Page 108 of Shattered Hearts

“She wanted to become a doctor?” I should focus more on Finn’s tortured face, but I can’t ignore the buds of insecurity that pop up through the soil of my heart. “She must’ve been an amazing woman.”How could I ever compare to someone like that?

“She was.” He reaches for his mug and gulps more caffeine. “I told you she came from an upscale family. She wasn’t a mobdaughter, and this wasn’t her world. She dreamed of saving lives…and still, she agreed to marry me, amurderer.”

On that last word, my hand flies to his knees. “Finn…” I want to refute him and force him to forgive himself, but I can only offer touch.

“I should never have…” His voice vanishes beneath the weight of his regret.

“It’s not a crime to fall in love with someone and marry them.” I give his knee a squeeze.

At my words, he glances at me, if only for a second.

“Anyway, I was shocked to see her there. Police were on their way, and I knew I had to go, so I left. Brianne patched Leo up and handed him over to the cops. Turns out Leo was wanted in Nevada on human trafficking charges…”

“Did they extradite him?”

Finn nods. “But not before he told his father, Matteo…the head of the De Luca family at that time…that Brianne and I were responsible for his arrest, and specifically me, for having the nerve to attack him.”

“Did Matteo confront Shane?” It’s not uncommon in situations like these for the heads of two mafia families to strike a deal in order to avoid war over an isolated violent outburst. Though I get the feeling, that didn’t happen here.

“If he did, my father didn’t tell me. And I doubt it.” Finn casts his eyes toward the window. “Around that time, I was distracted.”

“Distracted?”

“After seeing me…in actionthat day at the hotel, Brianne realized what kind of man I really am, and naturally, she wanted a separation.”

“Oh, Finn…” My heart sinks down into the couch, hurting for him. Resisting the urge to pull him close, I keep listening.

“What could I do? She was terrified of me, of the whole mob world. She’d always intended to leave all of this behind when she became a doctor, but…she wouldn’t get that chance.”

The dark finality in his tone reminds me of the lookMichelle gives me at the shelter. The one that means,brace yourself for what comes next.

Finn pauses for a while. I know there’s more, and it’s worse than everything he’s already revealed. He stares at his hands for several minutes before continuing.

“I agreed to the separation, thinking forcing her to stay here with me was the wrong way to go about fixing our relationship. I was so naive then, thinking there was somethingtofix. Can’t fix murderer.”

His expression sours, and he lets out a dry, humorless laugh.

“Did you know the De Lucas were after her?”

“I had no idea. I didn’t know Leo’s father wanted revenge against us for sending his son and heir to jail. It’s not as though we did any of it knowing what would happen to Leo.” He exhales hard. “And because we were living separately, I…I didn’t know she was being watched. And I wasn’t there…to protect Brianne when they abducted her.”

“Oh my god.” My words come out just above a whisper.

“I didn’t even realize anything was wrong until a box addressed to me arrived at the house. Inside of it was…Bri’s hand.”

I close my eyes. The weight on Finn’s shoulders, all this time…the unimaginable guilt he’s faced in the mirror every day for years…

“They dismembered her.” His knuckles turn white as he clenches the mug. “With my father’s help, I found out Matteo was responsible. He ordered Bri’s killing. And so, to avenge her, I hunted Matteo De Luca down and killed him myself.” He lifted one hand and pointed to his face. “I’ve got the scar to prove it.”

“Your scar… You mean, Matteo cut you?”

He nods. “Right before I shot him dead.”

Killed him? Finn killed the don of the De Luca family?

For an enforcer to kill a don…the immensity of that act can’t be overstated. Finn beheaded the De Luca family, leaving them without their leader or the heir to the empire. He must have an enormous target on his back.

“In the wake of Matteo’s death, the De Lucas went under. Their member base fractured. A lot of squabbling and power grabbing…the whole nine. But we knew that one day this would happen, that they’d reappear, if only to get revenge.” Finn gazes at his mug but doesn’t drink.

---