Chapter Nine
Mason
“I’m already attending one event with her this week.” I pause to adjust my tie. In the full-length mirror, I see my father in the background, hunched over the phone, and his fingers flying over the keyboard.
“One event isn’t enough. I want anyone who’s someone to hear about our alliance with the Thayers.”
“As long as the Fitzpatricks and Everetts get wind of what’s happening, we’re good to go.”
I don’t care about anyone else, but I know my father does.
He’s always wanted to be in the spotlight, and now that his prime has passed, I’m the next best thing.
As far as he’s concerned, I’ve caused enough damage already, and aligning myself with Elise Thayer is the least I can do to atone for my sins.
I know it’s not enough to make up for the damage I’ve caused. It’s why I’ve spent the past few nights visiting every warehouse we own, and why my days are spent monitoring our operations.
It feels like he’s forcing me to attend to the mundane day-to-day operations to teach me a lesson.
You’re lucky if that’s all he does. You’ve seen the way he looks at London. The fact that he hasn’t gotten rid of her yet doesn’t mean he’s accepted it.
If anything, I know he’s waiting for me to do it myself.
My father has been unusually quiet since the disastrous meeting with the other mob families, and it’s put me on edge.
A quiet Jack Payne is never a good thing.
And I hate not being able to uncover what he’s doing in the shadows.
It’s still better than what he could be doing. Sidelining you and taking the lead isn’t the worst thing in the world, and you know it.
“It’s not enough,” Jack announces. “Not nearly good enough. Everyone needs to hear about this.”
I spin around to face him. “As long as you and I are clear that it’s not going to go further than an engagement.”
The truth about my arrangement with Elise is on the tip of my tongue, but if there’s one thing my years with my father have taught me, it’s that he doesn’t like being duped. He’ll like it even less if he knows it’s coming from me, and I can’t afford to have that kind of scrutiny.
Elise and I might be putting on a show, but I’ve given her my word.
Jack lowers the phone. “In time, Elise will be able to persuade you otherwise. The Thayer heir has a good head on her shoulders. I’m sure she’ll make a good case for herself.”
I scoff but keep my mouth shut.
He advances on me, dark eyes glittering now. “You will be the doting fiancé tonight. I want you to sell your relationship to the world.”
I don’t need reminding of what’s at stake. “I’m aware.”
His hands move to my tie. After he adjusts it, he surveys me again, and it takes every ounce of self-control I have not to wipe the grin off his face.
The arrogant bastard thinks he’s won.
I hate letting him think he’s got the upper hand.
Be smart about this. What good will it do to have him know? Other than the fact that he’ll be breathing down your neck. And that’s assuming Elise doesn’t pull the plug.
We don’t need more enemies.
“You will do whatever the fuck Elise tells you to do,” Jack adds. “I don’t care what it is you need to do to sell it.”
I nod tightly. “I know what I have to do.”
He offers me another meaningful look before turning his back on me. Carlisle is waiting for us outside the office. He falls into step beside me, bringing me up to speed. At the end of the hallway, I turn right and spot a flash of movement.
When I turn to it, my stomach lurches as I notice London leaning over the counter, with Katia standing opposite her.
Katia draws herself up to her full height, and London swallows as her eyes land on me.
She stands up straighter and squares her shoulders as her eyes dart back and forth between my father and me. I ignore Jack.
Once he disappears, I cover the distance between us. “What are you doing here?”
“Even prisoners are allowed some free time now and again,” London says. “Another work meeting?”
I clear my throat. “Nothing I’ll enjoy.”
London raises an eyebrow. “You should’ve gone for a cheaper suit.”
I frown. “Appearances matter. You know that. Since we’ll be out, you can go for a walk around the estate. Katia can accompany you.”
London purses her lips. “I want to go see my parents.”
I run a hand over my face. “We’ve already discussed—”
London holds up a hand. “I know how dangerous it is, so I’m coming to you first. Don’t make me regret it.”
“What happened last time won’t happen again. You know I’ve made sure of it.”
London clenches her hands into fists. “I thought you said I wasn’t a prisoner?”
“You’re not. Think of it as being a visitor to a foreign country. Certain steps and measures need to be taken to keep you safe, and some areas are strictly off-limits.”
