Chapter Twelve

 

Hugo looked around at the wide front porch and the crumbling paint job before turning to his brother. “This the one?”

Emerson dipped his head, walking up the steps reaching up for the key the realtor had placed out of sight above the doorframe. “Let me show you the inside so you can get the full effect.”

Inside needed work, but there was a lot of light and space as well as a fireplace and a partial wall that gave him a view of the galley kitchen. It had potential. A little elbow grease and some furniture, and it would be the perfect home for his nephews to cause trouble in. “I like it.”

Emerson’s smile was restrained as usual, but Hugo could tell he was excited about moving in with the boys. “Four bedrooms, two and a half baths. The backyard already has a swing and room for Lang to practice his curveball.”

“Have you shown Ro?”

His lips tightened at the mention of his ex. “I wanted to clean it up first. Slap on some paint. She’s all about first impressions.”

Emerson was doing his best to get more time with the boys. Offering to babysit, regardless of his schedule, and buying this house so they wouldn’t have to pile up in the cramped garage apartment. But Ro wasn’t known for being predictable or stable enough for any of them to know how she’d react to this change. According to the lawyer, the shared custody language was too vague, giving her just enough wiggle room to deny him if she wasn’t, as she would say, “feeling it.”

But Emerson was nothing if not persistent. And he wanted his sons to have a home of their own.

“There’s an extra den, I thought I could turn that into an office and work from home. There’s nothing master about my bath, but I can live with it for now.”

Hugo walked around the small dining area, studying the trim. “Need a roommate?” he asked, only halfway joking.

“You sick of Thor’s swinging parties?”

Hugo grinned, but he couldn’t meet his brother’s knowing gaze. “All the orgies between his thriving business and those endless college courses? Yeah, they’re really interrupting my sleep. And don’t get me started on the neighbors.”

“Hugo, look at me.”

He glanced over to find Emerson pushing up his black frames in preparation. “Uh-oh. What did I do?”

“This is my house. And like I tell my boys, my house is like church.”

“Like church?” Hugo’s lips twitched. “This might be why you’re never invited to Austen’s parties.”

“I’ll laugh in a minute.” Emerson eyed him in a way that reminded him of their grandfather. “We don’t lie in church. We’re polite, we don’t break things, and we don’t hide from the truth.”

“I’m not hiding from anything.” That was a big lie.

He made a disappointed sound and shook his head. “You think I haven’t noticed your sudden desire to spend all this extra time with me? I’ve appreciated it, enjoyed it even, but I know it’s not about me or my real estate issues. So why don’t you tell me what it is about? What’s changed? What’s bothering you?”

Our sister married a random Finn.

He couldn’t mention that, not even if it would work to distract Emerson from Hugo’s actual problem. The problem that was becoming more apparent by the day. By the hour. Every minute that passed without admitting it out loud.

“I made a mistake.”

Emerson nodded, as if it was nothing more than he’d expected. “A big one?”

“The biggest.”

“This about Chief Finn?”

“Yeah.” Hugo bit his cheek hard enough to hurt before he turned away from Emerson and forced himself to admit the truth to the wall. “He’s the guy. The real thing. I waited for him to get his head out of his ass for years, and then when I finally had him I kept pushing him away. I blamed him, his issues with his job, his father, but it was me. I was scared of being hurt and I broke things off for the second time. I don’t think he’ll give me another chance. I’m not even sure I deserve it.”

Silence echoed through the empty house until Hugo couldn’t stand it anymore. He turned to face his brother’s judgment. “What do you—what are you looking at?”

Emerson was staring at his phone. “Did you see that speech he gave a few weeks ago?”

“What speech? No. No, I’ve been avoiding anything that might mention his name because, as I just confessed while you were playing on your smartphone, I’m a screw up.”

Emerson turned his phone toward Hugo, showing an image of Solomon walking awkwardly toward a microphone. “Watch all of it.”

He listened to the speech in silence, his heart aching with pride and pain as Solomon revealed his family’s secret shame for the best of reasons.

After hugging his brother, the reporters started asking him questions. One of them mentioned his relationship with a man from work. Hugo leaned closer to the phone.

“This is where it gets good,” Emerson told him quietly.

“I’d also say that even though things might not have worked out, he deserves to know that I love him. He’s the only one I’ve ever been in love with, and despite the circumstances, I don’t see that changing in this lifetime.”

“Sweet Jesus.”

Emerson pointed at him sternly. “Church.”

But Hugo couldn’t get over the shock. “He told a reporter that he loves me. In front of a crowd. On camera.”

