Finn shifts closer to me, and the warmth of his presence is impossible to ignore. Heat rises to my cheeks. He turns slightly, eyes scanning my face before dropping to my lips. "I just miss you," he murmurs with a voice barely above a whisper. "That's why I brought you here. I just wanted us to be alone, away from all of it."
My breath hitches, and for a second, I forget every question that's at the tip of my tongue. The moment Finn's hand rests gently on my waist, all my thoughts scatter like dust in the wind.
He leans in, slowly, as though giving me space to pull back. I don't. His breath is warm against my skin, and my heart races.
I remind myself I need answers, but then his lips brush mine. It isn't as soft as earlier. Finn is hungry, and I match his energy.His tongue moves into my mouth, exploring all the corners. A soft moan escapes me as the kiss deepens.
My hand grips his shirt, not to pull him away, but to anchor myself. He deepens the kiss, and before I know it, he shifts, gently guiding me down against the bed. His body hovers above mine, and I can feel every inch of him as my hand traces his chest.
His hand moves beside my head, and the other raises my thigh. I can feel the hardness of his groin, a soft grunt escaping him as his hand moves from my head to my face, to the line of my neck. He puts his hand under my shirt, and the skin-to-skin contact sets me on fire.
His hands move up slowly, until they settle on my breasts. He gives them a gentle squeeze, and I arch my back, breaking our kiss. Finn's mouth moves to my neck, kissing me like never before as he pinches my nipple.
The feeling is overwhelming. The warmth of his tongue on my neck, the sweet sensation of his fingers on my nipple, and the pressure of his body against my core. I don't want him to stop. I want him to worship my body. His mouth moves from my neck, and I moan softly as our lips reconnect.
Each time we kiss, it feels like I'm discovering something new. His hand moves from my breasts down to the side of my thighs. He grabs my ass and pulls me closer like we aren't already close enough. But I don't care, I want him just as he wants me.
Just when I think he's going to take things further, Finn pulls away, dropping to my side like he's trying to control himself. I can tell, because I know that look all too well.
CHAPTER 21
Finn
It takesall the effort in me to stop myself from sleeping with Gianna. Every nerve in my body screams to give in; to touch, to feel, to lose myself in her, but I don't. Not now. Not with everything happening. We lie side by side facing each other, still recovering from the heat of our make-out session. Her breath is soft and uneven, her lips red and swollen. She looks so beautiful, it's painful.
I reach out, tracing my thumb over her lips slowly, then gently tucking the loose strand of hair clinging to her cheek behind her ear. She closes her eyes briefly at the touch, and I feel my chest tighten. After Declan's threat, I knew I had to protect her. Whatever it takes, but something gnaws at the back of my mind. Something that has always been there, but I chose to ignore, because wanting her was easier than doubting her.
I don't want to ask her again, but it's been eating me up since my conversation with Ailish and Declan. "Gianna," I say in a low voice. She opens her eyes slowly and responds with a soft, hoarse hum.
I hesitate for half a second before I ask. "Are you the mole?" Her eyes widen immediately, and something shifts in the airbetween us. She doesn't answer. Not right away. She stares at me, and I see the battle raging inside her.
Her lips part slightly, but no sound comes. She looks away, then back at me, and that's when I see it. The conflict, the fear, and the guilt. She swallows hard and slowly sits up, pulling the sheets with her as she rests her back against the headboard. Her arms wrap loosely around her knees.
I sit up too, turning to face her fully, searching her eyes for something, anything. I need to know the truth. At this point, I'm not sure if the truth will change anything because I'm already far too deep into this. I've crossed lines I never imagined with her. I've defended her, protected her, and my feelings for her are too strong for me to ignore anymore.
I reach out, gently taking her hand in mine. Her fingers are cold. I rub slow, soothing circles on the back of her palm.
"It's okay," I murmur. "I just want to know the truth."
She looks down at our joined hands. When she meets my eyes, I see tears swim in her irises like storm clouds about to burst. "I am," she whispers. "Vito sent me to you as a mole when he found out about our relationship."
The air in the room changes, but I don't flinch. I'm supposed to be surprised, maybe lash out. I should shove her away, feel betrayed to my bones, but none of that comes. Instead, there's a strange, still ache in my chest. Because deep down... I already knew.
Ailish had said it. Declan practically carved it into my skull. I think I knew the truth the moment I saw her in Declan's office that day. Her words, her body language, her eyes. I knew. But knowing meant I'd have to face the reality. It means I couldn't have her. That every look, every touch, every kiss would have to end. So, I did what cowards do best. I lied to myself. I've always lied to myself when it comes to Gianna.
"I'm sorry," she whispers, tears sliding down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I lied to you," she says again, her voice shaking.
It breaks my heart to see her cry. Every sob feels like a knife between my ribs. And even now, even now, I want to protect and comfort her. I lift my hand, brushing the tears from her face, my thumb lingering at the corner of her eye. "It's okay," I murmur. "I guess deep down... I knew. I just wanted to keep you by my side."
Her shoulders shake harder, and she breaks down completely, collapsing into my arms. I hold her tightly as she sobs into my shoulder, the weight of guilt and truth finally crushing her. We remain like that for several minutes, the silence between us thick and heavy. Her breath hitches every now and then, and I keep rubbing gentle circles on her back.
"Every time I lie to you," she says, her voice muffled against my chest, "the guilt eats me alive. I hated it. I hated myself for it. I'm so sorry, Finn."
I kiss her forehead softly. "I know," I say. "I know."
She leans back slightly, her eyes red and swollen. "Why are we here, Finn?" she asks, searching my eyes.
There's no point hiding it from her anymore. I meet her gaze head-on. "Declan wants to start a war," I say, jaw tightening. "And he wants to use you. He... wanted to kill you. Said he's sending your body to Vito as a warning."
