“How did you know about that?”
“Are you kidding? It was all over the arena. Everyone was talking about it. I even saw the video.”
Trevor had to hate that. After losing his bonus and the threat of a trade, Finn would’ve thought he was the one committing the crimes if not for Shawn’s confession.
It explained how Darcy had been framed, too. Shawn knew about Darcy’s obsession, and he used it against her. He could’ve snuck into the locker room and used Finn’s phone to call her, and he would’ve had access to his credit card.
“I’ve known you a long time, Finn. I’ve never seen you look at a woman the way you look at Kayla. She means something to you.”
She meant the world to him, and he loved her with all his heart. She was his future. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
“She looks at you the same way.”
But she would leave now that the killer had been revealed. Nothing was holding her here. Her life was in Indiana. He watched the way she commanded a room. It was apparent she was very good at her job. His life was here, at least for the foreseeable future. Still, he’d be willing to try a long-distance relationship.
Clint eyed him. “How did you hurt your head?”
“Haven’t you been watching the news?” He was sure the stories of the foundation shooting and his house exploding were lead headlines on all the networks.
Clint shook his head. “I went hiking at Montour Woods Conservation Area to clear my head. What happened?”
With each event Finn filled him in on, Clint’s jaw dropped until it was practically on the ground. “Your house is gone?”
“Yeah.”
“You said the police arrested Darcy. She did all of this?”
“No, Shawn.”
“What?” Clint jumped to his feet, his hands balled into fists. “Are you seriously accusing him of being a killer?” He shoved at Finn with both hands. He stumbled back but didn’t try to retaliate. Clint was hurting. “We’ve known him for years. He wouldn’t do this.”
“He left a note. He confessed.”
All the fight left him. “That’s why he killed himself? I thought it was because he owed so much money.”
Technicians rolled Shawn into a body bag, and Finn swallowed down bile. Despite what he’d become, they’d been through so much together. Shawn knew him better than anyone, and he’d used it against him. He had to have secretly hated him for years to want to destroy his life.
Finn’s heart hurt. For the lives lost. For the destruction and damage. For his best friend who turned out to be his worst enemy.
#
Kayla called her bosses and told them not to send another agent. With Shawn’s confession, the case would be closed. Even though he was Finn’s agent and best friend, she should’ve insisted Tyler run his background. Maybe they’d have found out about his gambling addiction and put the pieces of the puzzle together sooner. In the suicide note, he admitted he killed to put the national spotlight on Finn and score more endorsement deals, hoping to pay off his debts with the commission he’d earn. He used Finn and tried to destroy him at the same time.
She could see the toll Shawn’s death had on him. Without being able to confront him, it would be hard to find closure and come to grips with the fact that his best friend was a monster.
“Kaiya, can you handle things here? I need to get Finn back to the house.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll give her a ride,” Anja offered.
She stepped around a photographer snapping pics of the discarded pill bottle on the floor and headed for Finn. He glanced up as she approached, and the look of utter devastation almost brought her to her knees. Clint looked equally wrecked, and she felt terrible for him, but Finn was her focus. She held out a hand.
“You ready to go?”
He clasped her hand and stood. “Yeah.”
She waved to Clint as she led Finn down the steps and out the door. He was in no condition to drive, so she made sure he climbed into the passenger side and buckled up before she slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Finn had driven to Shawn’s house, so she punched the button with her seat and mirror settings and waited for everything to slide into place.
She glanced over at him before easing around the emergency vehicles filling Shawn’s driveway. “Are you okay?”
“Not really.”
“I’m sorry.” It sounded trite, but what did you say to someone whose friend tried to destroy him?
He sighed. “Me, too.” He turned to her. “He was a good guy, Kayla. I mean, a truly great guy. He might’ve gotten into trouble gambling, but he wasn’t a killer. I don’t believe it, even with the note.”
It might take time, but he’d have to learn to accept that Shawn wasn’t the man he thought he was all these years. Kayla wanted to believe Finn that he was good, but he killed Mark. She couldn’t forgive that.
