Page 101 of Finn

Una curled up on her side, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She looked drowsy, the sleeping pills she’d agreed to take relaxing her. I was beside her, unsure what to do. I wanted to pull her into my arms, sleep with her on my chest the way we usually did, but I didn’t know if she wanted to be touched that way. Tenderly, I brushed the hair back from her face, trying not to scowl at the bruises on her skin. I wished I could have Lopez in front of me. That I could cover him in marks and bruises. Let him feel real fear before he died.

The sensation of Una’s fingers on my face brought me out of my musings.

“Hi,” I murmured.

“Are you going to leave?” she asked, sounding fearful.

“No.”

“Why aren’t you under the covers with me?”

“I didn’t know if you wanted that,” I admitted honestly.

“Your touch doesn’t frighten me, Finn. It soothes me.”

I slid under the blankets, my entire body relaxing as she shifted, laying her head on my chest, her torso pressed to mine. We were quiet for a moment.

“While I was there in the dark, I couldn’t sleep. But I would drift, and I dreamed you were holding me. It was awful waking up cold and alone.”

I pressed a kiss to her head. “Never again. I will always be here. No one and nothing will harm you again, Una. I swear it.”

She snuggled closer, and I snaked my arm around her waist, holding her tight. “I love you, mo chroí.”

“Same for me,” she whispered, making me smile.

“Sleep. I have you.”

“I know.”

* * *

The next day, Niall walked in with Anna. Neither looked rested. Considering how often Una had cried out and woke screaming, I felt the same way.

It was going to take a while until either woman felt safe.

We left them together, heading to the table. That was as far away as I was comfortable at the moment.

“Rough night?”

“Jesus,” he replied, his voice low. “I have no idea what I’m doing. Her terror is fucking killing me. I can’t take the screams…or the tears.”

“Time,” I replied. “They have to heal.”

“How do you stand it? I know how much you love her. I don’t have the connection to Anna you have, and her pain is ripping me apart.”

“Are you so certain about that, Niall? No connection?”

He scoffed, taking a sip of coffee. “I feel badly for her. I want to help her. She obviously means a lot to Una.”

I let it go. This wasn’t the time for personal exchanges.

“You saw the news this morning?”

“Yes. The reporting is perfect. An explosion led to the discovery of a hidden drug lab. Assumed set off by an accident in the highly flammable facility. All casualties were thought to be employees but are unidentifiable.” He sat back. “Those who knew where the Russians were will assume they were caught in the inferno.”

I nodded. “The racetrack is closed permanently. I think the feeling is the syndicate will purchase it and reopen so they can keep tabs on it. Any news on Juan?”

“No sightings. We’ll keep searching.”