“Don’t,” Colson urges. “Don’t wait around. I’ll come find you later. Okay?”
His eyes say,don’t push, just listen.
So, I do.
I murmur out “Okay,” look Stranger Guy in the face one last time, and head for the apartment entrance where I swipe my keycard. I only hope he’s in one piece the next time I see him because if this past summer has taught me anything, it’s that things aren’t always as they seem.
TWENTY-FOUR
COLSON
Finn and his perfect timing.I’ve known since Mom told me he stopped by the house, that this was coming. After what happened in that alleyway with him, my senses are hyper focused, aware of the tiniest specks of fuzz on his dark shirt and any movement I see out the corners of my eyes.
When he points over to the street, where his SUV is parked, my thoughts are confirmed that he’s not alone. “Why are you here, Finn?”
“That’s a loaded question, now isn’t it?” He narrows his razor-sharp gaze at me, and my eyes flick toward the main entrance of the apartment building. Violet disappeared inside, and she better stay there. The last thing I need is these different parts of my life colliding into one. I don’t want Finn anywhere near the other people in my life. Especially her. She’s too good, too pure for this.
I’m already dreading the conversation that’s going to come after, the explanation she’s going to want. Maybe she won’t outright ask for it. Either way, it’s just around the corner, and I’m not sure I’m ready to deal with it.
One thing at a time.
I need to handle Finn first, then I’ll worry about her.
“I have nearly all you need.”
Gulliver’s has been my saving grace.
“Not discussing this here.” He points to his car then starts walking, knowing damn well I’ll follow because what other choice do I have?
I could walk away, but he’ll come after me in a different way. He’ll go back to my mom and take the little bit of innocence she has left—hell, if she even has any to begin with.
Our trek is short. Just down the path outside of Spring Meadows that leads to the sidewalk. He opens the back door and motions for me to get in. I look into the dark car—courtesy of the tinted windows in the back that are probably dark enough to be illegal—and then flick my gaze toward the road because that’s the side of the car I’ll have to scoot over to sit on.
I won’t be able to get out at a second’s notice. If I try, I’ll risk getting hit by oncoming traffic, and ultimately, owing Finn more if it damages his vehicle.
I’m not interested in either, so I slide into the back seat, picking up the smoky cigarette smell almost immediately. Clinging to the leather, no doubt, and every nook and cranny.
Finn gets in next to me and slams the door behind him.
“Stopped by your Mom’s,” he croons. “Bet you already know that, though.”
Resting my elbow up against the door, I push my back into it. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“Don’t think you’re in the position to tell us what to do.”
When I climbed in the car, I noticed a figure in the driver’s seat, but I didn’t latch onto his presence for longer than a beat. Now I’m realizing I should have because, even from behind, the guy looks nothing like the two cronies who I’ve seen with Finn before.
With a dark aura and putting off more negative vibes than I care to pick up, he drowns out the silence just by existing.
Clyde Lincoln.
I can’t get a good look at him, but our eyes lock in the rearview mirror. Wrinkle lines border his blue ones, and I can tell there’s no patience in them. Only decades of experiences that I probably never want to be privy to.
“You know why you’re here,” he states. “Finn is done waiting for what younearly have. Your whore of a mother’s debt was due weeks ago.”
I bristle at the name he throws at her. She’s a lot of things, but that’s not one of them. Unless she’s out doing a whole lot more that I don’t know about, she’s not that.
“I can give you what I have.” I look back to Finn, whose expression is the hardest and most unforgiving that I’ve ever seen. Perhaps he’s not happy about his dad micro-managing him.
