AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I close my eyes and try to recall every detail of the mission and what we’ll have to do to finally bring the Zs to justice—or end them for good—hopefully the latter. My fists clench involuntarily as I feel a burning desire for vengeance rising within me.
I know that I can’t let this failure consume me.
Then, there’s Finn. Though he doesn’t look angry, I’m sure he’s just as frustrated as I am. We have to find a way to move forward, regroup, and develop a new plan. I’ll have to be the one keeping him grounded. Everything regarding Finn’s past fills him with apprehension. I wonder if Piper’s presence is only fanning the flames of his anxiety.
I stand up and pace around the cabin, trying to clear my mind. I can’t let my emotions cloud my judgment. I need to be calm and think strategically. This is what I do best, and I won’t fail either one of them.
“We’re about to land, so please sit your ass on the seat and buckle up your seat belts,” Finn says through the speaker, his tone authoritative.
“Is that the FDA approved message?” I ask sarcastically.
I hear Finn let out a loud sigh over the loudspeaker. “You mean the FAA. The FDA is the Food and Drug Administration, asshole,” he replies.
“You don’t need the mic and speakers to get the message across, I can hear you loud and clear from the cabin,” I say with a laugh.
“Then get your fucking ass on a seat,” he growls, exasperated.
I can’t help but laugh when I say, “Someone needs a nap and cookies.”
Twenty minutes after the exchange, the plane touches down with barely a whisper. We have landed. I decide to take the wheel so he can rest. Knowing Finn, he’s running on fumes and caffeine. Once we’re in the SUV, and I make my way outside the airport, I can’t help but ask, “Explain again why we had to fly back to Denver? We’ve got loads to do and not much time.”
Finn slumps in the passenger seat, his voice tired. “We can work from the home office. Plus, there’s not much we can do until Seth can fly and look at screens again.”
“That still doesn’t explain why we flew instead of driving—which you prefer.”
We pull up to the stoplight, and I steal a glance at Finn. His forehead is creased with exhaustion, and he absently gazes out the window. He rubs his temples and sighs wearily before finally responding to my question.
“It’s faster, and as you can see, I left the car at the airport,” he says slowly, his fading patience evident in his voice. “What’s with all the questions?”
“You’re acting out of character,” I say. “Usually, we would’ve stayed in Hartwood Lake for two weeks without giving any fucks.”
“Everything’s been far from normal,” he says carefully.
“And?” I ask, hoping he’ll be more forthcoming.
Finn lets out another sigh. “Piper didn’t like that I came home without you.”
That part doesn’t surprise me. Though we’re not on the best terms, she always wants assurance that I’d come home safe. What surprises me is that he cares about her even though he’s apprehensive. The ambiguity and irony makes me believe that Piper’s crazy heart beat explanation is true for Finnegan too.
They can feel each other—where does that leave me?
“Is that something she does?” Finn asks. “Check on you after missions?”
“Yeah. She likes to know I arrive alive.” I chuckle as we come to a stop light. “If we weren’t barely speaking, I’m sure she’d throw me a welcome party.”
“Barely speaking?” Finn’s voice goes from shock to confusion as he processes what I just said. “But I thought you two were not only friends but—” He closes his mouth tightly, and his nostrils flare.
“Piper has a problem with me being a security agent,” I say softly before he can finish the sentence. “These days, we’re just business partners.”
His forehead creases further as if he’s trying to solve a riddle. “Is that why she’s engaged to another man?”
I can’t help but snort at the thought of him not knowing who Piper is engaged to—there’s so much he has to find out.
He scoffs, incredulous at the situation. “So, she’s engaged but in love with you.”
I laugh, though the situation is anything but humorous. “It’s a lot more complicated than that, but it’s her story to tell.”
Will he even care when he finds out?
