“Lee’s not their father,” she says quickly.
“He must be special if you named your daughter after him,” Aunt Kitty comments, taking a sip of her tea.
“Lee was there when she was born.” JoJo smiles sadly. “He saved both of our lives that day.”
“After giving birth to Peter, I said never again,” Aunt Kitty commiserates. “I remind him every year on his birthday about the hours upon hours of torture he put me through. Then I make him take me out to dinner.”
I’ve heard Peter bitch about having to take his mother out on his birthday to her favorite restaurant, but I know he secretly doesn’t mind. He appreciates all she’s done and sacrificed for him, as she raised him on her own.
JoJo laughs. “I’m telling my girls I’m canceling their parties this year and having one for me.”
I giggle into my teacup.
“Don’t laugh, missy,” Aunt Kitty admonishes with a smile. “One day, you’ll understand.”
“I’m not having kids,” I state firmly, grabbing a croissant from the plate of pastries in the center of the table.
I know Finn doesn’t want children, and being a mother has never been anything I was interested in. In that way, he and I are perfect for each other.
“That’s what I said.” Aunt Kitty smiles, reaching out and grabbing a shortbread from the plate.
“So did I,” JoJo admits, grinning.
My phone buzzes on the metal table, and, snatching it up, I grin happily at the name of my video caller.
Boss Man
“Finn,” I greet him, smiling into the camera.
"They've arrested Mayer,” he announces, his face breaking out into an all too rare smile.
“That's great, baby,” I exclaim, bouncing in my seat. “I can come home!”
Simultaneously, JoJo and Aunt Kitty's phones ring, rattling the table and the china tea set. From the expressions on their faces, I can tell they are hearing the same news.
“Lily,” he growls. “What have I said about calling me that?”
“How much you like it.” I grin at him.
“Where are you?”
I can see him squinting and scowling at me, trying to figure out where we are.
“Having afternoon tea alfresco with JoJo and Aunt Kitty on the terrace.”
“Peter and the FBI are going to make arrangements for you and Kitty to come back to Boston,” he says before adding tentatively, “The lead FBI agent on the case needs to talk to you as soon as you arrive.”
“Okay,” I mutter, biting my lip. Holding the camera in one hand, I pick at my croissant with the other.
“I’ll be there the entire time,” Finn promises. “You’re not getting rid of me!”
I smile brightly at him. Even with Finn thousands of miles away, warmth fills me at his words. I wholeheartedly want to be with this man.
An hour after Finn’s call, we check out of the hotel and head to the airport to begin our eight-hour flight back to Boston. The FBI allowed Peter to book us all first-class tickets, so we are at least comfortable.
Aunt Kitty, JoJo, and I are greeted by the FBI and Peter the moment we step off the airplane.
“Miss MacKay, my name is Special Agent Margret Farris, the lead investigator on the Mayer case,” the petite Asian American woman states as she shakes my hand firmly, suddenly seeming taller. Her hair is pulled back into a severe-looking bun, and she’s wearing a pinched, angry expression. “And this is Agent Kyle Duponte.”
The younger agent smiles brightly and nods his ginger head in greeting.
After hugging his mother, Peter steps forward and wraps me into a tight embrace. “Hey, sweetheart, I’m so glad you’re home.”
“Me too,” I tell him, returning the squeeze. Letting go, I look around, disappointed that I don’t see my man brooding nearby. “Where’s Finn?”
“Mr. Finch is not to have any further contact with you until after you’ve been debriefed,” Agent Farris tells me coolly. I send my best impression of Finn’s scowl her way.
“Why the hell not,” I demand, crossing my arms against my chest.
“He’s under investigation for his involvement in sex trafficking.”
“That’s bullshit,” I snap. “He rescued me.”
“That’s absurd,” Aunt Kitty agrees hotly.
“Maggie,” Peter mutters plaintively to her, but she just sends him a glare.
Turning toward Aunt Kitty, I see her squinting her eyes at the pair. Clearly, something is going on between her son and the FBI agent, and she had no clue. I’m pretty sure we both dislike her already.
“He came and rescued me from that nightmare—something you refused to do,” I remind her. “Peter told me.”
“Lily,” Peter mutters in annoyance.
After we were reunited, Peter told me that the FBI had learned where I was but wouldn’t help him rescue me.
“I did all I could. Trust me,” she all but snaps at me, then says more calmly, “No missing persons had been filed by your parents or your college.”
“But Peter could’ve—” I begin.
“I couldn’t, sweetheart,” Peter says gently, putting his hand on my arm. “It would’ve alerted Mayer that I knew something had happened to you. I couldn’t, I wouldn’t, risk your safety.”
My anger deflates somewhat, and I turn and wrap my arms around Peter, giving him a quick squeeze. I know he did everything he could think of to rescue me, including sending his best and most-trusted friend.
“Miss MacKay, we have booked a room for you at a hotel, and tomorrow you’ll be taken down to headquarters to give a statement,” Agent Kyle Duponte says, changing the subject.
“Your services are no longer required. Miss MacKay is perfectly safe now,” Agent Farris tells JoJo.
“You didn’t hire me. I’m not leaving until Mr. Finch tells me to,” JoJo states firmly.
“We can all stay with Peter at his condo,” Aunt Kitty tells us, ignoring Agent Farris altogether.
“If any of you obstruct this investigation, I will have no choice but to have you arrested,” Agent Farris growls.
“Margret,” Peter says in an angry whisper.
“Don’t make me regret letting you come,” she snaps at him. “You shouldn’t even be here.”
I tighten my hold on Aunt Kitty’s arms as my eyes sting with emotion. The anxiety and fear that had all but disappeared in the last few days comes back in a wave.
“Miss MacKay is the victim,” Aunt Kitty says fiercely, stepping forward.
“I’ve got to go to the bathroom,” I announce, letting go of Aunt Kitty’s arm and sprinting to the restroom sign. They all follow me.
My heart is pounding as I close myself into the closest stall and dig my cell phone out of my purse. I quickly text Finn.
Lily: Are you okay?
Lily: The FBI says I can’t see or talk to you, because you’re being investigated.
Lily: It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.
As I wait for a response, hoping Finn is near his phone, I hear the door to the bathroom open, and Aunt Kitty calls out, “Sweetie, are you okay?”