by Rene Webb
I leave Lily in the bathtub, her knees folded against her chest as it fills, while I quickly take our dry clothes into the bedroom. I step into the tub, maneuver my body behind Lily’s in the small space, and sit down.
“You’re making a mess,” she laughs as hot water sloshes out of the tub and all over the floor. She reaches out and turns off the water. There is suddenly silence.
“Who the fuck cares?” I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her back against my body. “Just relax.”
I take a deep breath and do the same, the steaming water surrounding us in a cocoon. Lily’s body softens against mine, and she turns her head to press a kiss to my chest. A sigh escapes me as I kiss her crown and run my palms slowly along her arms. I enjoy the feel of having my woman relaxing safely in my arms, where she belongs. The past few days without Lily have felt uncomfortable and disjointed. I had the feeling I had misplaced something important. And I had—my princess. Now, I have her back where she belongs.
“Where do we go from here?” Lily asks, linking our fingers together and tilting her head up to look at me.
Chapter Eleven
~ Lily ~
“What do you mean, princess?” Finn asks, taking our joined hands and kissing my fingers.
I sink into the warmth surrounding me, wishing Finn and I could be like this forever. Never before have I felt as safe and cared for as I do in this man’s arms. What started out as a nightmare of being kidnapped has turned into a fantasy, Prince Charming included.
“I mean—” Pausing, I take a deep breath and ask, “Do we even have a future?”
“I thought you loved me?” he asks, letting go and sitting up straighter.
“I do!” I promise him, my heart racing as I grab hold of his hand. Tightening my hold on him, never wanting to let go. “It’s just, I mean, do our lives even fit?”
“Of course they fit,” he growls, scowling at me.
“But you've got your company, and I’m still in school.”
I can’t help but feel like our lives seem like they are two worlds apart. He’s off running his empire, and I’m still struggling to graduate. Finn’s found his place in the world, while I have no idea what I really want to do.
“We’ll make it work,” he says, determined.
“You’ve got it all figured out, running your company, and I don’t have any idea what I want to do when I graduate—if I ever graduate.” I turn more fully in his arms, no longer caring about the water sloshing out of the tub.
“You’re graduating,” he says firmly. “And you’ll figure out what you should be doing.”
I wish I could be as confident as Finn is about everything, although I’m not sure anyone could be as confident as he is.
“Will I?” I ask, resting my head against his chest.
“You will,” he says fiercely. “And if you need help, you’ve got a whole bunch of people who love you and would do anything to help. You know that.”
“I do.” I nod, and Finn tightens his hold on me.
We soak in the hot water for several minutes in silence before I admit softly, “Even with his arrested, I still don’t have my life back. Mom hasn’t tried to contact me, and that hurts. Especially when Aunt Kitty dropped everything and flew halfway around the world to be with me. I hadn’t even spoken to her in years.”
By now, I can’t control the wetness streaming down my face that has nothing to do with being in a tub of water. Finn kisses the top of my head and rocks me slowly in his arms.
“Tomorrow is a new day,” he says gently. “You may be safe from Mayer, but this isn’t entirely over. There’s still a lot of unanswered questions. It’ll take time, but we’ll get to the bottom of it.”
“I have to go into the FBI tomorrow for an interview,” I remember before sitting up straight and twisting toward Finn as I ask him anxiously, “I was told I couldn't see you. Are you going to get in trouble?”
“Fuck no,” Finn growls, pulling me back against him. “My lawyer says they're just trying to protect their asses, in case I had something to do with your kidnapping. But Pride Security was able to provide them evidence as to my innocence, since they’ve investigated it fully.”
“But Agent Bitchface said you were under investigation.”
“Agent Bitchface?” Finn chuckles, shaking his head. “I was questioned because I was at the house, something I admitted to, but Hong Kong isn’t exactly in their jurisdiction, so they can’t do jack shit.”
“It’s probably why he bought the house there in the first place,” I mutter.
“Yes.” Finn trickles water down my arm before caressing the damp skin, relaxing me further.
“What happens after my interview tomorrow?”
“I'll take you home.” His voice is resolute and then teasing when he adds, “I have a much nicer bathroom.”
“Do you have a bigger tub?” I look up, smiling, waiting for an answer. Before meeting Finn, I was never someone who would take a bath. It always seemed rather boring. But with Finn, I’ve grown to love them and look forward to relaxing with him in the hot water.
“A bit.” He grins teasingly. “Wait till you see it.”
“I can’t wait.”
The water has begun to chill, and Finn insists we get out and warm up before heading to bed—to get some sleep. He grumbles loudly about hotels never giving you enough towels as he wraps me up tightly in mine and rubs warmth into my body. After quickly blow drying our hair, we crawl naked into bed.
“I sleep better when you’re here,” Finn mumbles in my ear sleepily, spooning his body around me.
“Ditto.” I yawn, turning in his arms to face him. I wiggle my body closer to his, shoving my face into his neck, and loving his solid warmth. His spicy scent surrounds me. I never want to leave.
The next morning, I wake from the strangest dream I can’t remember but get the sense I’ve had before. All I know for sure is that I felt Dad’s presence. Screwing up my eyes tightly, I attempt in vain to fall back into the dream.
