Page 92 of Beautiful Revenge

His mom. Holy…

“You’re introducing me to your mom?” I scramble off the couch and smooth down my shirt. It’s a little wrinkled from the time it spent on the floor when Finn and I got naked on the couch. I flush at the memory. Not in front of his mother.

“I am. She was a little upset to miss the wedding and I wanted you to meet her.”

“I insisted I meet you, actually,” Fiona says, coming to my side and giving me a hug before I can even react. “I wanted to meet the girl my Finn married.” She pulls back. “Let me look at you. Strong teeth. Good. Nice enough hips. You’ll carry children well.”

My mouth drops open. “Uh…” Children? With Finn? That’s something I never even considered.

Fiona laughs – it has a warmth to it that’s instantly comforting. “I’m just messing with you, honey. Finn told me everything. How you two met.”

“How he kidnapped me, you mean?”

“Yes that. And how he made you marry him. My son can be a bit of an ass, so I’m sorry for that.”

“Thank you,” I say, surprise thick in my voice. No one has actually apologized to me for getting kidnapped.

“Finn came to me because he’s conflicted.”

“Ma,” he groans. “I came to you in confidence. I never meant for you to storm over here.”

“Well, I’m here now. And I want to get to know your wife. It’s my right as your mother. I missed both of my sons’ weddings and I’m not happy about that. Sit, Aria. Sit.”

I glance down at the couch where Finn and I went down on each other. Fiona can never know. I try to keep the guilt off my face as I sit down. Her smile is big and wide. She’s the type of woman that you feel safe with.

I never had that in a mother. Mine died when I was young from breast cancer and the memories I do have were not the best. She was a cold, hard woman. Maybe I take after her in some ways. I shudder at the thought.

“Cold?” Fiona asks, grabbing the blanket from the back of the couch and wrapping it around my shoulders before I can even say anything.

“Thank you.”

“So, you’re married to Finn. I’m going to be blunt with you. Are you happy with him? I know he kidnapped you.”

I glance at Finn, who’s standing by the door with his arms crossed, looking completely closed off. “I’m… not unhappy with him.”

“That didn’t sound convincing, honey.”

I sigh. “He kidnapped me. But he also saved me from this insane hitman. I care for your son. I can admit that. But I still miss my dad.”

“I get that. I tried talking some sense into Finn. I told him to make a deal with Dante Moretti and make peace. I’m tired of waiting by my phone, worried that Aiden will tell me Finn has died.”

“I want him to make peace too. It would solve all of this. But I’m not sure Dante will agree to it. Or Erik Koslov. I think Finn’s burned too many bridges for that.”

“Is anyone going to ask what I want?” Finn mutters.

“Hush,” Fiona says. “We already spoke and I know you want to do something chaotic and stupid that I won’t approve of. Talk some sense into him, Aria.”

“Me? You think I can convince him? I’m not sure I can do that. I’m sorry.”

She grips my hands. “You have to try. I know this will probably be the last time I can see you for a while. I don’t want to draw Aiden’s attention to you two here. It could put Finn in danger. But I’m tired of missing my son. If you could bring him back home to me for good, that would be the best gift.”

“I’m not sure I can convince Finn of anything. I would imagine he would listen to you more than me.”

“You’re his wife.”

“But that doesn’t mean he loves me.” My eyes flash to Finn and he lowers his gaze.

Fiona gives my hands a squeeze. “I know my son. I heard the way he talked about you.”

---