“I could have told you that at your birthday dinner. I don’t think its news to anybody.”

“Speak for yourself.” He clasped his hands behind his head, trying to slow his heart down. “I kicked him out. I said things… How the hell can he still love me?”

“Maybe he likes pain. What do they call people like that?”

Hugo spared him a quick glare. “I can’t tell you. We’re in church.”

Emerson finally laughed. “Is that enough proof for you? Has he jumped through enough hoops to earn some trust in return?”

“I didn’t mean to test him. I was scared of it. What’s between us… it’s intense. It makes you wonder if something like that can last.”

Emerson squeezed his shoulder. “How long have you known he was the one?”

“When did I graduate from the police academy?” When he looked back, something inside him had known the first time he’d looked into Solomon’s eyes.

It had just taken fourteen years or so to break the ice.

He pulled his hands down over his face. “Oh my God. I’m so…”

His brother whistled through his teeth. “That long? Yeah, I think you’re safe.”

No, he wasn’t. Not unless he could figure out a way to prove to Solomon that he was worth one more chance. A way that was worthy of his announcement in front of half the city.

His family had something in common with the Finns. The Waynes didn’t do anything small.

“We need to make a few calls.”

 

***

 

Solomon was out of bed before dawn, adding a scarf, gloves and a knit cap as he set out on his morning run. This was his first day off since he’d stepped back into the role of police chief, but that didn’t mean he’d take things easy.

He needed his routine back. Consistency, no matter how cold it was.

It might be the only thing that got him through the day.

Working helped. He’d gotten a round of applause the day he’d rebooted the outreach and training programs. Another after reports came in that Miller was being remanded to federal custody on obstruction charges.

That had been a good day.

There’d been difficult days as well, when Solomon had to let people go. Cleaning house to make a statement. If you crossed the line or broke the law in this department, you’d be gone.

But the hardest day of all had come yesterday, when James voluntarily placed his badge and gun on Solomon’s desk.

“You’ve known this was coming for years, so don’t deny it. I only stayed until you got your job back.”

“This is—”

“Crazy?” James interrupted. “I know. But it feels like the best move I’ve made in a long time. And I’m not disappearing. I’ll be working with Trick and a guy who works with Brady and Ken. You’ve met him. Carter something? Retired Marine? Anyway, in exchange for utilizing a few of my more unsavory contacts in other investigations, they’re going to help me with my problem.”

“You’re talking about Donna and the kids? Why do I get the feeling this new mission you’re on is going to be dangerous for my blood pressure?”

“Talk to me when you aren’t wearing that uniform and I’ll tell you what I can.”

Solomon looked up at him then, seeing more of the old James than he had in a long time. “Go do what you need to do, and I’ll try not to get a complex about you leaving me to carry on the family legacy alone.”

James scoffed at that. “You smashed that legacy bullshit to pieces, and it’s about time. This is all you, Younger. You see it, right? A fresh start for the one and only Chief Solomon Finn.”

A part of him would have preferred to keep James nearby, but at least they were talking again. And his brother wasn’t wrong. He was a good detective, but he’d always chafed at following the rules.

Solomon was a cop. He always had been and now he knew he always would be. The fact no longer made him feel guilty the way it used to. They were all getting a fresh start.

He could wish all day that he wasn’t doing it alone, that Hugo was with him, but the facts were undeniable. He was wounded, and that wound wouldn’t heal anytime soon, but he’d survive it. All he could do now was focus on one thing at a time.

Like the fact that this run might have been a bad idea.

Last night’s first snow had been light, but there’d been enough rain mixed in to turn it into slush, and the wind chill made him feel like he was jogging through the Arctic. He was freezing his ass off.

Time to take his morning run to the Y.

But right now, he needed coffee and a hot shower. ASAP.

He turned to take the shorter route home and saw a familiar SUV heading in his direction. His vehicle. Who the hell was driving…? “William?”

“Get inside before your balls fall off, you mad man.”

Déjà vu.

Solomon climbed in and shut the door, gloved hands gravitating toward the hot air blowing from the vents. “Stealing cars again?”

“More like saving this fair city’s hero from his personal death wish. Healthy is one thing, but in this weather? You’re daft, man.”

“You’re right. I wasn’t looking forward to walking back.”

William did a swift double take, and then tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Sorry. Not used to anyone in this family agreeing with me right off. That only happens when something’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.” Nothing new. “I wanted to find you before you left anyway. To thank you.”

“For what?”

“Driving me to the hospital, helping me with those bookshelves, and giving me a head’s up about James. I won’t forget that.”

