Page 66 of Finn

He rolled his eyes. “You’re not my mother. I bummed one earlier. I was tense.”

I looked at him. He was thinner, his dark eyes almost black. He seemed on edge. Unhappy.

“Are you on drugs, Brian?” I asked.

“Fuck’s sake, Una,” he snapped. “Not you too. You and the mighty Finn. So fucking moral.” He snorted.

“You saw Finn?” I gripped the back of the sofa, relief pouring through me. He’d seen Finn, and he was alive.

“He sent his men after me, so yeah, I went and saw him.” He winced as he sat down. “We had words.” He leaned back. “Really, Una. It’s been a day. Can I have a whiskey?”

I poured us each a finger in a glass and handed him one. He tossed it back and held out his glass for more. I poured him another and he frowned, so I added a splash more then sat across from him.

“What happened?” I asked quietly.

“Oh, your boy was full of questions and accusations. I had to prove to him I wasn’t some sort of low-life arsonist. I’ve been busy with Juan, building our business. I don’t give a flying shit about Finn or his world anymore. That fucker Roman Costas filled his head with lies.” He sat back with a smirk, an ugly one. “I set the record straight.” He took another sip of whiskey. “And I paid him the money I owed him, so I am free and clear of him.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew an envelope. “And there’s yours.”

I gaped at him, not touching it. “Brian, what are you doing to get that sort of money?”

“We got an investor in our company. I told him everything. And you know what? He didn’t care. He fronted us the money, and Juan let me take this to pay off my debts. I’ll draw a lesser salary to pay it off. Without fucking interest. I owe nothing to you or your fucking precious Finn.”

I shook my head. “What sort of investor does that? What have you gotten yourself involved with?”

“Why am I not surprised that my sister has zero faith in me? First, I had to listen to Finn all afternoon. Get tossed around. Swear my fucking fidelity to someone I hate.” He took a drink of whiskey. “And now, you’re all sanctimonious, as if you’re so fucking pure.”

He narrowed his eyes, and I shivered at the look of them. Empty. Cold. Angry. And far too black. He leaned close, the scent of cigarettes and something else washing over me. It was all I could do not to gag or lean back.

“You think you’re all high-and-mighty, my little sister? Fucking big bad Finn? Throwing me to the wolf and walking away? You think he can always protect you?” he laughed, the sound unpleasant. “Yet I’m here with you. Alone. I could slap you around, hurt you, and he could do nothing.”

My stomach rolled at his words and his implied threat. Then he sat back. “But I never would.”

His words should have calmed me, but the fact that he’d uttered them frightened me.

“I asked Finn to let you go,” I whispered.

“And he did. But you didn’t ask him to forgive the loan. Or to make sure it was known I wasn’t to be touched. That only applies to you, doesn’t it, sister dear? I guess you need to suck his cock for protection.” He stood. “At least I haven’t lowered myself to that. Sleeping with the man who killed our dad.”

His words and the hatred with which he spewed them shocked me.

“Dad was doing his job. He took that bullet out of loyalty.”

“And got nothing for it but pissing and shitting himself until he died,” he snarled. “Finn did nothing.”

I stood, angry now too. “He paid all the medical bills. The mortgage. For nursing care. He made sure Dad never went without. He looked after him.”

“And what about me?” he roared, his whiskey-soaked breath hitting my face. “I should have been promoted. Given special treatment to make up for it.”

I gaped at him. “Oh my God, that’s what you think? Dad got hurt, so you should have it easy? What makes you think you should be entitled that way?”

He grasped my arms, shaking me. “Finn O’Reilly owes me.”

“No,” I gasped. “He doesn’t. You owe him.”

His grip tightened to the point of pain. Then with a snarl, he pushed me away. I fell to the floor, hitting my hip, staring up at him with new eyes.

“He is going to pay. He thinks this is over, but it’s not. One day, he will bow to me.” He grinned, an evil, twisted grin I had never seen on him before. “And I’ll show him the same mercy he showed me.” He picked up his whiskey and drained it, throwing the glass against the wall. Then he picked up the envelope. “You know what? Ask Finn for your money. You’re his whore now. I’m going to take this and enjoy myself. See you around, sister.”

He left, slamming the door behind him. It took me a moment before I got off the floor and raced to the door, throwing the dead bolt.