“If you want breakfast, we should get up,” he says, not letting go or loosening his hold.
“Right,” I mumble, pulling away and rolling onto my back.
Finn swings himself out of bed and takes the pile of clothes from the chair and dresses.
I lay there, watching Finn pull on his clothes, piece by piece, hiding his toned and gorgeous body beneath. Once he’s done, he pulls his large, sexy watch from his pocket and snaps it on before picking up his cellphone off the nightstand.
“Princess, if you want breakfast, you better get a move on,” he tells me, leaning over the bed and kissing my forehead.
Tossing back the warm sheets begrudgingly, I make my way over to my suitcase and paw through it, looking for an outfit. What do you wear to be interviewed by the FBI? After selecting the new pair of jeans and sweater Aunt Kitty bought me, I head into the bathroom to get ready for my day. I throw on my clothes.
“What?” I hear Finn’s voice ask incredulously, followed by, “Fuck.”
I peek my head out of the door to see Finn’s back to me, his head bent, and one hand on his hip, while the other holds his cellphone.
“Finn?”
At my voice, he spins around to face me, and the look of pain he sends my way gives me a shiver of fear.
“No, fuck Peter. I’ll tell her. Just get Kitty over here.”
“Finn?”
He shoves his cellphone into his pocket and takes a step toward me, saying gently, “Come here, princess.”
“What is it?” I wrap my arms around myself, not moving.
“Baby.” Finn reaches me and runs his hands along my arms.
“You’re scaring me,” I tell him as he tugs me into his chest.
“It’s your mom.” His tender voice makes my stomach clench with anxiety.
“What about Mom?” I push against his hold and look up into his face, which is twisted with anguish.
I close my eyes tightly, knowing whatever he’s about to say is going to be painful.
“She arrived back in town yesterday and is working to get Mayer bailed.”
Chapter Twelve
~ Lily ~
“What?” I gasp, my chest tightening painfully with the betrayal. “After everything he’s done?”
“Yes. Peter just found out,” Finn says. His voice seems distant, and I’m suddenly underwater. His arms are like a lifeline around me, and I tighten my hold onto him.
I’m numb.
Overloaded.
“I’ve got to answer the door, princess,” he says gently, prying my fingers from their hold on his shirt. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay,” I mutter shakily.
The door to the adorning room opens, and Aunt Kitty comes in, followed by JoJo. She crouches down next to my chair and wraps her arms around me, surrounding me with her calming lavender scent. For the second time in less than a week, she’s giving me the motherly comfort I need.
“I don’t understand.” I ask her, “How could she side with him?”
“I don’t know,” Aunt Kitty answers, squeezing me tightly.
“What happens if he makes bail?”
“Don’t worry about anything,” Aunt Kitty says fiercely. “Peter and I have our attorney working on it right now.”
“Thank you,” I croak, brushing away my tears.
As upset as I am at this moment, hearing the news, I know I’ll be all right. Her siding with someone else aside from her daughter doesn’t surprise me.
“First you need to make a statement to the FBI to ensure that he rots in jail and can’t lay his hands on you or your father’s company,” Finn says resolutely.
“Right,” I mutter, before asking, “Someone will go with me, right?”
Agent Farris picks Aunt Kitty, JoJo, and me up an hour later from the hotel and drives us to the FBI. Aunt Kitty sent Finn out to get us all a quick breakfast—my man thoughtfully found me an egg and cheese croissant and a hot tea—so I’d have something to eat before we left. Finn left shortly after returning with the food so as not to complicate things further. I was meant to be staying away from him.
“Love you,” Finn said, kissing me hotly in front of everyone before heading for the door.
“Ditto, stud,” I muttered, blushing.
We follow Agent Farris into the large brick office building that is the FBI’s Boston headquarters. Its cold exterior is matched by the interior’s stuffy darkness. Just being in the building makes me anxious and claustrophobic.
“John,” Aunty Kitty calls out as we enter the lobby. A tall and extremely handsome Asian American gentleman with silver in his hair steps toward us and greets Aunt Kitty warmly. Peter told me this morning that he’d arranged for the attorney who has represented Aunt Kitty and him on several occasions before to meet us at the FBI.
“This is my niece, Lily MacKay.” Aunt Kitty wraps her arm around my shoulder and introduces us. “Lily, this is John Templeton.”
“Despite the circumstances, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says softly. His voice is clear and soothing.
“Thank you for coming.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he says kindly. “Anything for Katherine.”
We introduce JoJo, who will wait with Aunt Kitty in the lobby while I’m being interviewed.
“Are you ready?” Agent Farris asks.
Aunt Kitty pulls me into her arms, saying, “I’ll be right here waiting for you, sweetie.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. The tightness in my chest loosens as I believe her words.
“Several of my colleagues are going to meet us in the conference room,” Agent Farris tells us as we make our way to the elevator.
“Will the proceedings be recorded?” Mr. Templeton asks.
“Yes, both audio and video,” she replies.
“What?” I gasp. My feet stop moving as I cross my arms against my chest.
“We’re hoping the recordings can be made admissible as evidence, and it won’t necessitate you having to take the witness stand,” she explains.
“Don’t worry, Lily, you won’t have to answer any questions you don’t feel comfortable with,” Mr. Templeton kindly says to me before turning to Agent Farris to tell her sternly, “I want to make it clear that my client is here to provide information toward the prosecution and conviction of James Mayer and is not to be interrogated.”
“Just as long as Miss MacKay does not impede my ongoing investigation,” she retorts back in a barely civil tone.
I take a deep breath as we enter the elevator, and the doors close shut in front of me, focusing on the voices of Mr. Templeton and Agent Farris. I let the sound wash over me, reminding me I am not alone.
“Miss MacKay has gone through a traumatic experience and should be treated accordingly.”
“A victim advocate is waiting for us upstairs, and she’ll be with us during the interview.”
As the doors of the elevator open, I quickly make my exit, nearly pushing the two out of my way. Agent Farris shows us to a large, windowless conference room.
“I’d like a few moments to talk to my client in private.” Mr. Templeton sets his briefcase onto the long oval table.