Alyssa smiled as she entered the hospital room. The fresh flowers in the corner were a sure sign Haley had already been there to visit.
“How you doing today, Noel?” She smiled at him.
He constantly kept his head turned, so the burned side of his face wasn’t visible.
“Still keeping me in here,” he said quietly. “Your friend was here.”
She nodded at the flowers. “I see she brought you some new flowers.”
Noel grunted. “I don’t know why she bothers, it’s not like some flowers are going to fix anything.”
“Maybe,” she said. “So when do you get out?”
He frowned. “Not for another week. I’m sick of being here. Cops keep coming by trying to get something out of me. I’m a sitting duck for them and any other asshole.”
She turned away to keep from laughing. Although he had suffered some serious psychological issues, this had nothing to do with that. Haley had been more than a little persistent, but they all figured it was something to take his mind off what had happened.
“Well I just stopped by to see if you need anything,” she said. “It’s my last day of aquatic therapy.”
“Lucky,” he said. “They’ve got me on more therapy in a day than I even thought possible. Mostly just to teach how to deal with the scars and what that means for movement.”
Alyssa nodded. “Keep at it,” she said. “It might not feel like it’s working now, but in a month it will be such a difference.”
She paused at the door and looked back at him. “How’s the group therapy going?”
“Shit,” he said. “How am I supposed to relate with them if I can’t even tell them what really happened?”
“Maybe you should take Finn up on his offer for private therapy,” she said.
He grunted. “Maybe.”
She knew the conversation was over. This was something she mentioned nearly every time. Alyssa just wanted Noel to find some peace. She worried that it ate at him, that he spent too much time thinking about how he was going to get Boris back.
“Bye, Noel,” she said and walked into the hall.
At least now he was admitting there was an issue. Maybe someday he would be able to get the help he needed.
She pushed the worries away and thought of something happier. At least for her, it was her last day of therapy.
* * *
Finn strolled into his most recent purchase. The building was older but had so much potential. Even the location had the ability to be more than it was. Just on the outskirts of town, they could actually have a parking lot and even build around it if they wanted. He liked the idea of an empire.
Liam met him at the door to the smaller hallway off the main area.
“How’s he doing?” Finn asked.
Liam shrugged. “He’s fine. I think we’ve gotten all we can from him.”
Finn sighed. He really was a small fry.
He walked into the makeshift cell and looked at Mike. The large man was haggard and covered with bruises. Over all, he was really more trouble than he was worth. They’d had to feed and clothe the piece of shit. He was tired of babysitting.
“Well, Mike,” he said. “Looks like your time with us is finished. We’ll be letting you go tonight.”
“What,” he said, his expression incredulous. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Finn nodded. “There’s nothing else we can get from you. Besides,” he smiled, “I bet Boris is just sick with worry for you. Why I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out there right now. Combing the streets for you.”
“You can’t do this.” He stood and shouted. “You’re sending me to my death.”
“You’re lucky I don’t kill you myself, you son of a bitch.” Finn crossed the room in a flash and stood in front of the big man. “You made a deal with the devil, and now you want me to show you some mercy?” Finn leaned in closer. “Looks like you made a deal with the wrong devil.”
Finn turned and walked to the door. “Good luck out there,” he said and went through the door.
Liam was on the other side waiting for him. “Will Boris kill him?”
Finn shook his head. “Likely not, but I’m betting Mike doesn’t stick around to find out.”
“So where does that leave us in all this?” Liam asked. “Boris is out there waiting for his shot to take you out, and Ennis has quite a few men now.”
Finn smiled. “Yeah, but what Ennis and Boris don’t know is they aren’t the only ones with a plan. This little pact they have going on is just hanging by a thread. All it would take is one man on the inside and the whole thing would come falling down.”
Liam stopped and grinned broadly. “This changes everything.”
“I certainly hope so.” Finn nodded. They stepped outside into the warm sun. “Have him released tonight. Give him pocket money if you feel it necessary,” he said.
“Feeling generous?” Liam asked.
“You know what I’d do if I didn’t have to answer to Alyssa,” he said flatly. “No, then I can say to her that I did what I could without it being a lie. The less she’s involved in all this, the better.”
“Understandable,” Liam nodded.
Finn climbed into his car. “Last day of aquatic therapy. I hate to admit it, but I’m going to miss watching her swim around in that little bikini.”
Liam laughed. “I’m pretty sure she’d give you a private viewing.”
Finn winked. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”
He revved the engine a few times and sped off down the road.
* * *
Alyssa grinned at Steve as he signed off on the last of her therapy papers.
“Now, just remember, you still need to stretch the muscle out before doing any wild stunts.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Got it,” Finn said behind her. “Stretching before bed.”
She blushed when he winked at her.
Steve chuckled behind her.
“Come see me sometime,” Steve said. “Maybe a follow up in three months?”
Alyssa smiled and nodded. “Sounds good.”
“Good,” he said and walked to the men’s locker room.
“How was Noel?” Finn kissed her and wrapped his arms around her wet body.
“Grumpy.” She frowned.
Finn laughed. “I’m not so sure that’s much different from before.”
“Maybe when he’s out of there he’ll feel a little more relaxed. He said the police keep stopping by.”
Finn frowned.
“Maybe I’ll see if I can hire Kace to be on-duty there,” he said. “If anyone can get rid of the cops, it’s an ex-cop.”
Alyssa watched him carefully for a moment before speaking. “Did you take care of your business this morning?”
Finn sighed, and for a second, her heart leapt into her throat.
“We’re letting him go tonight,” he said. “Liam’s going to give him some cash to get out of town.”
