Page 84 of Four Promises to Love

Owen smiled slowly. “Now I know where you got your trusting nature from.”

Finn had to laugh.

“Where is she now?”

Her amusement faded. “In London. She’s…not well.”

“I am sorry she is ill.”

He was so dashed sincere that her heart hurt.

“Is there anything I could do to help? My family knows an excellent physician⁠—”

“No,” she said quickly. “Iris has, um, seen plenty of quacks and hates them. There’s nothing to be done.”

“That makes it worse, doesn’t it?” He tucked a tress behind her ear, his gaze solemn. “Feeling powerless to help those you love.”

Relieved that he didn’t push, she nodded. “I made things worse. Iris and I…we did not part on good terms.”

She knew she was divulging too much. But his understanding undid her. What had begun as a desire to give turned into a burning need to share.

“I didn’t agree with the way Iris was handling her affairs,” she said in a rush. “I tried to interfere—and it made her angry.”

Until that day, she and Iris had rarely fought. But when she’d brought up her suspicions about Carver, Iris had turned on her.

“You don’t know the first thing about Carver!” Iris’s eyes had snapped with anger. “He loves me. He wants to marry me.”

“He’s using you. Using the Hawks. He’s dangerous⁠—”

“What do you know of men?” Iris had tossed her mane of red-gold hair, her crowning glory. “You’re a virgin. You never let Jimmy have more than a slap and tickle.”

“This isn’t about Jimmy.” Finn had held onto her patience. “This is about Carver being a manipulative snake. You need to hear the truth. He doesn’t care about you. He’s been feeding you that poison, and it’s…it’s changed you.”

Before, Iris had been sharp as a blade. Now her gaze was glazed, her thinking sluggish. Her temper had turned unstable, alternating between placid and vicious.

“You’re just jealous,” Iris spat.

“Don’t be absurd.”

“Who wants you, Finn?” Iris taunted. “You flock to our little crew, but they can’t give you what a woman needs. Here’s the truth: you’re jealous of me because no one wants you. You’re no good to anyone. No one loves you, and you’ll always be alone.”

“The two of you haven’t made amends?” Owen asked.

“No.” Finn shut away the memory. “There hasn’t been the opportunity to mend fences.”

“Do you want to?”

“More than anything,” she whispered. “But I don’t know if it’s possible.”

I don’t know if I can save her in time.

“If she loves you, she will forgive you.”

“It is not that simple.”

There was a pause.

“I hurt Ethan,” Owen said. “In the worst way possible.”