William turned into the driveway. “You’re giving me the willies, cuz. Are you dying? Am I dying?”

Solomon turned toward him, allowing his pleasant expression to harden. “Not yet. But I promise you, if you screw up this plan to save your ass by hurting Bronte Wayne in any way, shape or form? Regardless of my gratitude, or the fact that you’ve apparently grown on me and I’d enjoy keeping you around, you won’t like the consequences.”

His thick lashes lowered to conceal his eyes and his lips firmed defiantly, but he nodded. “I never planned to hurt her, and as long as I can help it, I never will. You have my word.”

“Good enough for me.”

William was surprised, but Solomon didn’t linger to enjoy it. He was still too damn cold.

“Younger, wait.” William called, but he’d already opened the door and come to a surprised stop in the entry.

It was a full house of Finns.

“Did I miss a newsletter?”

Rory and his cousin Owen were sitting on the reclining couch, playing a videogame one of them must have brought with them. Twins, Stephen and Seamus were chatting at the kitchen table with Noah and Wyatt, who were joking with each other as if there’d never been any tension between them.

Jake was in the kitchen with his grandfather while Shawn tried to teach him and his brother Wes the art of flipping the perfect pancake, while Brady and James looked on in silent amusement.

What were they all doing here this early in the morning? He didn’t see the new babies, his cousin Jen or young Penny. Even Aunt Ellen was nowhere to be found. “Have the women and children finally kicked you out of their clubhouse?”

William came up behind him and clapped him on the back. “I tried to warn you what you were walking into. No women. No partners. Just Finn men and bacon. If this becomes a new tradition while I’m gone, save me a seat.” He stepped around Solomon heading to the kitchen.

It really was too early for this.

“Here,” Brady said, showing up at his side with a steaming cup. “Hot coffee. Take it upstairs and defrost yourself in the shower. We’ll have breakfast ready by then.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Celebrating your triumphant return? Dirtying up your dishes? Take your pick.”

There was a time when he used to intimidate all of them. They never would have pulled something like this back then, converging on his house uninvited and cooking him breakfast.

He wasn’t smiling as he climbed his narrow stairs.

Definitely not.

The water was scalding but he was too cold to complain. As he let the pounding spray warm his chilled limbs, he wondered if this was another Finntervention.

If so, it was doomed to fail, the same as the others. At least this time it came with pancakes and bacon.

He was a hopeless case. Seamus and Bellamy, Ken and Brady, even Uncle Shawn had given him the talk. The one that made everything clear and solved all their relationship problems. And each time, he’d taken their advice. He’d genuinely tried.

Nothing took.

At least he’d had a taste of what the rest of them had found. The passion and connection they’d built with their partners. That’s what he’d regretted before, that he hadn’t been strong enough to take what Hugo had offered.

Now he knew. And even if someone had warned him how it would end, he knew he would still do it again. In his mind, the time they’d had together was worth the pain he was feeling now. He only wished he’d been able to be what Hugo needed.

By the time he’d dried off and dressed in a thermal and a pair of old jeans still stained with faded yellow paint, everyone was filling their plates and making themselves at home.

If he was going to throw a Finn Again, he needed to remind himself to get a bigger table. “Any bacon left?”

“As long as you’re around,” William mumbled through a mouthful of pancake.

Solomon cuffed him lightly on the back of his head. “Watch it, leprechaun.”

“Here’s a plate, Younger.” Rory handed him the heaping pile of food with a grin. “No egg whites. We’re loading up on carbs for winter. Deal with it.”

Solomon was surprised his little brother was still so slender, the way his boyfriend loved to cook. “I’m not turning this down. Though I would still like to know why everyone’s here without their significant others and the women are missing.”

“The women were all surprised last night with free salon and spa treatments. They decided to go out for breakfast and make a whole day of it.” Seamus and Stephen shared an identical look before watching him find an available seat beside them.

“All of them?”

Owen swallowed his bacon with a groan. “So good. And not all of them. The little ones are being looked after by Aunt Essie and Aunt Fiona, who volunteered for the duty. But all of the other women plus Jeremy are at the salon.”

“Plus Jeremy?”

“You know wherever Tasha and Jen go, they always end up dragging him along.”

Solomon’s lips twitched at the idea of the artist suffering through a seaweed wrap for the women’s amusement. “You’re just jealous you weren’t invited.”

“Not even a little bit,” Owen grimaced. “Especially not when we’ve got tickets for the start of the college football season. We can survive without pedicures, and I don’t even care how cold it gets today, some things in a man’s life can’t be replaced.”

