Lies Inside (14 page)

Lucy had spent most of the day chewing her fingernails off waiting for news of Finn. The rest of the gang had gone back to the Butler house. Lucy tried to distract herself with hundreds of different dresses and china patterns, but she couldn’t stop wondering if Finn was alright. Was he imagining his arms around her? Every once in awhile, Jack would call their dad for updates. All he would say was that they weren’t done yet.

Lucy almost jumped out of her skin when she saw her father’s number on the caller ID.

“He needs you.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Lucy made it to Finn’s house in record time. She ran up to his room, past her father, past Murphy, and past the FBI agents. He wasn’t on the window seat. Lucy noticed the open bathroom door and heard running water.

Lucy walked into the bathroom. “Finn?”

He was in the shower, scrubbing at his skin. Lucy pulled back the curtain. She saw the blood oozing from his hand and the skin on his forearm looked raw.

“I can’t get it clean.”

Lucy didn’t care that she was fully clothed. She stepped into the shower and pulled him into her arms. She knew Viktor had been there. It was the only possible explanation.

She tried to clean his hand, but he winched with pain. “I promise, I’ll be gentle.”

He gave Lucy his hand, and she held it under the water. She let the warm water run through the cuts until the water ran clear. He placed his good hand on her cheek before bringing it around her neck and pulling her close for a kiss. He pulled her into his arms as she wrapped hers around his bare torso.

Wait, he’s naked, kissing me in his shower,
Lucy thought to herself. She could feel him tugging at the hem of her t-shirt, wanting her to pull it up over her head.

“Finn.” She pulled back. “We can’t.”

“I don’t want to. I need to feel you, all of you.”

Lucy could not deny him anything, especially now.

“My clothes are all wet.” Lucy stepped out of the shower, examining what they had tossed on the floor.

Finn let his eyes rake over every inch of her skin, appreciating it fully for the first time. Every drop of water glistened off her warmed flesh. He watched as a single drop ran off the back of her shoulder and fell to the floor.

“Finn?” She pulled him out of his daze.

“Sorry.” Finn stepped out as she handed him a towel.

“Don’t be sorry.” She turned back to him after she wrapped her towel around herself. She helped Finn wrap his towel around his waist. “I don’t think your parents would appreciate me walking around in a towel.”

“I don’t mind.” Finn drew her into his arms. He placed his hand on her cheek. She held his hand and kissed each cut knuckle.

“Not that I wouldn’t want to spend eternity lying around naked with you, but there are a few people that might miss us.” She wiped the water dripping from his forehead. Finn placed a soft grateful kiss on her lips.

“Think I should get you some clothes from Rylan?”

She nodded. Finn grabbed a robe from behind the door and slipped it across her shoulders. They went out into the bedroom where he put on some clothes.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” He kissed her again as she sat down on the bed.

Finn made his way to Rylan’s room. He knocked softly.

“Come in.”

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she answered and gave him a soft hug.

“Is this how it’s going to be from now on, Ry? You hugging me every time I walk in a room?”

“Yes, so get used to it.” She held him tighter.

“I need some clothes for Lucy. Hers got a little, um...wet.” She pulled back from Finn with an accusatory glare. “She was helping me clean up.” He waved his hand in front of Rylan, who noticed for the first time that it was clean but incredibly swollen.

“Hell, Finn. What did you do?” She took his hand in hers.

“Got in a fight with a wall. The wall won, I guess.”

“I see.”

“I really came for the clothes for Lucy. We can talk about the rest in the morning.”

“Sure.” She went to her dresser and pulled out a t-shirt and black pants. “I think this should work.”

“Thanks. I guess she’ll need something to get home in.” The thought of her leaving again was tearing him up inside. He didn’t know if he could bear having her so far away from him after all that had happened.

“She’s not going anywhere. If Mom and Dad won’t let her stay with you, she’ll stay in here with me. It’s only right; we’re almost sisters, you know.” She smiled as she handed him the clothes.

“I heard about that. She’s marrying your brother or something.” Finn smirked at the thought.

“You bet your ass she is. Don’t you dare back out of this now. Lucy and I have been like sisters forever. Don’t you even think of taking this away from me.”

“Sure, Ry. Because it’s
all
about you.”

She smacked him on the arm. “Damn right. At least one good thing came out of today.”

“Really? What’s that?”

“Lucy found some beautiful dresses. So...is it going to be a June wedding or something more fall-like?”

Finn smiled when he remembered August fourth. “Maybe a little bit sooner than next June. We’ll have to wait and see.” He kissed her on the forehead before walking to the door.

“Spring, summer, fall, doesn’t matter to me, just as long as I get my sister out of the deal.”

Finn turned back to see the soft smile on her face. “You take care of the getting Lucy there. I’m sure the rest will figure itself out.” Finn opened the door and left to find his fiancée.

