by Webb, Rene
“They were the ones who helped us exit the country,” Finn says and then turns to Peter. “Why didn’t you wait for them to go in?”
“I didn’t know when they would be going in, and I knew Mayer had plans to travel to Hong Kong this week, supposedly for meetings with several companies MacKay International does business with.” Peter then turns toward me and says, “I didn’t want you there when he arrived.”
I shiver at the thought.
“What was the asshole’s plan for Lily?” Aunt Kitty asks and sips her tea.
“Nothing you or Lily want to think about,” Finn says darkly, pulling me closer to his side. He turns toward Peter. “But how did you figure out Robert Ban could get me into the brothel?”
“I didn’t. He contacted me and was interested in setting up a meeting,” Peter explains.
“What?” Finn asks, leaning forward slightly.
“I thought it was odd too. His company should never be interested in our small volume startup. I didn’t begin to question it until he told me that if I wanted to meet, I had to come to Hong Kong right away and we would meet at an exclusive gentlemen’s club he frequents. When Ban said the name, Executive Hospitality Limited, I knew it was the right place.”
“Do you think he’s involved?” Finn asks.
“I definitely think he knew Lily was there and who she was. It’s the only explanation why he was so insistent I travel all the way there to meet with him right away. But as to his direct involvement, that I don’t know. At the time I didn’t care. I just needed a way to get you into the brothel.”
“You’ve been keeping quite a few secrets,” Finn snarls at Peter. “You told me an entirely different story of how we were able to get that meeting. You lied to me.”
“He kept things from you, just like you kept them from me,” I remind Finn, earning an eyebrow-scrunching glare. Why does he look so sexy when he’s angry?
“It was to keep you safe,” Finn growls at me.
“I’m not going to apologize for getting you there,” Peter snaps back. “When I told Ban you would be going in my stead, he didn’t agree to meet with you at first.”
“How did you get him to agree?” Aunt Kitty asks.
“I explained how we were working on creating our own company and going into business together as equal partners. That it had been our idea since our days at Cambridge. I think it was our friendship that sold him.”
“Finn, was he the guy who spoke to you in French before we left?”
“Yeah,” Finn says. “Why?”
“I had seen him a few times at the brothel, so he knew I was there,” I tell him, before turning to Peter. “Why didn’t he just tell you?”
“I don’t know,” Peter says. “There must be something we’re missing, but right now I really don’t care. Because he made it possible for Finn to rescue you.”
Ignoring everyone else in the room, Finn fists the back of my hair and pulls me into a quick kiss. Aunt Kitty laughs, clearly approving of my relationship with Finn, while Peter growls, “Finch.”
I melt into Finn, feeling safe in his arms. Despite the fact that we are finally getting some answers, it doesn’t mean I am any less frustrated.
“So what do we do next?” I ask.
“We take you home and keep you safe until the asshole gets his comeuppance,” Kitty says, reaching over and patting my knee.
Finn stiffens besides me, and his fingers on the hand wrapped around my waist momentarily dig into my hip.
“But what about school?” I ask. “If I finish, he loses, right?”
“It won’t stop him from trying something else,” Peter says darkly, making me tense at his tone. “Once this is all over, you can go back and finish.”
I shoot Peter a dirty look. I have worked hard, and there is no way I want to throw that all away, especially when I am so close to graduation that I can practically taste it. Not to mention, I could use a distraction from my life.
“What? But graduation is in a few weeks,” I cry, feeling deflated by the sudden realization that I’m going to have to do this semester over again. Even if I make it to graduation, I have already been missing for over two weeks, and finals are probably happening right now. There’s no way I can graduate now even if I wanted to. It seems like James is finding another way to fuck with my life.
“Princess,” Finn whispers soothingly and kisses my forehead. “You won’t be safe until Mayer is taken care of once and for all.”
“Then how do we take down the asshole so I can get back to my life?” I ask, directing my question at Peter.
