Page 253 of Intense
I glance back at James. He sneers, even with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
“You think she’s got it in her? She’s weak. Pathetic. Be a man and torture me yourself!”
My hands curl into fists. Every nerve in my body screams with rage. Weak? No. He’s wrong. I survived him. I survived all of them. And I’ll never let anyone call me weak again.
I lean in closer to Finn, my lips brushing his ear.
“Show me.”
His hand slides to the small of my back.
“Good girl.”
When he pulls away, his smile is dark. The kind of smile that promises blood.
I step forward, my pulse hammering as James’s one good eye watches me. He’s still smirking. Still convinced I won’t follow through.
But this time, he’s going to learn just how wrong he is.
Finn’s voice cuts through, not leaving any room for argument.
“Out.”
I glance behind at Finn’s family as they hesitate. One word, and still, no one moves. His pale eyes sweep the room.
“I said out. This isn’t yours. This is ours. It’s for me and my wife to end. Leave us.”
Something about the way he saysourssends a shiver down my spine.
Finn’s eyes fix on Conan. “Do what you feel is right, brother,” he tells him.
Conan’s face is stern as he nods, dragging Arthur out. Declan lingers, but one look from Finn has him bowing his head and leaving. Frankie and Zara exchange a glance, and then they leave.
The door shuts. The silence swallows us.
It’s just Finn, me, and James.
My pulse hammers as I take in the sight of him tied to the chair. Finn moves behind me, his hand settling on my hip, grounding me with his touch.
“This is your moment, love. Not his. Not mine. Yours.”
“I don’t know what to do,” I whisper.
I want to make this hurt.
“You don’t need to.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “I’ll talk you through it. You just follow my voice. You trust me.”
James scoffs, spitting blood onto the floor.
“She’s not like you. She’s not a killer.”
My jaw clenches. I don’t look at him. I only look at Finn.
“Yes, she is,” Finn says softly, and his lips brush my ear. “She’s better than me. Stronger. She’s survived things I couldn’t.” His hand tightens on my hip. “Show him that, temptress. Show him who you are.”
I nod, breath shaky. “Okay.”
Finn pulls out a blade from his pocket and presses it into my palm, his hand folding around mine.