“Football? We’ve got football tickets?” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten to enjoy a game with his family. “Count me in.”

Only the sound of forks scraping against plates and loud chewing broke up the awkward silence that had suddenly descended. Disappointment made him scowl. “You didn’t get me a ticket? So what, you all stopped by my house to fuel up and rub it in before every Finn man over the age of five goes to the game expect for me?”

This was like the opposite of a Finntervention.

Unless they were trying tough love now.

“When you put it like that…” Wyatt hunched his shoulders protectively over his plate when Noah nudged him into silence.

“It was a gift,” Shawn offered carefully. “Like the salon invitation.”

“A gift? From who? Bellamy, Declan or Ken?” Those three were always competing on who could spoil the family more. That still didn’t explain why he’d been excluded.

“None of the above,” Rory answered. “Maybe gift is the wrong word. More like an introduction?” When James glared at him he sighed in frustration. “Well, what would you call it?”

“If it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t invited to either one,” William said glumly.

“It doesn’t. I don’t feel any better about that.” Solomon set down his fork abruptly. “What’s going on here?”

“It’s a surprise,” Wes Finn said, smiling through a gap in his teeth as he reached for another slice of bacon. “We can’t spoil it or we won’t get the big pretzels.”

He narrowed his eyes on the adorable child. “A surprise? For me?”

Jake couldn’t shush him in time for him to nod. “Yep. But it’s a happy one, Uncle Younger. Dad said so.”

He reached for a glass of juice on the table and guzzled it down, his throat suddenly dry and tight. A happy surprise for him. He didn’t want to get his hopes up.

The women were at a salon.

The men were invited to a college football game.

It’s a coincidence, idiot.

Seamus started to chuckle. “Hell, I told you he’d figure it out if we all showed up like this.”

Solomon ignored him, looking for a sign of weakness in each family member. “Did these invitations come from the Wayne family?”

“Son of a—” Brady glanced over at Wes and cut himself off. “Would you stop trying to solve the puzzle and eat your darn breakfast? When was the last time we all got together to talk sports and eat like pigs? Never, that’s when. So let’s enjoy it.”

But he wasn’t hungry anymore. “Why would they invite you anywhere?”

His uncle caught his eye. “From what I hear you made a good impression a few months back. Good enough that a lovely woman named Cassandra contacted Seamus to get all our numbers. She and her husband extended the invitations.”

Just like that, his heart plunged into his stomach. Not Hugo. Cassandra. “Oh. That’s nice of her. She’s…she’s a wonderful woman.”

Of course she’d want to meet the rest of the Finns. Thoreau worked with Seamus and Solomon and Hugo had been… Well, they had been.

“Look at his face,” Noah groaned. “I can’t take it. Not from our resident tough guy. Someone put him out of his misery.”

“The baby has changed you,” Wyatt said, shaking his head at his brother. “You’ve lost that killer instinct, No. Is it the hormones?”

“Kindly stuff it, Wy, or we’ll start discussing your new TMI addiction,” Noah said, fighting a smile.

Rory’s phone buzzed and he picked it up off the table, glancing at it before putting his hand over Solomon’s. “Younger?”

“Yeah?”

He lowered his voice until he had to strain to hear him. “You deserve this.”

Then he got to his feet and clapped his hands. “Leave the dishes, guys. Cram the guilt, we’ll owe him one later. Everybody out now or the Finn Caravan will leave without you. William? Meet us around the corner and we’ll bring your things. Go. Now.”

Solomon startled in surprise when the Irishman obeyed, dashing out the back door without saying goodbye. “What the hell?”

“Language,” Wes called with a laugh, dragging Jake behind him as he led the mass exodus toward the pile of jackets by the front door.

He stood as the men in his family patted him on the back and shoulder on their way out the door. They were smiling, beaming, excited about the game. He still couldn’t believe they were leaving him. What a shitty thing to do.

You deserve this.

A little below the belt for Rory.

Brady was the last to leave. “Do you remember that time Ken broke things off with me and you and Seamus forced me to confront him? Act like a man and just be happy, damn it. Isn’t that what you said?”

God, that was a lifetime ago. “Barely. But before any words of similar wisdom pass your lips, I should remind you this isn’t the same situation.”

“You’re right. I needed to go to the mountain.” Brady’s smile was so warm and loving Solomon almost hugged him. “This time it’s coming to you. So be happy, damn it. It’s a good look for you.”

“What’s going on, Brady?”