“Are you awake?” Finn’s voice is scratchy and low.
“I just had the strangest dream,” I tell him, pulling back to see his face. It’s still soft with sleep. I cup his stubble-lined cheek and run my thumb along his full lips.
“About what?”
He turns his head and kisses my palm.
“I don’t remember.” I smile faintly. “I just know Dad was there.”
“As long as it wasn’t another fucking nightmare.”
I smile, scoot my body closer to his, lean over, and kiss Finn good morning. His hand comes up to tangle with my hair and cup the back of my head as he takes over in a slow, gentle, seductive kiss.
Breaking it, he grins and mumbles, “Morning, princess.”
“Morning, stud.”
I stare into his golden eyes, falling deeper under his spell. As anxious as I am about my future, I know I want—need—this man to be a part of it.
Lying there in the silence, a thought occurs to me. It seems strange, and maybe a little ridiculous, but I voice it to Finn anyway. “Do you think Dad’s trying to tell me something?”
“Maybe it’s because you’ve been thinking a lot about him lately,” Finn says gently.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
I burrow further into his sleepy warmth, and Finn tightens his hold on me, drawing me in even closer.
“If you want breakfast, we should get up,” he says, not letting go or loosening his hold.
“Right,” I mumble, pulling away and rolling onto my back.
Finn swings himself out of bed and takes the pile of clothes from the chair and dresses.
I lay there, watching Finn pull on his clothes, piece by piece, hiding his toned and gorgeous body beneath. Once he’s done, he pulls his large, sexy watch from his pocket and snaps it on before picking up his cellphone off the nightstand.
“Princess, if you want breakfast, you better get a move on,” he tells me, leaning over the bed and kissing my f
orehead.
Tossing back the warm sheets begrudgingly, I make my way over to my suitcase and paw through it, looking for an outfit. What do you wear to be interviewed by the FBI? After selecting the new pair of jeans and sweater Aunt Kitty bought me, I head into the bathroom to get ready for my day. I throw on my clothes.
“What?” I hear Finn’s voice ask incredulously, followed by, “Fuck.”
I peek my head out of the door to see Finn’s back to me, his head bent, and one hand on his hip, while the other holds his cellphone.
“Finn?”
At my voice, he spins around to face me, and the look of pain he sends my way gives me a shiver of fear.
“No, fuck Peter. I’ll tell her. Just get Kitty over here.”
“Finn?”
He shoves his cellphone into his pocket and takes a step toward me, saying gently, “Come here, princess.”
“What is it?” I wrap my arms around myself, not moving.
“Baby.” Finn reaches me and runs his hands along my arms.
“You’re scaring me,” I tell him as he tugs me into his chest.
“It’s your mom.” His tender voice makes my stomach clench with anxiety.
“What about Mom?” I push against his hold and look up into his face, which is twisted with anguish.
I close my eyes tightly, knowing whatever he’s about to say is going to be painful.
“She arrived back in town yesterday and is working to get Mayer bailed.”
Chapter Twelve
~ Lily ~
“What?” I gasp, my chest tightening painfully with the betrayal. “After everything he’s done?”
“Yes. Peter just found out,” Finn says. His voice seems distant, and I’m suddenly underwater. His arms are like a lifeline around me, and I tighten my hold onto him.
I’m numb.
Overloaded.
“I’ve got to answer the door, princess,” he says gently, prying my fingers from their hold on his shirt. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay,” I mutter shakily.
The door to the adorning room opens, and Aunt Kitty comes in, followed by JoJo. She crouches down next to my chair and wraps her arms around me, surrounding me with her calming lavender scent. For the second time in less than a week, she’s giving me the motherly comfort I need.
“I don’t understand.” I ask her, “How could she side with him?”
“I don’t know,” Aunt Kitty answers, squeezing me tightly.
“What happens if he makes bail?”
“Don’t worry about anything,” Aunt Kitty says fiercely. “Peter and I have our attorney working on it right now.”
“Thank you,” I croak, brushing away my tears.
As upset as I am at this moment, hearing the news, I know I’ll be all right. Her siding with someone else aside from her daughter doesn’t surprise me.
“First you need to make a statement to the FBI to ensure that he rots in jail and can’t lay his hands on you or your father’s company,” Finn says resolutely.
“Right,” I mutter, before asking, “Someone will go with me, right?”
Agent Farris picks Aunt Kitty, JoJo, and me up an hour later from the hotel and drives us to the FBI. Aunt Kitty sent Finn out to get us all a quick breakfast—my man thoughtfully found me an egg and cheese croissant and a hot tea—so I’d have something to eat before we left. Finn left shortly after returning with the food so as not to complicate things further. I was meant to be staying away from him.
“Love you,” Finn said, kissing me hotly in front of everyone before heading for the door.
“Ditto, stud,” I muttered, blushing.
We follow Agent Farris into the large brick office building that is the FBI’s Boston headquarters. Its cold exterior is matched by the interior’s stuffy darkness. Just being in the building makes me anxious and claustrophobic.
