Page 113 of Beautiful Revenge

I show up at our mom’s house about twenty minutes later.

“Aiden,” she says when she opens the door, giving me a large smile. “I wasn’t expecting you?”

I brush past her into the house. “Is he here?”

“Is who here?”

“Mom. Finn. Is he here?”

“No. I haven’t seen him in… a long time.”

“I know you met Aria, Mom. I know he introduced you to her.”

“Oh. Should we sit then?”

I shake my head. “There’s no time. Do you know where he is? This is urgent. He kidnapped my wife.”

“Elena?” Slowly, she shakes her head and slumps into a kitchen chair. “No. I can’t believe it. He wouldn’t hurt her, not when she’s pregnant. I know my son.”

“Do you? Because right now, he has my pregnant wife and he just killed Elio Romano. He is driving us straight into a war. He is making everything worse. Finn is a madman. He may be my brother but he is fucking insane. If you know where he is, I need to know right now.”

“So you can kill him?”

“So I can get my wife back.”

“Of course, of course.” She grabs my hands. “But are you going to kill him, Aiden?”

“Enough is enough. If I have to… if it means saving Elena then…” Fuck. Killing my brother is something I never thought I would have to do but Finn has crossed a line. Kidnapping my wife? I can’t stand for that.

“I understand. But if you don’t have to kill him then…”

“Mom,” I say, feeling suddenly tired. Tired of all the shit my brother has put me through. Tired of the constant worry and stress. I’m bringing a child into this fucked up world. What kind of man does that make me? “Just tell me where he is.”

“The last time, I went to his house at this address.” She writes it down for me. “I’m not sure if he’s still there.”

“Then call him. Have you come meet you here. Tell him its urgent.”

“I can’t betray my son like that.”

“Ma, I’m also your son.”

She gives me a sad smile. “I know. But if I call him over here, you have to promise to talk to him first. Don’t immediately start shooting at him.”

“Fine. I promise. Just call him. Get him over here.”

“Ok.” She dials Finn’s number. “Finn? I need to see you. It’s urgent.”

“What is it?” he asks on the other end. Hearing my brother’s voice only pisses me off more. He has my wife and yet he has the audacity to sound perfectly calm. Fuck him. I’ve spared his life time and time again and now he’s betrayed me.

“I just need to see you. Please.”

“Ma, you don’t sound like yourself. Are you in danger?”

“Finn,” she practically screeches. “Just get here. Now. Ok?”

He’s quiet for a long moment before he says, “Ok,” and hangs up.

“Hopefully he’ll get here soon. And remember, don’t shoot him on sight.”

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