“It’s not that simple, honey,” he answers patronizingly. “The FBI has been investigating him for years, even before your dad’s death.”
“You don’t think he has anything to do with Mr. MacKay’s death, do you?” Trevor asks quietly, making us all turn toward him.
“I’ve been wondering the same thing lately,” Peter growls.
“If the asshole did anything to my little brother, I’ll fucking kill him myself,” Aunt Kitty states, shocking me with the uncharacteristic amount of venom in her voice. It reminds me how close the two were.
“While you were in the bedroom,” Peter says, shooting Finn a dirty look, and I can’t help but blush and tuck my head against my chest, “I called and gave an update to my FBI contact, informed her that it had been Lily at the brothel and that she was with us now. Eventually they will want to talk to you.”
“Can the asshole be charged with kidnapping?” Aunt Kitty asks.
“Right now the FBI is building an even larger case against him, but I am sure they will add those charges along with everything else they are looking to charge him with,” Peter says.
“When I talked to the boss at Pride Security earlier, he told me they were working on getting the evidence,” Trevor says. “Right now it’s all circumstantial and depends on how complex an operation Mayer is running at the brothel and what can be tied back to him. But from tracking the funding, it looks like he had a direct hand in hiring the kidnappers and the woman who befriended Lily, so it should be possible to link it all back to him.”
“The FBI has frozen a lot of the company’s assets as they investigate the board for corporate fraud, and my contacts are monitoring their spending closely, which is a good thing,” Peter says. “He’s not able to use company funds and is running on a shoestring budget. He would hopefully have to have had a more direct role in orchestrating the kidnapping.”
“I think we should stay here and hold off making any decisions until Pride Security or the FBI gets back to us on what they’ve found,” Finn says. “But Trevor is leaving this afternoon for DC.”
“Riley?” Peter asks.
“Yes,” Finn answers.
Peter nods. “Good. Mayer will find out eventually if he doesn’t already know that you took Lily.”
My stomach sinks at his words, and the concerned look on Peter’s face makes me realize how much I have put other people in danger.
“Oh good, sweetie, you keep that sweetheart safe,” Kitty says, standing to pouring more tea in everyone’s cups.
“I will,” Trevor says, grinning back at her.
Finn pulls his arm out from around me and glances at his watch. “Princess, go grab some shoes so we can head out. I don’t want to miss our reservation.”
“Okay.” I jump excitedly from the couch before remembering all I have is a pair of flip flops.
Turning toward Aunt Kitty, I bite my lip before asking, “Auntie, would you mind if I borrowed a pair of shoes?”
“Of course you can, sweetie.” She quickly stands. “Let’s go find you a pair and anything else you need, maybe a sweater.”
16
Lily
There is nothing like Paris in the spring. The sun is bright, the air is cool, and an array of colorful flowers are beginning to peek from the ground. I breathe in the fresh air as Finn and I stroll through the park around the Eiffel Tower, walking off our delicious lunch and the decedent chocolate souff
lé we shared. I wish I had a pair of sunglasses to go with the half-a-size-too-large walking shoes I borrowed from Aunt Kitty’s closet along with one of her long fashionable cardigans.
The glass floor of the tower had made me slightly dizzy, but Finn had been right. It was worth seeing. I even convinced him to let me borrow his cellphone again so I could take pictures, including our first selfie.
During the seemingly endless elevator ride up to Le Jules Verne, I clung to Finn, my arms wrapped around his waist and my body leaning into his, allowing him to absorb my anxiety. I am beginning to wonder how I’ll ever get into an elevator without him. Once we were seated at a table by the window, I couldn’t believe the spectacular view of the city and how far off into the horizon we could see. Afterward, we met up with Trevor, who was polishing off a delicious-looking pastry.
