CHAPTER 031: Do We Have A Deal Or Not?
These feelings Finn has are obviously not the casual kind. Not the she’s–my–best–friend kind. No. It’s deeper. It’s in the way his voice cracks when he says her name. The way his hands won’t stay still. The way his panic takes on an edge that looks a hell of a lot like heartbreak.
And maybe he hasn’t figured it out yet. Maybe he’s too fixated on Delilah to see what’s been right next to him all along. But I see it. I see it, and it’s pissing me the fuck off.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek and taste copper.
It’s a habit I picked up in combat–quiet pain over loud reaction. Keeps the thoughts steady. Sharp. Contained. But nothing about this scene in front of me feels contained. Finn’s pacing. Mom’s posturing.
I step closer before I can talk myself out of it, and they both look up.
Mom smooths her expression into a smile. Finn wipes his eyes.
“Knox,” Mom says. “I thought you left.”
“I didn’t. It’s my friend’s wedding rehearsal.”
“Right. I keep forgetting you’re the best man.”
I nod before saying, “I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. Are you looking for someone?”
“Just go away, Knox,” Finn mutters.
Mom cuts him off. “Actually, yes. We are. You haven’t seen your brother’s friend, have you? He’s worried she’s fallen into the wrong hands.”
“I thought Asheville was safe,” I say.
“Nowhere is completely safe.”
“After serving in Afghanistan, Asheville seems like a haven.”
Mom falls silent–like she always does when I bring up my time overseas.
But I’m not focused on her anymore. My eyes are on Finn, who has suspicion written all over his face.
“You don’t seem bothered,” he says.
“What?”
“I mentioned Sloane might be missing. You didn’t even blink.”
“What do you want, Finn? You want me to shed a tear?”
“I know you,” he says. “I saw you leave that room after I kissed her. I know how you look at her. If there’s even a slight chance she’s missing, you wouldn’t be this calm.”
I stare at him for a second. Maybe two.
Then I shrug.
“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think.”
“Where is she, Knox?” he asks, stepping toward me.
Mom blocks his path. “Now you’re just accusing everyone but yourself. She left the second you kissed her. You’ve spent so long chasing Delilah that you don’t even know how to properly seduce a lady before kissing her, especially in public. She panicked. And the panic must have looked like anger to you. She’ll be back. Stop pointing fingers. Just find a way to do it right next time.”
Finn frowns. “Do what right?”
“Ask her out. Date her.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You kissed her, right? It must have come from somewhere.”
“That kiss meant nothing,” he says. “It was for a plan. To make Delilah jealous.”
Mom steps closer to him in annoyance. “Sometimes I just want to slap some sense into you, Finn. Delilah’s getting married. Leave her alone.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Of course you can.”
Successfully unlocked!
I stand there, watching them volley words like a tennis match from hell–Finn going on and on about needing Delilah and needing to find Sloane, who’s the only one that understands him. It’s doing my fucking head in.
1/2
CHAPTER 031: Do We Have A Deal Or Not? And before I can stop myself, I speak.
“Why don’t you just pick a side, Finn?”
He turns to me. “What?”
“If you want Delilah back, just say the word. I’ll get Hunter to call off the wedding in minutes.”
“Knox,” Mom warns.
I don’t even look at her. My eyes are on Finn. And his are finally, finally taking me seriously.
“I’m assuming there’s a condition,” he says slowly.
“There is. I want Sloane. And I don’t want to share her with you. As soon as you give me your word that you’ll set her free from this cage you’ve kept her in for years, I’ll give you Delilah. Heartbroken. Needing comfort. You know that’s when she’s most malleable.
He squints. “What cage did I keep Sloane in?”
“Cut the bullshit, Finn.”
He frowns, and I know that look–he’s trying to justify it to himself. Trying to pretend he’s not been using her as a placeholder for a decade while chasing a woman who’s crazy.
“So let me get this straight,” he says. “You want me to end my friendship with Sloane… and in return, you’ll help me get Delilah back?”
I smile. “You’re catching on.”
“I can get Delilah myself, you know.”
“Really? By kissing your best friend in public? How’d that go for you?”
He doesn’t answer.
I go on. “Delilah’s hellbent on marrying Hunter. She won’t leave him for you. Not unless Hunter rejects her outright. Just say the magic words, little brother, and get what you want.”
His jaw ticks.
I step closer, voice low. “Do we have a deal or not?”
