“What is it, Finn?” Lincoln questions, taking a seat next to me on the bed.
I struggle to get the words out as Lincoln patiently waits for a reply.
“I fucked up,” I tell him truthfully. “I did this. It’s because of me they went all psycho on us.”
“The fuck did you do, Walker?!” Colt barks, towering over me.
Lincoln gives him such a scathing glare that it’s enough to shut him up, making him take a few steps back away from me.
“When they fucked my Porsche, I wasn’t exactly making progress with Stone. They must be following me or some shit because they know my every move. When they saw I wasn’t making any leeway, they got creative to persuade me into getting my shit together.”
“Okay, but that was weeks ago. Since you started spending time with Stone, we haven’t heard from them,” East interjects, his face pinched with confusion.
“Yeah, we have. I just didn’t tell you guys. Last week, I received a package from them. It was a small box with a brand-new phone and one of their letters inside. They said I only had to replace Stone’s phone with theirs, and that would be it. If I followed through, it would be my last order.”
“And let me guess. You didn’t do it?” East laments, running his fingers through his dark hair.
“Did you give her the phone, Finn?” Lincoln repeats, his tone more tolerant.
“I couldn’t do it, Linc. I’m sorry.”
The little, saddened smile that appears on my best friend’s face guts me. That look says it all—I let him down, and yet he doesn’t fault me for it.
“Hold up! Hold up! You mean to tell me you are putting all our lives in danger because of pussy?!” Colt belts in outrage, instantly making me jump to my feet, ready to slam my fist in his face.
However, Linc is already on me, putting himself in the line of fire between his cousin and me.
“Don’t you ever talk about Stone like that again, asshole, or I swear to God, getting caught will feel like a vacation compared to the pain I’ll inflict on you!”
“Colt is not going to say anything like that again, Finn. I promise you,” Lincoln says, trying to calm me down. He then looks over to Colt with a death glare in his eyes and demands, “Apologize.”
“The fuck? He’s the one fucking this whole shit up, and I’m the one who has to apologize to this asshole?”
“Did I fucking stutter, Colt?” Lincoln deadpans. “I won’t ask you again. Apologize. Now!” he orders.
Pissed beyond rage, Colt grits out the most pathetic apology known to man, only to appease his cousin. Looking at the way he’s contorting his face, I’m pretty sure he never apologized for anything in his life. Like I give a shit. I couldn’t give two fucks for his apology, either. I won’t allow him to talk about Stone that way. Not him or any other fucker.
“Don’t mind my cousin any, Finn. The bastard has never been in love before, so he has no idea what you’re feeling,” Lincoln adds as he pulls me away from Colt, forcing me to take a seat back on the bed.
“So it’s true, huh? You love her. Fuck. I knew it. Jesus, Finn,” Easton retorts as if Lincoln just announced I have cancer or something.
“I haven’t been handed out a death sentence, moron. I just fell in love.”
“Is there a difference?” he asks, pulling out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “Because from where I’m standing, you falling for Stone has put all our lives in a pretty dicey situation,” he explains nonchalantly, lighting one up. “But hey, aside from that, congrats man. She’s a catch,” he adds, blowing thick smoke into the air, his fumes choking me less than his lukewarm compliment.
“Have you told her?” Lincoln questions at my side, paying no mind to Easton’s sarcastic tone.
“In so many words,” I tell him truthfully.
“That’s not good enough,” he states adamantly. “When you love someone, you need to tell them. Don’t let a day go by without making it clear in their heads. Trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t,” he continues, his dark-blond brows joining together.
“Talking from experience there, Linc?” I ask him outright, to which he gives me a forlorn nod.
“I waited too long. Learn from my mistakes, Finn. Loving someone from afar is worse than rejection. Trust me,” he laments, the regret burdening his shoulders. “Does she love you?”