by WL Knightly
“How much would something like that cost me?” He wasn’t going to let money get in the way and would dip into his savings if he needed.
“Considering you saved my life, I could do it for free.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well, we could charge your insurance for cyst removal, but that would be fraud, so it’s the least I can do for all you’ve done for me. If you hadn’t come along in my life when you did, I’d be dead, Darek. You’re a good man, and I want to help.”
He needed to be reminded more than ever of some of the good he’d done, and even though no good deed could make up for the horrific ones, it was good to hear.
“I was just doing my job, but since you put it like that, when can I get this done?” He closed his shirt and started working on his buttons.
“I could see you Wednesday morning if you can be here at eight-thirty? I usually leave that window for my morning workout, but I’ve pulled a muscle, and it’s at the point where if I don’t give it a rest, I’ll be the patient.”
Darek smiled. “I’ll be here. Thank you so much. You don’t know how much it means to me. I really didn’t think there was a way to get rid of it.”
“I’ll be glad to see it gone, too, and I’ll do my best to give you a good cosmetic stitching to minimize the scarring.”
“You’re the best.” He hopped off the table, and she closed the distance between them.
“I heard about your divorce.” She surprised Darek with that one, and he wondered where the subject might lead. He wasn’t interested in revisiting old romances and preferred his new one with Lizzy.
“Did you? Small world, I guess.” He didn’t realize that he and Megan had been such a big deal.
“Yeah, I heard from a friend of hers actually. She couldn’t believe that Megan had stepped out on a great guy like you. I totally agree with that. I can’t believe she thought that she’d do better. You’ve always been such a sweetheart.” Her smile and mannerisms became flirtier, and he couldn’t help but smile back at her.
“Yeah, I’m trying to enjoy life a bit before getting into anything too deep. I have the FBI to focus on, which would be a huge step up for me. I’m trying to behave long enough to get in, anyway.” He gave her a wink and then looked at his phone.
“Well, I guess I’ll see you on Wednesday morning,” she said, placing her hand on his shoulder and rubbing the spot over his brand. “I’ll help you put one more mistake behind you.” She winked and then gave a soft laugh, and he joined her.
“That’s what we seem to do for one another, fix our mistakes. That’s what friends do, I suppose.”
“I suppose.” The way she looked him up and down, he had a feeling she’d like for them to be more than friends. He hoped he could get away before she came on any stronger.
“Thanks again, Marie.” He put his phone away and headed out, wondering if she was watching him go. He couldn’t wait to get back to Lizzy, especially knowing that before long, nothing was going to hold him back from her.
16
Finn
Just as Finn got done delivering the check to Wes Finkle’s, he walked out to the parking garage, which at least was a bit closer than before but still a hell of a walk when you were afraid someone was after you.
He looked around, keeping an eye out to see if anyone was around and a sharp ear to listen for footsteps.
He walked into an elevator that would take him to his level, and when the doors closed, the creaking machinery made him nervous. Instead of feeling safe, he felt trapped. All of a sudden, the thing came to a stop. Finn waited for the doors to open, and when they didn’t, he started to panic.
He took out his phone and was just about to call his girlfriend, who had been MIA for hours now, when it started moving again. He put the phone away as the doors opened. He stepped out, hoping that he could still make it to his car in one piece, and something caused a sound to his right, like a garbage can being knocked over.
Before he could process what was going on, something big enough to be a person moved swiftly in his direction. He took off running as the footsteps moved closer. Finn wasn’t going out in some fucking parking garage.
When he got to his car, he hurried to unlock the doors. The keys rattled as his hands shook, and he wished he’d modified the locks on the classic car to electric. He would kick himself in the pants for being frugal later. For now, there wasn’t time.
He threw the door open and jumped in, locking the door and looking around to make sure the other was locked. That was when something—he wasn’t sure what—cracked down on his windshield, busting it so badly that the entire thing spiderwebbed. By the time the shock wore off, the footsteps, which were running away, faded in the distance.
He sat there, shaken and in shock. He grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Bay’s number.
“This better be good.” Bay’s voice was strained, and he was clearly out of breath. Finn’s first guess was the man had just run away after smashing his windshield.
“Where are you?” Finn asked.
“Dick deep in pussy, and if you didn’t have a fucking target on your back, I’d have never answered the phone.”
Finn pushed the image out of his mind. That would explain the exertion in his voice. “Oh, well, I have had a run in with who I think is the killer.”
“What do you mean?” He heard the sound of the background change, and Bay was suddenly standing outside. He was sure of it. The sounds of traffic were clearly present.
Finn’s suspicion grew. “Where are you?” He didn’t believe Bay for a minute. He was lying.
Bay growled as he let out a breath that sounded through the phone. “I’m standing on my fucking balcony with my cock out. Now tell me what the fuck happened or I’m hanging the fuck up.”
Finn’s head was swimming. “I was on my way back to my car, here in the parking garage outside of Finkle’s place, and someone was waiting for me. They chased me to the car, and when I locked myself inside, they smashed my fucking windshield.”
