Finn (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2) (22 page)

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Authors: M. Malone

BOOK: Finn (Blue-Collar Billionaires #2)

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And it reminds me how lucky I am to be here.

Rissa clenches her hands into fists as if she's trying not to reach out and grab me again. "You should be using your cane."

"I wasn't talking about my leg."

Her eyes meet mine. "I didn't think you were coming back. I really thought that maybe this was just some kind of sign that we're not good for each other and that we're better off apart."

"After everything, all the surgeries and the pain, I struggled for months to come to terms with what I lost. But what I really lost wasn't physical. It was you. And nothing I've done since has ever healed the wound. You are the phantom pain that I cannot escape."

"And you are the piece of my heart that I lost and then found again. What a pair we make." A tear escapes and rolls down her cheek. She swipes it away. "We're a little screwed up, huh?"

I laugh. "A little but that's okay. We make each other better. Because I know for sure you're what got me through the past six weeks. Reading your messages got me through each day."

"Me too. The first thing I did each morning was check my phone for another message from you."

I grab her hand and lead her back toward the car. "Come for a ride with me?"

"Well, I was supposed to be going on a job but somehow Tara and I got our schedules confused, so she’s covering it tonight. I was just going in to the office to catch up on some paperwork. But I’m more than happy to play hooky with you. Where are we going?"

"Back to my place. I want to show you all the changes I made."

Jonah opens the door for us and Rissa slides in first. Once I get in, she plasters herself against my side. I look down at her in amusement. She's feeling as giddy as I am.

When we arrive at my building, we walk through the lobby arm in arm. Rissa grins up at me. "I can't wait to see what you've done. I've missed being here with you.”

I know it's hard for her to say it. Insecurity is one of the things we talked about. But after today she'll know that she has nothing to be insecure about. After today she'll know without a shadow of a doubt exactly where she belongs.

I open the door with my key and then let her walk in first. She enters and looks around curiously. Then she stops and looks over her shoulder at me.

"Okay, what's going on?"

I gaze back at her innocently. "What do you mean?"

She gestures around her. "You said you made changes. But it's still completely empty."

I walk over to the kitchen counter. The only furniture I kept was the barstools that sit at this counter. I pick up the wrapped box sitting in one of the seats.

"I did buy something for this place. Something that changes everything." I hand her the box.

She covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh Finn. What did you do?”

"Open the box," I whisper. "Right now."

"Bossy," she mouths. Then she pulls the little bow off and pulls off the top. Inside is a plain black jewelers box. When she looks over at me, I'm watching her closely.

"I
really
hope you don't want me to get down on one knee for this part. Because I might not be able to get back up."

"Finn?" She's half crying, half laughing now. After another exasperated look my way she finally opens the box and then gasps. "Wow."

"Yeah, I might have gone a little overboard but I want everyone who sees you to know the truth."

"What's that?" she asks, her eyes sparkling.

"That you are loved. That you are mine."

She throws herself into my arms and kisses me.
All that physical therapy was definitely worth it
, I think as I carry her back to the bedroom. I set her down gently on the bed and then climb up next to her, tucking her under my arm.

"You never explained why this place is still so empty." She looks at me quizzically.

"When I was deciding what I wanted to change, I realized that there was only one thing I needed to turn this place into a home. And that's you.”

She pulls me down for a soft kiss. “You're going to make me cry. That's exactly how I feel. I missed being here so much. But it's not about where we are. I just want to be with you.”

“Being with you is all I want, too. As long as you're here, I'm happy. So you can choose to decorate this place however you want."

Her eyes flash right before she breaks out into a huge grin. "I'm going to love decorating this place for you. Think bright colors and tantric sex chairs. This is going to be fun!"

I laugh and it feels so good. I'm healthy, I've got a great family and I've got the love of my life in my arms. I finally feel like I'm exactly where I need to be.

"Welcome home, angel."

THE END

You just finished reading the second book in the
BLUE-COLLAR BILLIONAIRES
series. Stay tuned for an excerpt of TANK’s book after this.

Tank Marshall has an anger problem. He exercises iron control to keep it in check. But his mother was just diagnosed with cancer and the deadbeat dad he hasn’t seen in years is back demanding airtime with a billion dollar trust fund as an incentive. The only person that brings him peace is Emma Shaw. But the only woman he trusts is the last woman he should.

Author’s Note

Also, if you’ve enjoyed this book,
please
consider leaving a review. Help the authors you love keep prices low by spreading the word. It helps us more than you know. Plus, we love to hear from readers!

TANK

is available now!

Years ago, Tank Marshall swore off fighting. He exercises iron control to keep his anger in check. But his mother was just diagnosed with cancer and the deadbeat dad he hasn’t seen in years is back demanding airtime. Worst of all, a billion dollar inheritance hangs in the balance if he doesn’t do what his father wants.

