Finn sat in his car for a moment longer than necessary, gripping the steering wheel tightly as he worked to steady his thoughts. The evening air was crisp, but it did little to cool the tension coursing through him. He knew this conversation with Jacob wasn’t going to be easy. Jacob wasn’t just protective—he was fiercely independent, stubborn, and loyal to a fault. Convincing him to open up, especially about something Ciara might be using against him, would take more than just Finn’s usual calm demeanor.
Still, Finn knew he had no choice. If Ciara was planning to drag Jacob into her web of lies to hurt Hanna, they needed to act fast. Letting out a slow breath, Finn stepped out of the car and walked up to the front door, rehearsing his words one last time.
The knock on the door echoed through the quiet evening, loud enough to make Finn’s heart race. A few seconds passed before the door opened, revealing Jacob standing in the doorway. His brows furrowed, and his expression quickly shifted to one of confusion—and suspicion.
“Finn?” Jacob asked, leaning against the doorframe. His voice was neutral, but his body language was anything but. His shoulders were tense, and his arms rested at his sides, ready for whatever Finn had to say. “What are you doing here?”
Finn straightened his posture, meeting Jacob’s gaze. “I need to talk to you,” he said, keeping his voice steady and calm.
Jacob’s eyes narrowed slightly, his wariness evident. “If this is about Hanna—”
“It is,” Finn interrupted firmly, holding Jacob’s gaze. “But it’s not what you think. Can I come in?”
Jacob’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he considered Finn’s request. For a moment, Finn thought he might slam the door in his face. But then Jacob sighed sharply and stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter. “Fine. Make it quick.”
Finn stepped into the house, the familiar warmth of the living room doing little to ease the tension hanging between them. Jacob shut the door behind him and crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. His posture was defensive, his eyes sharp as they fixed on Finn.
“What’s this about?” Jacob asked bluntly.
Finn turned to face him, his expression serious. “It’s about Ciara,” he said. “She’s trying to dig up dirt on you.”
Jacob’s brows shot up in surprise, and for a moment, his mask of indifference cracked. “On me?” he asked, incredulous. “Why?”
Finn took a step closer, his voice low and steady. “She’s trying to hurt Hanna. And she thinks coming after you is the best way to do it. She’s planning to twist something that happened last year into a scandal to distract everyone from the mess she’s created.”
Jacob let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head as he pushed off the wall. “That sounds like Ciara,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration. “But I don’t have anything she can use.”
Finn studied him carefully, noting the way Jacob’s jaw tightened and his gaze shifted to the floor. He wasn’t lying, but there was something he wasn’t saying. Finn hesitated for a moment before pressing further. “Are you sure about that? Ciara mentioned a fight you had last year. She thinks she can spin it into something worse.”
Jacob’s entire body stiffened. For a long moment, he didn’t respond. Then he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “There was a fight,” he admitted reluctantly. “At a party. One of Ciara’s friends—Mark—started mouthing off about Hanna. I told him to back off, and things got heated. I shoved him, and he tripped over a table. That’s it. That’s the whole story.”
Finn nodded slowly, his mind working quickly to piece the situation together. “Did anyone else see what actually happened?” he asked.
“Yeah, a few people,” Jacob said, his tone growing darker. “But most of them were Mark’s friends, so I doubt they’d back me up.”
“This is exactly what Ciara’s banking on,” Finn said, his voice calm but firm. “She wants to make it look like you were out of control. But if we can get ahead of her, we can stop her before she starts spreading lies.”
Jacob’s gaze flicked to Finn, his expression guarded but thoughtful. “Why do you care so much about this?” he asked after a moment.
Finn’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer. “Because I care about Hanna,” he said simply. “And I care about you, too. You’ve always had her back, and right now, she needs us both.”
For a moment, Jacob didn’t say anything. His eyes searched Finn’s face, as though looking for any hint of dishonesty. When he didn’t find it, his shoulders relaxed slightly, and his expression softened. “You’re serious,” Jacob said, almost more to himself than to Finn.
“I am,” Finn said. “Hanna’s been through enough already. She shouldn’t have to fight this alone.”
Jacob let out a long breath, his jaw clenching briefly before he nodded. “Alright,” he said finally. “What’s the plan?”
The two of them sat down on the couch, the tension between them easing slightly as they began discussing their next steps. Finn explained what Ciara was trying to do and how they could counter her narrative. Jacob listened intently, his initial defensiveness giving way to determination.
“We need to find people who were there,” Finn said. “Even if they’re Mark’s friends, someone might be willing to back you up if they know the truth.”
Jacob frowned. “Easier said than done. Mark’s crowd is tight-knit, and most of them hate Hanna for some reason.”
“They don’t have to like Hanna,” Finn said. “They just need to be honest. If we can find one person who saw what really happened, it’ll be enough to discredit whatever story Ciara’s trying to spin.”
Jacob nodded slowly, his mind clearly working through the possibilities. “I’ll make some calls,” he said. “I know a couple of people who might be willing to talk.”
“Good,” Finn said. “The sooner we get ahead of this, the better.”
Jacob hesitated, his gaze shifting to Finn. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “For stepping in. I didn’t think anyone would.”
Finn smiled faintly. “You’re family, Jacob. That’s what family does.”
For the first time in days, Jacob felt a flicker of hope. With Finn by his side, he wasn’t facing this alone.
~