Page 20 of Finn

My heart tugs at the conflict and emotion in his voice. “I understand that you think you’re helping, but we were both born here. It’s our home. This city is a living, breathing thing all its own. I’m not a little girl anymore.” I grew up when he left. His departure was a physical blow. From a young age I understood that respect means everything here, and it was only reinforced as I watched Cole pledge the Crew, then leave entirely, and then return with a whole different level of deference.

“What’s the arrangement you have with them anyway?” I question. Cole’s answering smile is such an odd response that I’m instantly intrigued and maybe a little nervous. “What?”

His smile only grows. “I know where Jacob is.”

My mouth drops. “You’re kidding me.” When the Crew collapsed, I’d wondered what happened to our cousin, but there was no way for me to find out. And now I’m chomping at the bit to find out what Jacob has to do with Finn and Jax.

“You’re not going to believe it.” He shakes his head in giddy disbelief. “Jacob’s in a harem-like relationship with three other guys—including Johnny Rocket—and a girl who they all desperately love.”

My jaw nearly hits the floor this time. “Johnny fucking Rocket? As intheJohnny fucking Rocket?”

Cole grins. “I know. I about lost my shit when I found out too.”

“Holy fuck.”

“Appropriate response,” he remarks.

The girly part of me takes over then. “Awww,” I sigh, my heart giving into a pitter-patter. “They must love her so much. Who else is in their relationship?”

“One of them you probably know. Manning’s little bro? Mack.”

My heart squeezes. Yeah, I do know him. Mack was Maria’s brother, too. He was there when Manning and Maria were gunned down. I can’t even hardly think of that without getting choked up.

Cole snakes his arm around my shoulder. “I know.” His voice drops several octaves, and I’m sure he’s thinking about Manning. They were good friends.

I stifle the grief. It’s only reinforcing the reason why Cole is being overprotective. “Who’s the other? You said three.”

“Oscar? I don’t know if you’d know him.”

I shake my head. “No, I don’t think so. But damn. So Jacob got out? They all got out? With Johnny fucking Rocket?”

“Yeah, they all got out.”

Joy clings to me, and then a thought springs to mind. I suck in a breath and slap my hand over my mouth. “Holy shit. You helped them do that, didn’t you?”

He doesn’t have to confirm my suspicions. I throw my arms around him, tears stinging the backs of my eyes for the second time today. Jacob was so important to us growing up, that being apart from him was like another loss. To know that he’s out of the Heights, away from the Crew, and in love? I couldn’t be happier.

“Can I talk to him?”

Cole squeezes me tightly. “They’re laying low right now, but as soon as they get in contact again, I’ll give him your number. I’m sure he’d love to talk to you again, Leenie.”

I wipe at my eyes before shuffling away. “Wow. Jacob. That must be one strong woman to put up with—wait. Is she ‘Princess’?”

Cole cocks his head. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Finn called some girl princess and said she was the reason why you let them run their businesses separate from the Dragons.”

“Yeah, Kyla’s princess.UppercutPrincess, actually. It was her fight name. But I wouldn’t call her that.”

“Waaaiiiit,” I draw out. “Uppercut Princess? Like the drink I got at the Ring yesterday?”

Cole shrugs. “I guess? I don’t know.”

That must have been the reason behind the look Finn gave me when I ordered that drink. Damn. Everything is just clicking into place. “Cole,” I say firmly as he leans against the island. “Finn must be a good person if Jacob was willing to vouch for him. Come on. You have to see that.”

“I never said he wasn’t a good person. A mouthy one, maybe.”

The perfect thought strikes me, and I gasp. I keep doing that in this conversation, but holy shit. “I have the best idea,” I exclaim.

---