There’s only one person that keeps him anchored in the midst of the chaos. One person untouched by violence and money and lies. Emma Shaw. But the one thing that Tank hasn’t learned yet is that when billions are at stake, there’s no such thing as innocent.

Money. Changes. Everything.

Buy TANK now

EXCERPT of
TANK

T
ANK

Darkness hasn’t always been my friend. There was a time when I would have been at home asleep in my bed in the middle of the night. Instead I’m prowling the streets, restless and edgy, looking for an outlet for the anger roiling inside.

I glance to my left and right. I’m standing in an alcove that’s slightly hidden off the street. It’s easier this way. People tend to get nervous if I just hang out. No one stares outright. But there's always a tell. A glance. A step to the side when we pass so our bodies don't touch. Everyone has a “look” about them and mine apparently says
trained killer
.

A group of people spill out of the bar across the street, music and the sound of their voices carrying to where I stand in the shadows. This part of Virginia Beach is a mecca for local college kids looking to blow off steam on the weekends so I rarely have to go looking for trouble.

Trouble usually finds me.

I see the girl first. She has taken her shoes off and is walking barefoot on the concrete. She’s beautiful and dressed to score in a short black minidress that shows off long, tanned legs. It doesn’t take long for one of the guys in front of the bar to break off from his friends and follow her. I push away from the wall and follow them at a discreet distance. He hooks an arm around her neck. She looks up at him in confusion but grins blearily. He smiles back, with an expression like he just hit the lottery. My blood pressure spikes a notch.

Oh yes. Trouble you miserable bastard, you always find me.

I step out into the road to cross to their side of the street, pulling the hood of my jacket up and over my face.

A horn blares and a taxi screeches to a halt a few inches from me. The driver’s side door opens and the cabbie steps out. “What the hell! Look where you’re going!”

I glance at him and then back to the couple. Oblivious, they turn down a side street and out of sight. If I wait any longer, I’ll lose them. I haven’t slept in forty-eight hours and if I don’t make sure the girl is all right, then I won’t be able to sleep again tonight. Knowing, seeing, is the only thing that gives me some peace. I run across the street, leaving the cab driver gesturing and cursing behind me. By the time I turn the corner, the street is dark. Empty. Then I hear it.

Crying.

He has the girl pressed up against the wall behind a dumpster. She’s struggling, pushing at his shoulders while he’s working the dress up her legs. He has his other hand over her mouth. Her stiletto shoes are a few feet away from me, abandoned.

That’s all it takes for my veins to turn to ice. This is what happens to me right
before
. It’s like a red haze that settles over me, blanketing me with the righteous fury necessary to do what needs to be done.

I don’t speak; I just yank the guy off her. The first blow stuns him and all the color drains from his face as he doubles over clutching his gut. My mom’s words from earlier today ricochet through my mind, shredding my sanity as surely as bullets.

The cancer’s back, Tank.

He raises his arm to protect his face or maybe to strike back; I don’t know. I hit him with a rib shot, plowing my fists into him over and over. With every connection, I feel stronger.

I need surgery and I don’t have the money.

After a while, I don’t hear anything. I don’t see anything. There’s just me, some random dirtbag in an alley and the sensation of fists hitting flesh. All I can do is feel. Hatred. Power.

Purpose.

A whimper pulls me from my adrenaline frenzy. The girl is slumped against the wall, one hand on the grimy stone behind her as she watches me with horror in her eyes. Slowly, I remember where I am. My breath puffs in front of my face, a cloud of white in the frigid night air. The guy is slumped on the ground, his face a bruised, pulpy mass.

I hold out a hand to help her up and she cringes back. My knuckles are scraped and bruised and my hands are covered in blood. I look like something from a horror movie. I put my hands down and move back so she’s not crowded.

“It’s okay. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

She nods but continues to regard me with wide, watchful eyes. I’m not sure who she’s more afraid of, me or the would-be-rapist bleeding next to the dumpster.

Even more, I’m not sure I want to know.

“Go. Get out of here.”

She stumbles to her feet and leans down to grab her shoes. Then she turns back. “What about you? Are you okay?”

“Don’t worry about me.” She doesn’t move, just stands staring at me, her gaze dropping to my bloody hands, so I yell, “Get the hell out of here!”

She runs off this time and doesn’t look back. I’m glad because there’s nothing she can do for me. I’m beyond saving.

Then I turn back to the man slumped on the ground. “But the rest of you aren’t.”

Buy TANK now

THE ALEXANDERS

- The
USA TODAY
Bestselling series -

Book 0.5 -
Teasing Trent -
FREE

Book 1 -
One More Day
~ Jackson + Ridley

Book 2 -
The Things I Do for You
~ Nick + Raina