He smirks as he continues to stare at me. Even after all this time, his spirit is yet to break.
“I’m ready to talk,” he chokes out before violently coughing. A few splatters of blood hit the concrete, and I wrinkle my nose.
“What changed your mind?”
“Does it matter?”
“I’m curious about your motive, that’s all. Was it finally seeing your long-lost father figure, or have you finally realized you’re on the brink of death?”
Finn huffs a laugh, which sets off another violent coughing fit.
Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I watch with silent satisfaction as he struggles to take a breath.
“Neither,” he gasps.
“If I had to hazard a guess, your lung has been punctured by a broken rib, which, left untreated, could kill you. I’m only saying this to remind you that your pathetic little life is in my hands. So, you better start talking.”
“I will, but…there’s a…catch.”
This fucker has got to be kidding me.
“You’re not exactly in a position to be bargaining with me, Finn.”
“You want… information, and I want…my freedom.”
I bark a laugh.
“Freedom? You think Ronan’s going to hand that over to you on a silver platter?”
Finn stares at me, and slowly his lips pull up into a smile, revealing his blood-stained teeth.
“I thought you were…in charge? That means…final say is…yours.”
Technically, he’s right, but that makes this deal even riskier. If I make the wrong call and let Finn walk…
“That’s one hell of a price.” I try to ignore the voice in my head that is telling me to run this by Ronan first. “You better have something damn good or you’re wasting my time.”
Finn narrows his pale eyes. “What I know will be worth it.”
I scoff, shaking my head. “You expect me to take your word for it? You’ve had weeks to strike this deal, but you haven’t, which makes me think something else has changed. Something you’re not admitting to.”
“What can I say… I’m tired of sitting…in my own shit.”
“Yeah, I’m not buying it.”
“I have proof.” He winces as he takes a breath. “Not just empty talk.”
A heavy silence hangs between us, and my mind races as I weigh the options.
Ultimately, even if Ronan has put me in charge, I still need to run this by my brothers. I might get the final say, but my family isn’t a dictatorship. Everyone gets a say, except for maybe Cormac, considering the fact his loyalty to the family appears to be conditional.
“I’ll think about it.” I don’t hide the skepticism in my tone.
“You better think fast… And when you take the deal…I want the agreement in writing…or everything I know dies with me.”
“I swear you never used to be this fucking stubborn.”
“People change.” He stares at me long and hard, and this time I’m the one to look away first.
