Chapter 39 Finn
THIRTY-NINE
FINN
Finn had a new outlook on life. He had come to realize that it wasn’t as bleak and shitty as he had originally thought it was.
He had also come to understand that love was fucking fantastic.
Seriously, it was the best thing in the world.
He couldn’t understand why anyone would ever want to not be in love or have a soulmate in the first place.
Hell, he used to be like that, but having Gianna made him a new man. A man with a life that he actually woke up to in the morning not fully dreading.
For the past week, they had been in complete paradise.
His bruises were still healing, but other than that, nothing was stopping them.
With the relationship out in the open finally, Gianna wasn’t so scared about hiding anymore.
Instead, she sat with him on the couch, kissed him goodbye, and slept next to him at night.
She still chose to not use such heavy PDA around Allister for obvious reasons, which Finn could understand for now.
Still, every time he grabbed her hand or pressed a kiss to her cheek in front of Allister and he did that weird face scrunch thing, it sent copious amounts of serotonin through his brain. Slowly he was getting his revenge.
The only thing that still remained was finally taking control of all the Kingsley businesses.
He didn’t dread it as much as he thought he would have, but it made him fucking nervous.
This time, instead of going to the office, he was invited to Luna’s and Valerio’s home, probably so that if he ran, they could catch him quicker this time.
Finn wasn’t running anymore. He was done with that part of his life.
He was let in by one of the many staff who worked there and led through the grand foyer to the sunroom where there was lunch being set up.
Small hints of spring decorated the home, mostly through the addition of intricately assorted flowers in vases.
After learning about how much Gianna loved the season, he had a different outlook on it than he had before.
Valerio and Luna sat in the sunroom, smiling and talking to each other in hushed voices. They didn’t even notice when Finn walked in or sat down. It took him clearing his throat loudly for Valerio to roll his eyes and finally turn towards him.
“What?”
“It’s great to see you both as well.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know you got here,” Luna said, giving him a warm smile.
Finn looked around the table noticing that there were two other plates set up as well. “Are more people joining us?”
“Allister and Dante are. They’re involved in all my business matters, so I need them involved with this as well,” Valerio said. “They’ll be here in a couple of minutes.”
He could only nod, twirling his thumbs together at the awkward silence. When he looked up, he saw that Luna stared back at him with a hungry smile. One that almost scared him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because you have a girlfriend now who just so happens to be my best friend and I want to know how that’s going,” she said, the excitement clear in her voice.
“It’s going fine.”
“Fine? That’s all I get? Give me more. Like when did you realize you were in love? Have you always been into her? Did you guys have something going on when you were younger? I need some details,” she said.
“Yeah, Finn. Give her the details,” Valerio said, smirking.
He rolled his eyes. “What details? We never had anything going on before, and it just kind of happened.”
Her face fell. “You suck at this.”
“How can I suck at not wanting to talk about my love life with you?”
“Because you’re in love and it’s special. I want to know how you feel, how you’re experiencing it, how you’re treating her.”
“You might have to use extreme measures to get anything out of him, baby.” Valerio grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss to it.
Finn let out a long exhale. “It feels amazing. She’s the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and this feeling is like I’m flying on fucking clouds. It terrifies me how much I love her because if she ever leaves me, I’ll be a disaster, so that’s what I’m going through.”
“Oh my God, you are in love,” Luna said, holding a hand to her heart. “We all feel those things, especially at first. It’s scary and vulnerable, but it’s so magical and it’s the best thing you’ll ever feel. Lean into it and enjoy it. You both are perfect together.”
Finn could only nod his head. He hadn’t expected to get serious, but when he started spilling, it all kind of tumbled out of him. But there was a comfort in knowing that the feelings were mutual—the fear and the terrifying part were on the same coin as the blissful, heavenly part of it.
Luckily, his response wasn’t needed because Allister and Dante were walking in, loud and obnoxious. They sat down at the table, immediately pulling the attention onto themselves.
“Sorry we’re late, someone couldn’t find an outfit,” Allister said, rolling his eyes.
“I didn’t know where my corduroy pants were and that was the vision for today,” Dante said, shrugging nonchalantly.
“Let’s just start,” Valerio said.
They acted like it was a real meeting, snapping into it right away. A couple workers came out to bring drinks and food before leaving the room and closing the door behind them. Finn grabbed some sandwiches and salad, filling his plate while he waited for Valerio to get on with it.