She leapt into his arms and pulled him in for a searing kiss. When she pulled back, she couldn’t help the smile that came to her face.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“It wasn’t easy,” he said. “You know what I wanted to do with him.”
She did. He’d only said it about a million times over the last few weeks, but he hadn’t. He specifically hadn’t for her.
“You know,” she smiled at him and walked toward the locker room, “we’ve got the place for another hour.”
“Oh?” he said and kept his eyes fixed on her body.
It always made her feel like she was something special when he did. She winked at him as she walked through the doors.
“Oh look at that,” she said and tossed the top to her bikini behind her into the pool room. “My top seems to have come off.”
He growled. “Let me just get that for you,” he called.
She laughed and let the door shut behind her. It was always fun to make him work for it a little.
A Note from Madison
Thank you for reading Finn. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.
The next book in the series, Conor, is scheduled to be out April.
ALSO BY MADISON STEVENS
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Private security contractor Reed Allen isn’t about to let a burning attraction rope him in again. He’s already felt the sting of letting his heart rather than his head lead him. He’s just there to do the job and get paid, even if a certain spunky beautiful librarian has him feeling things he thought long since buried.
Keeping Olivia safe is the easy part. Resisting their passionate urges could prove to be much harder.
They’ll have to mend their broken hearts and move on from their painful pasts for a chance at a future.
Kace (Allen Securities #2)
Jessica Tamm is just trying to get ahead in life and escape the cloud of her father’s criminal past. Though, it’d probably help if she hadn’t taken a job managing a club owned by the head of the local Irish mob. As far as she’s concerned, her own discomfort is a minor price to pay to earn the money she needs for her sister’s education. Unfortunately, the Russians interested in taking over local organized crime don’t seem to care that her job has nothing to do with the criminal world of her boss.
Monitoring the Russian and Irish mobs is just another step in the promotion ladder for cop Kace Allen, or at least that's what he keeps telling himself. Babysitting a mob boss club isn't what he’d call a fun time, but the scenery, particularly the sexy manager, is nice. Too bad he can't trust the daughter of a criminal who works for a criminal. He’s sworn to uphold the law, and no one, not even a beautiful woman, has made him question that before.
When the temperature rises between the Russian and Irish factions and Jessica’s caught in the middle, Kace starts to see the lines between good and bad, law-abiding and criminal, are a lot blurrier than he ever realized.
Road House Series
Letting Go (Road House Series #1)
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The last thing Jake ever expected was that sweet little Sarah would make a play for him. For months, he’s kept to himself and bit his tongue about her less than stellar boyfriend. Now that she’s given the green light, he’s not stopping until he gets what he’s been imagining since she walked into his bar.
The fires of passion might just be what they need to soothe both their hungry bodies and souls.
Holding On (Road House Series #2)
Iris wants nothing more than a simple, quiet life until she meets ex-Navy SEAL Luc. The sexy motorcycle mechanic ignites a hidden passion in her, but his hot and cold attitude leaves her frustrated and confused. She needs a man who is willing to put it all out there.
Luc was burned in the past by his fiancée. Physically scarred and emotionally torn, Luc struggles to make his heart meet up with what is in his head. But Iris isn’t going to take no for an answer, even if that means she has to break out of her shell.
Both Iris and Luc can only begin to heal once they stop dwelling in the past and start holding on to each other.
Standing By (Road House Series #3)
Pan never thought she'd still be trying for the man she wants after a year. But with a sister months away from delivery and a dangerous thug out to get her, she might just have to put away her feelings and move on.
Emilio is trapped. Having the woman he's always wanted will put her in serious danger, but staying away from her is a pain he can't bear.
With fate forcing Emilio and Pan into each other's path, they'll have to confront their feelings for one another in order to stay alive.
Privileged (Privileged #1)
For Emma Archer, college isn’t about freedom. It also isn’t about getting a degree to make money. She wants no part of the world of wealth that could be hers by birthright. For her, college is about the chance to put in her dues and land a coveted position at a publishing company, a chance to make something of herself through her own efforts.
Gavin Locke’s arrival changes all of that. The brooding, devilishly handsome brother of her best friend seems determined to destroy her careful control and plans. Already wounded by past emotional betrayal, Emma doesn’t want to be the victim of a man who represents everything she is trying to flee. She’ll have to navigate the struggle of her pride and heart or face a future of both personal and professional failure.
Elite (Privileged #2)
Living the high life in Grace Locke’s elite world has left her listless and unfulfilled. Her parents have it all mapped out for her, from birth to marriage, including the man she’s supposed to love and marry. It’s too bad she can’t get her kiss with Dean, a cowboy from outside her circle, off her mind. Things change when her grandmother challenges Grace to break free and begin to learn who she is and not who her parents want her to be.
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Author Bio
Madison currently lives with her husband and two children in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. After leaving the frozen tundra of the north, she was more surprised than anyone with how much she has enjoyed living in the desert. Seeing as she stated on more than one occasion before moving to Arizona how much she hated heat, it was an odd move, but it seems her hatred for sub-zero temperatures and ice has won out in the end.
When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying time with her family. Madison and her family frequent festivals in the area, as well as local cultural events, and spend time with family in the area. In the summer, she is most likely to be found in the pool with the family and in the winter by the fireplace. Since both her children are autistic, days can be a little chaotic, but with her husband beside her, there’s nothing she can’t handle.
Madison has a full schedule of releases planned for 2014 listed and updated on her blog: http://madisonstevens.blogspot.com/
She can be contacted at [email protected]
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