Chapter Seventeen #3
I bundle her into it, and she reaches for my hand to pull me into bed.
She throws a leg over me and snuggles into my side.
I press a kiss to the side of her head and exhale. “I won’t fail you again, London.”
I can’t meet her eyes. “You haven’t failed me, Mason. I’m fine.”
I squeeze her shoulders and press another kiss to her temple. Slowly, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and walk back into the bathroom. After towel drying myself, I see London in the doorway, the towel secured around her chest, and her eyes worried.
When I’m dressed, I spin around to face her. “I have to take care of a few things.”
London nods. “I figured.”
I cross over to her and whip off her towel. “I won’t be gone long. I’ll have someone bring you some food and water. Katia will be nearby if you need her.”
“I’m fine,” London repeats with a sigh. “We’re fine.”
My throat closes as she kisses my cheek. I smile before forcing myself to walk away. Carlisle is waiting for me in the hallway. I glance at Katia, whose arm and thigh are bandaged. Carlisle matches his pace to mine, and at the bottom of the stairs, we stop in front of my father.
His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and he’s got blood on his knuckles. “How nice of you to join us.”
“I had some matters to take care of,” I reply, stepping past him. “The damage has been contained, and we didn’t lose a lot of men.”
“You’re missing the point.” Jack matches his pace to mine as we make a beeline for the basement. “They shouldn’t have been able to break in to begin with.”
I wheel around to face him and clench my hands into fists. “I’m using the same security company you did.”
Jack snorts. “It takes a lot more than a security company to make sure the estate is a fortress. You should’ve had more men stationed here, not out trying to put out fires.”
I narrow my eyes. “Fires that will turn much worse if we don’t nip this in the bud.”
Jack’s expression darkens. “I warned you this would happen. You’ve let your guard down, and our enemies are going to be gloating.”
“We’re still here, and they aren’t.”
“Have I taught you nothing?” Jack is exasperated. “It’s not about the last person standing.”
I turn away from him.
“This won’t be tolerated.”
Jack’s voice makes me stop in my tracks. “Thatcher is waiting for you in the office. The prisoner will be taken care of.”
I look over at him and frown. “Fine.”
I storm past him and toward my office. The door is propped open, and Thatcher Thayer is sitting by the fire, his features illuminated in the crackling embers. He does nothing to acknowledge my presence other than offer a brief head tilt.
I let the door close behind me and stride over to the desk. “I’m sure you’ve heard what happened tonight. In light of recent events, we’re going to need to renegotiate the number of men stationed at the warehouses.”
Thatcher eyes me over the rim of his drink. “I want something in return.”
I step behind the desk and reach for the decanter. “Naturally.”
He rises to his feet, the streaks of silver in his dark hair glistening in the firelight. He covers the distance between us and sets his glass on the table. Then, he strokes his chin thoughtfully.
“The tabloids can’t get enough of you and my daughter. They’re calling you a power couple. Interest in our brand has gone up. We need to keep the momentum going.”
“You want me to attend more events?”
“I want a lavish engagement,” Thatcher replies, his eyes glittering. “I want anyone who’s someone to be on the guest list. You will be by my daughter’s side the whole night, and you will make everyone in that room envious.”
I study him intently and press my lips together.
It’s not an unreasonable ask, but the thought of spending a night glued to Elise’s side doesn’t sit well with me.
Not when I know London will be watching.
It’s bad enough that her life is in danger, and now she has to watch me fawn all over another woman in public.
Fuck me.
“Your special friend shouldn’t be anywhere near the festivities,” Thatcher adds. “I’m sure you can understand why it would be better if we keep the focus elsewhere.”
“Of course.”
He smiles. “We have an understanding, then?”
I set down my drink and straightened my back. “As soon as your men are in position, I’ll make the arrangements.”
“You and Elise,” Thatcher says. “My daughter has impeccable taste, and it must be worthy of the Thayer name.”
I ignore the pounding in my head and nod.
Thatcher says something else, but I don’t hear him.
