Page 120 of Finlay

“What is this?” Finn hissed, shoving me behind him. “If you’re about to walk Matt in here then?—”

“Finlay.” Danny held his hands up placatingly. “Chester’s safe. No one here means him any harm.”

“Matt’s very far away,” Cal added. “And none of us want to hurt you, Chester. Quite the contrary, in fact.”

Finn didn’t seem keen to let me any closer to them. “Keep. Talking.”

Cal stepped forward. “Just over a year ago, Harlow asked me to track Matt down and teach him a lesson for how he treated Bailey.”

My eyes shot over to the quiet man. Granted, he hadn’t said more than a couple of sentences, but so far nothing about him married up with the version Matt had painted. Someone who was controlling, forceful, and loud. I should’ve known Matt had been spouting bullshit.

“But when I found him, he wasn’t alone.” Cal gave me a gentle smile. “You were with him, Chester.”

I leaned into Finn’s side. “I’m still not following.”

“I watched you all day,” Cal said softly. “From breakfast until dinner. I saw how he treated you. I heard every pointed comment. Saw every derogatory action.”

My face flushed in shame. It was bad enough knowing I’d put up with it, but knowing someone else had witnessed it? I wanted to go and hide in a dark corner somewhere.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Danny, Riley, and River exiting, presumably to give us some privacy. Thank god. The fewer witnesses to my humiliation, the better.

“Don’t be embarrassed,” Cal said. “Believe me, you weren’t at fault in that situation. My husband was also abused by his ex. He blamed himself for a very long time too.”

My chest ached at his admission. I couldn’t speak, my tongue feeling too big for my mouth. If it hadn’t been for Finn quite literally holding me up, I was certain I’d be on the floor.

Harlow cleared his throat. “From what Cal told us, Matt had stepped up his piss-poor treatment of Bailey with you.”

“Matt didn’t…” I paused, trying to make the words come out. “Matt didn’t abuse you, Bailey?”

Bailey rubbed his upper arm. “I’m not sure I’d call itabuse. It was a toxic relationship for sure, but from what Cal told us about you, it wasn’t on the level you experienced.”

A breath rushed out of me. Was I weaker than Bailey? Was that why Matt had turned the pressure up so high?

Suddenly Finn was in front of me, his hands cupping my face. “Whatever yer thinking, m’eudail, stop it. Right now.”

“How did you?—?”

“Because I know you,” he said quietly. “I know you’re wondering why he treated you worse than Bailey. Probably some bullshit about you being weaker. And it’s not true. Ye hear me, Chester?”

“Finn’s right,” Cal said behind him. “People like Matt often increase the level of abuse with each new partner. It has nothing to do with how strong you are, it’s about where you are in the cycle.”

“Can we sit down?” I whispered, suddenly regretting my decision to stick with a soft drink. “And maybe get me a gin?”

“Of course, m’eudail.”

Two minutes later, I was back at the table. Finn was by my side, Harlow and Bailey opposite. Cal had gone behind the bar to add some gin to my lemonade before sliding it in front of me with a kind smile.

“The owner won’t mind?” I asked.

Cal shook his head as he took the seat at the head of the table. “It’s okay, I have an in with him.”

“He’s our brother,” Harlow said with an eye-roll. “There’s four of us, but the other two are occupied today.”

“Harlow, Cal, and their brothers are the sons of Lucifer,” Finn said, his arm resting on the back of my chair. “Harlow is the one who manages my stock portfolio.”

Harlow waved a manicured hand dismissively. “One of my many talents.”

Fuck, this was so much information to process. I felt like I was back in my kitchen, just learning that Finn and Buddy were one and the same.

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