Free Fionn by Marteeka Karland

She left him in the shadows, never acknowledging he was there. Was she that glad to see her father? Would she betray him? The latter thought made his gut clench. Fionn had grown up with betrayal. Expected it. But from LeeAnn, it would be nearly as bad as if one of his brothers had done it.
    Holten didn’t smile, didn’t welcome her with open arms like any other father would. Instead he said simply, “Come on. You need to get back to work.”
    LeeAnn tilted her head as if she hadn’t heard him right. “Actually, I’m going to continue my work here. Fionn is building me a lab. I’m going to arrange to finish my thesis here and do my research in a virtual environment.” OK, that was interesting, Where was she going with this? Sure, Fionn had offered, but though she’d same as said she’d be agreeable if he could pull it off, she hadn’t actually taken him up on it yet. And she’d never said what she would need. Of all the things that were going through his mind, the least important should have been “I might actually be able to pull that off.”
    “Nonsense. You’re coming back with me. I’ll set you up a lab so you can work at home. You signed nondisclosure agreements. Fionn O’Shea only wants to make sure he has control over your work.”
    There were several moments of silence before LeeAnn said, “And you don’t?” She said it quietly, an accusation.
    “Surely you didn’t think I sent you to the best schools for nothing.”
    “So, I’m supposed to pay you with…what? Classified aerospace projects? What will you do with them? You certainly can’t sell them off as your own. You don’t have the background for anyone to believe your credibility.”
    “I expect you to sell them. You owe all your education to me. The way I see it, any money you earn from it is forfeit to me anyway, so I’ll be taking it as soon as you complete your current project and find a buyer.”
    She gave a humorless laugh. “You have no idea what you’re doing, do you?”
    “I know exactly what I’m doing! You will give me the money from your projects, then you’ll start new ones. This time, I’ll be the sponsor. You work for me. Just like I’d planned all along.”
    “Dad, I don’t own my research. The school does. I’m a student there. On scholarship for my masters and Ph.D. I might head the project, but any money will go to the school. It’s the reason they gave me the scholarship in the first place.”
    Her dad cocked his head to the side. Hesitated. Then, “You’re a lying bitch just like your mother.” Bart lunged for LeeAnn, grabbing her by the throat. “You will give me my due! I didn’t keep you here so you could freeload off me.” He grinned evilly at her then. “Maybe we can work something else out. If O’Shea here has offered to build you a fucking lab, you must have proven to be more…adventurous…than your mother.”
    LeeAnn was gripping his big wrist in both of her hands. Fionn had his gun out, ready to shoot but couldn’t get a clear angle. The last thing he wanted to do was hit LeeAnn by mistake. Funny. He’d never cared before. He always hit his target. But the thought of pulling the trigger now with LeeAnn so close to where he aimed made him break out in a cold sweat.
    “Bastard!” LeeAnn bit out, though it seemed to be difficult.
    “You think your new boyfriend will help you? He hasn’t shot me yet, even though he has his gun trained on me. Perhaps he’s not as infatuated with you as you thought. Perhaps he’s afraid to shoot me because he knows I’m under the protection of his old man.”
    As he spoke, a shot rang out. Pain exploded in Fionn’s right shoulder. Had he not shifted a few inches to the left, the bullet might have hit him in the neck. As it was, his gun hand went numb, his nine mil thudding to the ground.
    “Fortunately, I don’t have any problem with shooting him. In fact, it’s exactly what I’ve been paid to do.”
    LeeAnn seemed to be trying to turn around,