Page 19 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

Finn stretched, the morning sun beaming through the blinds and warming the bare skin of his chest. He lay there for a minute, one arm behind his head, the other resting lightly over his heart.

The room was quiet. Just the low hum of the air conditioner and the occasional creak of the house settling around him.

There’d been no calls. No alerts. Not yet.

His thoughts drifted to the fundraiser the night before.

Chase had taken his idea and run with it, and Tessa, event planner extraordinaire, had worked her magic. She transformed the blank canvas of an old warehouse into something warm and elegant. He’d learn later whether the shelter made its goal.

And then there was Lainey.

He hadn’t expected to see her there.

She hadn’t spotted him at first, but he got a good look at her before she did.

And didn’t she look sexy as hell? That fitted, one-piece blue-green outfit hugged her in all the right places and brought out her eyes.

Her auburn hair was down, those soft loose curls brushing her shoulders.

He recognized the locket around her neck and felt a dull thud in his chest. He remembered when she got it.

Her grandmother had given it to her at graduation.

How thrilled Lainey was with her first piece of “real” jewelry and the thought behind it.

He remembered that moment. He remembered everything. All bittersweet.

He rolled to his side and exhaled slowly.

She hadn’t mentioned she was going to be there tonight. Then again, it wasn’t as if she had to pass by anything with him.

Still, it would have been nice. It would’ve felt like they were friends—more than friends.

But that wasn’t all that struck him.

It was the tension in her shoulders when she talked to Lena Morales. A flicker of something in her eyes that passed quickly. The way her fingers tightened on the champagne flute.

She was tired. Stretched too thin. Holding too much in.

Finn rubbed his chest absently. He wanted to help, wanted to be the one she leaned on. But every time he got close, she held something back.

He hoped she’d tell him when she was ready.

But whether she did or didn’t, he wasn’t stepping back. Because all the vandalism, the rumors, the anonymous calls weren’t coincidences. It was targeted and definitely had to do with the project. And it was coming to a head.

And when it did, he’d be right there.

For her.

For them.

But first, he needed coffee. Lots of coffee.

He dragged himself out of bed, padded to the kitchen and brewed a strong pot. He poured a mug and looked out the kitchen window while he drank it. Outside, Jack and Will were in the yard building something.

The scene was peaceful. Finn stared a moment longer. He wondered what it was like to have a father-son bond. Sure, he had a happy childhood, but his dad was a banker, not a builder.

Bah. Not going there today.

After a quick shower and another shot of caffeine, he grabbed his keys.

He’d swing by the site. Even though the cameras were up, just keeping an unexpected, unannounced presence could keep people cautious. Not that they had a bunch of lookie-loos wandering around. It wasn’t that kind of neighborhood, but one never knew.

Later, he was meeting Chase, Colt, and Titus downtown to have a drink at the Thirsty Cock.

By the time Finn pulled up to the site, the sun was high in the sky and the air thick with humidity, enveloping him like a wet blanket. Sweat trickled down his back as he slammed the truck door shut. Heat shimmered off the pavement in visible waves.

He stood there for a moment, scanning the area. The street was quiet. As it should be on a Sunday. But then again, after the vandalism, what should be normal, safe, wasn’t.

Finn made his way past the bakery. It was locked up tight. Lainey’s office was dark. He moved toward the storage sheds when something shifted in the corner of his vision.

Travis.

The guy was crouched beside one of the sheds, half-hidden behind a stack of boards, his back hunched, rummaging for something. Looked like he didn’t want to be seen.

“Morning,” Finn called out.

Travis startled and stood quickly, wiping his hands on a rag. “Hey. Just grabbing something I forgot the other day. Need it at home.”

Finn walked closer, casual but not crowding. “Tool?”

“Yeah. Socket set. Thought I’d get it yesterday, but…” He trailed off with a shrug. “Didn’t want it walking off, you know?”

Finn nodded. He did know. A missing tool could be just that. Or not.

Travis looked rough, tired. But it was the way Travis avoided eye contact that set off a tiny alarm.

