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Jaw tense, he placed the envelope on the hood of my car. “Is it so bad to be around me? I’ve been nothing but respectful to you.”
And that was true. It was one of the things that shocked me about Finn. I’d assumed most mafia men would be like Nikolai; Seth was the exception.
“I know you have, and I’m thankful for that. It’s just … there’s something I have to tell you.” I didn’t have to look behind me to know that Braden had spotted us. The gym door slammed open, and a knowing look passed across Finn’s face. “Braden knows everything,” I whispered. The danger emanating from Finn made my stomach tremble as I waited for Braden to close the distance.
“What’s going on?” Braden demanded, standing protectively at my side.
Finn faced off with him, and while his composure calm, I could still sense his need for violence. He was dangerous, but so was Braden: it was a lethal combination.
“Is there a problem, Emerson?”
Braden scoffed. “I don’t know, is there? I’m just making sure Reagan’s okay.”
“She’s fine,” Finn said, his tone laced with fury. “I would never hurt her.”
“I wouldn’t let you if you tried,” Braden fired back.
I held out my arms between them. “All right, that’s enough.” Grabbing the envelope off the hood of my car, I held it out to Finn. “I’ll see you Wednesday night.”
Finn stepped back, not even paying attention to the money or Braden. A small smile formed on his lips when he looked at me. “Wednesday it is.”
Once he got in his car and drove away, I didn’t move until he was out of sight. As soon as he was, I let out the breath I’d been holding. “Oh my God, I thought that was going to go a lot worse than it did.” Braden wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me against his body. I rested my head on his chest and breathed him in. “I’m ready for Wednesday to be over. Annika said something to me that makes me nervous.”
“What was it?” he asked.
“She said that the more I refuse Finn, the harder he will try to get me. She also lives by that philosophy, saying the Sellingers always get what they want.” I paused for a second and sighed. “Annika’s determined to have you, one way or another. There was something in her voice, almost like a warning.”
Braden rubbed my back. “Don’t worry, sunshine. I’m not going to let anything happen to us.”
In the past couple of months, I've learned that you shouldn’t underestimate anyone. Well, I wasn’t about to do that with Annika and Finn. If Finn were to make a move, it’d most likely be Wednesday night. Braden wouldn’t be there to stand in his way.
I just had to be ready.
CHAPTER25
BRADEN
There wasn’t much said last night after the altercation with Finn. Reagan and I closed up the gym and went back to my place. I wanted time to stand still, or better yet, to skip over Wednesday entirely. I was able to avoid Annika yesterday, but today not so much. Luckily, time went by quickly. I gave advice when Reagan and Annika sparred, but that was it. Annika would be done with Reagan tomorrow, and I was way past ready for that.
“Natalie, you can go ahead and leave. I’ll help Braden close the gym,” Reagan called out.
Trying not to smile, I finished wiping down the last few hand weights. Natalie had a knowing expression when I looked at her over at the reception desk. Her eyes went back and forth between Reagan and me.
“Uh-huh, I bet you will,” she chided. “Just don’t have sex on my desk, please.”
Reagan’s laugh echoed across the room. “Seriously?”
She threw a towel at Natalie’s head who took cover behind the desk. “Hey, I’m just kidding. The supply room would be more ideal.”
“Get out of here, Natalie,” I said, chuckling.
Natalie walked over to me and winked. “I knew it was only a matter of time for you two.” Then, her eyes widened. “Oh, and just so you know, you have another half a million followers. And we got over a hundred new gym members signed up today, mostly women. Guess they’ll be disappointed when they find out you’re taken.”
“Too bad for them,” Reagan pointed out. “If they have a problem with it, they’ll have to deal with me.”
She winked at me, and I laughed. “Damn. And you thought I was overprotective.”
Natalie shook her head. “All right, I’m out. You two stay out of trouble.”