Finn got back to his room, locking the door behind him. Lucy was curled up on her side under the covers seemingly asleep. Finn slipped off his jeans. Wearing only his boxers and t-shirt, he spooned with her in his bed.

“You’ve been gone too long,” she murmured with a yawn.

“I was just talking with Rylan. She wants to know when the wedding will be. I told her it might be sooner rather than later.” He kissed her ear as he rested his cheek against hers.

“I’m kind of getting excited. I did find some beautiful dresses.”

“I don’t care what you wear as long as you promise to be mine.”

“I already am.”

They fell asleep and, to Finn’s surprise, didn’t wake up until morning. Finn slept a little more peacefully than he had on the bathroom floor the night before. Lucy would let out a soft moan now and then that made him just pull her closer.

He kissed her neck, causing her to stir a little. “Time to wake up. We’ve been in here all night.”

Her eyes slowly flickered opened. “All night?” She yawned as she turned over to face him.

“Yep, guess you didn’t need Rylan’s clothes after all. Yours are probably dry by now.”

“No, I’ll wear hers today. I don’t want to go home yet.” She got up out of bed and slipped the robe off, leaving her body exposed to her fiancée.

Finn loved that she wasn’t shy about being naked in front of him. There were no barriers between them, not even clothes. He couldn’t believe all his life he had been waiting for that kind of connection. Before Lucy had seen all of him, he felt dirty without any clothes on. He was always trying to hide in his own skin, ashamed of how he’d been touched. Now that Lucy had touched and caressed his deepest layers, all the shame melted away. She made him see how beautiful his body was.

“We should get something to eat and check on Aiden. I’m sure he’s wondering where we are.”

He just stared as she pulled a t-shirt over her head.

“Are you ever getting out of bed?”

“One thing first.” He patted his finger on his lips.

She sauntered over to him. She put her lips up to his, but before they touched, she moved to his ear and whispered, “Just one?” She kissed and sucked on his earlobe before dropping to his jaw and kissing across the unshaven line there. She came to his chin and then back to his lips.

“A couple
might
be okay.”

Lucy smiled before placing one, two, then three soft warm kisses on his lips.

“Any more and I might want to crawl back in there with you.” She pulled him out of bed and grabbed his jeans from off the floor. “Here.” She threw them at him.

They heard a knock at the door as Finn buttoned his jeans. Hand in hand, they walked over and opened the door.

“I was going to say come down when you’re ready, but I guess you guys were on your way.” Jack stood in the doorway, looking a little surprised.

“Is everything okay, Jack?” He was staring at Lucy.

“Yeah, Dad’s already here. He wants to talk to you guys.”

They walked out the door and started down the stairs. “Why didn’t anyone come wake us up last night?” Finn thought for sure his parents would make Lucy leave.

“I guess your parents peeked in on the two of you. They said you were sleeping so peacefully, they didn’t want to bother you.”

As the three of them entered the kitchen, Jack immediately went to Rylan’s side at the table, practically gluing himself to her. Murphy and Claire were busy making some breakfast while Lane and Aiden sat at the table with Jack and Rylan.

“You two must be starving. You slept for hours.” Claire was fixing each of them a plate when Finn looked at the clock to see it was almost eleven.

“We were exhausted. We really needed the rest.”

Claire handed them their plates, and they sat down at the huge kitchen table.

Lane was eyeing both of them from across the table. “Don’t think that will be going on every night. I let it slide last night because when we checked on the two of you, you were already asleep.”

“Dad, we’re engaged, remember? Plus, Finn and I have waited long enough to be together, I think we can wait until we’re married for that. We sleep better together, just like when we were kids.” Whenever Lucy slept over at the O’Malley’s, somehow all of them would end up sleeping on the floor together. Lucy was always between Rylan and Finn. Well, a little closer to Finn.

“She’s right. I don’t think I’ve slept all night without a nightmare in years.” That wasn’t true. The night sleeping on the bathroom floor had been the first nightmare free night for Finn. He was hoping Lane could see what he meant. Finn knew he couldn’t stand a single night away from her.

“Fine. We’ll work something out even if I have to sleep with one eye open watching you.” The table erupted in a round of laughter.

Finn stole a glance at Lucy as she scooped some scrambled eggs on her fork and slipped it in her mouth.

“What was it wo—wor wonting to tell us dod?” Lucy was even charming when she talked with her mouth full.

“Well, I got a call telling me a federal prosecutor had taken the evidence and is presenting it in front of a judge this afternoon. Hopefully it won’t be long until we hear something.”

“Good.” Finn didn’t feel happy about the news. Regardless of whether or not Viktor was punished, it would never change what he had done. Finn knew he would always carry those moments with him. At least there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Why don’t you kids go out and do something fun today. You really need a break.” Claire was doing that thing where she ran her fingers lovingly through Finn’s hair. It was always a comfort to him.