~ ~ Finn ~ ~

Sitting in a small sterile hospital room. Irritation rattled in my chest as I perched with my arse half-on-half off a bed that I couldn't even lie on... I mean c'mon, seriously, how many people in London were under  five feet tall?

It didn't help that my hand ached like a motherfucker. The nurse had popped in briefly about ten minutes ago to tell me the doctor was looking at my x-rays as there was a possibility I'd damaged the tendons which would require surgery if I had.  But if not, then I'd be discharged.

Not that I would head home anytime soon. The coppers outside were waiting to cart me off to the police station.

I'd been a fucking idiot. Not that I regretted it—not one fucking bit.

Every kick, punch and throttle he'd deserved and the look on his smug face just before my first punch landed was fucking priceless.

Yea, pity that wasn't on film for Cam to see.

The stupid part was losing my shit and not waiting for his friend to drive off.  But after five minutes of gripping the steering wheel so tightly my fingers lost feeling, I also lost my patience.

C'mon, how long did it take to say goodbye? Mind you, from where I was sitting, they had their tongues rammed down one another's throats.

Leaving my keys in the car, I was done waiting as I bulldozed my way toward the car. I ripped open the door and his boyfriend, or date, or whoever the fuck he was, screamed like a freakin' banshee as I dragged the lowlife piece of scum out by the scruff of his neck, dropping him on his arse outside his house.

And because the tosser lived in a well-to-do area, the coppers came down hard on me and it must have taken them all of five minutes tops to arrive and drag me off him.

Try getting a copper to Tower Hamlet in under twenty minutes.

My head swung in the door's direction when I heard a familiar voice?

Emily?  My sister?  Shit, that was all I needed.

Pushing off the bed, the door opened, and more voices came into earshot. But it was the head of blonde hair peeping inside that had my heart go from a trot to a full-on gallop. Damn was she a sight for sore eyes.

Still wearing the same hot as fuck clothes from when I'd visited her officer earlier today, it was only her hair that was different, now pulled back into a ponytail and her face was free of any subtle hints of makeup - not that she needed any.  

Fucking Gorgeous.  And no surprise, my dick twitched.

And those heated baby-blue eyes shimmered until they ran down to land on my hand.  Her lips parted, releasing a low, strangled sound.  Worry shifted through her frame and the crease in her forehead sharpened.

Fuck!

I knew by the way her golden complexion paled, she was upset. And upsetting Trix was the last thing I intended. And what would she think when she found out I kicked the crap out of her shift-stain of a brother?

Well, I was about to find out.

On an exhale. "Ohmygod... Fin... Look at your hand."

The distress in her voice was weirdly nice. My body flushed, knowing that she'd put the phone down and came straight here to see if I was okay.

She'd been worried about me!

That surely had to mean I meant something to her, right?   That this thing between us was more than just sex for her?  I already knew she owned a part of me, although I wasn't sure if she felt the same. And if she did, could it ever equal what she felt for Cam?

But for now, I would happily take what she was willing to give me and, in time, hoped she would.

Pushing out a smile to reassure I was okay. "I thought we'd agreed you would stay with Cam?" Fuck, my smile faltered.

Cam—what I'd done.  Had he told her?

Christ, someone needed to kick the shit out of me. I gulped.

"No, we didn't agree," she said in a pinched tone.

Stood right in front of me, ignoring the look she threw at me, I pulled her into my arms, not caring if it hurt my hand. I just wanted to feel her pressed up against me.  Relief moved through me when she softened and I inhaled her sweet smell. God, I loved her fucking smell.   Loved?   Yeah, I loved it.

"Finn, be careful." She wriggled free and reached for my hand, cradling it as if it might snap off. There wasn't much to see as they'd wrapped it in bundles of bandages.

"Did he do this?" Her heavy gaze lifted, fixing on mine, daring me to say differently.

Her wave of protectiveness toward me about knocked me off my feet. And I knew one thing for sure about Trixie Anders. She was fierce when it came to those she cared about.

"Finn?" Oh yeah, she'd asked me a question. Her beautiful face scrunched, growing impatient with me.

I let out a rough laugh and rolled my left shoulder, trying to restrain a hiss of pain. "No. This was all on me." I didn't want to say in the middle of my brawl with her brother. He'd tripped me up, and I'd landed on a plant pot which was crushed beneath my weight and a hefty chunk of it lodged itself in my hand. I'll admit it hurt like a bitch.

"And you honestly expect me to believe Seb had nothing to do with this?"

I shrugged it off. "It's nothing. A few stitches, that's all. I'm just waiting for the doctors to look at my x-rays and then I can go."

"Jesus, Finn." She blinked, her jaw slackened. "It doesn't sound like nothing."

"Trust me. I've had worse paper-cuts."

She huffed, throwing me an incredulous look.

"Listen, I don't want to talk about me."

She placed her small hand on my chest. "Well that's too bad, Finn."

I shook my head. "No time. I'm gonna be stuck in a police cell for Christ knows long after they discharge me from here." My eyes pleaded. "Tell me. Is Cam okay?"

Does he hate me?

My stomach knotted tight. "Has he talked? Did he tell you what happened? Is he okay?" My tone pitched higher and higher with each question I threw at her.

Her hand dropped, and her lashes lowered for a fraction of a second, and my heart plummeted.

"Yes, we talked, some."

I had to know. "Did he tell you what I did to him?" My heart pounded. "I stopped but—" I swallowed down bile, shutting my eyes, disgusted with myself.

Trix's hands cupped my cheek. "Hey, hey. Look at me, Finn. Cam's gonna be okay—"

Opening, I met her gaze and sucked in a breath when I saw nothing but unhindered affection in her eyes.

