Free Web NovelChapter 230: A LEAD ON OWEN SMITH
Abigail
"Abigail? What’s wrong? What happened? Talk to me?"
I glanced around, trying to find those cold green eyes that had been staring down at me.
The man who had wrapped his hand around my throat fifteen years ago while my parents lay dead in the wreckage. The man who had smiled while I fought for air as he choked me. The monster who had taken everything from me was Devin.
I could smell rain and blood from that night all over again, and I could hear my own screams echoing in my head.
That bastard. Where was he?
Strong arms wrapped around me like a cloak pulling me back against a hard chest.
"Abigail," Finnegan growled, his body vibrating. "What happened?"
"They were here," I croaked, gripping his shirt tightly, holding on with every fiber of my being.
"Who, who baby?"
"Your mother," I whispered, swallowing down the anger and fear churning in my veins. "And him, your...brother."
"What?" He hissed, then swept his gaze around the area too. When had they left? How long was I on the floor, having a freaking panic attack?
We had to get away from here before any of the paparazzi got the brilliant idea to come over and take a picture of Wolfe holding his assistant.
"Need to leave," I managed to force out.
Finnegan lifted me and steered me towards the back of the bleachers, then called his security guards.
"I need two men behind the bleachers now to escort Miss Kellerman to the car."
We couldn’t be seen together yet. I buried my face deeper in his chest, trying to even my breathing while he murmured in my hair and stroked my back.
Five minutes later, his guards showed up.
"Go ahead, Abigail," he murmured, cupping my face to tilt my head back up. "I’ll join you soon." ƒгeewebnovёl.com
I nodded, because I couldn’t trust myself not to burst into tears, and went along with his men.
They guided me swiftly to the car park. I slid into the back seat and closed my eyes, Devin’s face replaying in my mind on a loop.
It was him. Finnegan’s twin brother had killed my parents and tried to kill me that night, but hadn’t succeeded.
After what felt like an eternity, the back door opened and Finnegan slid in. It shut behind him, and the vehicle pulled smoothly away from the racetrack.
Finnegan turned to me immediately, his large hands cupping my face gently. His emerald eyes searched mine.
"Did he touch you? Did he do anything? Tell me, Abigail," he demanded. "Please."
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, threatening to spill over. My hands trembled as I clutched his wrists.
"It was him," I whispered. "Devin. He... he was the man from that night. The man who came to the car after the crash and tried to kill me. I saw his face clearly tonight, Finnegan. He killed my parents and tried to kill me, too."
Finnegan’s face went deathly pale, then flushed red with raw fury. His jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin.
His hands trembled slightly against my cheeks as he drew me into his chest, his powerful arms locking around me.
"Fuck," he breathed. "I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, that they got that close to you tonight. I should have been right beside you the whole time."
He held me tighter, one hand moving through my hair in slow, soothing strokes, the other tracing circles on my back. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his familiar scent. The tears finally fell, rolling down my cheeks.
I had spent the past months searching for my parents’ killer, and tonight I found him, live and in person. I should have felt relieved, but it was terrifying.
Gina and Devin could have gotten rid of me mere minutes ago — unless something was holding them back. The old woman was sharp, after all.
"You’re safe," Finnegan murmured repeatedly, pressing his lips to my temple, my forehead, my hair. "I’ve got you now. They won’t touch you again. I swear it, Abigail."
"I know," I mumbled, pulling him closer.
The ride home felt both endless and too short at the same time. I just wanted to lie down and breathe a little easier.
Everything felt so chaotic and exhausting, but I couldn’t give up. Not now, when I finally knew the bastard behind my parents’ deaths.
Finnegan never let go of me, his hand threaded through mine the entire drive home. Every few minutes he would press a kiss to the side of my head, and I could hear the guilt woven into every breath he took.
When we finally arrived at the suburban house, he carried me inside despite my weak protests, straight up to our bedroom, and set me down gently on the edge of the bed.
"Does anything hurt?" he asked softly, his eyes moving over every inch of me. "Tell me the truth."
"I’m okay," I smiled faintly, even though I felt like someone had poured ice into my veins. "I’m just a little rattled. Seeing him dragged all the memories back."
Finnegan rested his forehead against mine. "I’m sorry you got roped into my shitty family."
I laughed dryly. "I’m sorry you have such a shitty family, too. Maybe you should have been a Kellerman."
He scrunched up his face. "No way in hell. The last thing I ever want to be is your brother."
He fake gagged, and a small laugh slipped from my lips.
"Why? You won’t be able to resist me?"
"You know that’s true—"
His phone cut through the moment, sharp and sudden. I pressed my lips together, watching him pull the device from his pocket. He glanced at the screen, frowning. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"It’s Matt."
He put it on speaker so I could hear.
"Boss," Matt said quickly. "I’ve got a possible lead on Owen Smith. A contact mentioned seeing someone matching his description at an old cabin, about two hours outside the city."
