Page 147 of Intense

He shakes his head.

“We do this together.” He claps his hand on my shoulder.

“I’m protecting my family; I have to.”

I nod in agreement. They’re safe here, and we won’t be gone long. I don’t have plans to leave Stephanie either.

Still… for now, I’ll let myself pretend. Live in the fantasy my brothers swear by.

Just to know what it feels like.

Chapter 48

STEPHANIE

Holding a baby in my arms while feeling Finn’s stare burn into me does something dangerous to my body.

Is this the kind of life he wants?

Is this the kind I want?

I’ve never entertained the idea before. But here I am, married, at his family gathering. I suppose anything can happen when you least expect it.

I shift in my seat, and the cut on my thigh stings, a sharp reminder of who I really am. Of how his blade made me come alive.

“This is crazy, you being here with us. It’s cool, though,” Hallie says, lifting her diet coke.

“Yeah. It’s a lot to wrap my head around. Finn is… a force I can’t seem to keep away from.”

Both girls laugh.

“These Quinn brothers are built differently. Once they get under your skin, you can’t get rid of them,” Charlotte says, glancing at her husband.

I look across the room. The three brothers are deep in conversation, their similarities obvious, but each one carved by their own edges.

“Oh, I’m Lily, by the way.” The blonde smiles warmly.

“Stephanie. Are you with anyone here?”

She giggles, lifting her champagne. “God, no. I’m Hallie’s best friend. I’m too busy to date.”

I nod. “Yeah, I thought the same thing a few weeks ago.”

“We should do a girls’ night soon. Something fun,” Hallie suggests.

I’ve never had this. In medical school, I kept my head down and studied. Growing up in foster care, I never trusted people enough to let them close.

At work, I have acquaintances—nothing more.

This… might be good for me.

“That sounds good. Just let me know when, and I’ll work around my schedule,” I tell them.

The doors to the restaurant fly open, and two massive men walk in—identical twins, both wearing thunderous expressions.

They’re terrifying.

They remind me of the men Finn was speaking to in Vegas.