Interrupted, the door opened and in walked my sister, the doctor and last, behind them... Cam. Trix shifted to stand beside me.

My eyes were only on him. He'd come. I was so freaking happy and freaked out at the same time. Cam's eyes swung to Trix as I tried to get a read on his face, his emotions.

I picked up jack shit—not a damn thing. To say his face was unreadable was an understatement, but I could feel this canyon between us that seemed to only grow wider in my head.

The doctor cleared his throat and my attention cut to him as he spoke. "I'm happy to discharge you, Mr Wilder. Your x-rays give me no cause for concern." He lifted his chart and scribbled a quick note. "I'll send you home with some antibiotics and pain relief and just make sure you follow the after-care instructions." He smiled, adding, "your hand will be right as rain in no time."

The small nurse I'd met earlier came into the room and handed the doctor a see through plastic bag, which I assumed was my medication. He held it out for me.

"Cheers, Doctor—" I glanced at his badge. "Keats." He nodded toward me and Emily.

Unable to put it off any longer, I turned toward my sister. She blinked at me, cocking her head. I knew she was waiting for the doctor to leave the room before she'd let me have it—both barrels.

I wasn't wrong.

"What the hell Finn?" My sister's face flushed.

Here we go...

"Assault and battery!? That's what they're taking you in for." She was fizzing with anger, her flush breaking out into all-out red. "And who the hell is Sebastian Anders, anyway?" She shook her head, waving her hand like it had a mind of its own. "What's he done to you?"

Only hurt the man I loved.

Huffing. "Don't stress, Em. I'll sort it." Given the chance for a do-over. I would do it all again—happily. But maybe avoid the plant-pot.

Trixie moved closed, her arm brushing against mine, she slipped her hand in mine. Happy for the physical contact and reassurance of her touch, my heart skipped a beat. I glanced down briefly and at the same time felt the burn of Cam's eyes on me.

Lifting them, he didn't look away. His face flushed and that look I recognised. Pain—hurt.

I'd done that. It was my fault.

I wanted to step back with the weight of it. Regret clawed at my chest. Had Trix made him come with her? Was he angry? Did he hate me? Would he forgive me?

"You're telling me—don't stress!?" Emily all but shrieked, her eyes flaring questioningly. "Have you hit your head or something? Finn, this is serious."

I restrained a full-on eye-roll. Emily was the bossiest and most driven and no doubt the smartest member of my family, and she was also the person you wanted in your corner if you got into a tight spot. However, sometimes she forgot I was older than her, yeah, only by eighteen months—but still.

"What possessed you to go off like a bloody grenade?" She sighed, furrowing her brow. "He's hell bent on making you pay."

Fucking hell.

"I'm coming down to the station with you." She stabbed her finger at me in warning. "And you say nothing without me being there—got it? Can you do that, Finn?"

About to tell her to calm down, Trix squeezed my hand. "I'll fix this."

Emily's gaze narrowed on Trix. I could see her mind whirling with questions. "How? Do you know him—this Sebastian Anders?"

I ignored Em, turning toward Trix. "Please stay out of this Trix."

Her chin tilted up defiantly. "It's my brother—and I will sort this," she shot back.

This was something else I'd learned about Trix. She was stubborn when she set her mind to something. I'd figured that one out pretty damn quick. Not to mention all the stories Cams had shared. I pretty much knew Trixie Anders inside out.

And I adored she would do something like this for me and no doubt she was doing it for Cam too. And it took every inch of self-control not to sweep her up and kiss her senseless.

Nonetheless, I didn't want to put her in the middle of my shit-storm. This was my problem and I would deal with it. There was also the pressing worry that she might want to salvage her relationship with her only living relative in the future.

"Bea." Cam stepped forward. "Please... don't..." he shook his head.

There was no masking his emotions. Tension set in his shoulders and fear was stamped all over his face.

Goddamn. I wanted to reach out. Touch him. Comfort him.

Her hand flicked between the two of us. "You can't talk me out of it—neither of you."

Ready to fight her on this just to shift that look of fear on Cam's face, if nothing else. I didn't get the chance. In came two police officers in uniform, ready to escort me to the police station.

Fuck!

Trix slipped her arms around me. Raising on her toes, she pressed her lips to my ear. "I'm gonna fix this, Finn. I promise. Don't worry." a quick peck on the lips and she sighed, stepping back as one officer wrapped his hand around my upper arm, nudging me forward.

"This way, and let's do it the easy way, yeah?" he said, tipping his head in my sisters' direction. A look of recognition flashed through her eyes. She knew him. And most likely the reason they hadn't cuffed me to take me in.

"I'll follow in my car," said Em, and I was grateful she was coming with me.

Letting him lead me out, Cam stepped in front of us. His expression was drawn tight and the agitation was clear in his shifting gaze between me and the police officer.

"You need to move out of the way, Sir," the officer said sternly.

Cam's chest inflated, his hands clenched and unclenched by his side. I didn't want us both to take a trip to the station.

"I'll be fine Cam. I'll see you later, yeah?" At least I hoped I would.

One quick nod and he moved aside. His eyes caught mine. "I'll see you at home. I'll wait up."

I jerkily nodded. At least he was going to be at home. A part of me had worried he would pack his bags and leave before I could tell him how sorry I was.

Shit, I remembered my car. I glanced over my shoulder, snatching Trix's attention. "Trix, I drove my car and left it outside your brother's house." Fuck, the key was still in the ignition. "The keys are in it." Along with my wallet and phone. Fucking Hell.

She nodded. "I'll sort it, Finn."