Page 48 of Outside the Veil
Finn collapsed onto his back with a gusty sigh.
“Was it worth the wait?” Diego asked, his head resting on Finn’s stomach.
“Beyond even the smallest grain of doubt.”
Chapter twelve
Besieged
The phone shrieked. Eyes still closed, Diego tried to reach over Finn to grab it, and nearly fell out of bed when he rolled into an empty spot.
“Thorpe residence,” Finn said nearby. “Yes. Just a moment, I’ll see if he’s available.”
Diego blinked the room into focus. Finn held the receiver out to him.
“The woman says she wishes to speak with you.”
“Miriam?”
“So she said.”
“Where did you learn to answer the phone like that?”
Finn’s forehead creased in a worried frown. “From the picture box. Was it not the correct way?”
“It was perfect. Much better than most people.” He scooted up to lean against the headboard and took the phone. “Miriam?”
“Is that him, kiddo? Is he back? Is that Finn?” Miriam spat out in a breathless rush.
Finn stretched back out on the bed, his head in Diego’s lap.
“That’s Finn. He came back last night.” Diego couldn’t keep the smile from his voice.
“Holy crap! That’s got to be the sexiest goddamn voice I’ve ever heard!”
Diego held the phone away until her voice returned to a normal pitch.
“No wonder you were so torn up. I was just calling to see if you were okay. Ha! From the sleepy, I-got-me-some sound of your voice, you’re more than okay, hon.”
He stroked Finn’s hair over his shoulder. The gashes on his back had closed while they slept. “I’m better. I did seize last night, but Finn was here.” He couldn’t even imagine telling Miriam the rest. She’d have him institutionalized.
“You tell him from me not to be such a shit and leave you hanging again. He’d better take good care of you to make up for it.”
“He is. Thanks, Miriam.”
“For what?”
“For worrying about me.”
She snorted. “I’ve finally got you to the place where you can make me some money. Damn straight I’m gonna worry about you.”
He laughed and reassured her once again that all was well before he hung up.
The warmth of Finn’s body tempted him back under the blankets, but the latest horrifying twist of reality had to be faced.
“Put something on for me,cariño, please, so you’re not quite so distracting.” He stroked Finn’s shoulder, his palm itching for more. “We have to get up and try to figure out what we’re dealing with here.”
Four-fifteen. Not much time before dark. Diego grunted as he swung his legs out of bed, still sore and stiff. Finn’s arms wrapped around him immediately to help him up.
