in my lap. “So, what did you want to talk to us about?”
“Finn, please,” Enzo looked mildly offended. “Can’t we enjoy catching up first?”
“Catching up about what?” Sasha reached for sourdough and burrata. “We’ve been at your house since yesterday and you text me nearly every day anyway.”
“Has Oliver said anything else about selling the studio?” He stuffed a large bite in his mouth.
She stiffened slightly, glancing at me. “He texted today, but I haven’t responded.”
“The studio?” I asked, genuinely interested in any information about her life I could gather.
“I co-own an animation studio,” she shrugged, sitting back and looking at me without quite meeting my eyes. “Seven years old and profitable enough to fund indie game development on the side.”
“She’s being modest,” Dom rolled his eyes affectionately. “Catalyst is an award-winning studio. They sometimes contract with larger companies for games and animation. They did Titan’s Legends of Heliox.”
“Shit. Well done.” I was impressed. From what I’d heard, the game based on Dom’s wildly successful movie franchise had dominated the gaming market.
Genuine pride bloomed across her cheeks.
Most people in Dom’s world name-dropped their projects and experience like currency, but Sasha had downplayed her success until Dom called her out.
I wanted to know more—what drove her, what made her create something so massively popular, and why she mentioned it like it was nothing special.
“I assume Alex works there too?”
I couldn’t help myself. I needed to know, so I ruined the moment.
“Alex works there too,” she confirmed, offering nothing more—the blush fading. Damnit.
“Finn,” Dom turned on me, “how’s Louise?”
I nearly choked on my cheese and glared at my brother. I caught Sasha’s head tilt from the corner of my eye. Mercifully, the server interrupted.
As soon as she left, Enzo jumped back in. “Lou was Finn’s high school sweetheart,” he clasped his hands to his heart, batting his eyes. “But he ran away and joined the Navy instead of marrying her. She’s been texting him ever since he got back.”
“She never married?” Sasha asked, her tone carefully neutral.
Maybe she was jealous too. Maybe I wasn’t the only one feeling whatever this was between us.
“Divorced with a kid,” I shoved potatoes into my mouth, chewed, swallowed. “And I texted her first to let her know what had happened.”
“Lou works on the ranch where Dom and Finn grew up,” Enzo continued his gossip session while Dom watched with unmistakable delight. “Just outside Jackson Hole. Most gorgeous place you’ve ever seen.”
Something flickered across Sasha’s face before she reached for her glass, taking a longer sip than seemed normal.
“Technically, she works at the lodge,” I corrected. Why was I helping him? And why did I suddenly feel the need to downplay Lou’s connection to me?
“Is she someone you’re interested in...” She raised her eyebrows instead of finishing, her voice casual in a way that felt anything but.
“No.” I didn’t feel like elaborating, but I watched her face for a reaction to my answer. Her shoulders relaxed slightly—so slightly I might have imagined it if I wasn’t tracking every micro-expression like I’d have to report on them later.
“Speaking of the ranch,” Dom cleared his throat. “We’ve decided that’s where we’d like to have the wedding in September.”
My chest tightened. I’d purposely stayed away from North Star Ranch except for one trip in late January so my parents and grandmother could confirm I was still breathing.
I shouldn’t have texted Lou, but it was nice having someone to talk to who knew me before everything.
I didn’t know about her divorce until a couple months ago.
“Oh, that’s going to be so romantic,” Sasha sighed, a dreamy look crossing her face.
“I’m glad you think so,” Enzo grinned, reaching across the table for her hand, “because I wanted to ask you to be my Maid of Honor.”
“Of course!” She beamed.
Weird. Wouldn’t he want Alex? I guessed the sibling he was closest to made sense.
Dom cut through my confusion. “Finn, will you be my best man?”
I blinked. “Me?”
“Yeah, you idiot,” Dom looked at me like I was crazy. “You’re my brother and best friend. Of course I want you.”
“I’d love to,” I smiled back. “I’m totally going to kill it at this best man thing. I’m going to best man so hard, you’ll wish you were gettin’ hitched twice.”
“Okay, don’t oversell it,” Dom snorted. “I don’t want it adding stress while you’re still recovering. We’ve got a wedding planner and plenty of help. Your roles are more honorary than anything.”
I sobered, meeting his eyes. “Dom, I’m honored you asked. I’d be more than happy to be your best man.”
“Great!” Enzo clapped his hands. “Now that that’s settled, what are we thinking for dessert?” He flagged down our server.
I glanced at Sasha. She was watching me with dark eyes, cheeks flushed as she chewed her bottom lip—like she was calculating just how long she could get away with torturing me.
I swallowed involuntarily. This was going to be a long summer.