He leans over the table closer to me and winks. “I’ll tell you something no one else knows, that’s what best friends do.” I nod excitedly and he laughs. “I’ve been seeing this chick for months now and I’ve kept it a secret.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“Because unlike Riley, I don’t like going around talking about where my dick has been. No offense.”
I toss my head back laughing. He’s right, Riley does like to talk about it all the time. “I respect that, Finn. I’m the same way. I’m not used to talking about my private life with everyone and anyone.”
He nods smiling, but when Porter rushes over his smile slips. “What?”
Porter looks at me, glances at Finn, and back to me. I can see the fear in his face and I stand up. Something is really wrong. “What happened?”
“Riley was arrested. He didn’t kill the agent and now he’s got him on all those charges. We need everyone back now!”
My legs buckle and Finn grabs me before I hit the floor. “Hey, come on, it’s alright. We’ll get him out,” he whispers.
I shake my head as tears swim in my eyes. “He said he’d be killed in there,” I mumble, looking up at him as he sits me in a chair. “He said no one would have his back.”
Finn looks at Porter briefly and back to me. He knows it’s true, but he’s going to try to make me believe differently.
He grabs my hands and his eyes jump between mine. “We’ll figure this out, Gillian. I want to stay with you and I will until Harper gets here, but Riley needs me more. Alright?”
I nod, unable to find any words. How the hell is Agent McKay alive? He must’ve set Riley up and he fell right into it, again. He just asked me to move in, promised me a happy life, and he’s gone. If he isn’t killed in there, he’ll never get out.
Tears silently roll down my cheeks as Finn wraps his arm around my shoulder. “We’ve dealt with worse. We’ll figure this out.”
Riley is probably so scared right now and there’s nothing I can do to help him. I’m here and he’s in some metal cage, alone. The thought has a sob breaking free and Finn wraps both his strong arms around me.
He rubs my back as I cry onto his shoulder. “It’s alright, Gillian. Try to relax.”
There is a sudden flurry of activity and noise. There’s yelling and banging and a lot of cursing. Ivy’s baby cries, the guys yell, and I even hear the girls shout at them. It’s chaos.
“Finn, lets go, now!” Brooks yells.
He sighs and pulls back, keeping his focus on my face. “We need to go talk about how we’re going to fix this. Harper is going to come sit with you now. I’ll be back, I promise.”
I nod and wipe my tears. “This you being my best friend?”
He smiles as he stands up. “Yeah, I guess it is.”
I reach for his hand and squeeze it. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He walks away and Harper sits next to me. “Gillian, they’ll get him out.”
I turn to her and shake my head. “He’ll die in there.”
“No, stop. That shit isn’t going to happen. We’ll get him out and before we do, he’s strong and smart. He’ll be fine,” she says.
“He’s alone with no one to watch his back. He told me all about it,” I whisper.
She sighs and lights a joint, handing it to me. “Take a hit, let it help calm you down.”
I grab the joint with a shaky hand and take a long drag. I will it to help as I blow the smoke out. I need to pull myself together and help. I don’t want them focusing on me. Riley needs all their attention.
I take another hit and hand it back to her. “Thanks.”
“Listen, they’ll get the money to bail him out. The cops might drag their asses processing it, but he’ll be out,” Harper says.
It makes me feel a little better, but I feel like my heart is shattered in my chest. I’m scared and Riley isn’t here to help me through it. To help me feel safe.