When I finally stuck the candles in the center of the cake and lit them, I carried it into the living room, placing it on the table.
I heard Jeremy introduce Finn to everyone while I was still in the kitchen. I was glad that he did it on his own.
Adrian was the first to start singing "Happy Birthday". Gradually, everyone joined him, even Finn, even if it was only a whisper.
"Make a wish, you handsome prick." Adrian elbowed him.
Jeremy blew out the candles and we started cutting the cake. Everyone got one piece, plus we already cut one for Zack as well.
I sat next to Jeremy while Finn was on my other side, on the edge of the couch. The whole time they were talking, he didn't say anything. He listened but did not speak.
I tried to engage him in conversation, but he ended up nodding or shaking his head. But that is also an answer.
What else was strange was Lincoln's behavior. It's not like him to be quiet the whole time
"What about presents?" After a while, Stefan spoke.
"You're right. I almost forgot." Jeremy stood up and walked past me and Finn to the presents on the cabinet. He brought the gifts that we both gave him to the table.
"Sure." Adrian snorted. "He must have been waiting for someone to mention it because he didn't want to say it himself."
"Shh." He winked at him. "Let's see what we got." He clasped his hands together and rubbed them together as he stood in front of us, in front of the table. "I got a spa voucher from Stefan. Adrian bought me my favorite bottle of whiskey. Lincoln a new perfume. And Luca a helmet. Can you beat them baby?"
"See and find out." I smiled and watched carefully as he took my bag and took out the wrapped jacket.
Like a child at Christmas, he unwrapped it as quickly as possible and a smile immediately appeared on his face as he lifted it into the air.
"You all just lost." He laughed and looked at the others. "Thank you, Lexi, it's amazing.
"Don't ruin it on the first day." I pointed a warning finger at him.
"I'll try to keep it together as long as possible, I promise." He winked at me.
"You have one more," Stefan warned him. "Maybe it will be better."
"We'll see." Jeremy shrugged and placed his new jacket on the table before taking a small box from Finn's bag.
"Are you kidding me." Stefan immediately stood up and went behind the table to Jeremy to take a look.
When today's birthday boy opened the box and saw the watch, he was slightly surprised.
"My God, those are really expensive." Stefan grabbed his shoulders. "I was looking at something similar a few weeks ago."
"Shit, Finn." He looked at Finn with a laugh. "Thanks man."
"No problem." He gave him a narrow smile.
"This is officially the most expensive thing you own, buddy." Stefan patted Jeremy on the back.
"I think he won," Luca spoke.
"Deservedly so." I said with a smile.
Since he already paid so much money for it, it's only deserved. I still can't believe he actually bought them.
"How exactly do you have so much money for a watch like that? I thought you didn't have a job." For the first time today, Lincoln spoke.
"Come on Link, don't start." Stefan sat back down.
"What? It was just a simple question." He leaned back against the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.
I didn't like his tone, nor the way he looked at Finn next to me. What is his problem?
"You said it yourself Stefan, watches like this are expensive. They didn't just fall from the sky."
"Lincoln." Jeremy said warningly. "Stop."
"Why? I'm not doing anything. I'm just trying to keep the conversation going."
I saw Finn's jaw clench. It was obvious that he did not feel comfortable here.
"Would anyone like another piece of..." I started to speak, but Lincoln spoke louder.
"I'm just wondering, is it that bad? I'm sure Finn has nothing to hide, right?" He raised an eyebrow. "We should get to know him better."
"Alright Lincoln that's enough." I said louder.
I don't know what his problem is, but I don't like where this conversation is going.
"Lexi what do you even know about him?" He snorted as Finn stiffened next to me. The hands that were on his knees were suddenly in fists. "I bet I know more than you."
"Okay, Lincoln, maybe..." Stefan tried to calm him down, but it didn't work.
"Do you even know what he's connected to back in New York? Just google his last name and you'll see. Of course, nothing has been confirmed by the police, but it's obvious what circles he and especially his brother are in. That's where you get money for things like that, right?" He nodded his head at the watch box.
"You don't know what you're..." Finn finally tried to speak but was cut off.
"Tell me Finn, how many people have you killed?"
"Lincoln, that's enough!" I stood up, distracted by his questions. "What the hell got into you?"
"He's connected to the mafia, Lexi." He also stood up and pointed at Finn. "Do you want such a person in your life? God knows why he's even here. He can traffic woman like you for all we know!"
"Lincoln!" Jeremy shouted. "That is enough."
"Let him speak." Adrian joined.
"Are you all crazy?" I looked at them in disbelief.
"Come on Lexi, you don't even know him. Lincoln's right. Look at him, he's not even trying to fight back."
Before anyone else said anything, Finn stood up from the couch and headed straight for the door without a word.
"Finn, wait." I tried to stop him. I ran after him, but in a second Lincoln was next to me and grabbed my elbow to stop me.
There was a loud sound of a door slamming through the apartment, so much so that I was surprised that the paintings hadn't fallen off the walls.
"Let him go." Lincoln told me in a calm voice.
I looked at him with disgust and shook my head. "You crossed a line this time." I yanked my hand out of his grip and grabbed my bag from the couch. "Happy birthday Jeremy." I walked to the door, this time no one tried to stop me.
"Happy birthday!" I almost collided with Zack in the doorway, a bottle of something in one hand. "What did I miss?" He said with a smile, but I just slipped past him and continued on.
He's connected to the mafia, Lexi. I heard Lincoln's words in my head as I headed out of the apartment.
That can't be true. Finn and Mafia? That's nonsense.
Right?
*****
I tried to call Finn, but he never picked up. I also wrote him several messages, but they were also ignored. I even went to his apartment, but I didn't find him there either.
I couldn't sleep because I didn't know if he was okay or not.