“He must’ve planted the bomb on the night of the poker game.”
She turned to him. “You think so?”
“I was thinking about it. He was supposed to spend the night, but he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He made up an excuse of needing to leave for an early meeting. He must’ve rigged the device and then hightailed it out of there.”
That did seem suspicious.
He sighed heavily. “So much death. And for what? I’m pissed as hell at him for killing himself. The least he could’ve done was man up and provide answers.”
She was mad Shawn took the easy way out, too. It was cowardly. He should have to pay for his crimes and the lives he destroyed.
“I guess you’re leaving now?”
Air whooshed from her lungs. The case was over, so there was no reason for her to stay. But the thought of leaving Finn right now was unimaginable. He’d lost so much.
Agents always got time off after a case, plus she had plenty of vacation days accrued. She would stay until he was settled, or he kicked her out. Whichever came first.
“I thought I’d stick around for a few more days to wrap everything up. There’s no need for Kaiya to stay, so I’ll send her home in the morning.”
“I don’t know what to do about his funeral. I like and respect his parents, but he betrayed me. I don’t think I could sit through a service where everyone bragged about what a great person he was after this.”
That was tough. In his shoes, she didn’t think she’d be able to go, either. “After everything that’s happened, I think his parents would understand if you didn’t attend.”
One advantage of the rental home was that the press didn’t know where Finn was staying, so they didn’t have to fight through a mob of cameras and reporters. He could stay as long as he needed to decompress and come to terms with all that happened.
Once inside, they both retreated to their rooms to shower. By the time she entered the living room, Kaiya had returned.
“Anja is going to keep us posted with any information. What’s the plan now?”
“With Shawn’s confession, the case is over. You can pack up tonight and head out first thing in the morning. I’ll stay here a few more days to wrap everything up.”
“You sure you don’t need me?”
“No, I’ve got it. Thanks. You did a great job, Kaiya. We’re lucky to have you on the team.”
“Speaking of the team, I think Anja might be interested in applying for a job. She asked me all kinds of questions when she drove me to the garage to pick up my SUV. I told her she should talk to you.”
“I hope she does. She’d be an asset.”
After a dinner of yesterday’s leftover pizza, Kayla filled her bosses in on all that transpired and then they watched television, though no one seemed to be paying attention to the show. Finn still looked shattered. She wanted to comfort him and take his pain away. He’d become the most important person in her life, and she hated that he was hurting.
His coach, teammates and several front office personnel had checked in with him. She k
new he didn’t want to talk, but he did so anyway. She finally turned off his phone. Each time he repeated Shawn’s suicide, it took a toll on him.
Kaiya stood. “I’ll probably head out early, so if I don’t see you, we’ll catch up when you return.” Then she shook Finn’s hand. “The circumstances suck, but it was nice to meet you.”
“Thank you for everything.”
They said goodnight to Kaiya, and Kayla led him upstairs to the large master suite she’d claimed. Wanting to ease his mind, if only for a little while, she reached for his shirt and slowly undressed him. Once he was wonderfully naked, she removed her clothes and then guided him to the king-sized bed. She explored every inch of his magnificent body. It said something about his state of mind that he let her take complete control.
Their joining was slow and sweet and glorious. She felt like her entire body had become one with his. She collapsed on top of him, sighing when his arms anchored her to his chest. His heart thumped rapidly to match hers, and a sense of wonder washed over her. So, this was how love felt.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Finn had never needed anyone as much as he did Kayla last night—and this morning. The pain he felt from Shawn’s betrayal was a raw, open wound. It would take time for it to heal—if ever. He’d known him since high school, and they’d navigated the rough waters of puberty and adulthood together. He trusted Shawn with his secrets, never dreaming he would use them against him. He thought they’d be best friends for life. It burned a hole in his stomach that Shawn hadn’t felt the same way.
