I waved and raised an eyebrow. “Have fun,” I whispered to myself.
I had never been so turned on yet so confused in my entire life.
I turned and saw the punching bag. I bit my lip and stepped toward it. I made two fists and brought them up. I put my right hand back and threw it forward. I wanted my chance at the punching bag. I wanted to see it sway. I wanted to see what Finn felt.
My fist hit the bag with a thud.
The bag didn’t move and a sharp pain shot through my knuckles into my wrist and up to my shoulder. I cried out and jumped back. I cradled my wrist and tears filled my eyes.
I hadn’t even moved the bag.
Yet just an hour ago Finn had the thing swaying back and forth like a tree branch in a storm.
He was really that strong. That tough.
“Did you just punch that?”
I spun around and Finn stood there with firewood in his massive arms. He dropped it next to the fireplace.
“Yeah,” I said.
“You hurt yourself.”
“Maybe.”
Finn grinned. “I’ll teach you how to fight someday.”
“Finn… it’s been…”
Finn turned and walked away. He stopped in the doorway and his hands balled up into fists.
“What?” I asked.
I saw the car coming as he said it…
“Fiore’s here.”
~
I stood next to Finn as we watched a big black SUV pull up behind the car.
“What do we do?” I whispered. “He knows…”
“I know,” Finn growled. “He’s checking on us. Just follow my lead.”
“You can’t tell him I have my period again.”
“I’ll tell him whatever I want,” Finn said.
I could sense Finn slipping back into his darkness. I wondered just how he could go and what he would do. If he would put himself in danger with Fiore. Because if that happened, then that meant I was in danger.
The back door of the SUV opened and out stepped Fiore. He took off a pair of sunglasses and pointed them at us. A big smile graced his face as he approached the cabin. He walked right up the steps and put a hand to my stomach. I grabbed for Finn’s hand and squeezed it. Finn didn’t squeeze back at me, or even hold my hand.
“How are we feeling?” he asked. “Nice and full?”
My mouth opened, but I had nothing.
“She’s not pregnant.”
Fiore looked at Finn. “How do you know? Did you take a test yet? It can take some time to show up.”
“We haven’t had sex,” Finn said.
Just like that it felt like the temperature had dropped by a hundred degrees. My spine shivered and sent chilly tingles throughout the rest of my body.
What had Finn just done?
“Say that again,” Fiore said.
“You heard me, Fiore. We haven’t had sex.”
Fiore swung his hand at Finn. He smacked him with it in the face. Fiore’s ring cut under Finn’s lip. Blood started to leak but Finn just stared at Fiore.
“Have you forgotten what I said?” Fiore asked.
“It’s my fault,” I said. “I don’t… I push him away.”
Fiore slowly looked at me. “Well then, Shayna, I have some rope in the back of the SUV. I’m going to tie you to the fucking bed. Legs spread wide open. And then I’m going to watch Finn fuck you until he can’t move anymore.”
“She’s protecting me,” Finn said. “I haven’t made a move. I haven’t tried.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because of what this all means,” Finn said boldly. “What do you expect from us? I’m just a fighter, Fiore. And she’s a runaway. It’s not going to do what you want.”
Fiore laughed. He clapped his hands together. “I know exactly what it’s going to do. It’s going to destroy Zander. It’s going to tear him apart. He’s going to feel the pain I feel when I have something he wants.”
“You need to promise me the protection and care of Shayna,” Finn said.
“What?” Fiore asked.
“You’re not going to do this and then just leave her to die. She deserves more. She never wanted this life, Fiore.”
“Oh, so you’re going to hold me hostage?” Fiore asked. “Do you realize I have three men with me who would be more than willing to tear Shayna apart right now? Right in your precious cabin. Your little home you built, right? Is that what you’re afraid of?”
I felt Finn starting to shake. I worried he was going to hit Fiore.
“Just give us time,” I said. “So much at once…”
“Don’t speak unless I tell you to,” Fiore said to me. “All I need you to do is be naked from the waist down. I’ll even be nice and have you on your stomach. You just stick that ass of yours in the air and let it all happen.”
“This is my fault,” Finn said. “Be angry with me, Fiore.”
“Oh, I want to put a bullet in your head. But I can’t. Not with the opportunity in front of me.”
“Opportunity?” I asked.
Fiore backed up. “I was really hoping to come here and spread all the good news. I was hoping to find you two tired from fucking so much. Or maybe Shayna feeling pregnant. But I’ve already invested money in this, so I have to ride it out. You have a fight, Finn. Two nights from now.”