Chapter 20
Gianna
The water from the shower is warm, soothing my muscles, cleansing away the residue of sweat, dust, and blood left on me.
But I was right—no matter how the water runs, it can't scrub away the memory of the interrogation room.
That image is carved deeply into me now.
I squeeze a generous amount of Finn's shampoo into my palm and lather it into my hair.
The sharp coolness of the peppermint hits first, followed by the soft citrus undertone.
It relaxes me, dulling the edge of my nerves.
After getting my hair clean, I remain under the shower for an extra minute too long.
I close my eyes and tilt my head back, letting the water drum against my shoulders.
I don't want to part with the soothing fall of the water and the sense of comfort it gives me, but I can't stay here forever, just as I can't hide from my problems.
Eventually, I reach out and turn off the shower. The sudden silence is jarring.
I grab the black robe just within reach, stepping out carefully before wrapping it tightly around myself.
I reach for another towel to wrap my dripping hair before spreading it on a nearby shelf.
The mirror above the sink is slightly fogged, and I wipe a hand across it, my reflection staring back at me.
I reach for the hairdryer, plugging it into a socket close to the mirror. Just as Finn said, about thirty minutes ago, Bernard had shown up with everything I needed. This hairdryer included. I turn it on and dry my hair for another six minutes before stepping into the room.
It's getting pretty late, and Finn isn't back yet.
He didn't say exactly what he wanted to sort out, but I'm starting to feel a bit worried.
I know what it means when a deal falls through with dangerous men.
There are consequences, and sometimes it can be violent.
I couldn't care less what losing the shipment does to Declan.
Let the whole empire burn down for all I care, but I hope it doesn't affect Finn.
I walk to the bedside and pick up my phone, reading his last message.
Good, I'll have Bernard bring you dinner and clothes to change into. Don't go anywhere.
Finn cares about me, and he's probably the only one out there that gives a shit what happens to me. I don't know if I can go on with this game anymore. When I think of it, a part of me aches knowing I'm lying to him.
I sigh and drop the phone, changing into the button-up sweatshirt and pants Bernard had picked out for me.
I turn to the tray of dinner, sitting on the bed.
I only had a few bites of waffles and a sip of smoothie this morning before everything went down.
My stomach growls at the sight of the mac and cheese on the plate.
I sit on the bed, trying to at least force the meal down my throat.
The door slowly opens, and my heart thrums against my chest, fear nipping at the edge of my mind, but it slowly disappears when I see Finn.
Instant relief floods over me. Finn's eyes flicker from me to the left and right of the hallway outside the door.
He looks a bit out of it. "Is everything okay?" I ask, worry evident in my voice.
Finn closes the door and walks to me. "We need to leave," he says, quietly like he's afraid someone might hear him.
"What?" I ask, my brow raised in confusion. Finn doesn't answer. He moves quickly to his office, and I follow him. "What's going on?" I ask again, and he meets my eyes.
"We need to leave the estate," Finn says, moving towards the bookshelf. Without hesitation, he pushes it aside with one hand, revealing a hidden wall safe behind it. My brow furrows in surprise. Who would have thought something like this was tucked away in here? But that's not important right now.
He punches in the code fast, and the safe unlocks with a sharp click.
"Why?" I ask, my voice laced with panic and confusion.
Finn meets my eyes. He remains like that for a second. His chest rises and falls, and I can see the tightness in his jaw and the look in his eyes. He looks like he's contemplating whether to tell me or not. He breaks eye contact with me.
"I can't tell you now." He opens the safe and grabs six stacks of $100 bills, tossing them onto the desk before reaching for a file and a couple of other things.
"Finn!" I grab his shirt, yanking him towards me. "You need to tell me what's going on."
He stops and sighs, looking down at me. There's conflict in his eyes, fear and determination battling behind them. "I need you to trust me. I'll tell you everything later."
Trust him? I blink and run my hand through my hair, trying to focus despite the chaos buzzing in my head. "Okay. Where are we going?"
He glances at his watch, frustration twitching in his movement. "We don't have much time. Go to your room and take only the important things." Finn turns, going to the desk and stuffing his documents and some other things before grabbing a bag to shove them in.
My heart hammers in my chest. I've never been so confused in my life.
Why don't we have much time? Did someone find out about me?
Has Declan changed his mind? Is this about the Italians?
My head races with questions, but by Finn's countenance, I know I have to hurry. Whatever the situation might be.
"How much time do we have?" I ask.
He glances at his watch again. "About thirty minutes. The guards will be back at their stations, and we need to leave before then."
I nod and do as he says. I head to my room and pick up all my things. I didn't bring so much here anyway. As I pack, my thoughts drift to Vito. Do I update him about what's happening? I decide not to. I decide to handle it myself.
Just as Finn said, security is down to a minimum as we take the elevator to the garage. I follow Finn as he steps out of the elevator. Even though I'm clueless, I know Finn won't hurt me. He grabs our bags and throws them in the back seat before opening the passenger door for me.
