Page 34 of Vengeful Union

"I want you to tell me the truth." He pins me with his gaze, and the intense, burning rage in those blue eyes of his makes me swallow hard. "What really happened to your ma?"

"Look, Psycho Boy—"

Before I can finish, his cell rings, and his entire body tenses. Keeping his arm banded around me, he twists slightly to reach for the phone, swiping across the screen as he answers it. "What?" he snarls.

I sit up in the bed, and his arm loosens around me as he intently listens to everything the person’s telling him. I pull the sheet around me, needing just a little reprieve. Everything with him is so intense. All that he's said since I've been here, along with the way he's acted, tells me he isn't giving me up.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for that level of commitment, or whatever it is Finn wants. Right now, my main focus is on staying alive and making sure my father doesn't get away with his crimes.

I try to listen in on Finn's conversation, but he gets to his feet and starts to pace, his strides heavy. If he continues, he’s going to wear a hole in the carpet. Whatever he found out, it isn't good news.

He ends the call, releasing a harsh breath, and pins me with a dark, intense gaze. "Sorry, baby, but I have to go." The grittiness to his voice barely conceals his rage.

"Of course," I reply instantly. "Is everything all right?"

He gives a terse nod. "Yeah, it will be. I shouldn't be too long. When I get back, we will be continuing this conversation." He shrugs on his clothes, which are rumpled from last night. He must have thrown them on the floor when he stripped them off.

I give him a bright smile. "Yippee," I mutter sarcastically. "I can't wait."

He shakes his head as he stalks toward me. Once he reaches me, his hand goes to the nape of my neck. Squeezing it, he drags me toward him. His lips lower to mine, and he proceeds to kiss me. My hand reaches for his face, and I gently cup his cheeks, holding him close as I kiss him back. I'm putting everything into this one kiss, needing him to know just what I'm feeling. Because this could be the last one. Soon, Levi will come, and until then, I’ll hold out hope that today is the day. If not, then I’ll say my goodbyes tomorrow too. Until the day Levi comes for me.

When he pulls back, we're both breathless. His eyes narrow as he glares at me. "Why do I get the feeling that was your way of saying goodbye?"

I give him a blank stare. "What do you mean?" I ask, playing dumb. Things between Finn and I cannot continue this way. My head is all over the place right now and being all tied up in him isn't helping matters.

"Your arse better be here when I get back. If you're not, make no mistake; I will find you, and when I do, you’d better believe your arse there will be hell to pay."

I give him a sweet smile. "Where the hell would I go?" I ask with a raised brow. That seems to satisfy him. "You have to leave," I remind him, needing the space between us. "I’ll see you soon."

He gives me one last kiss, his thumb caressing my cheek. "Bye, baby," he whispers, then walks out of the room.

* * *

I push awaythe plate of half-eaten food. Finn has been gone for over three hours. My stomach is full of knots. I'm actually worried about the psycho. He said he wouldn't be long.Is three hours a longtime?I'm going crazy thinking about what could be happening.

I jump from my seat when a loud, booming sound thunders through the house, followed by a tremor that shakes the furniture. My heart starts to pound as I rush toward the window, where I’m met by a plume of smoke.

I smile, knowing exactly what’s happening. I turn and face the entrance to my room, then cross my arms and wait.

It’s not long before the door busts open, splintering into pieces. Finally. I hoped this day would come, but I’d started to believe it wouldn’t happen.

Standing in the open doorway is a familiar face

Levi.

"Hey, cousin, you doing okay?" he asks, his gaze looking me over to make sure I'm in one piece.

I nod. "Yeah, but you took your time," I say with a smile.

The fucker laughs. "It took me a while to find where the Irish fucker was hiding you. But as soon as I did, we came to bust you out."

Uncle Conrad walks through the now busted door and smiles at me. "Hey, kiddo, you ready to get the hell out of here?"

I nod. "Yes," I whisper. "So ready."

But even as I say the words, I know they're not true. Pain pierces my chest, and I absently rub at it, hoping to make it vanish. But it doesn't disappear. In fact, it intensifies with each step I take.

"Let's get you home," Uncle Conrad says as he throws his arm over my shoulder and holds me close to him. "We've got so much to talk about."

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