Who am I lying to, of course, he's not okay. No one would be okay after the things Lincoln accused him of.
I don't know what he was thinking. How could he say things like that?
I let out a heavy breath and placed my phone on the bed before grabbing my laptop from the shelf.
I sat down with it by the window, the moon already high in the sky, and opened it.
"Why would Lincoln say that?" I said to myself before opening Google and typing Finn's last name and New York behind it.
I didn't know what to expect. Maybe I shouldn't have done it. It's a small invasion of privacy.
Is it though? It's on the internet, so it basically doesn't count.
There's something about it.
"It can't be that bad." I shrugged and pressed enter.
The first thing I saw were articles with various captions about some investigation. The moment I saw the word "murder", I slammed my laptop shut.
Well, shoot, that can't be good.
My cell phone suddenly started ringing from my bed, which I immediately went to turn off, as it was definitely one of the guys. They have been trying to call me all day but I obviously ignore them. I'm really not in the mood to talk to them.
But I was a little surprised when Zack's name was on the screen.
I picked up saying, "Zack? Everything okay?" I looked at the clock and saw that it was just after midnight.
"How fast can you get to Finn's apartment?" He said urgently.
"What? Why? What happened?" I began to fear the worst.
"He's not waking up."
"Wh-wh-what do you mean? What are you talking about?" I asked scared.
"Just come, please. And call that friend who's a doctor. Please Lexi."
"Yes, of course, I'm on my way." I hung up and immediately started dressing. I threw on sweatpants and a sweatshirt and headed out of the room.
As I was walking down the stairs, I called Luca, since he lives closest. After a few beeps, he picked up.
"Lexi?" He said sleepily.
"I need you to take me to Finn's please. Right now." I started putting on my shoes with my phone, which I held by my shoulder to my ear.
"On my way." He hung up and I let out a deep breath. How glad I am that he didn't ask anything and just said yes.
I left the house, and while I waited on the sidewalk, I called Lincoln. The fact that I'm mad at him right now is irrelevant.
He's not waking up. I kept Zack's words in my head as I dialed Lincoln's number.
"Come on. Come on. Come on." I walked from right to left, unable to stand still. "Pick up."
"Lexi?" His voice came from the other end of the call.
"I need you to get to Finn's address. I'll send it to you in a message."
"What h..."
"Now, Lincoln." I said harshly.
"Okay, I'll be there. Lexi I'm so..." He didn't have time to finish what he wanted to say because I hung up.
It didn't take long and Luca was in front of my house. I quickly gave him the address, which I also sent to Lincoln, and we set off.
Every second seemed endless. Even the elevator seemed slower than before.
When the elevator doors finally opened, I flew out faster than ever and headed straight for Finn's apartment. His door was ajar, so I entered.
"Finn? Zack?" I looked around the apartment, but did not see them.
"Here." Zack appeared from behind the wall. I ran up to him and looked horrified at Finn on his bed.
"What happened?" I moved closer and examined his bloody face and hands.
"I don't know. I found him outside his door. He didn't even get in. He was conscious for a while, but he was still talking nonsense. When I said I was going to call an ambulance, he tried to stop me, so I called you."
"Lincoln will be here in a few minutes," Luca said behind me. "Do you have a first aid kit?"
"Yeah, I think so. Somewhere." He slipped past us and headed to his apartment.
"I'll help him look." He disappeared behind him.
I sat down next to Finn and ran my hand over his face. What happened to him?
He has dried blood all over his face and a bruise under his eye. His hands are covered in so much blood that I don't know if it's his or not. This also applies to the blood on his clothes.
I also smelled alcohol. And not just a faint smell either, it was like he bathed in it.
It hurt to look at him like that.
I've never really been very religious, but God, if you're there, let Finn be okay.
After a few minutes, Zack and Luca returned to the apartment with a first aid kit. Luca headed straight to the kitchen, poured water into a bowl and took a rag from the counter.
They put everything on the bedside table next to the bed and together we waited for Lincoln.
I was about to call him again when he suddenly entered the apartment.
I didn't say anything to him and kept my eyes on Finn most of the time. Zack was the only one talking to him while Lincoln was asking questions.
I remained standing by the wardrobe, partially leaning against it, biting my lip in an attempt to calm down.
He's going to be alright. I said to myself in my head. He has to be.
Lincoln said he has several lacerations on his face and on his left arm where his shirt is torn.
He disinfected every one of them, assuming he got cut by glass. However, he said that he would not need to have stitches as they are not that deep.
His right arm is a little worse, but it's not broken, it should be fine in a few days, maybe weeks.
He passed out due to the fact that he received a serious blow to the head and the alcohol only helped.
Lincoln was a bit surprised he made it home on his own.
Overall, Lincoln said that he would be fine, but that he should stay in bed or move as little as possible for the first few days.
"When he wakes up, he's going to have one of the worst hangovers he'll ever experience." He stood up from the bed. "I'll get him some painkillers."
"Thank you, Lincoln," Zack said. "I will stay..."
"I can do it." I stopped him. "You look tired. I'll stay here with him. And clean him up a bit." I picked up the bowl, in which the water was slightly stained with blood, and slipped past everyone into the kitchen. "Thanks for the ride, Luca. Sorry to wake you up."
"No problem." He walked up to me and kissed my hair. "Try to get some sleep too."
I gave him a narrow smile and Zack and him left the apartment.
I could feel Lincoln's presence behind me, but I didn't turn around and poured the bloody water into the sink. I wrung out the rag and poured clean water.
"Lexi..."
"Don't." I shook my head. "Just go." I broke away from the counter and walked past him to Finn. I put everything on the bedside table and wet the rag.
I'm glad he came to help Finn, but for some reason, I think he ended up in this state because of him.
I wonder why I think that, huh?