Page 60 of Faking Ever After

“What are you talking about?” Mother asked, concern finally creasing the space between her eyebrows.

“I’m not proud of it,” Finn said, not even a trace of defensiveness in his tone. “It was a desperate act, and I lied my way to it, but I hope you’ll all understand why I did what I did when you know the whole story.”

Mother lifted her hand to stop him. My heart sank in anticipation, but she simply asked, “Does Percy know?”

“I do,” I said, looking at Richie’s tightening lips.

Mother looked at Finn kindly. “Then you don’t owe anyone any explanation here, darling.”

“What about me? He owes me…” Richie began, but the doorbell sounded the next moment, and I looked toward the door to find Dimitrios walking with his head held high.

“I believe our guests are here,” I told Finn loudly enough for Richie to look at us both. His eyes widened for a moment as I turned my gaze to him. “I know what you did, Richie. Thanks to Finn, the Feds also know. Millions, Richie. You stole millions from innocent people while sitting on billions we made together.”

“What are you talking about?” Richie asked breathlessly.

I shook my head. “I don’t get it, though. It’s like you just wanted to hurt them.”

“You’re making a mistake, Percy,” Richie said, his voice cracking. “Come on. After everything we’ve been through. For them? For some strangers you don’t even know?”

“Exactly,” I said softly.For them in particular, I thought without adding it. There was no point. Richie had chosen his path and a lecture from me wouldn’t change his mind. But the four police officers from the local precinct on Naxos passed through the crowd. Finn’s fingers dug deeper into my thigh as tension rose in my chest. The officers neared the table as Finn and I got up, with Dimitrios joining us to help translate.

“Good afternoon, officers,” I said, taking Finn’s hand in mine. “If you are here on the request of the Federal Bureau ofInvestigations of the United States of America, the man you are looking for is Richard Harrison.” I moved with Finn aside and gestured at Richie, who sat gobsmacked and stared furiously between the police officers and me.

Dimitrios translated in hearty tones while Nektaria neared the commotion. She wore a beaming smile I had never seen on her face before.

“Percy, are you insane?” Richie demanded.

“On the contrary,” I said softly while two officers rounded the table. One spoke enough English to inform Richie that he was under arrest for fraud and an entire list of related crimes and that he would be extradited to the United States shortly. There was a warrant for his arrest and he was at a high risk of fleeing.

And the sight of sweat breaking over Richie’s brow as the two officers beside him put handcuffs around his wrists was priceless. Finn, with tears welling in his eyes, watched every moment of it. “This is for my sister’s college fund, asshole,” he said.

“You’re all fucking insane,” Richie said. “Do you have any fucking idea what you’re doing?” But the officers yanked him away from the table and Richie stumbled. They had to lift him up and walk him through the crowd of spectators. “Insane! You’re insane, Percy!” His voice cracked more and more as he shouted, but he didn’t dare resist the arrest. Inch by inch, step by step, the four officers parted a way through the gathered guests and led Richie Harrison out of the house.

And when they did, I turned to Finn, who released a long breath of air and slouched, his head hanging low. “It’s over,” he whispered.

My arms were around Finn in an instant. As the others whispered and chattered about what just happened, I only had eyes and ears for him. His breaths were deep, his chest risinghigh, and he laughed so freely and sweetly that my heart fluttered.

The party resumed its normal course after a few minutes of gossip, but I took Finn to the side, where we were allowed some privacy. On the pool deck, gazing out at the sea, I wrapped my left arm around his waist. “I love you,” I said.

He looked up at me, his long lashes batting. “I love you, too, Percy. More than you know.”

“Oh, I know,” I said and winked. “And now, we can start fresh.”

“I’d like that,” he said, pressing closer against me. “Thank you. For everything.”

I turned toward him so our torsos pressed together, my arms around his waist, hands resting on the small of his back. I looked at his gorgeous face. “Don’t thank me, Finn. Not for this or anything else. I should be thanking you for adding some life into my existence.”

He chuckled. “That’s clever.”

“I thought of it this morning,” I admitted. “But without being clever and all, I just really love you. And I won’t let anyone hurt you, babe. Not on my watch.”

Finn rose to his toes and pressed his lips hard against mine. The setting sun warmed our cheeks and set our hair alight, but the real heat came from within us, blazing and passionate and shameless. We kissed for a long time, holding one another and silently promising ourselves better days to come.

Epilogue

Three YearsLater

On the sixth day of the tour, Percy found us a crystal cove that was shielded from the stronger Aegean waves and winds. Its bed was made of pure, soft sand, and the sea was so pure and calm that the shadow of the yacht glided on the bottom, making it appear as if we were hovering in the air.

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