“You hear any more?” Finn asked casually. “Anyone talking?”

Travis hesitated, glanced toward the street, then back. “Not really. Whispers. Everyone’s a little spooked.”

Finn nodded again. “Well, if you remember anything that doesn’t sit right, call me. “

“Will do.” Travis didn’t linger. He hurried to his truck, yanked the door open, and peeled away without looking back.

Finn watched the taillights disappear and blew out a breath. He did another perimeter loop. Everything looked quiet, normal, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still brewing.

The Thirsty Cock was quieter than usual when he arrived. A few regulars were nursing drinks at the long wooden bar. The bartender gave Finn a nod before turning back to polish glasses.

Country music played low from the corner speakers, and the air smelled faintly of stale beer. The bar was popular on a Saturday night but on Sunday, not so much.

He’d been here several times before and liked it. The gold tin patterned ceiling cast a warm glow of light across the wooden bar, which stretched the length of the room. One wall showcased an impressive array of bottles, and the opposite wall was lined with deep leather booths.

He spotted the guys in the far booth, walked over, and slid into the booth beside Titus, the leather seat squeaking under him. A half-empty glass of beer was pushed toward him.

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” he said. “How’s the gym?”

Titus Finch owned PushYourLimits Gym not far from here. The guys in the Brotherhood all had memberships.

“Busy as ever.” Titus grinned.

“And Emilia?”

“Feeling better. She’s doing too much, as usual.

” He shook his head and took a sip of beer.

“Her online presence is growing, the baking classes are filling up, and she still caters occasionally. Now she’s decided Leo needed a friend.

So we got another shelter dog.” Titus groaned.

“It’s like having two toddlers running around. ”

Finn laughed, nearly snorting his beer picturing Titus with two dogs running around.

It wasn’t that long ago that Emilia owned Lilypad Confections, the best bakery in town, down the alley from Titus’s gym.

She had been targeted by the former owner’s son, who paid an employee to harass her.

Titus and the Brotherhood had rescued her.

Just like she’d found and rescued Leo, the mutt, as a stray.

Now she and Titus and the two mutts were together and happily living outside town.

“Better you than me,” said Colt Zander, wiping foam from his lip. “Felicia keeps trying to get us to adopt chickens. So far, I’ve stalled her by reminding her that I fix engines, not build coops. Felicia can visit Isabelle and Will’s farm anytime to get her chicken fix.”

The guys chuckled. Isabelle was Colt’s sister and Felicia, her best friend. They were chased to Haywood Lake by the mob. Will and Colt stepped in to rescue them.

What was it with all the guys falling for the women they rescued?

Even Chase and Naomi had their story.

Enough! He wasn’t going down memory lane anymore. He came here to enjoy an afternoon with the guys. After a lull, Finn leaned back against the booth, one arm draped over the backrest.

“So,” he said, turning to Chase. “How did the fundraiser do?”

Chase nodded. “Better than anyone expected. Everyone was incredibly generous between the silent auction and ticket prices. Several companies bought tables, and the program book made enough to pay for the venue.”

That was great news. It felt good knowing they could make a difference. That woman and kids like the little family he rescued would have a better shot at gaining their lives back because of last night.

“On another note”—Chase’s expression sobered—“we have some footage from the exterior cams late last night.”

Finn’s heart plummeted. “Any damage done?”

“No. But someone scoped the place around 2a.m. Didn’t get too close or leave prints. Just stood there for about fifteen minutes and then disappeared.”

“They’re watching.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Catch a plate or vehicle?”

Chase shook his head. “No, too close to downtown. Plus, Lainey only has part of the project. Cameras can’t cover what she doesn’t control.”

Finn rubbed a palm along his jaw.

He didn’t want to hear this.

But at the same time, if someone was increasing their vigilance, maybe they’d have a chance to catch them and stop this once and for all.

“Good,” he muttered. “Let ’em come.”

Let them make the mistake of thinking no one was paying attention.

Because this time?

Someone was watching back.