Page 34 of Finn

“Did you retaliate?”

He stared at me a moment. “It’s started. They’ll all be eliminated before dawn,” he said quietly. “Don’t be afraid, Una. You’re safe.”

He walked away, and I shook my head.

I wasn’t afraid for me. I feared for Finn.

I was a liability.

I’d heard my dad talk about leaders and their families. How the right person could strengthen and uphold the other, making them more powerful. But they had to be careful never to reveal that connection since it could be used against them.

Finn had been transparent with his feelings to me. It had almost cost him his life.

I had to break it off when he recovered.

No matter how much it hurt me.

Because I loved him too much to let him die because of me.

* * *

An odd noise alerted me to someone at my door. I walked over, peeking through the keyhole to see Brian. He was looking down at something in his hand. I opened the door, surprising him.

“Oh—you’re home. I knocked,” he said, sounding nervous, his hands closing into fists in a repetitive gesture. “I thought you’d be at work.”

“I have the later shift today. What were you doing—trying to pick the lock?” I asked, teasing.

He held up his phone. “I was texting you.”

“Oh.” I glanced at my watch, seeing it was just after eight. I had been lost to my thoughts for over two hours. “It’s early for a visit.”

“I was in the neighborhood and wanted to come say hi.” I stepped back, and he came in. “Any chance of a tea?”

“I was just having coffee,” I replied.

“I’d take that too.”

“Sure.” I headed for the kitchen, and he leaned on the doorframe, watching me, his gaze dark and never settling. “Can I use the bathroom?”

I sighed, shaking my head. “You don’t have to ask.”

“I feel as if I do.”

I grabbed a cup, waiting as it filled with steaming coffee, then made myself another one. I carried them to the living room, frowning when Brian reappeared from his old room.

“The bathroom is down the hall.”

He took his cup, sitting down, his knee bouncing. “I was checking to see if I’d left behind an extra phone cable in my backpack. I broke mine.”

“Any luck?”

“No. I’ll buy one.”

He slid his hand into his pocket and handed me a wad of cash. I took it with a frown. “What is this?”

“Money toward what I owe you. It’s only a few hundred, but I’ll keep paying you.”

“Where did you get this?”