“John,” Aunty Kitty calls out as we enter the lobby. A tall and extremely handsome Asian American gentleman with silver in his hair steps toward us and greets Aunt Kitty warmly. Peter told me this morning that he’d arranged for the attorney who has represented Aunt Kitty and him on several occasions before to meet us at the FBI.
“This is my niece, Lily MacKay.” Aunt Kitty wraps her arm around my shoulder and introduces us. “Lily, this is John Templeton.”
“Despite the circumstances, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says softly. His voice is clear and soothing.
“Thank you for coming.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he says kindly. “Anything for Katherine.”
We introduce JoJo, who will wait with Aunt Kitty in the lobby while I’m being interviewed.
“Are you ready?” Agent Farris asks.
Aunt Kitty pulls me into her arms, saying, “I’ll be right here waiting for you, sweetie.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. The tightness in my chest loosens as I believe her words.
“Several of my colleagues are going to meet us in the conference room,” Agent Farris tells us as we make our way to the elevator.
“Will the proceedings be recorded?” Mr. Templeton asks.
“Yes, both audio and video,” she replies.
“What?” I gasp. My feet stop moving as I cross my arms against my chest.
“We’re hoping the recordings can be made admissible as evidence, and it won’t necessitate you having to take the witness stand,” she explains.
“Don’t worry, Lily, you won’t have to answer any questions you don’t feel comfortable with,” Mr. Templeton kindly says to me before turning to Agent Farris to tell her sternly, “I want to make it clear that my client is here to provide information toward the prosecution and conviction of James Mayer and is not to be interrogated.”
“Just as long as Miss MacKay does not impede my ongoing investigation,” she retorts back in a barely civil tone.
I take a deep breath as we enter the elevator, and the doors close shut in front of me, focusing on the voices of Mr. Templeton and Agent Farris. I let the sound wash over me, reminding me I am not alone.
“Miss MacKay has gone through a traumatic experience and should be treated accordingly.”
“A victim advocate is waiting for us upstairs, and she’ll be with us during the interview.”
As the doors of the elevator open, I quickly make my exit, nearly pushing the two out of my way. Agent Farris shows us to a large, windowless conference room.
“I’d like a few moments to talk to my client in private.” Mr. Templeton sets his briefcase onto the long oval table.
“You have five minutes.”
As soon as the door clicks behind Agent Farris, Mr. Templeton casually pulls out a chair and relaxes into it. He reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a legal pad and pen, dropping the bag onto the floor next to his chair.
“My job is to protect your interests, not help the FBI with their case. So, why don’t you sit down, and we can quickly discuss the questions you need to avoid answering.” Mr. Templeton looks at me with a smile.
“Okay.” I pull out a chair next to him, and I find myself unconsciously scooting it away from him. I shouldn’t be afraid of him, but being alone together in the room is making me nervous.
“Peter’s already debriefed me with some of the details surrounding your captivity and escape,” he tells me. “And there are a few things you should avoid admitting.”
“Okay.” I relax slightly, realizing this will be a one-sided conversation, where he tells me what to say or not say as the case may be, and not a conversation where I’m reliving what’s happened to me.
“The fake passport, although you didn’t obtain it, you did use to illegally enter the country,” he states, and I find myself nodding in agreement. “And if there is anything you did, either willingly or under duress while you were being held captive, you have a right to omit those details.”
“Okay.”
“I just have one question for you.” His face is stern and almost parental. “Were you using
any illegal substances the night of your kidnapping?”
“No,” I snap.
“Good.” His face softens. “I’ve already filed a restraining order against Mayer on your behalf.”
“What good will that do?” I ask, defeated.
“It will strengthen the case against him.”
“Okay.”
“Is there anything else you think I should know?”
“No,” I tell him as the door to the conference room opens, and Agent Farris walks in, followed by a smiling redhead.
“Miss MacKay, this is Carol Davis, our victim support specialist. She’ll be with you during your interview,” she tells me.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Lily,” Miss Davis says. Reaching me, she shakes my hand gently and pulls out a chair on the other side of mine.
“Hi.” I try and give her a small smile.
“I’m here to support you, so be sure to let me know if you need anything,” she tells me firmly.
“Thank you,” I tell her, the tightness in my chest loosening as I believe her words. She introduces herself to Mr. Templeton, who smiles politely and shakes her hand.
The door opens again, and two more harsh-looking agents file into the room, making it suddenly feel small. My insides are twisting nervously, and I can feel my stomach objecting to the breakfast I had earlier.
I wish Finn was with me.
They take their places around the table and turn their eyes toward me. Under the table, I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans.
“This is Lily MacKay,” Agent Farris states, telling them something they most likely already deduced.
“Hi,” I mumble, waving dorkily and sinking down into it my chair.
She goes onto introduce Carol Davis and John Templeton. Agent Farris then goes around the room and tells me each of the agent’s names, but I’m too anxious to commit any of it to memory. Just being in the building, I find myself feeling guilty. As if I was the one who’d done something wrong.
“Miss MacKay,” Agent Farris addresses me, taking a seat opposite me. “Why don’t we start by you telling us where you were on Friday, April 6th of this year.”