Even having Finn and Trevor with me as we enjoy the sunshine, I can’t completely shake the anxious feeling I have as we walk out in the open, with people all around us. Finn has his arm wrapped around my waist, calming my nerves slightly. It’s almost as if my man can sense my anxiety. Trevor is trailing behind us, keeping his distance and an eye on those around us. It makes me feel a bit safer, allowing me to enjoy my surroundings.
As we pass a gift shop, I slow my steps and peer through the window. My eye catches on a cream silk scarf that is covered in red poppies.
“Want to go in?” Finn asks as he leads me toward the door without waiting for my answer.
“Do you think I’ll ever get my stuff back?” I muse aloud.
“What stuff?”
“What I had at the hotel, you know, before—” I break off, not wanting to give voice to what I’ve gone through.
“I don’t know.” He opens the door and leads us inside. “Was there something you wanted to replace?”
I’m drawn toward the display of silk, brightly patterned scarves.
“Do you want this one?” he asks, watching me finger the red poppies gently.
“It reminds me of the one my dad bought me during his last business trip. I had it with me. I used to bring it everywhere.”
It was a part of him I carried around everywhere, either wearing it around my neck, tied to the handle of my purse, or hidden in its depths. I liked knowing, that wherever I went, a reminder of my father was with me.
“Since yours is irreplaceable, what about this one?” Finn asks, picking another floral-printed scarf. “It can be the first gift I give you, to remember our first official date.”
“This is a date?” I can’t keep the surprise from my voice.
Finn said he doesn’t have girlfriends, so I assumed that included dates. Apparently, I was wrong.
“What else do you call it when a man takes a woman out for a meal?”
“Lunch.” I grin at him. “I thought you didn’t have girlfriends?”
“I don’t, but I still take women out on dates,” he answers.
My nose involuntary wrinkles at the thought of him dating other, most likely more glamorous women. I’ve never been very good at sharing.
“Which one would you like?” Finn asks, redirecting the conversation back to the colorful display of scarves.
“Finn, you don’t have to buy me anything. You bought me most of what I’m wearing.” I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself; all I need is a new credit card and access to my bank accounts. I have gotten used to not having my phone to play with, but being out in the world and not having my credit card or any money is oddly unsettling.
“Those were necessities. Plus, Trevor picked them out,” he says, flipping through the selection.
“Finn.”
“Look, it’s got the Eiffel Tower on it,” he says excitedly, showing me the ugliest scarf in the selection. I can’t help but smile.
“I love it,” I half-lie, then lean over, kiss his cheek, and breathe him in. After everything that’s happened the last few weeks, his sweetness makes my heart ache.
“What else do you need while we’re here?”
“Would you mind if I looked at the sunglasses?” I ask, hugging him tightly.
“No.” Finn fists the back of my hair and presses a hard kiss to my mouth.
I wander to the sunglasses at the counter, but a display of bags along the back wall calls to me. I gravitate toward a dark-tan-colored one.
Picking it off the shelf, its soft leather practically melts in my hand. The medium-size cross-body tote would be perfect for carrying essentials, but not so large I would look like a hobo or a ho ready to stay the night. I unzip it to peek inside and see a small matching organizer and pockets for all your essentials. After flipping over the price tag, I gasp and place it back on the shelf, then quickly back away. Even after roughly converting the price from euros, I know I could buy a first-class ticket home from Paris to Boston.
“See something you want?”
I jump at the sound of Finn’s voice from behind me and whip around to face him as my heart leaps into my throat.
“Just looking,” I say, exhaling.
“Take your time, princess.” Finn pulls me into his chest and kisses my forehead before letting me go. “Pick out whatever you want.”
I turn back toward the selection and look at several other bags, but none compare to the near perfection of the first.
“It’s not like I have anything to put in a purse.” I chuckle mirthlessly to myself, placing a small black tote back onto the shelf.
“What about this one?” Finn asks, holding up a bright-red, vegan leather backpack that seems to have fringe and faux fur on it.
“No, I like the tan one better,” I say, pointing toward the heavenly tan-colored purse. I’ll accept an ugly accessory, but I draw the line at a hideous handbag!