Having Kayla make love to him had been precisely what his soul needed. He’d reached for her in the night and again this morning. He felt whole when their bodies were joined. And love.
Yes, it was soon. He’d known her for a week, but that didn’t matter. He loved her. Desperately. He’d almost blurted it out after the last climax, but he didn’t want to scare her off. His confidence was shaky after Shawn’s betrayal. Putting his feelings on the line was too much of a risk right now.
She shimmied against him and his body stirred to life. She made him feel like a teenager again, and he couldn’t get enough of her. A smile broke along his face. Despite everything that happened, when she was in his arms, he felt happy. It was a rare gift.
His phone buzzed, and he seriously considered ignoring it. Kayla had turned it off last night after his well-meaning teammates and Punishers personnel kept checking on him, but he turned it back on. He might want to hide away from his responsibilities, but he couldn’t.
“Ignore it,” she murmured as she traced her fingers along his chest.
Glancing at the screen, he saw Clint’s face. “I better answer. Clint was pretty upset yesterday, and I just left him alone at Shawn’s house.” He punched the button and held it to his ear. “Hey, Clint.”
“I’m in trouble, Finn.”
Instantly alert, he shot up, inadvertently dislodging Kayla’s hand. “What’s wrong?”
“S-Shawn,” he slurred. “His death…should’ve helped him.”
“Clint, have you been drinking?” He checked the clock on the table beside the bed, and his eyes goggled. It was almost two in the afternoon. He never slept in late. Still, it was early in the day to be hitting the bottle.
“Pills. Pain is too much…”
“Where are you, Clint?” He was pulling on his jeans while he talked. Kayla was already dressing.
“Shawn’s house…wanted to be close to him. I found another bottle of pills and just took them. I already called for an ambulance. Know I messed up. So damn sorry…”
“Clint? Clint?” He checked the screen. “Dammit, he hung up.”
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s grieving for Shawn. He took pills.” He yanked on a t-shirt. “He’s at Shawn’s house.”
“I’ll call an ambulance.”
“He already had the sense to call one.” He grabbed Kayla’s hand. “I don’t think I can walk in and find another one of my close friends dead.”
#
Maybe Kayla should’ve insisted she drive. Finn was taking corners on two wheels like his last name was Andretti. Her phone rang, and she checked the screen before answering.
“Hey, Tyler.”
“I’ve been beating myself up for not digging into Shawn’s background. I honestly never thought one of the guys we went to high school with could do this, but I should’ve known.”
“It’s natural that you didn’t want to consider your friends guilty.”
He huffed out a laugh. “We were never friends. He and Clint both treated me like I was invisible. They were both part of the crew of thugs who tied me to the Zamboni.”
Kayla winced, knowing how much the childish pranks of Tyler’s high school classmates scarred him. A genius, he’d been years younger than the other students and scrawny. The bullies thought that made him fair game, and they tortured him relentlessly.
“Finn was the only one who ever stuck up for me and treated me like a friend instead of a freak.”
Kayla’s heart flipped even more for the handsome hockey player. He truly was one of the good guys.
“But Kayla, he wasn’t.”
“Wasn’t what?”
“In debt. Shawn. He had massive savings, not to mention a diversified and successful portfolio. No credit card balance or mortgage payments. He owned his home. He was rolling in it. There’s no indication that he owed money to anyone. No big payouts other than a few years ago when he bought a condo for his parents.”
Finn swung into Shawn’s driveway and slammed on the brakes.
“Tyler, I have to go. We think Clint overdosed. We’re going to him now. I’ll call you back.”
“Kayla, wait—”
She disconnected and jumped out to chase after Finn. He was already inside the house by the time she crossed the threshold. The first thing she saw when she entered was Finn lying motionless on the ground. Before she could pull her gun, something stabbed into her neck, and the world went black.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kaiya Quillen navigated the roads leading out of Pittsburgh, feeling tired and drained. She’d planned on an early start, but she’d overslept. She hadn’t been surprised that Kayla and Finn weren’t up yet. They had to be wiped, too. The last few days had been eventful, to say the least.
