Page 89 of Beautiful Revenge

He groans as he slips his own pants back on. “I don’t really want to talk about Dante after what we just did, princess.”

“We should. Do you think he’s going to forgive you? Make peace?”

“I have no fucking idea. I took you to hurt him.”

“And now? Do you still want to hurt him?”

“Yes,” he answers honestly. “But I don’t want to make you hate me and I know if I kill Dante, you’ll hate me. Viktor will not be happy with me if he finds out I didn’t kill Dante when I had the chance.”

“Who cares about Viktor?”

“I do. I made a deal with him and he’ll be pissed when I break it.”

“So? Dante is pissed you broke your deal with him. But he might make amends.”

“Key word being might.” He sighs and drops his head back. “I was so sure of everything when I took you. I just wanted to hurt Dante. I wanted to work with Viktor again to take over New York. But now… fuck. It’s all become so complicated. I don’t know what the fuck to do. If I try to go with Dante, that will put me back in good standing with my brother. And if I go with Viktor, I might have more power than I ever had before.”

“And what about me?” I ask, hating how weak I sound. How was Finn gotten into my brain and body like he has? It’s all because he saved me from Sal.

“And you…” His expression softens. “If I kill Dante, you’ll hate me. And I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Isn’t that your answer then? I’m your wife. Happy wife, happy life. It’s a saying for a reason.”

“Never heard that one before.”

“Oh really?”

“Really.” He pulls me into his arms and I let out a small laugh. An actual, honest to goodness laugh. I haven’t laughed since Finn first kidnapped me.

He gives me a strange look. “I’ve never heard you laugh before.”

“Guess you never gave me a reason to laugh before.” I’m not going to sugar coat it for him.

“Guess not.” He slips a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I want to hear you laugh more. Fuck, do you hear me? I’ve never said these things to anyone before. What are you doing to me, princess?”

“You have a heart, Finn Murphy. Who knew?”

He looks away from me and I know instantly that the moment between us is done. “I… I need to go.” He stands up so fast, he almost pushes me off him.

“What? Go where?”

“I just need to go talk to someone about… something. I’ll be back later.”

“But what about Sal? He could find me here.”

He nods and heads to the kitchen where he pulls a small handgun out of one of the counters. “Here.” He holds it out for me.

I stare at the gun. “You just keep a gun in your kitchen cabinet?”

“I keep guns hidden everywhere. You never know when you’re going to need one. Keep this on you. I’ll announce myself when I return so don’t shoot me. I’m trusting you with this.”

“Trusting me not to kill you?” Slowly, I take the gun.

“Yes. You could kill me right now and escape back to your old life. If you wanted to.”

I lift the gun and point it at him. “It would be so easy to kill you.”

“It would be.”

---