“The red would attract too much attention,” Trevor states casually, glancing over from the rack of postcards he’s browsing.
“We’d find her in a crowd,” Finn argues back.
“That’s what her new phone’s GPS will be for,” Trevor says, picking several postcards off the rack and walking toward us.
“What?” I exclaim.
GPS?
I am unsure if the idea that Finn would know my every movement should make me feel safer or freak me out.
“Right, pick whatever one you want, princess.” Finn places the ugly bag back onto the shelf.
“I can pay you back,” I tell him, unable to keep my eye from lingering longingly on the heavenly soft, near-perfect bag I placed back on the shelf.
“The fuck you will,” he growls and gives me a rough kiss.
“Boss man, you’ve done so much for me already.” I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him tightly. I have my own money, and after all my man has done for me, I don’t want to take advantage of him or make him feel used.
“You’re mine. So if I want to spoil you, I fucking will,” he states, his eyebrows scrunching in a sexy scowl. “Now do you want the bag or not?”
“Yes.” I bite my lip.
“Grab it so we can go.”
“Thank you.” I quickly grab the bag and clutch the heavenly softness against my chest.
“You can thank me later,” he whispers into my ear and palms my ass. Seemingly possessed, my body sways toward his.
“You pick out his outfits each day, don’t you?” I whisper to Trevor as I walk past him toward the sunglasses. His answering grin is the only answer I need. I unsuccessfully suppress a giggle.
Exiting the gift shop, I am wearing new dark sunglasses, a less-than-stylish scarf tied around my neck, and my new purse, which is slung across my body. Tucked inside my purse are a matching wallet, other overpriced accessories, and an Eiffel Tower PopSocket for the new cellphone Finn promised to buy me—one with the best camera available—along with the neatly wrapped scarf Finn picked out for his sister. It is a beautiful cream one with blue Eiffel Towers printed on it. With the weight of the bag against me, I am beginning to feel lighter and as if I have returned to my life.
“Sorry, pr
incess, but we need to head back now.” Finn wraps his arm around my waist and palms my hip possessively, steering me away from the park and toward the street.
Trevor quickly hails us a cab, and my man and I slide into the backseat while he rides up front with the driver, giving the cabbie directions to my Aunt’s apartment a short ways away.
“Thank you, sir,” I whisper, holding onto Finn’s arm and resting my head on his shoulder.
His hand rests on my knee and slides along my inner thigh.
“Next time we come to Paris, I’ll arrange a private tour of the Louvre for us,” my man tells me.
“Really?” I ask excitedly. When Finn talked about the private tour he had taken Riley on, I was jealous. The idea of being able to walk through the museum and see the paintings unhindered by a crowd jostling around you is exciting. And to be able to stand back and take in the entire canvas without someone blocking your view would be amazing.
“Of course.” He gives me a firm kiss. “Anything to make you happy.”
“We’re on our way back now,” Trevor says into his phone.
“I can’t believe Auntie came all the way to see me. It will be great to spend time with her,” I tell Finn, lost in my own musings.
Finn smiles. “You can both go—”
“Fuck!” Trevor growls, grabbing our attention.
“What’s going on?” Finn demands loudly, leaning forward into the front of the cab.
I tighten my hold on Finn as the startled cabby swerves slightly and sets off a percussion of horns sounding.
17
Finn
“Keep driving, to Charles de Gaulle Airport please,” Trevor says in a steely calm voice to the cabby, ignoring my question. “Lily, duck down.”
“What the fuck is going on? I demand, as a wide-eyed Lily grabs my hand as she follows Trevor’s instructions.
“Kitty and Peter saw men lurking outside the building when they got back from their walk, and they are pretty sure one of them was Mayer. They didn’t get close enough to be sure,” Trevor says craning his neck to look out the window as we pass the apartment building. “I don’t see anyone suspicious, but I only met Mayer once.”