Page 83 of Toxic

Finn cringes. He loved her as hard as Sean loved me. It's still evident that after all these years, he still does. "Where was she living?"

"She didn't say, but she was dirty. I-I didn't get to ask her, but I think she was living on the streets."

He swallows hard, as if he's trying not to get sick. "Why didn't you bring her home?"

"Finn, I asked her why she hadn't come home. She started to respond, and it's like something spooked her. She made sure my father's bodyguards were with me before she left. I-I couldn't get her to stay, and I was pregnant, so I couldn't run after her."

"What spooked her?"

"I don't know."

"Stop lying to me!"

"I don't know!" I scream, losing my ability not to be emotional. "Don't you think I've tried to figure it out all these years?"

"I don't know. Have you? Do you even give a shit about the O'Malleys anymore?" he snaps.

"Finn," Dante quietly warns.

"Shut up, Dante. She took Sean's kids,our blood, away from us. We welcomed her into our family with open arms, and she acts like we don't even exist but won't tell us why."

A new river of tears falls. My voice shakes as I declare, "I love your family. I loved Sean more than life. I still do. But it's not safe for my kids, and I won't lose them, too."

"What isn't safe, Bridget? Don't tell me it's safer in New York with all the threats Tully receives."

I turn toward the window, not able to stop my tears and on the verge of completely losing it again.

"Who took this photo?" he demands, shaking it in front of me.

I barely see the picture. Brenna and I are younger. It's of that day, in the park. She looks exactly as I remember her. It feels like the last part of my heart remaining gets sliced to ribbons. My shoulders shake, and I claim, "I don't know."

"Of course you do," Finn insists.

I almost tell him my suspicion, that somehow, one of the Rossis or Baileys were following me and I didn't know it. How else would there be a picture of Brenna and me? But then I'd have to explain it all. So I stay quiet except for my sobs, with my fear spiraling all around me.

Finn reaches for me, but Dante steps between us, then shoves him back. "Enough. This conversation is over."

"It's over when I say it is," Finn seethes.

Dante shakes his head. "No. This is my house. She's told you what she knows, now lay off."

Finn scowls. "Fine. But this conversation isn't over, Bridget. I want answers."

"I told you all I know," I reply, but it's weak. Finn knows it, and I know it.

He gives me one final glare then leaves.

As soon as the door shuts, Dante wraps his arms around me. I sob into his chest, wishing I could stop. He murmurs, "Shh. It's all over."

I glance up, blurting out, "For now. I-I didn't know he was still looking for Brenna. You don't know Finn. He's not going to let this go. H-he loved her. Hard. You don't know what that's like until you lose it."

Dante's jaw clenches. He sniffs hard and studies me.

My gut drops. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

His fingers swipe my tears. "I know exactly what it's like to lose the one person you love."

I stop breathing then shake my head, realizing he's talking about me. But he doesn’t love me. He can't. "No, you—"

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