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FINN
After a final meeting with Mary to go over the legal issues surrounding another family emergency, Finn gathered his things and prepared to leave.
Mary nodded to the window as she left the conference room. “It’s going to be a big one by the looks of those clouds. Be careful driving home.”
For the hundredth time today, Finn thought of Colleen. He’d been distracted all day with worry about her being alone when the storm arrived.
He got to his feet and followed Mary out the room.
“See you tomorrow,” Carmen called out.
“I’m taking tomorrow off,” he said over his shoulder as he rushed to the elevator. During the ride to the garage he checked his phone. There were a few voicemails from Sean, but nothing new from Colleen since she acknowledged his last text.
Once he was in his car, his phone pinged with a text from his father requesting a meeting. Finn stared at the screen in disbelief. How the hell did he get his cell phone number?
His phone lit up with a second text from his father, with one word: Lauren.
Lauren was connected to a terrible mistake he made years ago. No matter what Finn did to make amends, his father never forgave him.
Finn’s finger hovered over the text window. He was torn by the decision he would have to make. Colleen or his father. He considered the dark sky. With any luck, he would be able to meet with his father and be with Colleen before the storm hit.
He sucked in a breath and read the message one last time before typing a quick reply. The back of Finn’s neck prickled with the suspicion that his father intended to use Lauren against him.
The meeting was at Malone’s, a bar near the Plaza Hotel. Per instructions, Finn parked in the back and entered through a private door. He’d never been to this bar before, but it was a famous watering hole for high-end dealmakers—like his father used to be. It was dimly lit with red leather bar stools and booths. An old Sinatra standard came throughthe speakers.
Dex, his father’s longtime security guard, gave him a nod, his dark eyes giving nothing away. He motioned to a table in the back with a large, beefy hand.
Without a word, Finn unbuttoned his jacket and slid into the booth opposite his father.
“Thank you for coming.” Dressed in a dark blue business suit, his father sat upright with perfect posture. His blond hair was slicked back in his signature style. He was thinner than the last time Finn had seen him, accentuating his narrow face, and intensifying his icy-blue eyes. He looked more menacing than ever.
“Did I have a choice?”
A waitress arrived at their table and opened a large bottle of sparkling water and filled a glass for his father.
“Thank you, Sandra,” his father said to the waitress.
What can I get you?” she asked Finn.
He glanced up at the waitress. “Nothing for me.” Finn folded his hands on the table and focused his attention on his father.
“How do you like working for poor people?” his father asked with a phony smile, showing off his too-white, veneered teeth. “Is it everything you wished for?”
Finn refused to take the bait. “The foundation helps people. They don’t steal or cheat.”
His father gave a slight shrug.
“Why did you ask me here to talk about Lauren?”
Ignoring Finn’s question, his father said, “You owe me a favor.” His voice was calm, deceptively calm. This is when his father could be the most dangerous.
Finn drew in a long breath, trying to keep his anger under control. After everything that had happened, the idea that he owed his father anything was absurd. “I owe you nothing,” he growled.
“It cost me a fortune to cover up the mess you made with Lauren.”
“This is old news.” It was all bluster, because Finn never forgot that night.
“You had one job,” his father said, jabbing an index finger at Finn. His eyes narrowed, saying in disgust, “You couldn’t even follow simple instructions.”
