Page 11 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Finn stood by Lainey’s desk feeling awkward as hell.

The fact that she had a son left him unsure how to respond. Anger? Shock? Or maybe some other reaction he couldn’t name?

His gut twisted at the thought that their night together ten years ago might not have meant anything to her.

Then he caught himself. That wasn’t fair. What was she supposed to do? He was the one who walked away. Joined the service, found purpose with the Brotherhood. He had moved on, just not when it came to her.

So why would she wait for a guy who never looked back? Did he really expect that she’d never meet someone? Get married or have a child? Build a life without him?

Still, it hurt.

Mostly that she had moved on, while he hadn’t, made Finn more than a little sad.

Sure, there had been women in his life. Some for a short time, some just the twenty-four-hour kind. But no one had ever made him feel the way Lainey did. Especially not the way she looked at him like he hung the moon and stars.

And now she had a kid. And a life that didn’t include him.

He wasn’t sure what hurt worse, the past he’d never gotten over or the feeling that he was too late to change it.

Finn ran a hand over his head. He should say something, anything, but what? The words choked in his throat.

Fuck. You blew it, man.

But there were bigger issues than his bruised ego. Sabotage. Vandalism. Someone was targeting her project.

He was here for a reason, and reliving old memories wasn’t it. Stopping whoever was lurking in the shadows was.

Whatever Lainey was keeping from him, whether it had something to do with the break-ins, the kid, or both, he’d find out.

Because he wasn’t walking away. Not if she was in danger.

Finn parked at the end of a large warehouse surrounded by mom-and-pop stores, all closed for the night.

He stepped through the front door of Lucky’s Bar and got hit with a blast of noise and scent. Citrus cleaner, whiskey, stale beer, and sizzling burgers. It was a lot to take in. But exactly what he needed to forget.

The place was packed. He weaved past the long wooden bar with TVs on mute at either end, dodging elbows and empty stools, and spotted Dex and Caleb at a back booth.

And surprise, surprise. Ryker Barlow was with them. He seldom saw Ryker even though he lived next door and worked for the Brotherhood. Mostly, he saw Dani alone or with the kids.

“Look who finally showed up,” Dex called out. “Thought you stood us up.”

Finn slipped into an open seat, acknowledging the men. They already were halfway through their beers.

“You guys are way ahead of me,” he said, just as a server came by. “Did you order food yet?”

“Enough for the table,” Caleb replied.

Finn glanced at Ryker. “So what brings you here on a weeknight? Dani kick you out?”

“Ha.” Ryker took a swig of beer and grinned.

“Nah. It was self-preservation. She’s having a couple of moms over, planning something for school.

One of them is that woman running the redevelopment project down the street from yours.

I knew I’d only be in the way or hooked into dressing up as the Easter Bunny or worse. ”

The guys cracked up.

A glass of beer was set in front of him, and the server placed platters of wings, sliders, and fries on the table.

“Expecting anyone else?” Finn quipped to no one as he took a sip of beer. The icy cold drink slid down his throat. Mmmm . Hoppy with the citrusy undertones he usually liked. He hoped it would settle him.

It didn’t.

Ryker reached for a slider and some fries. “Do you know her?”

Finn’s hand froze on the glass. “Who?”

“The woman running that project.”

He swallowed hard. “Lainey.”

Ryker blinked. “Yeah. That’s her. Her son Luke will be in Jack’s class.”

Finn leaned back in the booth, letting the weight of those words sink in.

Of course, she would be there. She had a kid. She had friends. She had a life beyond work. She was part of something. A world he knew nothing about. And him? He was just an old flame, if that, just passing through.

The thought hit him harder than it should have.

Conversation faded around him like white noise.

Gazing around the packed bar, he watched the bartenders hauling ass and pouring drinks without missing a beat.

Heard the constant clacking of pool balls and laughter, so playing a game was probably out of the question.

Too crowded for a decent game. The jukebox was playing mournful country music about heartbreak and wrong turns. Perfect for his mood tonight.

He picked up his beer and took a long pull, trying to ease the ache in his heart while listening to the guys trash-talk each other. Something he usually liked to participate in. But tonight, his mind wouldn’t shut off.

Lainey had a son.

She hadn’t offered anything else. And he had no right to ask.

But he couldn’t shake the flicker in her eyes. Not quite guilt. More like guarded tension as if she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

What was she afraid he’d say?

Dex bumped him with his shoulder. “You’re quiet tonight. Find anything at the site?”

Finn blinked, coming back to the moment. “Not yet. But something is certainly going on.”

“Need backup?” asked Dex.

Finn shook his head. “Not yet.”

He wasn’t ready to say it out loud, but he had a bad feeling in his gut, and it wasn’t going anywhere.

“Well, you don’t have anything to worry about on your site,” said Caleb. “I’ll check in tomorrow, but it’s been smooth sailing with the electricians.”

The evening passed by in a blur of memories, half-listened conversations and good-natured joking.

But Finn’s mind was somewhere else. Finally, he stood. “I’m out. Early day tomorrow.”

He knocked back the rest of his beer, slapped down some bills, and gave a lazy salute.

Outside, the evening sky was dark and clear, dotted with twinkling stars.

He walked to his truck, turned on the engine, and just sat there.

He couldn’t help wondering what Lainey was doing. Where was the kid? Home with some guy? His gut twisted at the thought. Why did he care? He lost that privilege when he left her. Ten years ago, to be exact.

Finn slapped the steering wheel. “Damn it.”

Why did life have to be so complicated? And why couldn’t Lainey have picked another town to settle in?

He shifted into drive, pulled out of the lot, leaving the bright lights of the bar behind. His headlights cut through the dark. The road ahead was quiet, but his mind was working overtime.

He told himself he was just heading home. But part of him hoped Lainey’s car was there. Because the thought of stopping by, seeing her and saying hi flashed through his mind and was impossible to ignore.

Finn gripped the steering wheel tight. Bad idea. Worse than bad.

But still, he wondered. What would happen if he did stop by? And what the hell would he even say?

Heard you were here and figured I’d drop in? Oh, by the way, where’s your son?

Yeah. Real casual.

Really stupid.