London’s eyes flash. “My parents can’t be off limits forever. I am not a helpless child. I’ve been training—”
I interrupt her with a humorless laugh. “You think that a couple of weeks of training is enough to prepare you for what’s out there? Don’t be na?ve.”
I am not going to let her put herself in danger.
Not after how close she came to dying last time.
And I don’t fucking care if she hates me for it.
London’s expression darkens. “And if I’m underprepared, whose fault will that be?”
I place my arms around her and pull her to me. She stiffens. “I don’t want to argue with you about this.”
London searches my face. “I don’t want to argue either.”
I give her a quick and rough kiss, and she melts against me, threading her fingers through my hair. My pulse quickens when she runs another hand down my back and stops at my behind. One arm remains wrapped around her waist, and the other darts under her shirt, finding her bra quickly.
London’s breath hitches as I squeeze. “That’s not fair.”
“I don’t play fair,” I murmur into her mouth. Slowly, I press hot, open-mouthed kisses down her neck, and my nails dig into her waist. “Don’t push it, London. I’m already giving you a lot of leeway, given the kind of danger you’re in. This is nothing compared to what it could be.”
London leans back to look at me, and her expression falls. “So, I should be thankful it isn’t worse?”
I cup her face in my hands. “Yes.”
London squirms against me, and I release her. “I don’t accept that.”
“You don’t have to. I don’t need you to accept everything I do. I’ll still do what I have to in order to keep you alive.”
She can hate me all she wants, but in time, London will come to terms with the fact that it’s in her best interest.
All that matters is keeping her alive and safe.
“I’m not a child.”
I scowl. “I have somewhere else to be. We’ll talk about this later.”
London’s mouth falls open. “But—”
“Later,” I interrupt, more forcefully. “There’s food in the fridge, and you can order anything you want.”
Without waiting for a response, I leave the room.
In the foyer, I glance over my shoulder and meet Katia’s gaze.
Abruptly, I look away and reach for my scarf.
After securing it around my neck, I shove my arms into my coat.
A gust of cold wind rushes past as I step outside and frown at the car parked at the foot of the stairs.
Inside, my father already has a drink in his hand and is saying something into the phone.
He levels me with a withering look when I jump in and pull the door shut behind me.
The car ride to the movie premiere is a blur.
We pull up, and I see that Elise is dressed in a midnight-blue dress, with her hair pulled up into an elegant updo.
I exit the car, hold my arm out to her, and pull her closer.
There’s a flash behind me as I kiss her cheek, and my stomach clenches.
Elise tucks her arm into the crook of my elbow and leans forward, her floral perfume washing over me.
“You’re cutting it close, aren’t you?”
I maintain my charm. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Elise pretends to adjust my tie. “Don’t talk to any reporters unless I’m there. And try not to look so stiff.”
I stop to tuck her hair behind her ear. “I’m not a circus performer.”
I loathe having every part of my life picked apart.
Unfortunately, I know it’s part of ensuring the Thayers remain our allies, and while I hate the hundreds of prying eyes on us and the din of conversation rising and falling around us, I’m committed to seeing this through.
There are more and more camera flashes, and I do my best to ignore them.
Questions are shouted at us from every direction, but I tune it all out.
Elise’s fingers dig into my elbow as she tugs me forward, her rehearsed smile never slipping.
On the red carpet, she pauses every so often to wave someone over, and I play my part dutifully.
I imagine London by my side the entire time.
When I place my arm around Elise’s waist and kiss her ear, I picture London in the figure-hugging dress with a slit down the side. All the faces blend into each other, and the voices recede to the background as my headache grows.
I keep an image of London at the forefront of my mind.
She gets me through the last of the introductions, and we duck inside.
In the theater, hundreds of pairs of eyes are on us, so I lace my fingers through Elise’s.
I spot our fathers sitting together, with Thatcher grinning from ear to ear.
Jack’s eyes assess us as I move Elise’s hand to my lips and kiss each knuckle.
She giggles and places her head in the crook of my neck.
“It’ll be over soon.”
I nod and don’t reply.
The rest of the evening is a blur of faces and voices I can’t be bothered to pay attention to.
After posing for a few more pictures outside, Elise gets into the car with me, and her shoulders sag.
Once the partition is up, she leaves a few inches of space between us and pours herself a drink.
I stare out the window at the world rushing outside.
The car pulls up on the other side of the city, outside a brick townhouse in an affluent residential area where a red Tesla is parked out front.