With a pang of sadness, she glanced at the empty passenger seat. The trip to Pittsburgh had been entertaining with Mark as her copilot. She’d just met him, but they’d gotten to know each other better on the drive. He had a wicked sense of humor, making her laugh the entire trip. Knowing she’d never hear his voice again was heartbreaking. She felt terrible for his family. He’d survived his stint in the military, only to die on home soil. It had to be so hard on them.
Her second assignment as a COBRA Securities agent sucked big time.
Despite the tragedy, she still loved her job and looked forward to the next mission. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be so much death and destruction. She never believed Darcy Driessen had been guilty, even when she confessed. She’d met Shawn Langer, and she’d never would’ve thought him capable of murder, either. He seemed like a nice, decent man. Being so much in debt must’ve snapped something in his head.
Slamming the brakes, she jerked to the side of the road. Something about Shawn’s suicide bothered her, and she just realized what it was. If he took an entire bottle of pills, how did he wash it down? There was no glass or bottle of water beside the bed. Maybe there was one in the attached bathroom. He could’ve taken the pills in there and stumbled to the mattress, dropping the bottle as he went. But what if someone set him up, just like they tried to do with Darcy? She never trusted a typed suicide note. Anyone could’ve done that.
Relying on her instincts, she voice prompted her phone to dial Kayla’s number. No answer. She tried Finn’s phone, but it kicked to voice mail, too.
Checking traffic, she executed a U-turn and headed back to Pittsburgh.
#
Finn searched his br
ain for what happened. His head pounded, and his hands were tied behind his back. He was sitting on the ground with his back against something solid. Slowly lifting his head and opening his eyes, he jerked in horror to see Kayla dangling four feet off the ground, her hands tied above her head and hanging over a peg attached to a cross. An iron cross.
Turning his head, he came face to face with the killer. Crippling disappointment and overwhelming sadness hit him low in the gut. He’d trusted this man.
“Why, Clint?”
His high school teammate and friend lifted a shoulder. “Why not?”
He was going to be flippant. Great. He needed to keep him talking so he could free his hands. Plus, he needed to keep Clint’s attention on him and not Kayla. She’d woken up, and he realized she found a small platform by her feet to take the pressure off her shoulders.
“It’s about time you woke up,” Clint complained. “I didn’t give you that much of the knockout drug, but then, you’ve got nine lives, don’t you, Finnigan? You’ve used up…” He paused to count on his fingers. “The runaway truck, the near-miss in the parking lot, the shooting at the fan appreciation event and the one at your foundation offices. Then there’s the explosion that should’ve taken care of both of you.” He tsked. “You’re running low on lives, buddy. It doesn’t look good for you.”
“You were responsible for all of those attempts?” Kayla asked.
Dammit, he didn’t want her drawing Clint’s attention. The man was a loose cannon.
“Ah good, you’re awake, too. Now we can start the party.”
While Clint’s notice was diverted, he worked at sawing at the rope around his hands with the edge of the steel beam.
“I sure was. I’ve been a busy boy, haven’t I?”
Finn gritted his teeth. The man sounded proud of the havoc he’d wrecked. He’d taken innocent lives for what purpose? If he had to die today, he wanted answers. “Was Nina your first?”
“Yes, and believe it or not, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill her.”
“Then, why did you?” Kayla asked.
“Because we met up at a bar and had sex. She started crying out Finn’s name and wouldn’t open her eyes, even after I slapped her. Then she told me she was picturing him and that I could never live up to him.” He turned to glare at Finn. “After a lifetime of living in your shadow, I snapped. I wrapped my hands around her neck and squeezed. The look of pure terror in her eyes was an aphrodisiac. The more I pressed, the stronger the delight. She tried to pry my hands away, but I kept going until life left her body. And you know what? It was an incredible rush and gave me more pleasure than Nina ever could.”
Iron Cross (COBRA Securities Book 20) Page 22