“Ask your man. He’s the one who told us to keep you distracted until he got here.”

When Brady cleared the front door, Solomon was sure he was seeing things. Hugo was standing on his front step, a scarf wrapped around the bottom half of his face. The look in his eyes made Solomon take a step back, afraid to believe what he saw there.

“Can I come in?”

“Sure.” Why? He turned, leaving the door open as he headed to the table to start gathering the dishes. It would have been nice if someone had stayed behind to help.

Ask your man.

“I’m guessing you’re not going to the football game.” He was setting a handful of plates in the sink when he sensed Hugo behind him.

“Nope.” He set down another stack of half eaten plates and started to unwind his scarf. “Let me take this off and help you clean up.”

It had been the most surreal morning of his life.

William in his SUV, a Finn invasion, and now the man who’d broken things off with him more than once was standing in his kitchen, silently helping him clean up after his family.

The family he’d apparently sent to distract him.

He wanted to ask. He was dying to know, but he held his tongue and took in the scent of apples and spice, the presence of Hugo. He’d been without it for too long.

Hadn’t he finally accepted the loss? Wasn’t he supposed to be moving on?

Surviving and accepting were two very different things. He’d survived the loss and put one foot in front of the other because he’d believed there was no other option.

Now what?

“I finally saw your speech.”

The back of Solomon’s neck heated. “Oh yeah?”

“Powerful move. I heard someone from the youth center tell the news this morning that reports of abuse spiked in the last week. That young kids who kept silent out of fear are coming forward, finding their voices. She gives you a lot of credit for that.”

“They’re the ones that deserve it.” Why did he sound like he’d been chewing on razorblades? Solomon swallowed again, wishing for an after breakfast beer.

“You do suck at it, you know.”

“What?” He whipped his head around, meeting Hugo’s warm brown gaze.

“Dating. You didn’t know how the game was played. You were too honest. Too happy to see me and way too willing to do what I wanted you to do. Plus you got along with my family, which is a big mistake in the dating world. Makes you look too good to be true. And everybody knows nothing ever is.”

“I should have been an asshole? I did that too, before you quit. That didn’t work either.”

He looked away, unwilling to show him how much he was hurting. But Hugo moved in closer, cornering him, blocking his view of everything but him. “I didn’t lie, Younger. I wanted to stop being a cop years before I made the decision. I stayed so long because of you.”

“Me?”

“Making you crazy was my favorite part of the day. Seeing your pupils dilate, the way you looked at me, I couldn’t get enough. But then I made a mistake. Instead of telling you I needed more, I made the decision to wait and see what you did next. When you mentioned why you went out of town, instead of telling you about my insecurities, I made the decision to end things without telling you why.”

“That was nothing, Hugo. It never meant anything. You were…”

“I know.” He dipped his chin in acknowledgment. “What I’m saying is, we shared the blame for round one. You wouldn’t move forward and I kept testing you without telling you.”

“And round two?” Solomon looked down when Hugo tugged the dishrag out of his clenched hand and set it on the counter.

“That one was on me. You didn’t do anything wrong. Too good to be true, remember? I tried to make rules but they didn’t work. I tried to tell myself it was casual. No promises. But it was bullshit. Every day I fell faster and deeper, so deep it scared me. So I took the first opening you gave me to run in the other direction again.”

“The mayor’s meeting,” he murmured.

“That’s right. The return of Chief Finn. I thought I knew what was coming, but you threw me for a loop when you chose me over that job, Younger. I panicked.”

“You weren’t wrong. I needed to make my own decisions. Be a man we could both be proud of.”

Hugo shook his head. “A man stands by the person he loves. He helps him make the tough calls and supports him, no matter what he decides.”

“Loves?”

“I love you, Solomon Finn the Younger. The only. I always have.” He leaned forward until his forehead pressed against Solomon’s. “If you’re willing to go another round with me, I won’t back down this time. I want this. I want us. I always will.”

“If I’m willing?” Solomon’s breath came out with a shudder of relief. “If?”

He shook his head, his lips brushing against Hugo’s with the action. “Spira, spera, Hugo. Why do you think I put that on my heart?”

He’d gotten that tattoo after Hugo had turned him away at the hospital. When it seemed like they didn’t have a chance in hell of getting together.

While I breathe, I hope.

He was waiting for a kiss. Dying for it, when he heard the click and felt the cool curve of steel close around first one wrist, and then the other. Solomon looked down at the handcuffs in confusion. “Hugo? What’s this?”

Hugo smiled, dimples making deep, sexy grooves in his unforgettable face.

“Round three.”