Page 86 of Finn's Future

Lucy didn’t stop me, she didn’t even look at me and that scared me more than anything else. Something had shaken her and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know what.

The next morning came too fast. A sharp knock had me sitting up before I was even fully awake, my heart already racing like it knew something was wrong.

“Kate.” Lucy’s voice.

I forced myself up and opened the door.

“Finn’s in court, in an hour.” She hurried into the room, dressed in a smart grey skirt suit.

I blinked at her, still trying to catch up.

“Already?” It came out breathless.

Everything about it felt too quick.

I glanced back at Noah, still asleep, and my chest pulled painfully.

“Do you think Maria will watch him?” The words came out before I could second-guess them.

Lucy nodded straight away. “Of course. I’ve already asked her.”

I should’ve felt relief. I didn’t, I was worried that things were being sped up and wasn’t sure if that was good news.

The courthouse felt wrong the second we walked in. It was too open and there was nowhere to hide if something went bad.

I sat between Lucy and Reaper, my hands clenched painfully in my lap, my fingers starting to ache.

Finn stood at the front like none of this touched him, like he wasn’t one wrong word away from losing everything. Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help but admire the way his shoulders filled out the navy suit jacket and how peachy his arse looked in the trousers.

When his eyes met mine, I tried to put all my emotions into mine. He nodded his head and gave me a sad smile.

I couldn’t breathe properly until it was over. Reduced sentence, suspended, due to self-defence.

It should’ve felt like relief, but all I felt was confusion twisting in my chest. That was too easy. Way too easy.

Things like that weren’t supposed to go smoothly. Not for people like them. Not for people like me.

Outside, the air didn’t help. My chest still felt heavy.

Two prospects sat outside, throwing their cigarettes away when they spotted us.

“Luce, you and Kate go back with the prospects. I’ll bring Finn back. We need a chat.” Reaper said, gesturing to the bikers.

“How? How is he coming home?” I asked before I could stop myself, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.

Reaper didn’t hesitate. “Club business.”

Just like that. Shut down, but I saw the look that passed between him and Lucy, quick and worried.

My stomach dropped all over again. Something had happened. Something I wasn’t supposed to know about, and whatever it was . . . it wasn’t over.

Chapter 40

Finn

The truck ride back from the courthouse was too quiet.

Reaper drove one-handed, attention fixed on the road like he wasn’t carrying the weight of my entire future in the cab with him.