“Who was it?” The sounds changed through the phone again. Finn listened carefully, but he couldn’t make out where Bay was.
“I don’t know,” Finn said. “He got away before I could see him. He’s fast.” Finn wished he had some kind of clue as to who it could have been. “I should call Darek and see if he can make a report or something.”
“Are you insane? Why shine a light on yourself?”
“For one, I need a report so I can file a claim for my insurance, and for two, what if it wasn’t the killer but just some asshole who’s doing this to anyone and everyone?”
“Don’t do it. Get your ass over here.”
The sounds of sirens echoed through the parking garage. “Shit.”
Bay’s voice grew angrier. “What the fuck is that? Did you already call them?”
“No, someone else must have, and I can’t get away. I’ll just tell them I was about to call, that I’m shaken up, that won’t be too hard to believe.” He was still shaking like a leaf.
“Look, someone’s calling my other line,” Bay said. “If your windshield is busted, they won’t let you drive, so tell them you’re calling a friend for a ride, and I’ll send one of my men to get you.”
“Where were your men while this shit was happening?” Finn asked. Bay was supposed to have someone tailing him.
“The guy I wanted to send is tied up at the moment, but I have a feeling he’ll be freed up soon enough.”
Finn wondered what kind of mafia shit Bay was tied into. He always talked about his men like he was some kind of fucking gangster.
“Fine, the cop is getting out of the car.” Finn hung up the phone before Bay could say anything else, and then he opened the door when the policeman knocked on his window.
“We got a report from someone who heard your window breaking. Are you okay?”
Finn stepped out of the car and shut the door. “I’m a little freaked out, but I’m not hurt. Did the person who called you
see who did it?”
He hoped that at least someone had seen or heard something. Whoever the killer was, they’d taken a big risk.
“No, just that they heard it,” the cop said. “The woman was so scared, she ran back inside and called us.”
“Thank God she didn’t get hurt.” He couldn’t help but wonder how much worse it could have been. Not only was he very lucky, but the woman was, too.
The cop nodded. “I’ll just get your license and registration, and we’ll make a report. I’ll let you make arrangements for your car if you want, and I can give you a ride unless you’re staying here with a friend.”
“No, I was here seeing a business associate. I’m a filmmaker back in LA, and I came over to do a little legwork on that. I’ll just see if he can take me where I need to go. I’m still a bit shaken.”
“Yeah, I bet. This is a fine car, sir. I hate to see it like this, but if you give me a minute, I’ll have you out of here.”
“Thanks.” Finn leaned against his car and waited. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long. He got the report and hoped that his insurance would take care of the damage.
Finn pretended to go back inside and gave the policeman a minute while he waited for Bay’s man to come and get him.
When he arrived, the man looked too proper to be hired, and though he seemed more like a butler or chauffeur, he wasn’t going to ask the man his affiliation with Bay. The last thing Finn needed was to ask the wrong question.
He arrived at the penthouse, and when he went up, he hoped that Bay wouldn’t still have company. Although if he did, it would make Bay’s story more legit.
Bay opened the door and brushed his hair back as he stepped aside. “Did the police ask a lot of questions?”
“No, they think it was just some random asshole. They probably were going to mug me and smashed the car since I outran them.” He hoped that was all it was.
Bay’s phone rang. He answered it and growled. “Is she still at it?” Bay waited silently for the person on the other end of the line, and Finn wondered what was going on. “Did you hit her? Don’t hit her. It’s not going to help anything. Are you wearing gloves?”
Finn walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink, quite certain that Bay wouldn’t mind.
“Put the phone on speaker,” Bay said. “I want to talk to her.” His temper was growing wilder by the second, and he was pacing the floor, causing the energy in the room to charge as if he were creating a power source.
Finn wondered if it was Bay’s wife acting up again. She’d been known to give him trouble, and Finn couldn’t help but wonder what it was like for her to be pregnant with the man’s child. He couldn’t see Bay as a father and wondered how fatherly he’d actually be to a kid.
“Look, you fucking bitch. I’ve tried to play nice. I’ve tried to make you see things my way, and this is the thanks I get for it? If you don’t settle your ass down and stop making threats—”
Bay held the phone away from his ear, and the woman’s voice on the other end of the phone screamed out so loudly that nothing he’d said was understandable.
But Bay seemed to understand her completely. “Oh? Is that so? You still don’t get it, do you? I’m never going to let that happen. Don’t mistake my infatuation with fucking you for safety. That’s a lesson you’ll learn the hard way, I’m sure.”
The “fuck you” that came from the phone was audible, and the voice seemed vaguely familiar.
“Lou, take her off the speaker.”
Finn was glad. He didn’t need to be a party to whatever kind of abuse the man was involved in. He thought of the girl from the ritual. Emily Johnson had been her name. Bay had had the others shut her up so he could do what needed to be done, and now, Finn wondered if that was what Bay was doing. Shutting up another victim. He’d orchestrated the entire ritual when they were kids; it would stand to reason that he’d be able to orchestrate something bigger now.
