Page 49 of Finn

“We can finish this at Souls. We need to get back,” Brooks says.

I’m still trying to process everything, but it seems I have no time. They are rushing us out as my mom is yelling that she doesn’t want to go.

Tears run down my face as I climb into the car. I feel like I’m kidnapping my own mother.

Porter gets in the back with my mom, and Finn gets in the driver’s seat of my car. It’s all too much right now. I just need a minute to myself.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” my mom hisses.

I close my eyes, holding my hands tightly on my lap. I feel Finn’s hand on my thigh, and I pull away. He knew this was a setup, and he let me believe otherwise.

“Mia, you can finish talking with your mom when we get to Souls,” Finn says.

I snap my eyes open and turn to look at him. “Do I have your permission, Finn? Thank you so much for that,” I yell, falling back into the seat.

“Christ, don’t do this. You knew we needed to get her here,” Finn says.

“For her safety, not to fucking kidnap her and drag her to Souls where I’m guessing she’ll be held hostage,” she hisses.

“That’s enough,” Porter says. “You’re pissed off. I get that. It’s an emotion that I feel more often than not. However, you’re pissed for the wrong reasons. Your mother will always be a part of this club. This isn’t kidnapping. It’s protecting. She knows it. She’s just too damn afraid to say it out loud. She’ll remember where she belongs.”

“I belong in California,” my mom says.

“I’m not forcing you to stay, doll. After Jim calls his dogs off, if you wanna leave again, I’ll hold the door open,” Porter says.

This is all too much for me right now, so when we pull up to Souls, I just get out and walk inside. Listening to Porter and my mom, dealing with how I feel about them lying to me, it’s all too much.

For the first time since everything happened, I wish it never had.

15

Finn

“How ya doing?” Gillian asks, squeezing my shoulder as she sits next to me.

We’ve been at Souls for over an hour, and for that hour, Mia and her mom have been crying, screaming at each other, and arguing with Porter. Mia won’t even look at me, never mind talk to me.

I glance at Mia as I point my beer bottle at them. “Great.”

“They just need to work their shit out. It doesn’t change anything with you and Mia,” she says.

I chuckle and finish off my beer. “Well, maybe it’s time for you to use that best friend’s power on her. She won’t even look at me.”

She smiles and rests her hand on mine. “She’s scared and confused. Can you blame her? She’s caught between her mom, who raised her, and Porter, who she hardly knows. Not to mention you and the rest of the club. It’s a lot for someone to take in. She might be angry, but it doesn’t change the way she feels about you. Believe me, I know all too well.”

I lean over and kiss her head. “I know you do, and I know her feelings for me haven’t changed. It’s just hard sitting here doing nothing for her.”

“So why are you?” she asks.

I glance at her and back toward them. “That is a family situation.”

“And what the hell are you?” she pushes. I lift an eyebrow, and she shrugs. “You’re Porter’s brother and Mia’s boyfriend. You should be over there supporting your girl, Finn. Let her know you’re there for her. That’s what we want.”

I grab the back of my neck and look toward them. She’s right. I shouldn’t be sitting here watching my girl. I should be right there by her side, letting her know she’s not alone.

I stand up and grin at Gillian. “You’re the best.”

A large hand clamps down on my shoulder, and I turn my head to see Riley. He raises his eyebrow and grins. “You always kissing my fiancé when I’m not around?”

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