"Get in," he says, and I comply. I slide in and buckle my seat belt.
He closes my door, walks around to the driver's side, and gets in.
He starts the engine of the BMW 3-Series, and in a few seconds, we're out of the estate and on the driveway.
I keep glancing towards Finn. His jaw is clenched, eyes focused on the road, and knuckles tight on the steering wheel.
Did something happen with Declan? Why did we suddenly leave the estate in secret? He sounded fine over text the last time. What changed within those hours?
The ride is long, and stopping at a convenience store to get groceries makes it even longer. Maybe about an hour, but we finally arrive somewhere. Finn steps out of the car, and I follow him, doing the same. Even though it's dark, I can make out the structure of the building before us.
It's a simple bungalow house. The kind you'd find on simple suburban streets, except we're in the middle of nowhere. I watch as Finn picks up our bags and heads to the entrance. He places the key card on the door, and it opens.
The inside is dark, but Finn turns on his flashlight and finds a switch. As he pulls it down, the whole place is bathed in light. Finn closes the door and double-checks to make sure it's locked before walking down the hallway with our things.
I look around the house. The interior reflects the simplicity of the exterior.
The living room is modest, with cream-colored walls.
Most of the furniture is covered with white cloth.
A rug covers most of the tiled floor. I glance around as I slowly walk deeper inside.
There's a tiny kitchen to the left, open to the living space.
The hallway is short, and I find the bedroom at the end. The door is half open, and I push it wider. I see our bags slouched in one corner of the room. The bed is slightly made, a navy-blue sheet sitting unevenly. A plain, worn dresser sits across from it, a small mirror hanging above.
Then I hear it, the sound of running water. Finn is in the bathroom. I walk over to the bed, pulling the sides to neatly arrange them. I think this is where we'll be passing the night. Afterward, I sit carefully at the edge of the bed, brushing my fingers across the soft sheet.
I cross one leg over the other and stare at the closed bathroom door, questions heavy on my tongue. I have so much to ask him. So, I wait, listening to the water, letting the room settle around us.
After a few minutes, Finn steps out of the bathroom, wearing only shorts. The kiss from earlier plays in my mind, and I shake my head, focusing on the moment. He dries his hair with a towel before his eyes land on me. I fold my hands and raise a brow, waiting for him to start talking.
He drops the towel around his neck and strolls towards me. "You need to rest," he says, and I look at him like he's crazy. Okay, maybe he's a bit crazy.
"Where are we?" I ask, and he sits beside me, throwing the towel on an armrest.
"We're at a safe house. It belongs to my family," he says, tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear. His hand brushes against my skin, and it sends shivers down my spine.
What's wrong with you, Gianna?
"Why are we at a safe house?" I say, wondering why he's being so vague.
Finn raises his brows. "Vacation."
My brows knot. "This isn't a vacation, Finn. What's going on?" I say, my heart racing. I can't seem to understand all of this.
Finn shifts closer to me, and the warmth of his presence is impossible to ignore.
Heat rises to my cheeks. He turns slightly, eyes scanning my face before dropping to my lips.
"I just miss you," he murmurs with a voice barely above a whisper.
"That's why I brought you here. I just wanted us to be alone, away from all of it. "
My breath hitches, and for a second, I forget every question that's at the tip of my tongue. The moment Finn's hand rests gently on my waist, all my thoughts scatter like dust in the wind.
He leans in, slowly, as though giving me space to pull back. I don't. His breath is warm against my skin, and my heart races.
I remind myself I need answers, but then his lips brush mine. It isn't as soft as earlier. Finn is hungry, and I match his energy. His tongue moves into my mouth, exploring all the corners. A soft moan escapes me as the kiss deepens.
My hand grips his shirt, not to pull him away, but to anchor myself. He deepens the kiss, and before I know it, he shifts, gently guiding me down against the bed. His body hovers above mine, and I can feel every inch of him as my hand traces his chest.
His hand moves beside my head, and the other raises my thigh. I can feel the hardness of his groin, a soft grunt escaping him as his hand moves from my head to my face, to the line of my neck. He puts his hand under my shirt, and the skin-to-skin contact sets me on fire.
His hands move up slowly, until they settle on my breasts. He gives them a gentle squeeze, and I arch my back, breaking our kiss. Finn's mouth moves to my neck, kissing me like never before as he pinches my nipple.
The feeling is overwhelming. The warmth of his tongue on my neck, the sweet sensation of his fingers on my nipple, and the pressure of his body against my core. I don't want him to stop. I want him to worship my body. His mouth moves from my neck, and I moan softly as our lips reconnect.
Each time we kiss, it feels like I'm discovering something new. His hand moves from my breasts down to the side of my thighs. He grabs my ass and pulls me closer like we aren't already close enough. But I don't care, I want him just as he wants me.
Just when I think he's going to take things further, Finn pulls away, dropping to my side like he's trying to control himself. I can tell, because I know that look all too well.