Finn sipped his drink and turned to face the window. Was someone out there worse than Bay? That was hard to believe.
“Give her the injection. She’ll stop her fucking screaming then. And I don’t care if she bites, but you don’t hit her. Do you understand me? I’ll handle it.” He ended the call and walked casually to the bar as if he wasn’t even shaken up.
Finn was torn. The man was never going to change. “I’m heading out,” Finn said. He figured if he called for a cab, then at least he’d be safe.
Bay wasn’t having it. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ve already drawn enough fucking attention to yourself.”
“I didn’t do anything.” He couldn’t believe Bay’s audacity. “My fucking car is a mess. I didn’t mean for anything crazy to happen. You can’t just put it on me for being a victim.”
“Don’t raise your fucking voice to me right now. I’ve had enough goddamned screaming for one fucking day.”
Finn could only imagine the fucking terror whoever he was knocking around was enduring, and Finn wasn’t about to be a party to any more of his bullshit. He’d let Bay involve him once already, and that had haunted him for too long.
Finn had gone back into that fucking millhouse and knelt down over the girl, who someone had silenced at his request. Then Bay had given him the knife and one final command. “Do it. Show me. Make me a believer.”
Finn wanted so hard to prove his love to Bay, his loyalty, but that was so long ago, and even though he craved the man now, he wasn’t sure he was worth it. Bay’s promises had been empty before.
“Look, I get it, okay,” Finn said. “I’ve had a shitty day too, which is why I want to go. I’m going to get the fuck out of here, make arrangements for my windshield, which can be repaired in a matter of hours, mind you, and then I’m fucking out of here. This entire trip has sucked, and I’ll do much better work at home.”
Bay closed the distance between them so fast that Finn flinched. The man was in his face and close enough to kiss. “You’re not going home. You owe me, and you’re staying right fucking here.”
17
Finn
Finn knew he better not argue with Bay since the man could strike out quicker than a snake. He went to sit on the couch, and Bay joined him.
“I can’t believe you want to go home.” Bay tossed back the last of his drink and turned to face Finn. “All this time wanting to be close to me, and you’re still running. You’re not loyal. You’ve stayed away for years.”
“I had to live my life,” Finn said. “You were living yours. It’s not like we could ever really be together, as much as I would want that.”
“You still haven’t learned to trust me, to be my friend first, so that you might progress to be more. You’ve proven most difficult for me.”
“Are you kidding? I’m difficult?” He belted a laugh and then downed his drink.
“I know you wanted to push me out, Finn. You and Logan. You talked to Hannah at that funeral about me. I heard enough from his studio to know that. That’s the problem with you all. You’ve learned to fear this fucking killer, and you’ve forgotten to give me my due respect as your leader. Just like you live your lives, all coming around for one thing, my money, and only when it suits you. I think it’s time you all remember who is the boss.”
“You’re crazy if you think we’ve forgotten anything that happened all those years ago, or if you think any one of them is more loyal to you than me.”
“There you go, calling me crazy,” Bay said. “Well maybe, just maybe I should show you how fucking crazy I am and give you another fucking test of your loyalty.” He turned and took a pad and pencil from the box where he kept his coke, and then he jotted down an address.
“What’s that? Are you serious? I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked.”
“Here, take this. I have another job for you.”
Finn had done all he could do. “I carved up some poor screaming girl for you, and I did the whole Seth thing for you. Now you have another job?” It was never going to end.
“That’s bullshit. I didn’t get paid to carve up Emily.”
“You were paid with my loyalty and friendship, just like the rest of you. Every single fucking one of you owe me. You know it, and I know it. I’ve been the only one to offer support to you.”
“You had me earn it,” Finn said.
“Earn me, not my fucking money! Finally, for once and for all, earn me, Finn.” His leg brushed up against Finn’s, and he had the strong urge to lean in and capture Bay’s lips with his. He fought the urge, knowing that he didn’t want to force anything.
Finn thought he should at least hear him out. “What do I have to do?”
Bay tucked the paper into his shirt pocket and offered a sly grin. “Go there. Wait for my instruction.” Bay shrugged like it was nothing, but Finn knew better.
“Does this have to do with that woman?”
“Does it fucking matter?” Bay reached out and cupped Finn’s cheek. He stroked his face with his thumb, and Finn leaned into his hand, closing his eyes as he considered how much he loved the man. “Maybe all I’ve ever needed is for you to want me for me, Finn. Not for my power, not for my money, but for me. The kind of loyalty I get from Mia and Lila. You’ve seen them with me. Tell me you don’t want the same.”
Finn had envied the women, but he didn’t think he could fully give himself to Bay that way. To be his property, to be at his beck and call, it would take too much sacrifice. Much more than a fucking knife in some screaming girl’s back.
“I’m not sure; I think I should just go home.” The pressure was getting to him, and he didn’t want to make a decision that would haunt him for the rest of his life, especially when he’d do it for someone who would never really reciprocate his feelings.