Page 3 of Beautiful Soldier

“Shh,” Finn says, comforting me. He pulls away. “As much as I would’ve come to see you myself, you know I’m here for a reason, right?”

My heart stutters to a stop in my chest and then leaps forward in a motion that steals my breath. I’ve been waiting for news, and it’s finally come.

Finn returns his hand to my shoe, squeezing me. “Everyone had to go into hiding after what happened. When I say everyone, I mean—”

“The Crew?”

He nods, his face solemn. “The bodyguard, Magnum, he slipped underground until they fixed shit for him.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief, but a hiccup of air hangs tight in my chest. I won’t let it go until I know everyone I care about is safe. “Was he hurt in the accident?”

“Not as bad as you. Just some scrapes. But the police had the footage of him shooting someone. Of course, it’s turned up missing now.”

Even if the footage hadn’t gone missing, what happened to self-defense? Gregory’s guys were trying to take me. Who knows what their plans were?

“Rocket...”

I glance up, meeting Finn’s gaze. Everything stops. I heard his voice that night. He was there. He was so close, but he just couldn’t get to me.

“That guy is one scary motherfucker.”

I press my lips together to keep from smiling. I can only imagine how Finn and Jax would see Johnny.

Finn squeezes my shoe. “He wants me to tell you that he’s handling this. He’s driving himself crazy with how long it’s taking, but I guess being accused of murder is no easy thing to get rid of.”

Especially because the gun used was most likely my gun. My prints were all over it, but I want to know how they actually got my fingerprints. Detective Reynolds must be sneakier than we gave him credit for.

“He doesn’t want you to worry about anything. He thinks it’ll be over soon. They had to find that eyewitness.” Finn gulps. “I’m not privy to all the information, and that’s probably a good thing. He just said it would be soon.”

Tears stick to my lashes. I can’t remember the last time I felt so much vulnerability. It’s terrifying. “Soon?”

“Yeah, Princess,” Finn says. “Fucking soon. And I have a feeling if it doesn’t work out the way Johnny’s planning, he’s just going to kidnap your ass out of that place you’re living in and run away with you.”

I smile. I can see him doing that. Hell, every last one of my guys has threatened to take me out of the Heights.

Okay, maybe threatened isn’t the word for it. They’re all trying to keep me safe while I’ve tried to do the same for them. Keeping Brawler and Oscar in the dark for so long about my true intentions was as much about keeping them safe as it was about me. Now that they know my plans, they’re in as deep as I am. It’s not what I wanted to happen.

I lick my lips, dread settling in my gut. “What about Brawler? And Oscar?”

Finn shakes his head. “I haven’t seen Brawler, and I’m not sure I know who Oscar is.”

I think back, wondering if they’ve ever met, but I guess it doesn’t matter. “So, you’ve just been talking to Johnny then?”

“He needed someone who was close to you, but not close to him. Someone who would come here for him.” Finn runs his hands through his hair. “He approached Jax and I, and I jumped on the opportunity to help you.”

I arch a brow. “But not Jax?”

“He’s just a little overprotective,” Finn says, flicking a piece of lint off his jeans.

I snort at that. “It’s fine if he doesn’t like the Crew, Finn,” I tell him. “I mean, I wouldn’t go saying anything to Johnny, but...I’m a different story. Jax doesn’t have to be afraid of me.” Finn gives me a look. “Okay, maybe not afraid of me, but he doesn’t have to be afraid of getting mixed up in Crew business. I don’t want that. For either of you. I’m well aware of why I’m here.”

Finn sighs. “Jax likes to play the tough guy, but he’s worried about you too. If he wasn’t, he never would’ve shown up.”

“Tell him I appreciate it. I really do.” I stare into his eyes, knowing that this brief interlude in my current life is about to come to an end. Finn has given me Johnny’s message, which means he can’t stay. He’ll have to heed the girl’s warning soon. “Thank you for coming.”

He dribbles his fingers across my shoes. “What do you want me to take back to Rocket?”

Without thinking, I lean forward and press a kiss to Finn’s cheek.

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