“Finn, I know the last time we talked it was emotional for you. I’m hoping we can get through this conversation without any outbursts,” Valerio said.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have sprung it on me that my father didn’t leave me shit nearly six months after his death. Next time, tell me right away,” he said, shrugging. “Are there any more surprises like that today?”
This time it was Luna shaking her head. “No. There aren’t.
You’re also right about that. We should have told you right away, but you were gone and on the run.
We spent that whole time looking for you and when you came back, you were in such a weird state.
Figuring out whether you even wanted this was the first step. ”
He pursed his lips. She wasn’t wrong. Him running would have made it difficult for him to take on any news like that. But he had been home for weeks, they could have told him at any point. He deserved the truth regardless of what he was going through.
It didn’t matter now though. He knew it now and it still didn’t change anything.
“Well, I want it now. What steps do I need to take or whatever?”
“So professional. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. The Vitali empire saved the Kingsley one from collapsing. They’re interwoven just like they should have been at the beginning,” Allister said. His tone was sharp, and Finn ignored the digs to focus on what was actually being said.
“So there’s no way for me to take over the Kingsley side?” he asked. Immediately, the same fury was returning. At every turn, it felt like he was being betrayed, just one thing after another.
“That’s not what we’re saying. Instead, there is no Kingsley empire independent of the Vitali one. They rely on each other,” Valerio said.
“You’d be partners, dumbass,” Dante said.
“Partners? Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Finn,” Luna said, shaking her head. “You have to remember that for six months we were trying to stop all these companies and estates from closing. The only way to do that was by merging them together.”
“You’ll still own them, be the head of the Kingsley empire, and be able to navigate that the way you want, but with the existing businesses, we’ll be partners.
Anything you open or do outside of them can be independently owned if you open them separately and use your own money, which will take some time,” Valerio said.
Finn clenched his jaw, trying to think everything through.
Back then, when they were planning on taking down their fathers, Luna and Valerio had brought up the idea of them being partners and running the empires side by side.
He hated the idea and was even revolted by it.
Mainly because he never wanted to tarnish the Kingsley name with the Vitali’s.
Things had changed though, hadn’t they? The name didn’t mean much at the moment and his father had nearly burnt it to the ground along with him. His sister was married to the Vitalis, and they had offered him a home when he had nowhere to go.
Most important of all, he was in love with a Moretti, the cousin of a Vitali. So really, change wasn’t something he could fight much against. Not anymore, it seemed.
“How do I know you mean all of this? How do I know that I’ll still have some say in the Kingsley name and that I’ll get to run it?” Finn asked.
“Are you kidding me?” Allister asked.
“Let’s just say I’ve been burned before by liars promising me titles like this.”
“I’m not looking to take your name,” Valerio said. “I said once before that I wasn’t going to be my father, and I hope you won’t be yours, which is why I have no issue giving it to you.”
Luna grabbed his hand, looking at him with soft eyes.
For the first time in so long, Finn felt what they all had been feeling.
The sense of belonging and of family amongst each other.
The partnership, whether it was temporary or not, was a way for them to connect and create the new life for themselves that they needed. Each and every single one of them.
He couldn’t believe that it was happening. He had always dreamed about a life like this. Where he was the Don and he had a loyal family around him, and he would have the love of his life standing next to him through it all. Now, that life was at his fingertips. Waiting for him to grab it.
Finn nodded his head. “Okay. Let’s sign or do whatever we need to make this happen.”
“Why do you assume there’s something to sign?” Dante asked.
He shrugged. “With you guys, there usually is.”
Allister pulled the papers from his bag. “Well, you’re right. Valerio’s signature is all here. You can read through it before you sign if you want, but I hope you know there’s nothing in here that would harm you.”
Finn snorted. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Well, don’t. You’re dating Gianna now. If that goes any further and you’re supposed to take care of her, you’re going to need the money and success,” he said, handing over the papers. “Besides, she’s my sister. I would never harm her.”
“And harming me harms her?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Well, at least we know you’ll be financially stable,” Luna said, a beaming smile on her face. “The ring Gianna’s had picked out for years costs more than you’d ever imagine.”
“Of course it does,” Finn said, signing the papers.
“Oh, and the wedding, don’t forget about how much that’ll cost,” Valerio said, a grin on his face. “Especially the dress, and with her taste, forget about it.”
This time Allister let out a loud chuckle. “Oh God, you’ll never retire.”
Finn shrugged, handing the papers back. “If it means giving my princess whatever she wants, I’ll do what I have to.”
“Whipped man, everyone is whipped.” Dante shook his head.
Finn couldn’t even fight him on that. Not one bit.