32. Finn
Finn
It had been another two weeks and still no sightings, no leads, nothing on Kate’s parents. They had disappeared.
I stood outside watching Kate play with Noah on the front porch, trying to pretend everything was normal, when my phone rang. The same number as before. I swore under my breath, turned my back to Kate and clicked accept.
“Finlay?” The sugary sweet voice I’d tried so hard to forget came down the line.
“Yep.”
“We need to meet. We have things to discuss, darling.”
“Look, I’m on a job at the moment. As soon as I’m off it, I’ll call and we’ll sort something.”
“Just make sure you do, sweetie. As soon as you can. This is important.”
I clicked off the phone and turned back to Kate. She hovered behind Noah as he tried to walk on the uneven ground. The simple act of watching them just be normal brought a smile to my face, and a warm feeling settled in my chest.
My phone rang again, and I caught the worry on Kate’s face. I smiled at her to reassure her that everything was okay.
Riot’s name flashed across the screen.
“Riot?”
“Pres wants you back. Both of you. Prospect’ll ride your bike back so you can take the truck with her.”
I glanced at Kate, smiling as Noah gripped her finger and toddled along.
“Is it safe?”
“Haven’t seen them since the day you shot out of here like a rocket. Every lead’s been a dead end.”
I exhaled slowly. “Alright. I’ll pack up. See you tonight.”
We packed quickly. Kate didn’t complain, but I could see her nerves in the tightness in her shoulders, the way she kept checking Noah like she was bracing for something to go wrong.
We made good time on the road, one prospect in the truck with us, another riding my bike behind.
The closer we got to town, the more on edge I felt, eyes constantly flicking to the mirrors, scanning, checking, then drifting to Kate’s reflection in the rearview mirror.
She caught me once and gave me a small smile.
I didn’t believe it. Fear still lingered in her expression.
“Can you think of anything, no matter how small, that your parents have said or done? Anything that can lead us to them?”
Kate shook her head. “I’ve been thinking. That’s all I’ve been doing at the cabin.”
“Wait,” she called out, and I slammed on the brakes.
“Are you okay?” I scanned the area and all I could see was a couple walking out of Burger King, holding the hands of a child wearing a paper crown.
“Yes. Yes. You can carry on driving.”
I signalled to the prospects that all was okay and indicated I was pulling back off.
“I just remembered, they were arguing a few days before I left. They mentioned something about Marchetti Crown. Do you know what that is?” She glanced over at me.
“No, but maybe one of the brothers will.”
The second the engine cut in the clubhouse lot, the front door flew open. Lucy ran out, Maria right behind her, both heading straight for Noah, their voices soft as they cooed over him.
Riot stood in the doorway, tracking them before his attention settled on me. “Pres wants us in church. Now.”
He jerked his head towards the back and turned. I followed, glancing back once to see Kate giving me a small nod. They were safe.
The brothers were already seated when we walked in, and I took my usual seat.
Reaper slammed the gavel once, the sound cutting through the room.
“Finn. Update.”
“Not much, Pres. Cabin was quiet. Kate mentioned her parents arguing about something called Marchetti Crown.”
“Link, look into that.”
“Already on it,” Link said, pulling his laptop closer.
Reaper’s attention returned to me. “Anything else?”
His stare pinned me. I should’ve talked to Kate and asked her what she wanted, how she felt about any of it, but I hadn’t. And now, I was in it. If I didn’t lock it down, someone else would decide her place in this club. I wasn’t letting that happen.
I straightened. “Yeah, there is. I’m claiming Kate as my old lady.”
Reaper stayed silent for a beat, weighing it up, then gave a short nod and smirked. “Accepted.”
Spider smirked. “Saw that one coming.”
Keno leaned forward, laughing. “Does she know?” I didn’t answer, and that only made him laugh louder. “You might want to tell her that little detail.”
Riot’s dry voice came from the end of the table. “Yeah . . . probably important.”
Reaper tapped the table once. “Update on our end.”
Riot straightened. “No sightings on the car since that day. Address Kate gave us, abandoned. Marcus checked it out. Same with the car, found wiped clean. No card use, no motel bookings. They’ve gone dark, and they’ve done it well.”
“Shit,” I muttered, dragging a hand over my face.
“Don’t worry, brother,” Keno said. “We’ll find them.”
“Yes,” Reaper added, attention flicking towards me, “we will.”
“Any other business?” Reaper asked.
One of the brothers leaned forward. “Had a problem at the bookies. Some guy came in looking for a job. When Honey turned him down, he got physical.”
“She okay?” I asked immediately.
“Shaken. Spooked. He knew her name, brought coffee from the place near her flat.”
“Finn,” Reaper said, already knowing the answer, “that shop is your responsibility for protection, right?”
“Yes, Pres.”
“Then you’re back on it. We’re stretched thin enough protecting Kate and chasing leads. From now on, she stays here or at your place. Prospects will cover your house. You’ll split your time every other day at the shop. Make sure Honey gets there and home safely.”
I nodded, no argument. I’d already put the club out long enough.
Reaper swept a glance around the room once more. “Anything else?”
Silence.
“Church is closed.”
I stepped out into the hall and spotted Riley heading towards the back room. I took another couple steps when I remembered I’d left my phone in the box in church. I turned back just as her voice reached me.
“No one has to know. Since I’ve joined, I’ve needed to feel your cock in me, Pres.”
Reaper’s voice came low and dangerous. “I said no.”
“I won’t say anything,” Riley pressed, stepping closer. “I’m right here if you want?—”
“I have an old lady.”
A pause.
“She doesn’t have to?—”
“Take your hand off me,” Reaper snapped, “or I’ll break those fingers.”
I stepped into the room.
Reaper called out, “Finn. Good. Take out the trash.”
I took my phone out the box, grabbed Riley by the arm, and walked her into the main bar, Reaper following close behind. She kept talking, complaining, throwing out insults, but no one paid her any attention.
Reaper stepped forward and raised his voice. “Club whores, line up.”
The room went still before they slowly moved into place, none of them meeting Reaper’s eyes.
“I’ve let the disrespect slide too long,” he said. “I didn’t want to run this club the way my father did. That ends now.”
No one spoke.
“Club whores are here for one purpose—to keep the brothers satisfied. That’s it. Unless you work at one of our businesses, you are not part of this club beyond that.”
His attention swept over them.
“I have an old lady. Lucy. Riot’s old lady is Maria. Finn’s old lady is Kate.”
The room exploded with gasps, whispers, shock. My head snapped up, attention landing on Kate across the room.
She was frozen. Shock and confusion flickered over her face.
I tried to apologize with my eyes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lucy. She wasn’t watching me or Kate. Her focus was fixed on Riley, sharp and cold, a warning sitting heavy in it. She’d seen enough walking out of that back room to know something had crossed a line.
Reaper suddenly grabbed Riley by the back of her shirt and hauled her closer until she was right in front of him, his grip tight, unyielding.
“When we say no,” he said, “it means no.”
He dragged her a fraction closer, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“Do you understand?”
Riley swallowed hard, all the attitude gone as she nodded quickly.
“Yeah . . . I understand.”
Reaper held her for a second longer before shoving her back, his attention already moving on.
But mine didn’t, because Kate was still staring at me, and I’d just changed everything without giving her a choice, when all she’d had her whole life was choices taken away from her.