The first photo she’d sent was of Antelope Canyon in Arizona.
If not for the hashtag, I wouldn’t have known where it was located.
It was a quirky picture of just her eyes looking up and the colorful backdrop behind her.
Until that text came through, I wasn’t even aware a place like that existed. It amazed that she had found it, took the time to travel to it and wanted the previous recipient of this number to share it with her.
And even though the message wasn’t meant for me, it felt like it was.
Since receiving that first text from her, little by little, I started to feel.
Shit, I had no right to feel. Desire, respect, hope, and…love.
I blame her and thank her for these emotions. I came here for her. And nothing, not some Hollywood pretty boys or my fucking past was taking her from me.
Robin finding her was my fault. Had I not stopped for fucking flowers, I’d have been here. Protecting her.
And the last thing I expected to find was him on the ground with Finn standing over him demanding he get up and fight.
“Come to me, kitten.” Was an order she refused to obey.
With fury in her eyes, she looks from me to him and growls, “In a minute.”
“Finn –””
“I’m not finished,” she snaps. “This asshole picked a fight and I’m not done fighting.”
Kicking him in the stomach, Robin groans but doesn’t get up. I wasn’t sure what was more shocking. The fact that Finn got the best of him or the fact that she was so blood thirsty. Within our crew, there were several bad seeds and Robin was one of them. But we never worked against each other so his love of pain and suffering never affected me. Until now. Now, it was personal.
With a roar, she fists his hair only to bash his head against the concrete and that was when I noticed her favoring her side. He was unconscious for the moment, so pulling her back and tilting her chin up, I ask calmly, “Did he hurt you?”
“I’ve had worse,” she shrugs but I saw the pain in her eyes. “Though for a guy who claimed he was going to watch the life leave my eyes when he broke my pretty neck, I have to say, Nix, I’m disappointed in his delivery.”
“He said this to you?” I barely contain the rage.
“Apparently, the thought of you dating is pissing people off.”
Fuck me, word got out about Finn. But how did news spread that fast? “What were his exact words?”
“He couldn’t believe you had a partner and something else about a weakness. I was only half listening since the knife he was palming was the size of my forearm.”
“Knife? Where is the knife now?”
“It’s in his suit pocket,” she shrugs. “I talked him out of using it by challenging his manhood.”
“Step away kitten.”
“I’m so not your pussy right now, Nix.”
“Finn –”
“Nope,” she says planting her hands on her hips.
Fuck, this woman. “I’m going to snap his neck for threatening yours and I would prefer you not see it.”
“Still. Not. Moving.”
“So be it,” I sigh bending at the knees to slap him awake. When he starts to come around, I haul him up, taking my place behind him, putting Robin in a Full Nelson. While this wasn’t the easiest move to accomplish, I was motivated as hell to kill right now. Pouring all of my strength into my hands, I kept my eyes on her as I applied the proper amount of pressure.
Once it was done and he slumped in my arms, I watched Finn swallow repeatedly. Locking eyes with mine she whispers, “Not like the movies,” and gags a little.
“No, Finn,” I say leaving him there to rot. “Not like the movies.”
“Who are you?”
I owed her the truth but now was not the time to get into it. “I already told you, I was the man who would never hurt you.”
“You read messages that weren’t meant for you, then you show up literally out of nowhere and—well, you know what you did. You know all about me yet you’ve told me nothing about yourself. A man just tried to kill me for knowing you, so I’ll ask again, who are you?”
“Those messages were meant for me,” I say getting closer. “Those messages saved my life, Finn.”
“Did you threaten Silas and Walter?”
Why lie? “Yes.”
“I let you between my legs, I gave you my body and trust, Phoenix. I took you into me. Last time, who are you?”
“To you, I’m Nix, and I’ll explain everything as soon as I get you the fuck out of here.”
“Tell me where to meet you,” she says backing away but I noticed her staring at my hands.
“Your room, one hour.”
“Going to break back in?”
“Not if you leave the door open, no.”
And before I did something even more foolish, I gave her my back and began the process of hauling Robin away. When she was clear of the garage, I sunk down into the driver’s seat of his rental right as the phone rang.
“What?”
“No one walks away, Phoenix, you know this better than any of us.”
The voice on the other end went by Operator. And for most of my life, was the closest thing I had to a friend or family. Even though she was neither, she was still the only constant I could rely on. “I’m setting a precedence.”
“You are setting yourself up for execution.”
“I served my time, Operator. Now, I’m out.”
“Who is the girl?” she asks curiously. “No need to answer. I know a weakness when I see one.”
“Then why are you calling me?”
“To wish you well, Phoenix. Peace before death is all any of us want. I want that for you as well.”
“How much is my head worth?”
“Yours? Nothing,” she says without hesitation but adds, “But, it’s ten large for the girl.”
“Anyone who comes for her dies.”
There was no point in explaining who she was and that she was innocent. To these people, it mattered none. I fucked up and Finn wasn’t paying for my mistake. They were using her to make an example out of me.
“For what it’s worth, Phoenix, I’m sorry.” She didn’t sound sorry. That’s for damn sure.
The past wasn’t ruining my future, I wouldn’t allow it.
After spending half of my life dealing in death, I wanted to see what living was all about.
I wanted a life with Finn.