Page 12 of Finn

We made it through the first three courses. It was a little touch and go during the veal. But by the time dessert is served, I’ve decided to bite my tongue. Well, I should say the looks my father keeps shooting in my direction have made it clear he expects me to bite it.

When I walked into the library and saw Finn for the first time in person and dressed in what I’m sure is a custom black suit and crisp white shirt sans tie, I had to take a moment to compose myself. I’ve never been a slave to my baser desires, but that man oozes confidence and a certain swagger that used to be my kryptonite. It’s gotten me into trouble in the past, and I’m not about to go into this marriage with him thinking he has the upper hand in any way, shape, or form, including him being aware that I find him impossibly attractive. All he had to do was turn those dark-blue eyes that held mischief and promise my way and a riot of butterflies took flight low in my belly. Then he stood, and I got the full view of all six foot two of the gorgeous man wearing a devil-may-care smirk. Could have been the wine at lunch, or it could have been my lack of a satisfying love life, or any love life, but something flared in me that I wasn’t prepared for.

And I needed to shut it down fast.

The look on Finn’s face when I “mistook” Cillian for him was priceless. He’s obviously a man who knows the attention he garners from the female population, and he revels in it if the rumors are true. I’ve never been one to believe everything I hear about someone, but where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And my first instinct when I laid eyes on my future husband was there had to be truth to those rumors. It was in the way his presence took up the space. He stood tall and proud in the presence of my father, which most men don’t do, but Finn was casual and confident, like being in the home of one of his toughest competitors wasn’t anything more than a typical Tuesday night. I was intrigued and hated it, hence my sudden and visceral need to see the man knocked down a peg or two.

After the maid clears the dessert plates, my father suggests we head to the study for after-dinner cognac and cigars. My mother opts not to join us; she hates the smoke. Finn and Cillian thank her for the lovely meal. When the two men are saying their goodbyes to my mother, my father gently pulls me aside.

“What are you doing? Are you trying to make yourself as disagreeable as possible? I was under the impression you were on board with this marriage,” he says in a low voice.

“I don’t know what you mean, Papa,” I reply with innocent, wide eyes. “I was just making conversation, trying to get to know the man better.”

My father’s brow quirks, and he gives me a flat look.

“Can you do that without insulting him?”

I smile sweetly. “Of course.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

Kissing his cheek, I turn to the two men silently waiting to be shown to the study. It’s not that I’m unwilling to partake in this unholy alliance, it’s that if I don’t set firm boundaries now, Finn is the type to walk all over me. I refuse to allow that to happen.

“Gentlemen, follow me.”

Finn’s eyes widen in surprise at the insinuation I’ll be joining them. I may have the same distaste for cigar smoke as my mother, but I enjoy an after-dinner cognac, and I’ll be damned if they discuss my future as Mrs. Monaghan without me in the room.

My father leads us to his study, and the entire time, Finn trails behind me. I’ve never been one to wax poetic about a man’s gaze caressing my skin as I’ve read in so many books, but damn if I don’t feel his eyes glued to me as I walk in front of him. I may or may not put a little extra sway in my hips as we enter the room.

“Please have a seat,” my father instructs as his butler grabs the humidor box and offers a cigar to each of the men.

This is the only room in the house my mother allows him to smoke in and one of my favorites. Though I don’t enjoy the smoke, the rich scent of cigars constantly hangs in the air. That scent will always remind me of my brother. He and I used to play hide-and-seek and he never failed to find me in here, ducked behind one of the couches or under the desk in the corner.

I make myself busy pouring drinks and hand a glass to my father, then Finn and Cillian, before I settle on the leather couch next to my father. We’re facing each other across the low coffee table, the line between us clear until we sign a contract that binds our families together.

“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room,” Finn starts as I look around dramatically.

“I don’t see an elephant,” I say with fake confusion lacing my words.

His lips purse and my father mumbles something in Italian under his breath.

“You don’t want this marriage,” Finn says, leveling me with a look that dares me to lie.

“I want what’s best for my family and the future of the business my father has built.”

Finn puffs his cigar and leans back on the couch. “Same here,” he says with that fucking irreverent smile.

“I also have reservations. Your organization is getting the better end of the deal, as far as I can see.”

Finn chuckles and waves his hand for me to continue.

“You need my father’s men to take control of the ports from Cataldi.”

Finn’s eyes flare for a moment when I speak so frankly about business matters. Most families don’t allow women to have a say or even any knowledge of what goes on behind the doors of these kinds of meetings. But I’m not most women, and my father has long since clued me in on the inner workings of his business.

“Same as your father needs ours. Anyone can fight for control, but neither your father nor I have made it to where we are by simply seizing that control. It’s about keeping it, and quite frankly, neither of our organizations are in the position to keep it if Cataldi comes back for that particular fight,” Finn counters.

It’s no secret Carlo Cataldi has been missing since his run-in with a federal prosecutor and an MC president a few months ago. His father’s conviction and Carlo’s subsequent disappearance have thrown the Cataldi organization into a tailspin, every capo grabbing whatever they think they can and then some.

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