38. Finn
Laughter died. Everyone looked toward Sabrina. She stood, her face morphing. Serious. Powerful. Determined.
“Alright, everyone, listen up. We need to move fast. Gear up and head to your stations,” Sabrina ordered.
Charlie stood beside her, his easy grin replaced by a deadly demeanor. “You heard her; let’s go.”
Sabrina looked at Finn to continue.
Finn glanced down at Lucie, her hand gripping her arm, her eyes wide but steady and alert. A part of him ached to stay in the moment just a little bit longer, but someone was in trouble, and the Conductors were the only ones who could help.
Finn stood, his muscles tensing as the reality of the situation sank in. The group was quiet, awaiting orders.
“Stick to your assigned groups. Isla, Dalton, you’re with me. Everyone else, await further instructions,” Finn commanded.
People scattered, heading to their quarters or the armory to grab what they needed.
Finn scanned the area, making sure everyone was moving and knew their roles.
Sabrina had a way of effortlessly commanding the room, and he respected that.
But he and Charlie were always quick to back her up, rallying the others when the situation called for it.
The group sprang into action, marshmallows and laughter forgotten. The fire crackled behind them, a ghost of the easygoing evening they’d been enjoying.
Sabrina turned to Sam.
“Go back to the house,” Sabrina said, leaning down and holding onto his shoulders.
“Let me come with you,” Sam begged, throwing his shoulders to get Sabrina off. “Finn’s been training me. I’m ready.”
Sabrina shook her head.
“You might be ready, but I’m not. I can’t see you out there. Not yet,” Sabrina said. Her communicator buzzed with another call. “I promise I’ll bring you out there myself someday.”
Sam looked at Charlie.
“I don’t know what we’re walking into. I agree with your sister. I promise to sneak you out for another baseball game next week,” Charlie promised.
Sam moved to Finn. “Finn, come on. You know I’d be great,” Sam pushed. “We practiced that new move today, and you said I picked it up faster than anyone else.”
“That’s exactly why I need you here guarding the place,” Finn said, placing his arm on Sam’s shoulder. Sabrina gave him a grateful look, but his heart nearly broke into two when Sam’s face crumpled in defeat. How could he fix this?
“I would feel safe if you could stay with me, Sam,” Lucie peeped. “Maybe you could show me that move.”
Sam’s head shot up.
“Really?” Sam asked, eyes rimmed red.
The four of them looked at Lucie, who was now standing, a determined look in her eyes. She didn’t flinch, didn’t falter. He was impressed by how steady she seemed, how she refused to back down. It was as if she’d been part of this world all along.
“Yes, I want to help too,” she said, her voice steady, though he could hear the urgency beneath it. “What can I do?”
Finn’s eyes softened. “That would be amazing. We could use your help.” He wanted her to help.
To feel a part of the group. It was important for him to let her know she was needed here.
“Can you go to the command center? You’ll help keep the entire operation running.
We need someone smart, steady, and strong in there.
That’s you.” He called out to Whistler, motioning him to come over.
Whistler’s red curls bounced toward him, pushing through the crowd to reach the pair.
“Whistler, this is Lucie. Lucie, Whistler. Take her and Sam up to the command center. Lucie’s smart.
She can help you relay messages from the field and monitor vitals.
” He looked at Lucie. “You’ll be right in the middle of it. ”
Lucie’s eyes lit up with determination. “I can do that.”
He smiled at her, pride filling his chest. She wasn’t shrinking away from the chaos; she was leaning into it. Eager to help. Becoming a part of the group, like she’d been a missing piece of the cog, the whole time. He wished he had more time to show her how happy that made him.
“You’ll be great,” Finn said, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “My good luck charm.”
She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I will. Do your thing, Finn. Be safe. Come back home to me.”
He didn’t care that he had to be somewhere in five minutes; he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard and fast. She tasted like chocolate and melted into his embrace. He needed to kiss her just in case?—
No matter what, he would come back home to her.
As she walked away with Sam and Whistler, heading toward the communication center, confident and ready to help, he knew it was only a matter of time before she found her true place here. She was perfect for this.
Sabrina’s voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to the present.
“Time to go, lover boy,” she said, grabbing his bicep to get him moving.
“Dad messaged me to say there’s a confirmed sighting of a single Legion agent.
Atlas was able to intercept, but the Legion agent escaped, killing two Atlas agents and taking another prisoner.
Whistler found out where they ran off to.
That’s where we are going.” Fear crossed her features, only for Finn and Charlie to see.
“We’re ready,” Finn confirmed.
“We’ll do it together,” Charlie said.
Sabrina gave them a nod.
Finn turned, breaking into a quick jog, making a beeline for his house. His steps were sure, his movements precise, as he mentally ran through his checklist. Gear. Gun. Vest. All the essentials.
Charlie jogged up next to him, giving him a knowing look.
“Lucie’s fitting in like a pro,” he said.
Finn gave him a nod, and they both proudly watched their girlfriends at work. Lucie was brave, more than anyone gave her credit for, maybe even more than she gave herself.
The mission would be dangerous—there was no denying that—but the real difference now was that he had something worth coming back to. Someone worth living for. And he’d do whatever it took to make sure he returned to her.
Legion be damned.