“Yes,” I reply, trying to sound calm. “Too much tea on the flight.”
“It just runs right through you. Doesn’t it?” JoJo asks as I hear her enter the stall next to mine and bang against the metal partition.
“Yup,” I answer dully, gripping my phone tightly as I anxiously wait for it to vibrate in my hand. It feels like an eternity before Finn finally responds to my messages.
Boss Man: Don’t worry about me, princess.
Boss Man: And no one is going to keep me away from you.
My body relaxes as I read his texts and see that he’s not angry at me.
Lily: The Agent tried to fire JoJo too.
Lily: JoJo said she wouldn’t leave unless you told her to.
Boss Man: Good.
Lily: When can I see you?
Boss Man: Soon. Love you.
My fingers ache to text him just how much I love him, but I don't want the first time he hears me say those words to be in a text. I decide right then that the next time I see Finn, the first thing I'll do is tell him how I feel. For now, I will be as honest as possible with him.
Lily: Can’t wait to see you.
Lily: Miss you. xxx
I place my phone back into my purse, turn, and flush the toilet before opening the door and quickly exiting the tiny stall. Stepping into the bathroom, I feel like I can breathe once again.
Aunt Kitty and JoJo are standing by the sink, washing their hands.
“All set, sweetie?” Aunt Kitty asks, giving me a tentative smile.
“Yup,” I lie, as JoJo opens the bathroom door for me.
Peter and Agent Farris are arguing several feet away; they break apart guiltily when they see us coming. Agent Kyle Duponte is standing nearby on his cellphone.
“Let’s go,” Agent Farris snaps, shaking off the hand Peter had placed on her arm.
Ignoring her, I lead Aunt Kitty toward the baggage claim to collect our luggage. Everyone follows. Peter is unusually quiet, and I catch him several times shooting Agent Farris pointed looks. JoJo is keeping an ever-watchful eye on those around us and putting herself between me and the other travelers.
By the time our luggage is unloaded from the plane and we’re able to collect it, I’m emotionally drained, hangry, and wishing I hadn’t left London. Agent Farris reluctantly agrees to allow JoJo to accompany me to the hotel as my protection. She clearly isn’t completely stupid. Not that JoJo would’ve left me unprotected.
At first, Aunt Kitty wants to accompany me since I won’t be allowed to stay with Peter. Since he’s the CFO of MacKay International, he’s under investigation for his involvement in the money laundering and appropriation of funds even though it's been hinted at that my cousin has been the man on the inside, blowing the whistle of the irregularities in the accounting.
“Lily, are sure you don’t want me to come?” Aunt Kitty asks. “I can get a room next to yours.”
“As long as JoJo’s with me, I’ll be fine,” I tell Aunt Kitty. “You’ll be way more comfortable at Peter’s.”
“Are you sure, sweetie?” She takes hold of my hands and squeezes them gently.
“Yes.”
“Alright, but call if you need anything,” she says, kissing my cheek. “And I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”
JoJo and I follow the two FBI agents to their car, while an arguing Peter and Aunt Kitty walk in the direction of the parking lot. It takes us almost an hour to grab takeout and make it to the cheap hotel they are making me stay in.
“We should’ve stayed in London,” I mutter to JoJo as I flop onto the nearest bed.
This had not been the homecoming I had anticipated—or wanted. Finn should’ve been there to greet me. He would have whisked me off to his home, where we’d spend the entire night making love and planning our future together.
“I’m so bringing my girls there one day,” JoJo tells me, putting the security latch in place and dragging a chair to sit in front of the door. “I’m pulling rank. Not another trip to Disney.”
“I still need to get to Harry Potter World,” I tell her. “Do you think I could get Finn to go?”
“He’d do anything for you.” JoJo smiles. “You’re a lucky bitch.”
My heart lightens at the truth of her words, and I feel myself relaxing for the first time since we landed. After changing into pajamas, I tuck myself into bed. JoJo and I agree to relax by watching a movie. It would be like having a girls night—if I wasn’t still potentially in danger from him and his possible minions.
The night gets even better when we find the third, and my favorite, Harry Potter film playing on one of the cable channels. We’re at the part where the black dog is dragging Ron across the lawn, when there’s a loud knock on the door connecting the room to the one next to it. My heart jumps into my throat. I flick off the TV as JoJo stands, looks over at me, and smiles.
She undoes the lock and, swinging the door open, says, “Hello, sir.”
“Johnson,” I hear my man’s voice from the doorway.
I sprint towards the door, calling out, “Finn.”
Chapter Ten
~ Finn ~
My princess and I are finally alone after I send Johnson to stay in the room I booked next door. Knowing that the FBI didn’t want me talking to Lily, I texted Johnson to let her know that I was next door and would be coming over to surprise my woman.
I wrap my arms around her and bury my face in her neck. I still have a hard time believing we just met five days ago; it feels like Lily’s been mine forever. I know we were meant to be together. Even though she was safe, Lily was in my thoughts the entire time we were apart. A very welcome distraction from the chaos surrounding me.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, pulling away but still holding onto my sides tightly.
“I want to be wherever you are, princess,” I tell her before leaning down and giving her a firm kiss.
“Why?” Her voice is a whisper as she leans against me, her chin on my chest as she looks up at me, her expression almost sad.
“I love you,” I remind her.
“It’s just,” she says, exhaling, “your company was attacked, and now the FBI is investigating you, all because of me.”
“None of that is your fault.” I hate that she’s blaming herself for Mayer’s actions. “No one blames you, least of all me.”
“I just love you—”
“You love me?” I interrupt, my heart beating in my throat, as I hear the words I’ve been aching for Lily to say.
“How could I not?” She grins up at me, and nothing else in the world matters but seeing her love for me shining in her eyes. “You’re considerate, smart, unbelievably handsome, and you’re mine.”
“I’m yours,” I reassure her, tasting her lips again and dragging her further up my body. “I’ve missed you.”
“I need you, baby,” she whispers, giggling in my ear and nipping the lobe.
“I’m right here.”
Groaning, I run my hands down her back, palm her ass roughly, and lift her off the ground. Lily wraps her legs around my waist and throws her arms around my shoulders, holding on as I walk further into the room. I forgo the bed and move toward the minuscule bathroom. She needs to be pampered—as much as I can in this dingy hotel room. If we were at home, in my—soon to be our—condo, then I’d run a bath in the soaker tub. I make a mental note to have Mrs. White purchase some candles and whatever other bath shit women enjoy. For now, I’ll have to make do with what I have at hand. I set Lily down on the nearly non-existent counter by the sink.