For half an hour, he launches into great detail about the guest list and curating the kind of event people will talk about for days, but all I can think about is London.
Will putting a label on my relationship with Elise be the thing that pushes her away for good?
I’m on my third drink when Thatcher’s phone rings. He takes it out of his pocket. “I’ll tell Elise the good news. I’ll see to it that she stops by tomorrow, so you can get started.”
I set the drink down. “And the men?”
“I’ll make the phone calls. You’ll have the reinforcements you need,” Thatcher replies. “I look forward to our continued partnership. I can already tell we’ll do many great things.”
With one last cryptic smile in my direction, Thatcher Thayer saunters off.
I brace my arms against my desk and swallow.
I call Carlisle into my office, and he listens intently.
A short while after he departed, Carlisle calls, and an ache settles in the pit of my stomach.
Thatcher has kept up his end of the bargain far faster than I anticipated.
Now I have no choice but to allow them to parade me around like a prize.
It’s just another act. You and Elise know it, so as long as you keep putting on a show, everyone will get what they want.
There’s a bad taste in my mouth as I climb up the stairs and find London in my room, wearing a silk black nightgown that falls just past her knees. She takes me in and frowns.
“What’s wrong?”
My fingers move to the buttons of my shirt. “We need to talk about what happened in the hallway earlier, with that man who was fighting Katia.”
London is confused. “Okay.”
I let the shirt fall to the floor with a flutter. “You shouldn’t have intervened. Katia can handle herself.”
“You’re mad because I helped? I thought you wanted me to take a proactive role in keeping myself safe.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I meant by using a gun, not a vase.”
“It was the closest thing I could find,” London replies. “I know it’s not your weapon of choice, but it got the job done, didn’t it?”
I cross over to the nightstand, yank the drawer open, and pull out the gun. “This isn’t a prop, London. You need to learn how to use it.”
“I know.”
“Then why haven’t you asked Katia to teach you?”
“You mean besides the fact that I’m worried she might let me shoot myself a few times before she teaches me anything?”
I give her a pointed look.
London’s hands flutter at her sides. “I know I need to learn to protect myself, and that’s fine, but I’m not comfortable using a gun.”
I set it on the dresser table. “You need to learn how, though. For your safety.”
I need to know she can handle herself if things go sideways again.
What happens the next time they lure me into a trap?
Or if Katia is outmaneuvered?
London doesn’t waver. “I’ve already given up a lot, Mason, and I know I made that decision when I decided to be with you, but can’t I have this one thing for myself?”
I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to that.
London searches my face. “I know things got a whole lot worse, and I will ask Katia to teach me. Just… not yet.”
I nod.
“There’s something else.” I’m choosing my words carefully. “The terms of my alliance with Elise Thayer have changed.”
London clears her throat. “I had a feeling they would.”
“There’s going to be a party,” I continue, slowly reaching for her hands. “It’s just for show, and I’ll slip out as soon as I can, but it might be a while.”
London stares at me for a long moment. “It’s an engagement party, isn’t it?”
“It means nothing,” I stress before tugging her against me. “It’s all part of the arrangement. You’re the one I’m coming back to, London.”
Her expression shifts and falls. “Okay.”
My stomach lurches. “I’m trying to arrange for you to see your parents at a neutral location. It won’t happen for some time, not until all of this dies down, but I’ll do what I can.”
I’m not even sure they’ll agree to visit London, not with how coldly they’ve been treating her, but I owe it to her to at least try.
London throws her arms around me. “Thank you.”
My arms come up around her. “You shouldn’t thank me. I’m the reason you can’t see them in the first place.”
London stirs. “It’s been a long day.”
I lead her to the bed, pull back the covers, and wait for her to settle in. Then, I pull down my pants and climb in next to her. London tucks herself into my side, and I spend a long time stroking her back and planning what to do next.
If the Fitzpatricks and Everetts want to play dirty, I’ll give them what they want.
And I won’t stop hitting them, even when there’s nothing left.