Page 3 of Brazen Obsession

I cup his jaw, the beginnings of stubble scratch my fingertips. Tingles light through me. “Are you okay?”

He lowers his forehead to rest against mine. “Yeah, flower. I have you. We’re all safe. My father doesn’t want to hurt me or you. There’s nothing to worry about here.”

“Then why are you so tense?” I ask and place my hand over his heart.

“My father is very much a black-and-white kind of guy, even though he lives in the gray.” His hand rests on my hip and he releases a breath. “I don’t know what he wants, but it can’t be good if he’s taken us in the middle of the night from what we hoped was a secure location.”

“He didn’t show up until Drew and Wyatt left.” I touch his soft lower lip with my thumb. “Maybe he didn’t know about the place, but was watching for us.”

“Or he didn’t want his men to get overwhelmed by five guys instead of three.” Finn closes his eyes. “We just need to keep our heads and not give him any ammunition.”

I breathe him in. “Okay.”

He presses his lips against mine and Natasha clears her throat.

I search his green eyes but they’re troubled, and I don’t know how I can help him. I kiss him back and slip into the bathroom.

Chapter 2

Related Party Transaction

Finn

The suit is new and tailored to fit, but not really my style. It’s better than facing Colin Lawson in boxers. Though part of me wants to do just that. Act like I don’t care about my father at all. I sit on the couch beside Sara and we wait to be summoned. Eventually, Mason Alberts, my father’s right-hand man, opens the door.

“He’s ready for you.” Mason steps to the side of the door and waits for me to rise. “Bring your woman.”

I hold my hand down to Sara who at least is wearing leggings and a shirt, unlike Natasha who’s in a nightgown and robe. Hopefully, that helps Sara feel more comfortable in this uncomfortable situation.

Dragging in a deep breath, I follow after Mason with my arm around Sara. It doesn’t matter what my father wants. I can’t give in to him. He isn’t interested in me having a future outside of his organization, and I can’t drag Sara into that life.

While I don’t need to be led through the house, Mason still directs us. My father’s office will be in the same location. It’s his private office and a way to show his power over us. When we get to the wooden doors, that old anxiety of never wanting to be what my father desired me to be rises in my chest, but when I breathe in Sara’s sweet scent, I release it.

Part of me is grateful Sara isn’t truly pregnant or this would be a clusterfuck. Especially if my father knows she’s not just with me. He at least knows Dante was in bed with us. That wouldn’t have slipped anyone’s attention. Though she was dressed.

There would be paternity tests and weddings and all types of traditional things that don’t suit me or Sara. Though eventually there will need to be a wedding. That’s just who Sara is. At that point, we’ll figure out how to make this work.

Mason knocks on my father’s door and waits before opening it for us. He doesn’t cross the threshold. I squeeze Sara to reassure her, but I don’t know what we’re walking into. How much does he know? What does he want from us?

“Finnigan!” My father’s voice is boisterous as he rises like this is a surprise to him.

I flinch. Hate that fucking name. It’s not even my legal name. The story goes that Dad wanted Finnigan and Mom agreed to Finn. “Dad.”

He comes around the desk and grabs my arm, tugging me into a hug. We’re the same height now. Same green eyes. Same dark hair except his has streaks of gray in it. He holds me at arm’s length and looks me over.

For an old guy, he’s still in shape. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him and even longer since I’ve been in conversation with him.

“It’s been ages.” His grin never drops as his gaze goes to Sara. His eyes sparkle. “And you must be the Morris girl.”

He holds his hand out to her and she takes it.

“Sara Morris, sir.” She’s trained in etiquette. Unfortunately, my father is not.

He pulls her in to hug her. “You’ve made me a very happy man, Sara. You can call me Colin or Dad, if you like.”

Sara’s wide eyes meet mine over my father’s shoulder. I just shrug. If she was expecting the creepy charm of Peter Sokolov, she’s disappointed. There’s really no way to describe my father to someone who hasn’t met him.

He comes off as happy-go-lucky until you cross him. This person he’s pretending to be is not the man I grew up with. I know better than to trust his actions. This is just one of his masks to hide the monster he is.